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Business Ideas for the (emerging) stay-at-home Economy?

ApparentHorizon

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The impact of this event is about to put some big demands on the mental health space. I, myself, am starting to feel the effects of this. I am already mentally exhausted.

I've worked from home for a long time, and it's getting to me too. Not that a lot has changed in my daily routine. However, knowing that I don't have a choice now is a strange feeling.
 
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zblundell

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As more people and companies are discovering that working from home might actually be a good thing for themselves/their business, maybe there's opportunity for a "working from home tech consultant".

This consultant would take care of the following things:

- Getting all necessary computers and tech in place so a person can start working for a company from home in rapid fashion (less than a day or something like that). They would select the computer, mouse, webcam, etc. and set it up for the home worker so the company doesn't even have to think about it.
- Setting up all necessary software (zoom etc.) so the home worker is ready to go as soon as possible
- Getting a person actually connected to their company's specific network through home (lots of small businesses don't necessarily have a dedicated I.T. person, it's just "the young guy on staff who knows a lot about computers" [been in this position many times]).
- Also takes care of chairs, desks, general ergonomics, etc.
In the medical field, providers are now attempting to use TeleHealth to see patients online via telephone and whatever face-to-face software the provider wants to use. The one big drawback is that it has to be HIPPA compliant software so maybe starting a business that helps set up doctor's offices/clinics/homes and any other providers (Physician's Assistant or Nurse Practitioner) to insure they are ready to go in a timely fashion and are HIPPA compliant as well.
 

zblundell

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What about a office package combination deal? Desk, laptop computer, wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, printer/scanner/fax, chair, bamboo plant (just kidding about the plant) all rolled into one package and one price.
 
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zblundell

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I generally assume that either cost or the "not good with technology" aspect are what stop older people from taking advantage of the grocery-delivery services that exist. You say "a service like Uber", but that's still an app. Would you envision customers ordering services via phone call, then, to make it more accessible?
The trouble with trying to target under-served demographics often seems to be that those demographics don't have money, or at least not enough to support the proposed business/service. Do you think enough older people would be willing to pay for delivery or personal assistance service when a pandemic is not happening (would vary by area, of course).
How about a butler or room service app? You type in the app what you need and how soon and someone brings you the item. Can pay through the app.
 

reedracer

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How about a butler or room service app? You type in the app what you need and how soon and someone brings you the item. Can pay through the app.
I was thinking of a personal shopper. You being careful following all the rules go to Costco for Granny Smith. Put the packages in the garage spray some Lysol, Grandma comes out sprays more Lysol, pick up bags in a safe manner and reduces her risk quite a bit.
 

MattR82

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My cousins wife works for a company that sells gift baskets with local goods. Their orders have doubled at the moment.

So, gift baskets, care packages.
 
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Move the chains

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As more people and companies are discovering that working from home might actually be a good thing for themselves/their business, maybe there's opportunity for a "working from home tech consultant".

This consultant would take care of the following things:

- Getting all necessary computers and tech in place so a person can start working for a company from home in rapid fashion (less than a day or something like that). They would select the computer, mouse, webcam, etc. and set it up for the home worker so the company doesn't even have to think about it.
- Setting up all necessary software (zoom etc.) so the home worker is ready to go as soon as possible
- Getting a person actually connected to their company's specific network through home (lots of small businesses don't necessarily have a dedicated I.T. person, it's just "the young guy on staff who knows a lot about computers" [been in this position many times]).
- Also takes care of chairs, desks, general ergonomics, etc.

I agree that this is going to encourage companies to consider more remote working options. One of the challenges is not only the infrastructure (tech) but coaching/educating managers or supervisors on how to effectively lead remote employees and teams. I'm sure the current situation is cause a bunch of middle managers to have kittens since they've never been challenged to evolve beyond micro-managing.

I've known plenty of bosses who measure an employee's value by how many hours their in the office. This is game-changer now in having to lead very differently and develop better metrics of success and value.

On the plus, we know a lot of younger people entering the workforce value their freedom and the movement to remote work spaces could be more appealing to that generation.
 

Roli

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One idea might be to provide shopping services for the elderly. Right now many older people are really scared to be in public and us younger people are in a position to protect them. So I think that a business that helps them get the things they need (for a reasonable delivery price of course)

Where I live, people have been doing this for free. It is one of the good things that's coming out of this, is we are all looking out for each other a lot more.
 

