Many people seem to be more excited about the doomsday predictions than Christmas or New Year this holiday season. Doomsday can actually be a good concept for small businesses.
I am obviously pertaining to what the Mayans say about the exact date of the apocalypse which is the 13th Bak’tun in Maya Long Count calendar – the 21st of the calendar we use at home. This is in time of the winter solstice wherein a galactic alignment will happen. On the 21st, the Sun will align with the center of our dear galaxy, Milky Way. Well, according to scientists, that happens every 26 000 years.
The doomsday predictions have been reinforced by the prophecy of Nostradamus, some man of the past who’s known for a lot of predictions including the great wars and catastrophes in history.
That was terrifying, right?
While I, personally, may not be a believer of these things, many people are. And these people have even gone into really preparing for the coming of the said date. You can check National Geographic’s series, Doomsday Preppers, for that.
Some Doomsday Small Business Ideas
Business is all about responding to the demand. So, let’s take a look at some of the remarkable business ideas that has something to do with the apocalypse.
Canned goods that could last for several years is something that is very much salable to doomsdayers or preppers. Most of these are canned bacons. As cited in a CNBC article, the best selling item is the one that holds 40 to 50 slices of bacon in a single can. That’s Yoder’s.
Other preppers go for major things like shelters. Featured in International Business Times Australia, a businessman from China has designed a large stainless steel ball. And lucky for this businessman, Yang Zongfu, he already profited from his invention costing to $160k to $800k to his fellow Chinese and had already received orders from New Zealand. From the same article of CNBC, this one from the US, a Miami-based US Bunkers designed a very thick-walled shelter (about 12-18 inches thick), with bulletproof windows and, “rather than being set underground, like those in the 1950s, they rest on reinforced legs, which keep them about three feet above the earth.”
Other businesses have taken a less serious approach. They injected fun concepts into it. They’ve promoted their wares and tools by showing customers how they can be saved by them. One example is that of Moss Pawn Jewelry and Guns in Jonesboro, Ga. They used the undead to promote their guns.
What About You?
What about you? Have you thought of any small business idea on how to take advantage of all buzzing around about the 21st?
PrintPlace.com, an online printing company, has some tips for graphic design that small businesses can use for print marketing materials like posters, postcards or business cards. This is not to necessarily encourage you but we can actually use these doomsday predictions to boost up sales. It may help to call back your Halloween techniques just like what Moss Pawn Jewelry and Guns in Jonesboro, Ga. did. It’s all about giving a twist in your campaigns. It’s all about the gimmick.