Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-up #18

There are numerous tools out there for managing HR functions like time sheets and accounting, but employees’ paid leave has been all but overlooked. That’s according to strategic design firm Matter, which recently launched its answer to that need in the form of Perq.

Employee leave management is a complex task with potentially high stakes: companies lose millions or even billions of dollars in revenue each year without even knowing it because of unaccounted employee time off, says Atlanta-based Matter (which is not to be confused with the London company that goes by the same name). Enter Perq, a web application that’s designed to let companies easily create an online version of their employee leave policies, view a shared calendar, and manage leave requests, accrued time off and multiple benefit levels. Personalized dashboards and automated tracking make it easy to keep up with accrual and rollover, while a simple leave request process keeps staff and managers connected and informed. Perq is free for up to three users; beyond that, pricing starts at USD 9 per month for up to 10 users. The service is also available for licensing and deployment as a white label product for enterprises with special brand or security requirements.

Of course, Perq may scratch the employee-leave itch for companies in the English-speaking world, but it seems safe to assume there are plenty of small to medium-sized businesses in other parts of the globe with the same need. One to localize or adapt for HR managers in your neck of the woods…?*

Website: www.perqworks.com
Contact: info@perqworks.com

* P.S. If you’re interested in translation or localization, Perq says to get in touch: hello@perqworks.com.

Original Source: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #17

It used to be that hiring sites focused primarily on objective information about the jobs they listed. Then the transparency movement set in, and sites like CareerTours, MedRecruit, Glassdoor and KODA increasingly began including more subjective considerations. Now continuing in that vein comes GetaGreatBoss, a South African site that aims to help workers find great bosses.

Operating under the principle that “people join companies, but they leave bosses,” GetaGreatBoss facilitates reviews of managers by those best qualified to do so: the people who work for them. Both HR departments and managers themselves can initiate such reviews through the site, whether for honest feedback or to help recruit new employees to work for them. Employees are then emailed for their evaluation of the boss’s managerial style, and all feedback is kept anonymous; there’s even a way for managers to conduct a subsequent anonymous online conversation with the employees who reviewed them. The cost to initiate a review is USD 220, while for an extra USD 10 per month managers can keep an active link to the results for use with their resume. If, alternatively, a current employee reviews a manager and the manager then requests a full-fledged review from GetaGreatBoss, the employee earns a USD 50 commission; similarly, the same amount goes to recruiters and online job portals that include links to GetaGreatBoss reviews with their ads. Potential employees, meanwhile, can search GetaGreatBoss’s online job listings, each of which contains a link to the results of the review of the boss in question.

There’s no doubt managerial style plays a key role in the employment equation—as do corporate culture, lifestyle preferences and countless other considerations. In this era of transparency, smart companies are the ones that take pains to be as honest and open about as many factors as they can.

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #16

Out to help those looking for a quick relaxation fix, a new drink from Canada offers ‘an acupuncture session’ in every can. An antidote to energy drinks like Red Bull, Slow Cow was developed to help people de-stress.

Under the premise that caffeine-packed drinks tend to increase anxiety, Slow Cow contains theanine, chamomile, valerian, passiflora and other ingredients known for their calming effects. The beverage is meant to increase mental awareness while improving relaxation, without the post-hit dip that caffeine and other stimulants cause.

Slow Cow, whose tongue-in-cheek logo apparently did not amuse Red Bull, might have found a gap in a market saturated with energy drinks of every possible variety. It’s not the only beverage to position itself as a relaxation drink, mind you, (Drank is another), but Slow Cow gets the vote for best branding. Seems like a natural fit for spas, hotels, airlines—or anywhere else consumers could use a serving of relaxation.

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-up? #15

As is true in so many business decisions, companies in need of banner ads typically face the choice between creating their own or hiring a professional to create it for them. Many do-it-yourself sites use templates, however—which can result in a cookie-cutter look—while using professionals can be expensive and time-consuming. Aiming to offer a third alternative, PointBanner promises custom-created banners in just 48 hours for $49.

