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An Idea Journal for Recording and Criticizing New Business Ideas.

Name:

School:

Instructor:

Date:
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Introduction

This Journal contains varying ideas concerning entrepreneurial opportunities that would be

feasible in the United States currently. Most of these ideas are responses to the Covid 19

pandemic that has created as many opportunities as it has taken. The ideas address areas for

improvement or rethinking with regards to society and economy.

Entry 1, Jan 22: An online tutoring program that provides instructions on how to make

homemade items like facemasks, ladles, baby fasteners and picket fences.

With the spread of the Coronavirus has come a demand for face masks and an increased

time spent at home with limited/diminishing resources. According to … the demand for

facemasks has risen by… and making production of facemasks a profitable venture. A 6 gas-

mask-pack sells for USD 10.00 on eBay without including the shipping fee (eBay.com). Of

importance, is the fact that this face mask is not reusable and therefore purchases need to be

frequent. In a month, one may have spent in excess of USD 100 to stock his entire family. The

cheaper alternative would be a homemade face mask which can be made with breathable fabrics

that abound in the household that would cost over 10 times less to make (CDC.Gov). Using

information that is readily available on home keeping and government websites one can create an

easy to follow and short tutorial for any such household problem. Creating such elaborate packed

tutorials and packaging them for sale to households would constitute a profitable business

venture.
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Entry 2, Jan 23: A forwarding address in the United States for goods scheduled to be

exported.

Amazon is one of the biggest online businesses in the world but does not export to

several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia (Amazon Exports LLC). People in these countries

that would like to shop for the products that are cheaper on Amazon find themselves turning to

the competition outside the United States or contacting expensive third-party arbitrators. By

setting up a forwarding address in the United States and charging people from other countries

fees for holding and setting up transportation to their countries one could potentially make a

fortune. By being present and active on social media applications that are popular in Africa and

Asia like WhatsApp and Facebook, it would be easy and cheap to find potential clients. Such a

business would grow slowly owing to the fact that it is a trust-based business but would grow to

gargantuan levels eventually.

Entry 3, Jan 24, 2021: A small delivery company that buys and delivers groceries to

people living in Covid affected areas.

With the restrictions suggested, advised and imposed on movement due to the Covid 19

crisis, access to healthy foods is paramount and would be highly sought after in these zones

(Meyerson, 2012). The company would essentially fill the gap of supplier and deliver fresh

groceries at a fee. By performing batch deliveries for orders made by customers on fresh

groceries, one could potentially cut the delivery costs and increase the profit margin. Such a

company would compete with other sellers that provide delivery services but would carry an

advantage; all its staff is dedicated to delivering the groceries requested and at the fastest time

possible.
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Entry 4, Jan 25, 2021: An export company that collects old native laptops for

refurbishment and discount sale to other countries or within the U.S.

The spread and threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced several studies to be

undertaken online and the primary tool essential for this is the laptop (Li and Lalani, 2020).

Major laptop manufacturers like H.P. export only to select markets and this creates an

opportunity (HP.com). As the acquisition of a laptop from an oversees manufacturer is

complicated and expensive, a company that sells cheaper alternatives and attaches to an

independent transit company would flourish in the current economy. For instance, H.P. does not

export to Kenya (Hp.com). Acquisition of a HP laptop would be complicated and likely

expensive and this company could offer an attractive alternative that costs the buyer less time,

effort and money.

Entry 5, Jan 26, 2021: A pen pal program for people who wish to know more about

other countries.

The Covid 19 pandemic had ground International travel to a halt and it has not yet

properly recovered. The fear that the disease will spread faster and wider with continued

international travel meant that visitation to external countries is limited and as stated, risky and

dangerous (Unwto.org). With a pen pal program that is supported by diplomatic relations

programs in the government, an entrepreneur could charge for access to these pen pals and their

original information and pictures. This venture would improve relations with other countries

while making sure that education continued even with the pandemic. The establishment of this

company is expensive owing to the costs of international negotiation and the set up of the

necessary facilities. The price would however be offset in a short time due to the perennial nature

of work flow.
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Entry 6, Jan 27, 2021: A pro-marijuana resort and creativity center.

With the legalization of marijuana across several states in the past decade has come an

entirely new and thriving sector (Pacula and Smart, 2021). As marijuana was still being smoked

consistently in most states albeit illegally according to Pacula and Smart (2021) this sector

thrived from the onset. As it is still a relatively new sector, there remains opportunities for

investors. One such opportunity is the establishment of a resort for cannabis users where they can

comfortably use Marijuana and products with marijuana along with a creativity center for people

who want to explore their creative selves under the influence of Marijuana. A more practical

example would be to partner up with Buds and Breakfast- a company that partners with small

business to provide entertainment services that revolve around Marijuana.

Entry 7, Jan 28, 2021: A Public relations firm for small scale and emerging Marijuana

entertainment companies.

