Investors, Get Out Your Wallets!

Here's another slice of pie that I baked up in my head spending so much time on 4 wheels touring this lovely area of the Delta in my mobile office or, as I like to call it, My BGID (Bad Ass Get It Done Factory).  I drive here, I drive there, I drive everywhere.  Business is in the good, the bad, the ugly and in the "don't come to a complete stop unless you're packin' heat" parts of town and so, you go where the business is.  I'm in the habit of constantly scanning the sidelines to look for new businesses--those potential gold mines waiting to be "saved" by this salesperson.  This particular "habit" came from my TV days where my first introduction into sales was walking into my cube to a giant phone book and my manager saying, "okay, start dialing".  Being in the square cell dialing for dollars drove me insane so I perfected the art of prospecting and cold calling. 

Anyway, that's how I came to drawthis point of which I shall share.  Perk up your ears and if you've got any cash stuffed under the mattress.  Get. it. now.  I'm about to give you THE NEXT BIG THING.  The next hot investment in retail franchise opportunities. 

Well no, they have not actually been Franchisisized yet but as I am a gracious ideator (see previous post, "Hear This Detroit"), I give these to you fine folks who can take these ideas and run with them.

Cupcakes Schmuckcakes . . . Gigi's, Muddy's, Sprinkles . . . make way for the newest bite sized bakery phenom, "Boutique Brownies".  Yeah, that's right.  Blondies, Brownies, Double Fudge, Nutty, Chewy . . . the possibilities are endless here.  You can smather them with frosting, get crazy gourmand on the flavor combinations (Dulce de Leche with espresso cream cheese frosting?) and on the bright side, they are a heck of a lot easier to transport and eat than the cup cake.  Sorry Cupcakes.  You're cute and all but Brownies . . . they're rich!

Yogurt places . . . I just don't get you.  Frozen yogurt, do you know you're NOT ICE CREAM!?!  Perhaps I'm missing something.  I probably am . . . it's called ICE CREAM!  Perhaps we are in love with the frosty frozen treat concept.  31 flavors, TCBY, snowcone shacks . . . meet your newer, prettier little sister . . . "Popsicle Panache".  She's stylish, she's cute, she's simple and yet can be very complex (strawberry zinfandel zinger?).  Customizable molds for parties . . . large sculptures and installations in buffets . . . I could keep going here.  This one has infinite frozen slurpy possibilities . . . just watch out for the BRAIN FREEZE - THAT's the title of my store!

Burrito - Fast Casual Tex Mex places . . . you just really hack me off.  Why don't I just go in the back and make my own damned food?  Here's what I find irritating . . . I either want it fast, casual and cheap, or if I'm going to pay $12 for lunch, I want someone to bring it to me AND refill my drink.  And laugh at my jokes.  And bring me a box for my leftovers.  I don't actually have an idea here.  I just find these Swanky, QDoba Booya's places irritating and confusing.  Food's good.  Just wish someone refilled my drinks for the $12 I just dropped in thier drawers. 

Edible Arrangements . . . whenever I hear this store name, I always think of "Edible Underwear."  I know it's fruit but really, that's where my mind goes.  Any how, Edible Arrangements have a healthier leg up on the yogurt and cupcake franchises but let's take this one step further and add a Vegetable Arrangement store like maybe, "Cucumber Cuties" or "Lettuce Celerybrate Arrangements". 

Hmmmm . . . maybe I'd better stop while I'm ahead . . . although, who could resist these cuties rolling into your office with a card that said, "Happy Birthday from the guys at the 'plant'!" 



How DO you cook eggplant, anyway?

What do you think?  Any other Entrepreneurial folks have an idea for the next big franchise opportunity?