Hey there, fellow entrepreneurs! Are you ready for this week’s questionable business ideas? Welcome to our weekly segment, “Terrible Business Idea of the Week.” Get ready to cringe and chuckle at some of the worst ideas out there. We’ve dug up some real gems, from failed fiascos to surprisingly successful ventures. At Virtual Headquarters, we like to think outside the box. Or should we say, “off the rails”? Now, you might be thinking, “Why on earth are we still doing this?” And frankly, we’re not sure either. But hey, maybe there’s a market for a business that sells expired milk or a service that teaches your pet goldfish how to play the piano. You never know, stranger things have happened. Even the most successful companies have had their fair share of facepalm moments. So let’s embrace the absurd and have a good laugh together, shall we?
When it comes to failed ventures, who could forget the TwitterPeek? This device, touted as the world's first Twitter-dedicated mobile device, allowed users to tweet on the go. However, the product was met with laughter and scorn. Who would pay $199 for a single-function device when smartphones were already on the rise? That's right, the TwitterPeek was a mobile phone, that was purely used for Twitter. Despite the company's best efforts, the TwitterPeek ended up as a punchline rather than a profitable product.
In the realm of absurd yet surprisingly successful business ventures, the Million Dollar Homepage takes the cake. Back in 2005, a rather ingenious, or should we say outrageous, idea struck a student named Alex Tew. He decided to sell pixels on a webpage for $1 each, with the goal of selling one million pixels to pay for his university education.
The concept was simple: customers could purchase a minimum of 100 pixels to display an ad or logo, which could be clicked to redirect to their website.
Incredibly, Tew's seemingly ludicrous idea paid off. The Million Dollar Homepage became a viral sensation, attracting a wide array of advertisers, from well-established corporations to quirky individual enterprises. By January 2006, the page was officially sold out, and Tew had made $1,037,100 from his pixel-selling venture.
Even today, the Million Dollar Homepage stands as a testament to the unpredictability of the digital marketplace and the power of an unconventional idea. Remember, sometimes a seemingly foolish venture might just become the next big thing. Stay curious, keep innovating, and embrace the ridiculous! Roll on the next Bad Business Ideas of the Week.
B2C
Product
UK insect repellent industry £78 million (source)
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
"I crashed it"
"It's alright, bit of a gimmick to be honest"
"It's awful, why are humans so cruel?"
Main Drawbacks: To be honest there are a few… main ones being what’s stopping the mosquitos just following the drone home? There’s also the risk of the drone becoming a mosquito celebrity, with fans following it everywhere, making the mosquito issue worse rather than solving it. Additionally, there’s the potential for unintended animal encounters. Picture your drone leading a parade of mosquitos, only to be intercepted by a curious bird or a mischievous squirrel. And what about rainy days? A sudden downpour could mean your drone becomes a short-circuited mosquito magnet. Finally, there’s the issue of battery life. Unless you fancy getting up in the middle of the night to change batteries, you may find your drone and its mosquito fan club parked right outside your bedroom window at 3 am!
Chance of success: A solid 200/1000 – on a sunny day, with no wind and low chance of rain it should work like a dream…
So what is the Parasite Piper?
The Parasite Piper, a brainchild of an overly imaginative entrepreneur, is akin to a modern-day Pied Piper, but instead of luring rats, it’s designed to attract mosquitos. With its glorious, albeit, mosquito-attracting scent, this drone flies around your backyard, leading a merry dance of blood-suckers away from your BBQ party. Imagine a device that turns your mosquito problem into an aerial circus, having the little pests buzzing in a hypnotic conga line behind it. It’s as if one day, someone (and by someone we mean our slightly strange CEO Keiran) looked at a swarm of mosquitos and thought, “What if we could make them follow a drone, like a miniature, insect version of a summer music festival?” And thus, in a haze of questionable decision-making and excessive optimism, the Parasite Piper was born.
How does it work?
The Parasite Piper is designed to function optimally during the day, a time when most people want to enjoy their gardens without the nuisance of buzzing mosquitos. The drone is equipped with a photo-sensory mechanism that allows it to fly in proper lighting conditions, maintaining a safe height and avoiding any potential obstacles. The irresistible, mosquito-attracting scent it emits is also more potent during the day, effectively luring the pesky insects away from human activity. So, as the sun shines and you prepare your barbecue, the Parasite Piper buzzes into action, drawing the mosquitos into a following frenzy. It’s like having a personal, flying bug zapper, only without the zapping part. Instead, it leads the insects on a merry chase, away from your outdoor activities. Despite its many quirks, the Parasite Piper aims to reinvent mosquito control in an unusually whimsical yet practical way. However, just like Batman the Parasite Piper also works at night; as the sun dips below the horizon, this dazzling device springs into action, lighting up the night skies. This is not just to add to its charm, oh no. This psychedelic light show is deliberately designed to transform the drone into an irresistible beacon for other nocturnal insects. So, while you’re enjoying your evening in peace, your faithful Parasite Piper is throwing a rave party for mosquitos and moths alike, leading them on an epic night flight away from your garden. All the while, you’ll be sipping your tea and laughing as the Piper turns your insect woes into a luminous spectacle.
What does it look like?
Very flipping cool, isn’t it?
Look at it at night… I can totally see why bugs would follow it.
The blue prints.
How is it powered?
We would love to say something really cool like mosquito blood or ectoplasm, but to be honest it’s just battery-powered.
Who will buy it?
Every pasty English person that takes off their t-shirt the minute the temperature goes above 9 degrees celsius. Imagine how nice it would be to actually be able to enjoy the 4 days of English summer without looking like a pepperoni pizza due to all the insect bites? Also, everyone has that annoying mate who “never gets bitten” and makes really helpful comments like “ooh you must taste nice” and “god, they love you don’t they”, imagine the shock on their once smug little face when you whack your mosquito drone out.
How does it compare to similar products?
It compares to other drones in no way, because this one lights up and attracts bugs. No, it can’t take amazing videos, and no it it can’t monitor climate change or deliver you a pizza, but imagine a life without mosquito bites?
Conclusion:
Even the most outlandish business ideas, such as the Parasite Piper, can reap success with a dash of innovation, a sprinkle of determination, and a heap of hard work. It’s a testament to the adage that no idea is too silly if it solves a problem. In fact, it’s often these quirky and unique solutions that capture people’s attention and create thriving enterprises. At Virtual HQ, we’re all about fostering such imaginative entrepreneurial journeys. Our virtual office solutions provide a professional presence for your business, irrespective of its size or nature. From a reputable business address to mail handling services, we offer resources that create the perfect foundation for your business to flourish, even if your idea involves leading a mosquito conga line with a drone!
