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New trademarks equals new products

Thursday 19 October 2006

Keeping an eye on new trademarks can give a good insight into what might be round the corner in terms of products.

apple_logo_blueiPhone tantalisingly close as Apple register trademark. Dual model rumours start.

An Apple iPhone or two could be a step nearer as there are reports of Apple officially filing for the ‘iPhone’ trademark. An analyst from Prudential Equity also believes that his ‘sources’ and ‘recent checks’ suggest that Apple could release two models – one a smart phone and the other a slim music phone. At least one of them will have wi-fi connectivity, and a keyboard for messaging.

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu has written “Our research indicates that an Apple-designed smart phone has moved from concept to prototype and recently has progressed to near completion as a production unit. We believe this smart phone has been in development for over 12 months and has overcome substantial challenges including design, interference, battery life and other technical glitches”. http://techdigest.tv/2006/10/iphone_tantalis.html

 

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Dragons’ Con – A Sunday Mirror investigation

Wednesday 18 October 2006

I just stumbled across this story on the Mirror newspaper website:

DRAGONS’ CON – Winners miss out on £1.3 million Investors back out of their deals
By Nick Owens And Louise Ford – 17 September 2006

HIT TV show Dragons’ Den is today branded a sham – where most of the winners never receive a penny.

The super-rich Dragons pledge tens of thousands of pounds to struggling entrepreneurs to help their businesses.

But a Sunday Mirror investigation reveals how 13 of the 19 contestants promised cash on the BBC show have not received any. The total amount unpaid comes to almost £1.3 MILLION.

In the meantime many of their businesses have floundered.

Today furious contestants lift the lid on what really happens – or doesn’t happen – when the cameras stop rolling. We can reveal how.

Sunday_Mirror_logo

 

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Anita Roddick live and dangerous

Wednesday 15 November 2006

Anita Roddick gave an enthralling presentation entitled Commerce with a conscience: can business deliver social change, as part of our ‘Inspiring Entrepreneurs’ series.

She had some really wacky slides and started off with HOMO-ECONOMICUS+HOMO CONSUMICUS = HOMO-SCREWEDUPICUS

Anita_Roddick

Earlier on in the day I met John Bird the founder of the Big Issue who was using one of our rooms for a live online forum session on the Real Business website.

One of the great things about my job is meeting people who are making business successes in the most unlikely places. How abut Dee Wright whose business card describes her as ‘Lice Assassin’. She is the founder of The Hairforce, and has managed to make dealing with hair lice sexy.

 

the Hairforce logo


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Springwise for inspirational new business ideas

Tuesday 17 October 2006

My current favourite source for new business ideas is the Springwise fortnightly newsletter. Tagline ‘new business ideas for entrepreneurial minds. They claim a global network of 8,000 spotters who scan the globe for smart new business ideas, delivering instant inspiration to entrepreneurial minds.

In particular they look for ideas that can be replicated or franchised in the readers home country.

It’s free and comes in a nicely designed html email or pdf download from Netherlands based Springwise BV.SpringWise_logo

I’ve put a sample story below to show the kind of thing they do:

Born out of frustration from hearing their female friends complaining of frizzy hair, entrepreneurs Richard Starrett and Neil Macka took it upon themselves to devise a solution. They came up with the Straight Up machine.

Trading under the name Beautiful Vending Ltd, the two men realised there was a gap in the market, since English weather can turn perfectly styled hair to frizz, ruining a night out for women fixed on having pin-straight hair. It took them a year of research to develop the Straight Up, a patented vending machine that lets women purchase short use of a ceramic straightening iron. The vending machines use professional-grade GHD tongs, “the irons that styled a thousand catwalks”, and 90 seconds’ use goes for one pound (approx USD 1.85/EUR 1.50).

Offering style-conscious females the opportunity to look their best at all times -– regardless of unpredictable weather — this is a simple business idea with low start-up costs and serious potential. The business is currently run solely in the United Kingdom, where 500 units have been placed so far, but Beautiful Vending is seeking to grow quickly and franchise opportunities are available worldwide. Press hype regarding the product has been huge in the UK, garnering much interest from club and bar owners. Straight Up machines will of course be a hit anywhere women preen and primp: restaurants, gyms, shopping malls, office buildings…

Website: www.beautifulvending.com
Contact: richard@beautifulvending.com