Customers submit a banner request with New York-based PointBanner in three simple steps: they upload their logo, enter their desired text and URL, and then pick a size. Eschewing templates, the company’s design team works on each banner individually, guaranteeing a result for $49 within 48 hours. Three free revisions are included for each banner, and an assortment of multi-banner packages are also available with per-banner pricing as low as $11.

Much like Inkd, which offers a third alternative in the realm of graphic (print) design, PointBanner seems like a natural next step in the evolution of web advertising, making professional quality more accessible to all. One to adapt locally—or, more broadly, find another area where the niche between cookie-cutter and professional approaches is currently unfilled, and offer a middle ground of your own!

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-up? #14

RunMyErrand is a web and mobile marketplace that gives individuals and businesses an easy way to get everyday tasks done. Members in need of help with errands begin by prepaying into an account of credits that will be used to pay the people who run them; 10 credits cost USD $13.00, and most errands range from 7 to 10 credits—equivalent to the same number of dollars—paid to the “runner.” They then post an errand they need to get done—picking up dry cleaning, for example, or dropping off a donation to Goodwill—along with the number of credits they’re willing to pay; additional amounts for tabs that need to be paid during the errand can also be included. RunMyErrand’s network of pre-qualified “runners” is then alerted immediately via email and text message. Generally within 10 minutes a runner accepts the errand, proceeding from there to coordinate with the “sender” and complete the errand within the specified timeframe. When the errand is complete, the sender confirms online; RunMyErrand then transfers payment into the runner’s account. To ensure quality, ratings, reviews, profiles and background checks for selected runners are all available. In addition to serving individuals, RunMyErrand also acts as an outsourcing delivery partner for locally owned retail businesses.

Besides simply helping busy people get things done, RunMyErrand promises environmental benefits by aggregating errands more efficiently and also offers sellsumers a flexible way to earn a little extra money as runners. Founded in early 2008, RunMyErrand was recently named by Facebook as a winner in its fbFund REV incubation program. It currently serves only the Boston area, however; are you the one to help bring this to a city near you…?

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-up? #13

Posting a Twitter address is easy to do online, but until now there have been few offline opportunities for consumers and businesses to recruit new Twitter followers. Jumping at the entrepreneurial opportunity, StickyTwits (@stickytwits) designs stickers featuring Twitter addresses for easy distribution in the analogue world.

The idea for StickyTwits came from a signage designer and a marketing expert who wanted to stick their Twitter URLs on their cars, computers, office windows, etc. The Australian venture now sells customized stickers made from professional grade vinyl and durable ink, for AUD 14.95 per set. Each sticker pack contains 30 multicolored customized stickers—15 large (292×50 mm) and 15 small (145×25 mm)—which come in four seasonal color schemes: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Obviously, StickyTwits is a niche business and depends on Twitter’s continued popularity. But it’s a fun example of entrepreneurs latching on to the latest buzz to launch a side business on the fly.

Oh, and if you want to follow Manpower you can: twitter.com/manpower

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-up? #12

Although it may seem that everyone and everything is online these days, there’s still a fair portion of the population that isn’t part of the social networking revolution. It’s not necessarily that they don’t want to be involved—professionals are realizing the benefits of connecting online. However, it’s these professionals, especially those over 45, who are more likely to feel daunted by the latest wave of online interaction. Enter JumpStart Social Media, a web service to get the not-so-tech-savvy up and running with their own online profiles.

For $89.95, JumpStart’s webwise team will get users set up with a profile on either Facebook and LinkedIn and leave them with a reference guide. JumpStart uses a web-based questionnaire to determine the subscriber’s needs, and then uses this information to create a personal profile. Everything is then submitted for review to the subscriber, who then approves (or disapproves) the profile. When users change their password on either site, JumpStart is no longer able to access their profile, which keeps the process secure. For people who have already set up an account on either site, a $9.95 personalized guide is offered to help users get the most from their online profile.

