A good idea takes a common idea, product or service and makes it better.  Zonkey does just that, taking the mundane and giving it some jazz.  The company is a retailer of vibrant colored USB cables.  Not only does the the company take the basic black color and offer lively alternatives, it has a host of custom options including:

• Connector Options
• Private Labels and Logos
• Custom Colors and Lengths
• Straight or Coiled Cables
• “Redonkulous” Designs
• Glow in the Dark options

On top of offering a great product to those who are concerned about fashion and function, consumers can rest assured that the products they purchased are made well.

Manufactured in the United States, Zonkey products are quality items that are 100% tested.  How’s that for customer service!  At a price point of around $29.99, some might question the need for an item like this.

We think that the price point is fair for a few reasons.  First, and most important, this isn’t your normal basic cheap cable from Hong Kong.  This is a well made, fashion item that appeals to those who want something fresh and different.   For a person who wants an item that makes a statement about who they are and what they like, Zonkey products do just that in an instant.

We love this line and thank Zonkey for bringing it to our attention.  To purchase a cable or learn more please visit their website.

How does it all work and what are the benefits of doing such a test?  There are a number of reasons why someone might want to take their own test.  As the company mentions on their homepage,

“Mutations in our genetic material make us unique, give us special abilities and advantages, but also create barriers and cause increased susceptibility to diseases, obesity and lack of performance compared to the general population.”

The Benefits of DNA Testing

SaluDNA breaks the focus of the testing into a few categories: Anti-Aging, Health, Weight-loss, and Athletics.  Ever heard someone say that is just runs in their genes? SaluDNA may just be able to prove that claim.

The testing done by the company can determine things such as specific nutritional needs for the protection of your body, the reaction of your body to the use of certain drugs and nutritional supplements, your possible increased risk to medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and others.

In terms of athletics, the testing by SaluDNA can look at things like the ACTN-3, which is known to be directly linked with fast twitch muscle contraction.   If the patient is found to have the mutation of the ACTN-3 gene, then it is an indication that they are predesposed to have power, strength and speed.

On top of it, someone can learn all of this using a very simple procedure and at fairly reasonable price of just $550.00.

The DNA Test Procedure

The test procedure requires no blood samples and takes only a few minutes.  A simple cheek swab is done, DNA is isolated and then analyzed for detection of mutations.  Clients will receive a personalized report with an interpretation about the results and personalized guidelines regarding how one can use that to his/her advantage.

Why SaluDNA is a Good Buy

Purchasing a DNA test may seem like a far out approach to health, well-being or athletic performance, but we beg to differ.  A test can be looked at as preventative approach to possible problems.  Understanding DNA is like understanding what road your body may be taking and realizing any future problems with that route.

SaluDNA provides a simple way for people that want to be proactive in their area of life to do so and we think it’s a great buy.  Visit SaluDNA to learn more.

A simple idea, the Beauty Spoon is a “Beauty Tool that helps you spoon out all your creams, serums, lotions, gels and other products.”  The design is one with an ergonomic handle, a hot pink color and a contoured spoon for scooping out as much liquid as possible.

The spoon is promoted as “Paying for itself after the first use.”  At a price point of $9.99 (for two), purchasing the Beauty Spoon can be looked at as an investment rather than an expense.  On top of the monetary gain, the Beauty Spoon should be marketed as a life-saver for those moments when make-up is too low to reach with a finger.

This a great product because it can be reused with a simple wash, it saves people money and helps eradicate the waste of perfectly good products.  If you have a Beauty Spoon or have comments, please leave them below.

Best Magnetic Eyeglass Holder

Pictured below, Magnetic Holders is a two part design.

The back is a magnet, the front a holder with a short loop where eyeglasses hang.  To put the holder on, simply connect the magnet together with the holder.  To take it off, simply slide the magnet and holder apart.  That’s all there is to it.

The Magnetic Holders comes in original zinc color, white, black and even orange.  The loops are even offered in different styles.  At a price of $12.95 and free shipping, the Magnetic Holder is a steal.

It’s best to look at a purchase in terms of the long term value of the item or service being received.  If one pair of glasses are saved by this simple item, money is saved and the product has paid for itself.

