Thunderclap

So I actually really like this idea. And not necessarily because it’s such a good idea but it reminds me of some of the bonkers ideas that inventors would try and make a thing. Creating and inventing is really about failing over and over again till you refine an idea into something that works. I’m not sure that this one exactly does though.

I found after brushing our cat that I was often covered in said cat’s hair. I would then go get our lint brush, if we had one, and would proceed to try my best to try and remove the near magnetic substance from my clothing. So I thought to myself why not just save myself the cost of two different products and the time spent trying to find the lint brush and just combine the two. A tool that can both remove the hair from your pet and remove what’s leftover from your pet from your clothes. Based off of this function and with the intent of finding a quick, clever name that would be worth remembering I ended up calling this product the Hair Beware.

I actually moved forward with this concept and got into the phase of getting quotes concerning the cost of a mock-up or prototype. This process really opened my eyes into some of the challenges of getting a unique physical product being made. I was quoted by several different prototype generators in China that the estimated cost would be $10,000. That is just for the initial mockup, not inventory, not shipping just the initial mockup where all the molding is created that is needed to forge the final product.

Understandably this is where my interest started to wane. I wasn’t prepared at that point to invest that large of an amount towards this particular product. That being said I think it could be worth it and pay off on that initial investment. Also when this product came about such things like 3D printers and Kickstarter weren’t really a thing, or I just didn’t know about it. This could be the way forward on this product. Also look at this cute logo I came up with:

I think that if someone wanted to pick up this idea and run with it they could definitely make this product work. It’s an interesting product that would definitely need some patenting once a final product was decided upon. That being said I think amazon customers and Pet Stores would definitely markets that this could be easily introduced into. Watching out for patent infringers, lackluster copies and off brand imitators would definitely be part of the job set for taking up this product. But for someone out there this might be worth their risk.

As always feel free to reach out with questions or thoughts. Cheers!

I work in the medical field so I am exposed to a lot of opportunities to solve issues and problems in this particular industry. This idea is one that I know those in the medical field have been hoping for someone to take the lead on.

Opportunity

I live in San Francisco where UCSF, Kaiser and Sutter Health are some of the cities largest employers. One of the major issues I hear facing those who live and work in San Francisco County is the rising costs of childcare. Nurses typically work 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week. They need someone on those days to watch their kids for extended hours. Ideally a brick and mortar business near their place of work where they could be somewhat close to their kids during work hours would be a welcomed thing they would pay a premium price for. This model could work for other major or minor cities as well who don’t have the amount of hospitals that San Francisco has.

1. Problem-Solution Fit: The proposed daycare business would solve a significant problem: providing reliable, flexible childcare to medical professionals who often work irregular hours. The service would offer a solution noticeably better than traditional daycare centers that typically operate on fixed schedules.
2. Market Viability: Given the concentration of hospitals in in major and minor cities there seems to be a substantial market of medical professionals needing flexible childcare services. A detailed market research, including surveys and focus groups with your target demographic, would provide a clearer picture.
3. Uniqueness: Your service’s unique selling proposition is its flexibility and its tailored approach to medical professionals, a group that often struggles with traditional childcare options due to their working hours. The idea of a 24/7 around the clock service would be a welcomed service to this population
4. Scalability: There’s potential for scalability by opening additional locations near other hospitals or expanding the range of services (like offering child tutoring or other educational programs). You could also increase the number of children served as you add staff and possibly expand your facilities.
5. Sustainability: Your business model seems financially sustainable if there’s sufficient demand for your services. Moreover, it has social sustainability by supporting medical professionals, who provide an essential service to the community. You could enhance environmental sustainability through choices like using eco-friendly products and facilities.
6. Exit Strategy: Potential exit strategies could include selling the business to a larger childcare company or franchising the model to expand into other regions.
7. Passion and Commitment: Passion will certainly be necessary to navigate the complexities of the childcare business and the unique challenges of catering to medical professionals. Your commitment to providing a much-needed service could be a significant motivator in the face of challenges.

Hurdles

The person who want to undertake this idea would, I believe, have to have a real passion for childcare. This is the main reason for me not undertaking it. Here are some foreseeable barriers that I also thought about when pondering this idea:

1. Grasping Childcare Laws and Regulations: Most American cities come with a labyrinth of childcare laws. You should account for licensing fees, typically $50-$100 per annum. Ensure strict adherence to health, safety, and child-staff ratio regulations. Regular state inspections are common, so be prepared for compliance checks. You should earmark a portion of your budget for this, potentially including a dedicated compliance officer.
2. Staffing and Logistics: Regulatory compliance, staffing logistics, and demand variability are primary challenges. It’s essential to have dedicated HR and compliance resources to navigate these. An HR professional might cost around $60,000 per annum, while compliance costs could fluctuate based on regulations’ complexity.
3. Risk and Mitigation: Risks include regulatory compliance, staff hiring and retention, and managing the irregular demand due to your clients’ work schedules. Thorough planning, regular compliance checks, and efficient scheduling systems can mitigate these.
4. Brick and Mortar Aspects: This is a business that is obviously in need of a physical location and that takes time and money to research and rent or possibly buy. One positive aspect is that the commercial real estate market in most cities is on the downturn so there maybe an opportunity there.