Andy Black

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Where I live, people have been doing this for free. It is one of the good things that's coming out of this, is we are all looking out for each other a lot more.
Likewise. In the small town of 4k there's been 50 volunteers to help do the shopping for vulnerable residents.

I suspect if someone enterprising was to do this for free then people may want to tip them too?
 
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Andy Black

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My mum lives in a nice rented apartment but can't close her washing machine. The door is too stiff and I can't even close it by hand myself - I have to push it shut with my knee.

Because of that she's been getting her weekly cleaner to take away her clothes, clean them, and bring them back. Her cleaner can't come in and clean but will be round this morning to drop off a bag of clean clothes and pick up a back of dirty clothes.

How many other people struggle to get their clothes cleaned?

My mum will also struggle to change her bed linen. I'm not sure how we'll address that just yet...
 

Andy Black

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My wife works for a building materials business. They're flat out. So many people at home are doing projects in the garden.

I know I'm going to clear the shed and side-alley and will be hiring a small skip soon.

I've carpets going into a rental property at the weekend. The carpet fitter says work has dried up, but he's not advertising and relies on word-of-mouth. Maybe there's an uptick in carpet fitting too? Maybe not as it will involve someone going into your house.
 

Raphd

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Addiction will soon be an issue. So many people stressed out because of the outbreak or because they can't work and are dealing with it by drinking, smoking, porn and taking drugs. Just look at the US news for the number of booze deliveries companies are making. Going back to the workforce when this is all over will impact a lot of us and some might not be ready to go back to "normal living".

How are we going to help the guy that starts drinking at 10 AM because he has nothing better to do?
 
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ecommercewolf

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Glad to see this thread come up. Breath of fresh air.

While it's important to be aware of the science and danger of the virus from the main C0VlD-19 thread, I think it's equally important to maintain a positive mindset through this.

There's sure to be a ton of opportunities that we can take advantage of during these unprecedented times.
 

reedracer

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From Angel List a summary of a NYT story. A lot of glittering generalities, but seems good. I do believe the company I work for (Big Tech, Inc.) has scored already with the massive remote worker upscaling for our customers. (My account went from support for 300 remote workers to 3500. We had 90% up with nary a glitch in 7 days and they were ready to go day one of the lockdown).

Link to NYT at angel.co, here is the summary:
  • While the rest of the economy is tanking from the crippling impact of the coronavirus, business at the biggest technology companies is holding steady — even thriving.
  • Amazon said it was hiring 100,000 warehouse workers to meet surging demand. Facebook traffic for video calling and messaging had exploded.
  • Microsoft said the numbers using its software for online collaboration had climbed nearly 40 percent in a week.
  • Amazon has muscled in on brick-and-mortar retailers for years, but shoppers now reluctant to go to the store are turning to the e-commerce giant for a wider variety of goods, like groceries and over-the-counter drugs.
  • Streaming services like Netflix have dampened box office sales for movies in recent years. Now, as movie theaters close under government orders, Netflix and YouTube are gaining a new audience.
  • Companies were already dumping their own data centers to rent computing from Amazon, Microsoft and Google. That shift is likely to speed up as millions of employees are forced to work from home, putting a strain on corporate technology infrastructures.
  • The largest tech companies could emerge on the other side of this much stronger.
 

Ing

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My mum lives in a nice rented apartment but can't close her washing machine. The door is too stiff and I can't even close it by hand myself - I have to push it shut with my knee.

Because of that she's been getting her weekly cleaner to take away her clothes, clean them, and bring them back. Her cleaner can't come in and clean but will be round this morning to drop off a bag of clean clothes and pick up a back of dirty clothes.

How many other people struggle to get their clothes cleaned?

My mum will also struggle to change her bed linen. I'm not sure how we'll address that just yet...
Too far away, but I would like to repair your moms washing machine.
Did it with dryer on monday ad today.

(Why do I do such things always for free?.)
 
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Andy Black

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Too far away, but I would like to repair your moms washing machine.
Did it with dryer on monday ad today.

(Why do I do such things always for free?.)
Thanks. I'll have to get it fixed. It wasn't a problem with the cleaner coming in and out each week. Self-sufficiency is a phrase top of mind now though.
 

valuecreator

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I don't know about the US or Europe, but here in Australia all the places that sell vegetable seedlings and seeds have been completely cleaned up.

So I'm getting my boys to grow a massive amount of seedlings right now that they should start selling in about two weeks.