We love this magnetic eyeglass holder because it serves a vital purpose in a simple but powerful way.  The magnet is said to hold up to nearly three pounds of weight.  Glasses don’t weigh that much, but the design is one that is made to stay put in an easily accessible place.

On top of that, Magnetic Holders can serve as a badge holder, can hold safety glasses or even Bluetooth headsets. To purchase Magnetic Holders visit their website at Magneticeyeglassholder.com.  If you currently have a Magnetic Holder or have any input on them, please leave your response below.

Environmentally Safe Bottled Water – Recovery Water

In layman’s terms,  compared to normal plastic water bottles, Recovery Water bottles will not only decompose hundreds of years faster, they can still be recycled.  This is a huge win for all who live on this planet.

Why Recovery Water might be a great start up product

It’s about time we (as a society) start addressing the plastic issue associated with bottled water use.  If bottled water is a must, environmentally safe bottled water should be a must as well.

Recovery Water has taken a positive step towards that goal and we haven’t been more excited about a new product in a long time.  This product should and will sell itself.

Some questions about marketing a new product like Recovery Water

While it may sound crazy (or maybe not), recycling companies tend to dislike products that are safe for the environment. Why? If the recycling industry doesn’t have products to recycle, it doesn’t have a business model.

Recovery Water is recyclable, therefore it should appease both consumers and recycling companies alike, and for that we expect to see this brand become a big hit.  If you have thoughts or knowledge regarding bottled water recycling, Recovery Water or anything else, please comment below.

Based in Miami, Florida, the FLOweRIDA headbands as they are properly called (a take on Florida and Flower in case you didn’t catch it) are unique headbands, accented with clusters of fabric flowers.

baby_flower_headband

The target market seems to be more focused on adolescents and young adults, but the website declares that women of all ages can wear and look good in FLOweRida headbands.  We tend to agree.  If worn with the right outfit, the flowers serve as a great and easy accessory no matter what age group.

The flower headbands come in an array of different colors and styles.  All of the selections are evenly priced at $16.00.  This is a competitive price for the intimate attention each and every headband receives.

The nice thing about buying flower headbands from a company like this is getting a high-quality product.  We love the small business because as a consumer you tend to get more attention to detail and friendly customer service.

On top of these benefits, Dianaya is offering to give 15% off proceeds to help fight animal cruelty.   We hope if you’re in the market for a new gift or something for yourself you will keep these beautiful headbands in mind.

If you have a headband or would like to leave a review, please do so below.

Finally a Stylish Whiteboard

Hidden Whiteboard - A Stylish Whiteboard Decoration

The design of the hidden whiteboard is straightforward.  It is basically a picture frame that opens up to a white inside (the whiteboard) and closes using magnetic locking and plexi-glass to ensure safety.  From the images, it looks rather well designed and made.  All products are made to order thus quality craftsmanship is put into each and every product.

Why the Hidden Whiteboard might be a great start up product

We like the Hidden Whiteboard because it cleans up space that is unnecessarily cluttered by a large, obtrusive object.  We are all for simplicity and clean aesthetics.   This product may not make sense in a school or office setting, but in certain occasions it could be a blessing.  Home offices are a perfect example where this product could shine.

Some questions about marketing a new product like the Hidden Whiteboard

As mentioned above, we are a fan of the idea and company.  The only problem we see is the high-price point.   The cheapest option starts at $79 plus shipping. We understand the quality craftsmanship put into each and every product, but we don’t feel that at the current price-point it could blossom into a mainstream product.

That is not to say it is a bad deal, but rather there is probably not enough demand at that price point for people who may not need the product to purchase it.  If plans are to automate production we could see this product being a big hit.  To purchase or view the Hidden Whiteboard visit this link.  For your thoughts, leave them below.

Market a Product for Free by Product Root

This list by Product Root provides a quick, full blown way of getting your product off the ground.  Here is the list:

1. Productroot.com. Biased? Yes. But we do sincerely believe that having us review your product and placing it on our homepage will get your company great exposure. Our reviews come up quickly in the search rankings.  Follow this link.

2. Animoto.com. Make a simple video describing your product and upload it to Youtube. Animoto.com is a simple tool that allows anyone to create a video in minutes. Upload it to Youtube filled with relevant keywords and it should come up in the rankings very quickly.