JumpStart is a new service from social marketing consultancy Digital Brand Expressions, based in New Jersey. It fits in well with the current focus on the importance of personal branding, and the rise of using social networking to establish oneself as an industry expert, attracting employers in a recession.

Will they flourish or flounder?? Hmmm, I am guessing flourish, especially with certain generations. =)

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-up? #11

While remote working is easier than ever, working from home or the nearest Starbucks can quickly lose its appeal. Enter Desk Space Genie, a new website that advertises vacant desk space. The service helps businesses make a bit of money from their unused office space and enables cash-strapped freelancers or other small businesses to become more established.

Desk Space Genie lets space-seeking ‘deskers’ search for a space by postal code or town, contacting the advertisers directly. The site lists vacancies in most major cities around the UK, covering ‘all inclusive’ desk packages with wifi and other utilities, or more basic ‘pay for what you use’ services. The site is free to use until 1 May 2009.

Although plenty of general-use classified websites list office space for rent, Desk Space Genie is the first I have spotted that’s targeting this niche. Helping others save money and resources, it seems like a timely endeavor. One to create for deskers and desklords in your part of the world?

Do you think this would work in the US?  Are you the one to make it work?

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-up? #10

Reducing energy consumption is clearly a global imperative, but before one can reduce it helps to know how much one is already consuming. Targeting the 40 million “smart meters” now in use worldwide—and the 100 million more soon to be added—Google is testing a new gadget that will take the information such devices collect and make it more easily accessible to the consumer.

Many smart meters don’t display consumption information to the user, but Google’s PowerMeter prototype—now in closed beta—is designed to receive such information and provide access to it via the user’s iGoogle homepage. Aiming to help users make better energy decisions, the technology taps Google’s scalable, secure IT architecture and the iGoogle gadget platform to show consumers their energy use in near real-time, including an analysis of how much energy is used by different household appliances and activities. Google vows to keep all data under the user’s control, and it says it hopes to work with as many utility companies as possible to deliver the technology for free to anyone with a smart meter.

Finding alternative energy sources may be the gold rush of our era, but helping the world wean itself from nonrenewable energy is just as important—and potentially just as rewarding. Google is currently seeking utilities and device manufacturers to partner with; one to get in on early?

Website: www.google.org/powermeter
Contact: www.google.org/powermeter/contactus.html

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #9

When consumers order diet soda, they can usually tell by the first sip if they got what they ordered. Not so with decaf drinks, which tend to taste much the same as their fully caffeinated counterparts. Thanks to a new innovation much like a home pregnancy test, however, decaf drinkers can now test for themselves whether they’re getting more than they ordered.

DiscoverTesting.com‘s D+caf  Test Strip quickly and easily determines whether coffee is really decaf. Consumers simply remove a small sample from their beverage before adding cream or other additives—half a teaspoon is enough, the company says. (The strips must not be used on the part of the beverage that will be consumed, product instructions warn.) They then dip the strip into their sample and hold it there for 5 seconds. Within 60 seconds, the strip indicates via the relative darkness of two adjacent lines whether the drink is truly decaf, with less than 20 mg caffeine per 6 oz. serving. The strips also work on tea and cold drinks, but unfortunately not on latte, cappuccino or other milk-based beverages, which will limit its reach. DiscoverTesting.com, which is part of California-based Silver Lake Research, sells the tests in kits of 20 single-use strips for USD 9.95.

As many as 30 percent of decaf coffees ordered at coffee houses and restaurants contain unacceptably high levels of caffeine, the company says—which means countless consumers are getting more of a jolt than they realize.

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #8

Last summer I heard about Lifebooker, a free service that lets users search, browse and book discounted appointments at health and beauty spots in New York City. In much the same vein—and in the same city—ZocDoc brings similar time-saving capabilities to the booking of appointments with doctors and dentists.

