I RECENTLY came across a report on CNN about personal paparazzi you can hire for a day (or night). Yes, for about $1,500 a day, you can have a pack of paparazzi trailing you from your home to a restaurant to several clubs, snapping away every second and calling your name so you can look at the camera for yet another (expensive) click.
So far, the service is offered in the US and Britain, but who knows — this may click soon in Asia. Really now, if there are people dying to get to the society pages around here, then there’s a market for this service.
Clearly, the personal paparazzi business is one crazy business idea that has worked. And there are a lot more crazy business ideas that have brought in the cash for its owners.
In Tokyo, for instance, the pet columbary business is thriving. While on vacation there last year, we went to one such building housing about seven floors containing vaults bearing pets’ cremated ashes. There are even extra services offered: Before cremation is done, you can ask them to save a tooth for you and they can turn it into a pendant you can keep forever.
Also in Tokyo, there’s a hot spring resort for dogs right beside the ones for people. You bring your dog there, he gets to swim in a lap pool (with hot water), then gets the pampering of his life.
Then there are the topless flip-flops such as those made by Nude Sandals of the UK. The idea of wearing your tsinelas without the straps seems weird indeed — your feet stick to the slipper with some kind of glue. But the reviews have been great. In fact, a Filipino company is now bringing this in.
I also recently passed by Amazing Cones in New Manila, Quezon City, which serve pizza in a cone. How does pepperoni pizza sound like to you eaten from a cone? Cool, huh? Speaking of pizza, have you tried sisig pizza from Greenwich? Bloggers have been giving it the thumbs up.
So if you have a far out, super crazy business idea, don’t be afraid to explore it further. Fifty years ago, the idea of a computer that would fit in a brown envelope you can carry around was unthinkable. And look now, there’s MacBook Air.
April 14th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Paetechie and phm, I’m sure a lot of other people are thinking of the same thing. Imagine, for just a day’s work, you can earn what you need for a child’s tuition, or even start a business.
Your comments are all appreciated, LukeCoolLuks, Pches V, and Mandilu. Thank you.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
i don’t mind being a paparazzi for a day if the pay is $1,500…not bad. i can do it for a week hehehe…i’l be happy to be a paparazzi
April 11th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Hi PchesV and LukeCoolLuks! you raised a good point.
It would be nice, if that crazy idea will answer a customer’s need.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I have to agree with LukeCoolLuks, crazy ideas are most often than not just temporary fads. But sometimes, if you’re lucky, you really can cash in big time on crazy stuff. Reinvent your products so that they remain fresh and relevant to your customers.
April 10th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Agree that there are “crazy” business ideas that could be your ticket to success but then there are also those that are more of a fad or a novelty and will fold up once the novelty wears out like those slippers. As for the pizza in a cone, they don’t do as much business now and people I know who’ve tried it say its one of those things you try once and that’s it. Sustainability is the problem with most “crazy ideas” that’s why it would be wise to manage your profits well and make sure you’ve got a significant amount saved up just in case and so you can invest in the next “crazy idea”. Oh, and about the MacBook Air, if it will take fifty years to develop this “crazy idea” then I suggest you hold on to your day job.