There are tons of different and unique ways people make money. But one strange phenomenon I observe is that people seem to be at their creative (by that I mean unreasonable) best during extraordinary time, like a world of exuberance and financial hardship during this period. Indeed, some wacky ideas have carried some folks so far ahead (to the extent of getting rich).
Here are 14 truly strange and quirky ways people make money in today’s world:
1. Fetal Greetings
In 1999, when Holly became pregnant, she thought of a ceremonious and grand welcome to her yet to be born child. In collaboration with her high school pal (a swell drawer), they created fetal babies images in different positions on greeting cards, coupled with uplifting words.
They bring the business online (fetalgreetings.com) so folks like you and me can order our individual fetal baby greeting card!
2. Selling the Right to Name Your Baby!?
What can be better than a mobile billboard? How about breathing and walking real life person? In its publicity stunt, goldenpalace.com has paid women to have its logo painted on many big bellies as well as voluptuous breasts.
It is alleged that a woman was paid over $15,000 by goldenpalace.com to have her baby named after the giant internet casino. I detest those who hate their name, but I have no argument if this kid grows up hating his name!
3. Friend Rental Service
Unless you live alone in a cage, you are at least a friend of somebody. Sadly this association does not yield any direct financial profit. Now this is a different time! One can get paid for being agreeable to be someone else’s friend
as reported by the Telegraph.At RentAFriend.com, you create a profile for yourself, decide how much you want to get paid by the hour, and sit back until somebody wants to befriend you at your rate. It is surely a business of convenience.
You create a personal profile free at Rent A Friend, and you declare your availability (at a fee, can go up to $50 per hour) for social events and activities like weddings, sporting events, concerts, movies, operas, hiking, biking and dining.
4. Personal Paparazzi for Anyone
Paparazzi are not the exclusive domain of celebrities. If you enjoy the celebrity status, there are personal paparazzi for hire!
The owners behind
Celeb4aday.com hit upon the idea and commit to accord you the celebrity adulation for a day. They are at your service when you fancy to be treated like a star. The events could be birthdays, gag gifts, parties, bachelor & bachelorette parties, or simply moments you feel you deserve premium treatment.
The motto of Celeb4aday.com: every person should not be deprived of celebrity attention, not less if not more.
5. Bird Poop Jewelry
Jewelry and bird poop may seem funny combination but there was once a man obsessed with both. The net result is jewelry made of bird poop. I got to say it is an impressive jewelry range, from bangles to earrings! Now imagine the bird doodoo is an extension of your fashion statement.
6. Selling Virtual Real Estate
The world is amused when Anshe Chung, or should it be her real-life counterpart, Ailin Graef,
was announced as the first person to gain the first real-world million from strictly virtual business.
How is that possible? She managed that by buying, developing and subsequently selling virtual real estate.
Granted, big portion of her riches is in Second Life’s currency, Linden dollars. But real people are ready to trade real money for this virtual currency. It is reported that Graef makes every year from $150,000 up.
7. Selling Irish Dirt
Nowadays, products are getting quirky! Alan Jenkins, an entrepreneur from Belfast, and Pat Burke, an agricultural scientist from Tipperary, moved just enough Irish muck to the US to just
make $1m (£512,000).
Things sure look promising for their company, Official Irish Dirt, as queries are reportedly flooding in from overseas Irish people who want to lay their hands on that old dirt from their motherland.
8. Geese Police
It was
accidental business for David Marcks. David had always used his dogs on golf courses to chase away geese. It struck him one day that this could be a lucrative business and went on to set up Geese Police in 1986.
The business helps to drive away unwelcome geese from town parks, corporate properties, golf courses, or even front lawns. Careful trainings are planned so that these border collies won’t harm the geese while chasing them away.
It has since enjoyed brisk business and reportedly made just under $2 million in 2000. David is now aiming higher by pitching his service to highly affluent individuals.
9. Butterfly Supplier
Can one survive selling butterflies? Or how about become a millionaire along the way? Jose Muniz proved that this was not simply pipe dream. Jose is now a big time live butterfly supplier.
Story has it that Jose first took on a bet to prove that selling butterflies may be a decent vocation for a livelihood. 7 years have since passed, Jose (a former business consultant) and his wife, Karen, are now the proud owners of Amazing Butterflies (amazingbutterflies.com), which specialize in supplying live-butterfly, with offices in Tamarac, Fla. and San Jose. The company is reported to make $1 million in revenue in 2006.
10. Socks Subscription
A
Swiss entrepreneur by the name of Samuel Liechti was inspired enough to start a business that would bring socks to its members a few times a year. For a fee of $89 up, each “sockscriber” enjoys automatic replenishment of 9 pairs of socks throughout the year.
Crazy as it sounds, there seems to be enough takers of this service to make the business viable. These people would prefer the socks delivered to their doorsteps rather than grabbing these from thee stores.
It prompts the question how much is fair price in exchange of convenience?
In fact, the take up rate is so encouraging and last we heard of Mr. Liechti is that he is planning business expansion.
11. Herpes Bling??
I have to admit I find this both innovative and disturbing at the same time. While it is good to have those herpes covered up, but do you need that bling?
12. Star Registry
Nobody could rightfully claim ownership of the stars. But you could have your name immortalized with the star of your choice. Naturally, for this to be legitimate, you need certification! This usually doesn’t come cheap. The original star registry, International Star Registry (IRS), started registering stars under people’s name from 1979.
If you are somebody of financial means, like a politician, celebrity, dignitary, or ordinary Joe with cash to spare, you can approach the registry to
buy a star for yourself, friend and family member.
13. Face Advertising
Your face could be the replacement of big billboards where they display advertisements. Buymyface.com offers just such advertisement space.
Ed Moyes and Ross Harper are two popular example oft quoted in this business and they got enough to pay off their student debt (at £50,000 a year, that stunt is no mean feat).
Ads were painted on the face of Harper and Moyse, and they went on going about all sorts of activities while being filmed or photographed. What they do ultimately depend on the advertisers.
For example, they have been asked to do skydiving or diving into cold water in winter. Advertisers can go on to put these stuffs up, with their brands being featured prominently.
The first ad for the duo went for exactly £1, and they managed a total billing of £3,500 in their first 10 days (with job requests coming through every single day).
14. Sexy Towing
When you are in a distress situation with car, what form of assistance would you prefer, a grumpy looking old man in jump suit or a hunky grinning body builder in spandex?
Christine seems to have found the answer for the lady folks and decides to use only good-looking individuals with pleasant personalities for her towing service.
The service people come in polished spandex and offer advice politely. Words have it that she once came across rude towing guys when her car broke down. This provided the necessary motivation to overhaul the towing service.
Did I miss anything? Do you know of any other strange and
crazy way of making money?… Share your comment or suggestion by leaving a comment below.