My Idea Today

A social networking site based on polls.  Rather than developing a site where a person states their current status and interacts with others based on that status, why not develop a site that is based on a user asking a question?

The site would allow user sto create polls.  Friends would select from the available selections and this would create conversation between friends.

Polls users create would range from broad political issues to detailed specific things for friends, such as, “What show should I see tonight?”.  The users should have the option to display their polls to the public or just their network of friend.

If you’ve ever been to a NASCAR race, you know about the trailers.  All NASCAR races have a section outside the track where souvenirs are sold.

Every NASCAR driver has 1 or more trailers (depending on how popular they are).  There’s also general NASCAR trailers, sponsor trailers, local business trailers or tents, food carts, etc.  It’s a giant souvenir mall.  It’s a custom to walk the trailers before and after races, and very rarely do you ever get through without buying something.  Whether it’s a T-shirt of your favorite driver, or signing up for a credit card to get a free race bag, it’s hard to escape without holding something and a lighter wallet?  It’s one of the main reasons NASCAR is an all day event.

Why don’t other sporting events do this.  Let’s use the NFL as an example.  Why don’t the stadiums have a section for trailers?  Each home team player could have a trailer selling souvenirs such as their jersey, t-shirts, stickers, key chains, etc.  The away team could have their trailers also.  The trailers would travel with the team just like they do in NASCAR.  There would be general NFL trailers, Sponsor trailers, Monday Night Football trailers, food, etc.

NASCAR drivers make a lot of their money through souvenir sales on race day.  Why can’t NFL players make as much money off souvenir sales on game day?  Could decrease or help control player salaries if their making more money at each game from selling stuff from their trailers.

Dale jr. has 3 - 4 trailers that are always extremely busy selling at each race because of his popularity.  It’s something all the other drivers are envious of and aspire to do.  Tom Brady would probably have multiple trailers, and lower end QB’s would being trying to do and say what they need to, to get the fan base to increase their sales at each game and maybe warrant more trailers.

I know you’ve read this entire post thinking “but they sell souvenirs in the stadium”.  It’s not the same.  Trust me.  Who’s buying souvenirs during the game? Most don’t want to miss the action.  The trailers are part of the all day race experience.  Tailgaters (both before and after the race) can walk up to the trailers and purchase something, beer in hand, and go back to the parking lot party, change into their new favorite t-shirt all before the race even starts.  Never having to use their ticket to actually stand in lines and get in.  Race done?  Traffic’s gonna be bad, so might as well stroll through the trailers before heading to the car.  Plus, you’re friends are firing up the post race tailgating grill so you’ve got time before the burger’s done.

One other aspect of the trailers is a lot of NASCAR drivers show up to their trailers for autographs.  You can buy something to be autographed and meet your favorite driver.  I’ve purchased caps from drivers I really don’t even care for because they were there signing.  I’ve got quite the collection going.

Something I’ve never understood is why large corporations don’t buy their suppliers. Are there legal/regulatory reasons it can’t be done? You see a lot of mergers and acquisitions to expand the companies offerings, increase their customer base, or just flat out own the market, but why not buy suppliers and increase profit?

Here’s what I’m talking about. A large bakery could buy a flour company. Maybe even a sugar company. A publisher could buy a paper company. Google could buy Sun. My point is, rather than going through all the restructering and inventing synergies (cutting jobs and then rehiring them when they realize real life isn’t the same as paper) that come from merging with or buying similar companies, why not buy a supplier and reap the rewards of the new customers the supplier gives you PLUS effectively paying wholesale or less for your needs. You decrease expenses, while gaining revenue from the existing supplier customers.

Semi truck trailers are just as big as billboards, so why not use them as mobile billboards?

I know a lot of the trucks, and their trailers, on the road are owned by companies, so they, of course, have their own company logos and advertising on them, but what about all those privately owned trucks and trailers?

A company could pay a semi truck owner to have their advertising on the side of a truck.  They could pay the owner either for permanent  ad placement, or for temporary.   The temporary could be for a certain time frame or even for just a certain haul, like say pay for your ad to run on trips from Dallas to San Fransisco.  You could even build an advertising system on the side of the trailer that changes every now an then.

Truck owners would then be paid not only for what their hauling, but also for advertising.  This would help with the higher gasoline prices and maybe help keep shipping costs from increasing so much.

Why is it that the majority of restaurants that offer delivery are pizza places?

There used to be a steak restaurant close to where I live called “Main Street Grill”, that provided a delivery service and it was great! they delivered (to your home) steak, grilled chicken salad, chicken wings, etc. They even had a children’s menu. They may still exist, but they changed their name and I’ve lost track of them.

Why doesn’t Taco Bell deliver? McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Arby’s? I understand the cost factor, but I also understand quite a few of us would pay a delivery surcharge to have a meal other than pizza or Chinese delivered to my door.