I’ve gotten in the habit of doing financial analysis concerning certain ideas if they have a certain scalability and promise. Here are some of the financial and regulatory considerations with this type of business:

Financials

1. Innovative Strategies: Our target audience demands flexibility, which requires unique strategies. Consider 24/7 service, charging a premium for such availability. A robust booking system, perhaps a bespoke app, could streamline operations for an investment of about $10,000-$50,000.
2. Marketing Strategies: Utilize a mix of traditional and digital channels to raise awareness about your services. A professional website might cost between $2,000-$5,000, while a strategic social media presence can be achieved relatively inexpensively. Engage in targeted outreach programs within medical institutions to reach your primary demographic.
3. Financial Forecasting: Opening a childcare center involves significant initial costs. Expect to pay between $50 to $100 per square foot annually for a suitable facility, plus around $100,000 to $200,000 for renovations. Licensing, insurance, and equipment could add an additional $50,000 to $100,000. Ongoing costs, including staff salaries, utilities, and food, may average around $200 to $500 per child per week.
4. Pricing: Average childcare rates can range from $1,000 to $2,000 per child per month. Given the specific services you’ll provide for medical professionals, it’s possible to charge a premium, perhaps in the region of $2,000 to $3,000 per child per month.
5. Relationship Management: A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system could assist in managing parent-child-staff interactions. The cost for a CRM system ranges, but expect around $50 to $100 per user per month for a mid-level solution. Regular communication and engagement activities can help foster strong relationships and promote a positive reputation in the community.

Please remember that these figures are rough estimates, and actual costs may vary based on numerous factors. That being said this is an idea that I’ve had people at the hospital literally beg me to try and make this happen. Not only could you be making some decent coin on this but you could be helping.

Helpful Links

In my research I found this particular company that specializes in helping people start daycare businesses. They provide curriculum, advice and training. Definitely work looking into if you’re taking this project seriously:

Here are some links to goverment programs that will help you establish a child care business

https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-and-development/infrastructure-grant-program

https://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Daycare-Center-with-Government-Grants

PS. Don’t like kids? This would definitely apply to pets as well. Lots of medical professionals work weird hours and are in desperate need of accommodating Pet sitting services.





It was brought to my attention somewhat recently that ideas are organic things. This was actually brought to my attention by an idea nonetheless. This might have been common knowledge to you or others who might read this but not to myself. I had thought ideas were more cold, mechanical things like nuts, bolts and gears brought to form by the factory of our minds. Now I envision them something gently alive akin to wisps, foam bubbles or maybe dandelion seedheads. For a while I had been collecting ideas, hording them waiting for the time or the money to actually pursue them. Occasionally popping my head in on them while they sleep, looking to see if their chest is still moving up and down hoping there still is the life in them that I felt when they first came into my my mind. Well looking at this behavior now upon recent information I have been terribly neglectful. Like a person who own’s an underfunded zoo or plants in a seldom visited room. I’ve been keeping organic things against their will. They came to me in the hope in finding some sort of way into this realm through me but because of my weaknesses I’ve left them emaciated in their cages.

I’m hoping to change this now. I’m incredibly fortunate in the fact that ideas come to me fairly regularly. Some good , some middling and some just not for me. Like certain types of people just because we’re not compatible it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the opportunity to be made alive and whole in this world. I believe these things arrive at my door because I’ve tried in the past to make these ideas something special. I’ve done a certain amount of internal work that allows for and recognizes these moments when ideas present themselves. I give off to these ideas, at least initially, a welcoming environment that celebrates them and their arrival so they’ve told their friends and they keep coming. But I’ve I made a lot of mistakes. Like a lot. I was impatient and selfish ignoring common sense and good judgment. Sometimes I just executed the idea poorly. But I sincerely tried. I really did. Luckily ideas are understanding. They get what they’re asking and they know perfection isn’t attainable. What they really value is effort, truth and sincerity. If the ideas flickers in this world and is snuffed out because nobody else bought into it it’s typically because one of these ingredients were missing. Or it just wasn’t the ideas time yet. It could have been one of those building block ideas that when a larger idea comes through one can look back and see why certain ideas had to die in order for this newer, better idea had to live.

This all being said I don’t think it is fair to hoard these ideas for myself. Unfair to the ideas but also unfair to people who are looking for ideas themselves. Ideas are out greatest currency and I believe in the power that freely giving something of value has and I want to see if this holds true with ideas as well. I want to experiment and see what happens when I let free the thing that culture values the most.

I’m going to, from time to time, put up ideas that I’ve had or am having that could possibly become something more. Maybe a business, a book or an invention. I typically do some research on the ideas when I first get them. “Is anyone else doing this?”, “Is this new?”, “How much would this cost?” are just some of the things that I typically ask before moving forward. I’ll post these ideas with some of these questions already answered as well as what roadblocks I encountered when trying to move forward with them. Maybe you’ll have the answer that I don’t. Regardless feel free to take these ideas or leave them. Play with them if you’d like or not. Run them through your own factory and see what comes out. Or maybe you know someone looking for an idea and can pass it on to them. I’m just the guy in front of the grocery store with my litter of free ideas hoping someone will take them off my hands. Wouldn’t your kid like a nice idea for Christmas? So please feel free to look around and take what you’d like. Ideas need to be freed.

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