The cash will go into cryptos in the good old compounding grid. My boys calculated that for every $100 profit they make with this they should have around $2K worth of cryptos in 3 years. That's if the price stays are today's level. But that's another story.
 

Kevin88660

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Remote work is one area lots of people talked about on this forum. I think one missing area is about being a contractor to provide service to governments.

Remote work after all might be a temporary need. I think we should look at areas where there will be permanent changes in gov regulation and business landscape.

One problem faced today is people not following quarantine orders. If you could write an app for law enforcement to keep track of peoples’ phone locations it will be a good proxy to monitor them. You cannot have a tracker on the feet to quarantine thats too invasive and humiliating. An app on the phone is much more gentle. The app itself will have much more further application than to monitor on quarantine compliance.
 
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minivanman

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Get started today because others are...... what have many people been doing during this time TOGETHER at home? Making babies. Think ahead, this could be your opportunity. Baby showers, baby gifts, health of mom & baby, baby product reviews and so many other things. Even weddings will come from the makings of babies. If I were to start an online business, I might go one of these routes. Let us know if you do and if you do, let us know how it goes for you.

Just think of how many babies were made during the typing of this message..... and then again, just think of how many were.... well, we won't go there..... :wideyed: ;)
 

Mckenzie

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Get started today because others are...... what have many people been doing during this time TOGETHER at home? Making babies. Think ahead, this could be your opportunity. Baby showers, baby gifts, health of mom & baby, baby product reviews and so many other things. Even weddings will come from the makings of babies. If I were to start an online business, I might go one of these routes. Let us know if you do and if you do, let us know how it goes for you.

Just think of how many babies were made during the typing of this message..... and then again, just think of how many were.... well, we won't go there..... :wideyed: ;)
Like the baby boomers generation post-war 1945?!
 
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Mckenzie

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The impact of this event is about to put some big demands on the mental health space. I, myself, am starting to feel the effects of this. I am already mentally exhausted.
My daughter is working at a hospital & taking care of a Covid19 ward. she has to self isolate herself after work, she feels very tired & lonely....so, I got her a puppy! ..... Dog breeder as a business, anyone?
 

reedracer

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My daughter is working at a hospital & taking care of a Covid19 ward. she has to self isolate herself after work, she feels very tired & lonely....so, I got her a puppy! ..... Dog breeder as a business, anyone?
I saw an article about shelters being emptied as folks are using this as a great time to adopt dogs.
 

Mckenzie

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I loved that recording @Andy Black

The hard part is becoming qualified to answer the questions that help people without any real skills. Economics major + clothing store salesperson = useless.
Use your economic knowledge/degree to explain to the world how this pandemic crisis affecting their lives, and how the world is turning up side down when everyone is staying home with no income....etc...all this can be done using blogs, YouTube ...and capitalise on it.
 
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Mckenzie

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Addiction will soon be an issue. So many people stressed out because of the outbreak or because they can't work and are dealing with it by drinking, smoking, porn and taking drugs. Just look at the US news for the number of booze deliveries companies are making. Going back to the workforce when this is all over will impact a lot of us and some might not be ready to go back to "normal living".

How are we going to help the guy that starts drinking at 10 AM because he has nothing better to do?
I read An article yesterday predicting divorces will skyrocket after this ., and what you said here was one of the reasons
 

Andy Black

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I think I saw an article about divorces going up in Japan due to couples having to live in closer proximity than normal.

Online counselling?
 
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ChrisV

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I’m so mad. I went to order on Peapod (Grocery Delivery service in New England) and they were so backed up it would take 2 weeks for delivery. I asked if they can just pack the stuff up so I can pick it up, but they’re so overwhelmed that they couldn’t.

Like... you’ve had hundreds of people just temporarily laid off and people don’t want to go out. it’s the perfect opportunity to just temporarily hire some of these people.

If there’s one thing I hate it’s a missed golden opportunity. This kinda goes back to my “why economists don’t now their own lawn” thread. Someone who works at Stop and Shop knows where each item is and can grab these groceries in 1/3rd if the time it would take me or anyone else. Plus it’s less viral exposure for EVERYONE. Having 40 people shopping is not sanitary right now.

it takes me forever to find shit. I go down my list and one thing is in Aisle 4, then aisle 17, then aisle 4 again. I try to make a game plan to minimize travel distance, but there’s always some lost efficiency.
 

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