Aiming to make healthcare simpler, ZocDoc lets users make appointments with the Big Apple’s dentists and doctors instantly and online, 24/7. Users simply search for the type of appointment they need—the site currently offers primary care, dermatology, ophthalmology, ENT, orthopedics, OB/GYN and dentistry—and they get a list of immediately bookable appointments in their area. Background details and patient reviews are available for each doctor and dentist listed on the site, and ZocDoc can also filter results by location and insurance accepted. Launched into beta in late 2007, the site is free to use.

Last month, ZocDoc was named the winner of the Forbes.com Boost Your Business Contest. And, of particular note for Springwise readers, the site is working with Dr. Jay Parkinson—whose ideas for Web 2.0 medicine we’ve covered twice before—with an API for Hello Health‘s platform. One to partner with or emulate in other parts of the world….?

Website: www.zocdoc.com
Contact: service@zocdoc.com

HT:Springwise

Pepsi Targets Gen Y – Is this New Formula Coke all over again?

In a Pepsi-sponsored survey, StrategyOne discovered that Millennials, born between 1980 and 1990, share the attribute of optimism.  In fact, 95% of Millennials surveyed agreed with the statement that “it is important to maintain a positive outlook on life.”  These respondents also responded positively to words like “change,” “new,” “progress,” “hope” and “excitement.”  As all of this is part of the self-designated Pepsi Optimism Project, I’m wondering if this research is simply a vehicle for Pepsi to find what they’re looking for.  Are Millennials the only demographic with a statistically significant predisposition toward “progress” and “excitement?”

To read more about it click here.

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #7

As the holiday season approaches, parents around the globe are surely dreading the inevitable return of a phenomenon that shadows the giving of gifts of many shapes and sizes, but especially toys. Leaving in its wake a trail of victims with puncture wounds, bruises and lacerations—or simply in tears, Wrap Rage results from the virtually impenetrable packaging often used in shipping new products.

Fortunately, this year Amazon aims to do something about it. Thanks to a new, multi-year global initiative announced yesterday, Amazon is working with manufacturers to eliminate the causes of Wrap Rage while also minimizing the impact of packaging on the environment. The effort is focusing first on two kinds of items: those enclosed in hard plastic cases known as “clamshells” and those secured with plastic-coated wire ties, commonly used in toy packaging. As a result, 19 best-selling products are now available through Amazon in the US packaged in smaller, easy-to-open and recyclable cardboard boxes that protect the products within just as well, the company says. New, eco-iconic packaging on the Fisher-Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship, for example, eliminates 36 inches of plastic-coated wire ties, 1,576.5 square inches of printed corrugated package inserts, 36.1 square inches of printed folding carton materials, 175.25 square inches of PVC blisters, 3.5 square inches of ABS molded styrene and two molded plastic fasteners. Along with Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and electronics manufacturer Transcend are among the companies Amazon worked with on this first batch of products, and many more will follow in the years to come, it says. The project will expand across Amazon’s international sites beginning next year. In the meantime, Amazon has also put together a “Gallery of Wrap Rage” featuring videos and photos of the phenomenon, and customers are invited to upload their own.

Eco-minded initiatives are all very well, but when they also eliminate a major source of customer frustration? Then they become a no-brainer. Manufacturers around the world: follow this example!

Website
Contact Amazon

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #6

Demonstrating that it’s possible to profit from any human desire, Sarah’s Smash Shack was conceived to relieve people who are stressed-out. Customers in San Diego can choose fragile tableware from the Smash Shack Menu—for example a set of three glass flowers for USD $10, or the House Special, which consists of 15 plates at a cost of USD $45. They’re also welcome to bring in their own breakables to pulverize for a ‘corkage fee’ that starts at USD $20. After donning protective gear, smashers are escorted to one of the break rooms, where they stand behind a waist-high barrier and hurl their arsenal at a stainless steel wall. To make the process more personalised, customers are encouraged to bring their own soundtrack on MP3, and to write messages on whatever they’re about to throw. There’s also the option of flinging objects at a photo or mantra of choice. A VIP room is available for group smashes.

