1. Low-cost CCTV using a website
Security is a very big issue in Kenya and most parts of the world just now and the situation is bound to get only worse in the foreseeable future. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that many Kenyans have taken to electronics and technology to help protect their property and lives. The only big draw back is still the cost. And that is why this idea is sure to take off like a rocket headed for the moon.
These days there are very cheap cameras around (using the same technology as those cheap webcams people have on their PCs.). It will not be too difficult to install these tiny cameras that are supposed to be concealed for maximum effect, and then linking them to a website. Your clients will have access to monitoring their locations by signing into the website.
By linking to a website the cost of CCTV comes
down dramatically because they don’t need wiring and TV screens on site. It also means that your profit margin can be much higher.
To ensure that your clients still have access even when there is a power outage, advice them to purchase laptops (which can easily stay on for an hour after the power has gone) and then also invest in a small car battery and inverter to provide power for longer periods of power outage. This is important because criminals may sabotage the electricity so as to avoid detection. They have done this in many instances.
Selling System
This is the kind of idea that you can break the bank with and you should not charge too little for it. So these selling systems are NOT designed for those aiming for slim margins.
a) Install cameras for free at the clients you have
targeted. Obtain permission for this and then give
them a brief demonstration your fee for the service
etc. then book another appointment for a week later
to come and remove your camera unless they sign
up and pay.
b) Co-ordinate with police stations and get reports of
burglaries and break ins in the area where you are
seeking clients. Visit these locations to offer your
sympathy and condolences and your offer of free
CCTV for a week after which the clients will have to
either pay for the service or you take away your
cameras.
2. Charcoal from maize cobs
Finally Kenyans have come to terms with the horrific depletion of forest cover and its' grave consequences. We have all seen the effects of cutting trees, especially in some areas like the Mau forest which have a direct impact on such huge chunks of the
country. Authorities are getting stricter every day about people cutting down trees.
The effects of this are already being felt in very high prices for timber of any kind. Wood furniture has become very expensive. The result is that even the supply of charcoal has been affected and prices have shot up. In the near future charcoal will be very difficult to find even at a very high price. And that is the main reason why this idea is such a gem.
You can use maize cobs to burn charcoal. What you need to know is that dry cobs will burn much quicker than wood and so for the best results use a drum and cover it so that there is no oxygen entering during the burning process. You will also have to quench the fire with water and then put the cobs out to dry.
Cobs will produce cleaner charcoal as far as the
environment is concerned and this is the perfect business to combine with a maize farm (the price of maize has shot up in recent times and is sure to remain high for many years to come.)
If you don’t grow maize you can move around purchasing maize cobs from farmers and informing them that you are willing to buy all the maize cobs they can supply. You could do some barter trade with some of them and offer to supply them with free charcoal from just a fraction of the cobs that they supply.
Selling System
Target the heavy users of charcoal and offer your charcoal at a lower price than what they are paying for conventional wood charcoal. Get leaflets (flyers) printed giving people all the good reasons why they should switch to your charcoal made from maize cobs. Move around visiting restaurants and schools that use a lot of charcoal and leave these leaflets everywhere, even if you have talked to the decision
maker and gotten a sale. Your leaflets should have a
telephone number that you can easily be reached on at any time of the day or night.
Don’t worry about people copying your idea because the demand for charcoal is too huge and will continue to grow at such a rapid rate that no single person can hope to supply even a small village or district alone.
There are at least 99 other ideas just as brilliant where these two came from. For instant details on how to grab a copy send a blank email (with the words 101 ideas in the subject area) to umissedthis at gmail dot com
I love this. Keep them coming, Chris.
ReplyDelete