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| US$9 for air |
Can you make money out of air? You certainly CAN. In a recent visit to Turkey, I've noticed these attractively-designed tin cans. The contents? "Air of Istanbul". Nothing more, nothing less. Tourists buy these cans as souvenirs, and they pay the incredible amount of 16 Turkish Liras, which currently convert to about US$9. If you ask me, "Air of Bhutan" sounds (and smells) much better than "Air of Istanbul". Naturally, you won't face any competition from India, China, etc. "Air of Bhutan" can only be manufactured in Bhutan!
So here's the general idea:
- Design a beautiful label with "Air of Bhutan", "Air of the Himalayas", etc. Unfortunately, "Druk Air" is already taken. There might be niche markets for specific locations, such as "Air of Bumthang".
- Buy the necessary tin canning equipment and materials. Choose and test the material/process: You don't want the cans to crumble/explode when shifting to low/high altitudes.
- Start manufacturing. Make sure that the manufacturing location matches the label and is not done, say, in Jaigaon. Truth in advertising is important. Rinchending is still a possibility, but as a tourist I'd rather see "Packed in the pristine Himalayas", not "Packed in an industrial zone at the foothills of the Himalayas". The good part: Tin contents (air) is still 100% free!
- Set a reasonable price, and distribute to tourist outlets in Bhutan
Once "Air of Bhutan" is a huge hit, you can move on to "Water of Bhutan"...
Disclaimer: Our ideas are just ideas, not necessarily sound business advice. If this business already exists in Bhutan and we missed it, please let us know! Before rushing to implement the idea, do some research about costs. Create a spreadsheet with the costs and see how much you will need to earn to break even and to make a profit. See if you can survive for a year with no profit and perhaps loss, until the business is more established. The best approach is to consult with organizations that help local entrepreneurs such as the
Loden Foundation.
sounds crazy but who know? might work. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletegreat iDEA!!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Thanks for sharing this. I would also look at the demand side: would tourists in Bhutan - given that they likely differ from tourists in Istanbul in terms of age, social and economic status, cultural interest, etc - be interested in this product? Wouldn't they raise questions about the ecological impact of such idea re. production of cans and transport of air?
ReplyDelete