Since August 2008, the shack has helped quite a few customers vent their frustration and release their tension. Or just plain enjoy the process of harmless destruction without having to clean up after themselves. It’s hard to tell whether the credit crunch has benefited or hindered the business’s success, making customers thriftier but also more stressed and up for smashing… Aware that it’s not cool not to care about the environment, the shack donates its broken glass and ceramic to mosaic art programs throughout the United States.

While the whole concept might sound a bit nutty, this could be a lucrative small business to set up elsewhere, especially for entrepreneurs who can get their hands on cheap vacant retail space for a year or two. Entry costs are relatively low and, well, that human urge to smash stuff is universal 😉

Website: www.smashshack.com
Contact: www.smashshack.com/Contact_Us.html

HT:Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #5

Anyone who’s ever moved has probably experienced the ages-old Quest for Boxes, involving either significant expense for new shipping boxes or countless trips to retail stores and restaurants in search of usable discards. A new San Francisco startup, however, aims to change all that with an online process that makes it easy for those in need of boxes to find those who have extras to dispose of.

BoxCycle allows people or organizations (retailers!) with extra boxes on hand to list them on its site, including how many they have, what sizes they are, where they are located and when the boxes can be picked up. Buyers can then search for sellers based on location or price, reserve their boxes by arranging a pickup appointment, and pay for their purchase online. At that point BoxCycle gives the buyer the seller’s address and issues a proof-of-purchase pickup slip. Upon arrival, the buyer can look over the boxes and select which ones they want. BoxCycle handles the advertisement, pricing, order processing and payment collection for each seller’s boxes; in exchange, it charges a fee of 50 percent of the list price. Box prices range from USD 0.75 to USD 8 each, and there is a minimum order of USD 2.

With its eco-friendly solution for both buyers and sellers, BoxCycle has the potential to remove a significant proportion of the pain associated with packing, shipping and moving. It’s currently focused on just the US—one to bring to the rest of the packing world?

Website: www.boxcycle.com
Contact: info@boxcycle.com

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #4

In even the best of relationships, disagreements are bound to arise from time to time. For those with no clear resolution, a new site offers a way for each member of a couple to tell their side of the story anonymously and let the crowds decide who’s to blame.

Launched earlier this month, Pittsburgh-based SideTaker begins the dispute-resolution process when one member of a couple submits their side of the argument on the site. A link is then e-mailed to that person’s significant other, inviting them to add their own side. Only when that happens does the story go live on SideTaker for the perusal and ruling of the visiting crowds. In one of the most popular stories currently on the site, for example, a woman describes a husband whose self-proclaimed frugality prevents him from flushing the toilet regularly; in another, a man describes a girlfriend who’s gaining weight but refuses to exercise. Users of the site can vote on which side they agree with or leave comments to express their opinions. Using the ad-supported site is currently free, and visitors can search stories by recency, popularity and number of comments, as well as a variety of tags. Stories remain up on the site for two months, or until both sides indicate that the conflict has been resolved.

Coming soon on SideTaker is a section for relationship help, featuring expert advice, and ultimately the company hopes to expand its concept into other areas as well, according to its site. I have already covered checkyourimage.com, which facilitates personal image appraisals—where else could consumers benefit from the wisdom of the crowds in their personal and social lives….?

Website: www.sidetaker.com
Contact: www.sidetaker.com/contact.php

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #3

Although video games and laser tag are a popular choice for kids’ parties, getting the kids to venues can be more hassle than it’s worth. Back in January, Texas-based Games2u stepped in to solve this problem with its mobile video game theatres—self-powered, climate controlled trailers that house XBox 360, Wii and PS3 systems, enabling up to 24 players to compete head-to-head. For parents who’d rather see their children running around outdoors, the company’s Sprinter trailers contain a range of inflatable bunkers and laser guns to turn yards and fields into laser tag battlegrounds in an instant.