Event though the superstition and bad public opinion surrounding Marijuana is

unfounded, it continues to exist and this may discourage buyers into walking into recreational

centers (Siff, 2014). This company would seek to market the marijuana to the immediate region

in a non-aggressive way to reduce the stigma associated with it and encourage young consumers

to accept the product. It would also inform the more conservative population of the benefits of

using marijuana medically and recreationally to reduce the strictness level of the population. The

company would encounter a lot of resistance but passive marketing that does not intrude on

societal preferences or values would reduce the resistance generated by the community against

marijuana to allow the recreational centers and providers to make a profit.

Entry 8, Jan 29, 2021: Use of social media accounts to market products for a fee.
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This is an existing practice but one whose potential for growth and refinement is still

high. Expensive brands market their products on the timelines of global and national superstars

whilst paying them handsome fees. This business would operate on the same model but the

brands targeted would be medium sized companies. This is feasible because while the popular

brands are liked by most people, they are afforded by few. This platform would allow medium

sized companies to market their products to potential customers who have a limited budget. This

would be in addition to the payments received from the social media parent company for

attaining a set number of followers. In this age of technology, an Instagram account can be

grown from a few followers to thousands in a few months. Once the account has reached a

critical mass of followers, the marketing activities can begin.

Entry 9, Jan 30, 2021: Decoration and personalization of face masks.

The spread of the Covid 19 pandemic has caused a boom in mask production and society

still continues to thrive, albeit cautiously (CDC.gov). By performing customization and delivery

to clients the company stands to make a regular and healthy profit. There is a global shortage of

masks so the market for the product is international. By setting up a platform that accepts orders,

carries out customization and partners with a transit company, the company would achieve

success and grow. The masks would need to meet health standards and the company would only

accept to customize masks that are from reputable mask brands. A significant portion of the

population is still engaged in outdoor activities such as sports. A person who wishes his mask to

be customized with the logo of his favorite NBA team would pay a reasonable fee and order a

mask which would then be customized and delivered to them.

Entry 10, Jan 31, 2021: A mobile and Personal computer application that alerts on

possible scam advertisements and items on online shops.

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The spread of the Covid 19 pandemic has led to a lot of shopping being done online and

delivery made right to the doorstep. Unfortunately, this has also led to the increase of scam

sellers on online shops that deal with third party suppliers and 2nd hand item sellers. In addition

to buying a fake/ different product, the unfortunate client also spends money on shipping and

does not acquire his desired product anyway. The application would identify suspicious

keywords in the product’s listing that would include the seller’s name, the item description and

the item specifications. By correlating this data with that in the main database that contains

information about previous scam alerts, the application can then decide if the listing is real or

not. As this is a technical solution, it would require creators and operators proficient with

technology and programming to create this database and run the platform. For a small fee, a

client would be granted access to the vast information in the database that would enable them to

make an informed decision.

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References

6 pack ice silk cotton face mask/ Easy breathing/ Anti Fog/ face covering | eBay. (2021).

Retrieved 3 February 2021, from https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-pack-ice-silk-cotton-face-

mask-Easy-breathing-Anti-Fog-face-covering-/265003930493?

_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292&gclid=CjwKCAiAjeSABhAPEiwAqfxURZf2HR77S

xpI1G7owV1ovuBrnFuNINjw5Ax4HWULAMnQ24sK8kD6PhoCivUQAvD_BwE

COVID-19 and Your Health. (2021). Retrieved 3 February 2021, from

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-

face-covering.html

FBA Export - Amazon Seller Central. (2021). Retrieved 3 February 2021, from

https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/200149570?language=en-

US&ref=mpbc_200242770_cont_200149570

Henderson, T. (2021). Retrieved 3 February 2021, from

https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/92982-fbi-sees-rise-in-online-shopping-

scams

HP Supplier Portal - Home. (2021). Retrieved 3 February 2021, from

https://h20168.www2.hp.com/supplierextranet/index.do

Impact assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak on international tourism | UNWTO. (2021).

Retrieved 3 February 2021, from https://www.unwto.org/impact-assessment-of-the-

covid-19-outbreak-on-international-tourism
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Li, C., & Lalani, F. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education forever. This is

how. Retrieved 3 February 2021, from

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-education-global-covid19-online-

digital-learning/

Markets, R. (2021). Global Face Mask Market (2020 to 2025) - Outbreak of COVID-19 is a

Major Driver. Retrieved 3 February 2021, from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-

release/2020/11/12/2125279/0/en/Global-Face-Mask-Market-2020-to-2025-Outbreak-of-

COVID-19-is-a-Major-Driver.html

Meyersohn, N. (2021). Groceries were hard to find for millions. Now it's getting even worse.

Retrieved 3 February 2021, from https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/09/business/food-

deserts-coronavirus-grocery-stores/index.html

Pacula, R., & Smart, R. (2021). Medical Marijuana and Marijuana Legalization. Retrieved 3

February 2021, from

Siff, S. (2021). The Illegalization of Marijuana: A Brief History | Origins: Current Events in

Historical Perspective. Retrieved 3 February 2021, from

https://origins.osu.edu/article/illegalization-marijuana-brief-history