3. Killerstartups.com. If you have a new website, Killer Startups is the place to go. They review up and coming start-ups and place them on their homepage for users to vote on.

4. Google Maps/Local listings. Add your business to Google Places. Start by using GetListed.org to check my local listings on Google, Yahoo, and a couple other primary local search sites.   Also create a local business ad for Google Maps

5. Flickr.com. Join a Flickr group related to your product or company and post your photos. Add links and basic info about your product through your profile.

6. GoogleBase.  This is probably one of the greatest opportunities to get exposure for new products.  Google has a link titled ‘Shopping’ on the top of its homepage.  If you type a product name or keyword into Google’s search bar and then hit the link ‘Shopping’, relevant products from individual websites show up.  To get your product on this all you need to do is configure your site for GoogleBase.  Follow the link to learn more.  This is definitely worth your time!

7. Microsoft AdCenter.   Everytime you search on Bing or Yahoo you will see ads that pop on the top of the page related to what you are looking for.  These are sponsored ads.  For as little as you want to spend, you too can have your ads appear when people are searching for relevant terms to your product.

8. Google Adwords.   The same as Microsoft AdCenter above.  Except instead of advertising on Yahoo and Bing, this is for Google.  Note that Google advertising can get very expensive quickly.  Keep a close eye on the effectiveness of your campaign.

9. WordPress.com or Blogger.com.  Create a free blog around your product or idea.  If you utilize proper keywords and make the content interesting, your blog will begin to rank on the search engines.

10. Submit your Site to Trade Organization Sites and Specialized Directories.  Some directories are focused on particular industries, such as education or finance. You probably belong to various trade associations that feature member directories. Ask for a link. Even if you have to pay something for a link from the organization, it may help boost your PageRank.

11. Submit a press release. Write a press release on a new product or offering and send it to some free press release distribution sites. Follow their guidelines for submission so you don’t waste your time editing and re-doing work.

12. Fiverr.com.  Search the marketing section of Fiverr.com for thousands of marketing ideas all under $5.00.

13.  Craigslist.org.  Regardless of what your product or company is, there is probably a spot for it on the world’s largest classified site.  You would be a fool to not take advantage of this great, free tool.

14.  Google Product Reviews.  Every business owner knows that reviews or testimonials are crucial to a company or product’s success.  Through the Google Product Reviews Program, Google leverages your high-quality user reviews and ratings to attract more customers, by surfacing the content wherever it’s relevant for shoppers on Google, including their search results and advertising programs.  It’s free to set up and you just need to follow the steps here.

15. SEOmoz - A new product must rank well in the search engines if you wish to receive online sales. If you would prefer professionals to handle your , SEOmoz are the guys to do it. Their software is amazing. Better, they offer a free 30 day trial. If you’re not happy or change your mind, cancel.

The quick-wrap is constructed of aluminium and steel and is built to last. Weighing in at less than 4 ounces this compact, portable, hand-held wrap roller fights well above its weight class.

Why Quick-Wrap is great start-up product

Any new product must fill a need or create a desire.  Quick-wrap does the former, providing a useful product for a niche market of consumers.  We see a strong demand for this product in Gyms and martial arts stores.  To purchase or even distribute the Quick-wrap hand wrap tool follow this link.

Z-Access Display frame for objects

Some ideas for use of the Z-Access frame include: displaying baby keepsakes, arranging memorable items from that special first date, for sports memorabilia, arrange family heirlooms, special keepsakes and other memories such as photos, jewelry, pocket watches, etc., proudly displaying military medals, pins, or other earned accolades.

Why the Z-Access display frame is better than a traditional shadow box

The Z-Access frame allows true 3-D viewing of an item. Rather than placing an item in a box and putting it on the wall, the Z-Access 3-D display frame can be placed on a counter, on a desk or anywhere else that is deemed appropriate.  This allows for a more complete viewing of your important keepsakes.

Why the Z-Access 3-D Case could be a great start-up product

We love the idea brought forth by this company because it fills a need in a stylish manner and at a fair price. The frame made by Z-Access would make a great gift for professionals, for young children, or for anyone that enjoys decorating.

The only downfall we see with this frame is the limited size frames available.  Currently Z-Access only sells its display frame in 6″ x 4″ frame.  The addition of more sizes would increase the versatility of this product.