Thanks to its installation of multiple 50-inch flatscreen HDTV displays and surround sound, the trailer provides customers with a much more immersive gaming experience than they could create in their own homes. Each mobile theatre is accompanied by a trained Game Coach who oversees the event and keep players engaged, allowing parents to sit back and relax. Parties start at USD $199 for one hour, USD $299 for two hours and USD $99 for every additional hour.

Games2u is offering franchise opportunities in the US. Entrepreneurs in other game-hungry countries: how about setting up something similar? (Related trend: Insperiences, which describes consumers’ desire to bring top-level experiences into their domestic domain.)

Website: www.g2u.com
Contact: www.g2u.com/contact_email.php

HT: Springwise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #2

Sell Off and Buy Unused Brands and Logos.

In a standard custom logo assignment, the average graphic designer develops six concepts for evaluation by the business owner client. Only one of those will be used, leaving five creative logos to be stored away—and probably never seen again. Enter IncSpring, a beta site that aims to help designers with ideas and business owners seeking same find each other for mutual gain.

Launched last month, Texas-based IncSpring is a virtual marketplace linking graphic designers and businesses interested in corporate logos, brands and corporate identities. Designers can upload brand concepts onto the site for the perusal of entrepreneurs, corporations and businesses without middlemen or agency fees; they also retain complete control over their pricing. Potential buyers, on the other hand, can search by industry, color or name, evaluating and even assessing market reactions to the designs they see via IncSpring’s social network, which lets users rate and provide public feedback on submitted ideas. Potential customers can also request minor changes to shape a particular design to their individual specifications. When a purchase is made, IncSpring charges a commission of 15 percent, the artist receives the rest and the buyer receives the brand in a ready-to-use digital format. As part of its site launch, IncSpring is currently holding a contest—with a deadline of Sept. 19—offering USD 2,000 in cash and other prizes for designers who submit ideas to the site. Membership on IncSpring is free.

In an industry where only a small proportion of ideas make it through to the finish, IncSpring will undoubtedly give designers a welcome way to capitalize at last on the many hours they put in, whether or not originally for a paying client. Entrepreneurs, meanwhile, gain access to a wealth of ideas that wouldn’t ordinarily be available. It’s a win-win for everyone involved and one to try out.

Website: www.incspring.com

Original Source: Spring Wise

Crazy Business or Brilliant Start-Up? #1

Ponoko manufactures products that creative consumers dream up. Users upload a design, and Ponoko makes the item and ships it to them, or to their buyers. Realizing that many consumers have great ideas for products, but lack the know-how to turn an idea into a manufacturable design, Ponoko has now added a clever new option: Ponoko ID.

Ponoko ID lets anyone submit a request, including a description (purpose, materials, colours, measurements, etc, plus links to relevant images, sketches or videos if they have them), as well as their ideal price and delivery deadline. Their request is then sent to a selection of designers who can put forward a bid by emailing a brief proposal to the shopper. After reviewing bids, the shopper can accept the one that best matches their Once the designer confirms the transaction, the request/bid becomes a binding agreement. The shopper makes payment to the designer (through Ponoko), and the designer creates the item. Creating transparency for both groups, shoppers and designers can review one another by leaving comments in their profiles.

Allowing consumers to have custom goods made to their own specifications is an interesting variation on the Intention Economy. As defined by Doc Searls: “The Intention Economy grows around buyers, not sellers. It leverages the simple fact that buyers are the first source of money.” While most examples of the Intention Economy have focused on consumers making their intentions known in order to get the best prices from retailers, applying the concept to a product’s conception creates a whole new world of opportunities for consumers and designers. “Consumers have grown accustomed to shopping at retail stores where mass produced items may fail to satisfy their needs,” explains David ten Have, Ponoko’s CEO. “Ponoko ID is the world’s first online service for getting unique products custom designed just for you, without the costs and hassles involved in finding a designer, manufacturer and materials.”

Website: www.ponoko.com/ponoko-id
Contact: www.ponoko.com/about/contact