A niche sit down 🪑
Fun fact #1: eBay stands for Echo Bay Technology Group. It was founded in 1995 in San Jose, California by a computer programmer called Pierre Omidyar.
Fun fact #2: The first item to appear on eBay was Omidyar’s very own item: a broken laser pointer, which he sold for $14.83.
Astonished that someone would want to buy such an item, he contacted the winning bidder and asked whether he realised the laser pointer was broken. The buyer wrote back: "I’m a collector of broken laser pointers."
Fast forward to 2021 and a calendar depicting the ‘Benches of Redditch’ is proving to be a surprise festive hit. Retired printer Kevin Beresford (69) says he’s been overwhelmed with orders for the calendar. This isn’t his first foray into calendars: Car Parks of Britain also did well. Although he admits "I made a roadkill calendar one year, but nobody wanted to buy that."
Strange as it may seem, there’s a market for almost everything. And the more unique your solution, the more valuable to the person who needs it.
It just takes bravery when it comes to your message: to nail your colours to the mast and be clear about what you do and who it’s for.
But this not only helps to attract the right prospects, but also the right introducers.
Having made the decision to niche and deliver specialist financial planning to people dealing with the financial impact of divorce, Lottie Kent of True Financial Design is regularly asked by family solicitors to present on financial modelling and how it helps clients through the process.
Fun fact #3: An Arizona man successfully managed to sell his prized air guitar for $5.50 even though he pointed out that bidders were in fact buying nothing.
At least it was cheap to post.
Simple Hack
LoungeBuddy sells day passes to more than 400 airport lounges in 68 countries, starting at around £20. No memberships, elite statuses, or first class tickets required.
Go slow
Slow radio provides an antidote to today’s always-on world. Listen to the sounds of birds and monks chanting as you go about your day.
Nice mice
Paralysed mice have walked again after being injected with a protein-based gel, raising hopes that a simple jab could one day restore movement to people with spinal chord injuries.
Choose love
Choose Love is a charity that supports refugees around the world. When you buy an item from them, be it warm clothing, or hot food, they'll ensure it gets to who needs it most.
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