| Condiments R Us! | |||||
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From time to time, about once a year, I come up with an idea that would make any hard-working, imaginative man a millionaire. A local mall that was built much to grand and is now scrambling for tenants and a trip to a fast-food restaurant inspired this year’s brainstorm. While at the fast-food restaurant, which shall remain nameless, I was amazed at the variety and magnitude of free food and eating accessories that the establishment was giving away at no additional cost to the consumer. There were free napkins, mustard, ketchup and plastic ware. They were giving away scented handy-wipes, salad dressing and lemon juice. I found straws, coffee creamers and sugar just sitting out for anyone who wanted to line their pockets with these otherwise pricey commodities. Now imagine if you were to start a business, in this case a store, and all your merchandise was at no cost to you. After the rent and utilities were paid, all of your revenue would translate to pure profit. Keep in mind, not everyone needs to buy twenty-four ounces of ketchup—think of how many times a nearly full jar of mustard or mayonnaise had been thrown in the trash after cleaning out your refrigerator. Does a single person really need to run out and buy silverware when all they really need is a plastic “spork?” I envision a pint-sized grocery store with all the merchandise arranged in aisles on shelves by category. The vegetable aisle is where you would find your ketchup; the handy-wipes and motel soaps would be in the personal hygiene section. Forks, spoons, knives and straws would be shelved in the houseware aisle and so on. There would be no need for price stickers since all items would be selling for two-cents each. People flock to the so-called “dollar stores”; imagine the crowds you’d find waiting at the door each morning when you open up your “two-cent store.” I know what you’re thinking; why buy the condiments from you when they can get them for free at any fast food restaurant? The answer is simple; because instead of someone having to run all over town to gather their condiments, the condiment store will have a collection of condiments that have been harvested from a wide variety of eateries, hotels and convenience stores—shoppers will have the greatest assortment of condiments ever gathered in one place. Feel free to take this idea and run with it. It can’t lose—it’s brilliant! |
