AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Next Big Idea? SuiteArrival, Toiletries Delivery for Travelershttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/05/the-next-big-idea-suitearrival-toiletries-delivery-for-travele/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/05/the-next-big-idea-suitearrival-toiletries-delivery-for-travele/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/05/the-next-big-idea-suitearrival-toiletries-delivery-for-travele/#commentsFiled under:

An bottle of Scope exploding in his suitcase led Michael Lewis to quit his six-figure salary job and start a business in which travelers can order toiletries and have them delivered to their destination.

 

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]]>starting a businessThe Next Big Ideatravel toiletries deliverySmall Business Staff2011-05-05T15:30:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? Rent the Runway, a Designer Clothing Rental Servicehttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/27/the-next-big-idea-rent-the-runway-a-designer-clothing-rental-s/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/27/the-next-big-idea-rent-the-runway-a-designer-clothing-rental-s/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/04/27/the-next-big-idea-rent-the-runway-a-designer-clothing-rental-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Consider it Netflix for couture. With Rent the Runway, women have access to some 15,000 designer dresses that they can wear once and send back. They'll even throw in the dry cleaning.

 

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]]>clothing rentalclothing rental servicesfashionJennifer HymanJenny FleissRent the Runway foundersThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasCharlotte Jensen2011-04-27T14:00:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? Butch Bakery, Cupcakes for Guyshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/03/the-next-big-idea-butch-bakery-cupcakes-for-guys/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/03/the-next-big-idea-butch-bakery-cupcakes-for-guys/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/03/the-next-big-idea-butch-bakery-cupcakes-for-guys/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

David Arrick was intrigued by the cupcake craze, but realized all the tasty offerings out there seemed, well, a little girly. So he cashed in his 401(k) and began selling "aesthetically masculine" cupcakes made with beer, bacon and other manly ingredients.

 

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]]>best cupcakesbest cupcakes New Yorkcupcakescupcakes for guysDavid Arrickhow to start a businesshow to start a cupcake businessMagnolia Bakerystarting a businessThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasPatrick Sauer2011-03-03T15:00:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? Games2U, A Literal Party on Wheelshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/18/the-next-big-idea-games2u-a-literal-party-on-wheels/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/18/the-next-big-idea-games2u-a-literal-party-on-wheels/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/18/the-next-big-idea-games2u-a-literal-party-on-wheels/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Brothers Stuart and David Pikoff retrofit vans and trailers and turn them into mobile party units, complete with video games, laser tag and "human hamster balls." Could this be America's funnest franchise?

 

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]]>best franchisesDavid Pikoffentertainment franchisesfranchisesGames2UGames2U foundersGames2U franchisehow to buy a franchiseStuart PikoffThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasPatrick Sauer2011-01-18T18:30:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? BoomCase Brings Back the Boombox -- Using Old Suitcaseshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/05/the-next-big-idea-boomcase-brings-back-the-boom-box-using-ol/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/05/the-next-big-idea-boomcase-brings-back-the-boom-box-using-ol/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/01/05/the-next-big-idea-boomcase-brings-back-the-boom-box-using-ol/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Dominic Francisco Odbert takes vintage suitcases and transforms them into iPod stereos that have become a favorite of audiophiles. In fact, business is so good, he's putting grad school on hold.

 

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]]>best iPod docksboom boxboomboxBoomCaseDominic Francisco OdbertiPodiPod dockiPod stereostarting a businessstartupThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasyoung entrepreneursPatrick Sauer2011-01-05T14:30:00+00:00How to Make $500,000 a Year Wearing T-Shirtshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/09/how-to-make-500-000-a-year-wearing-t-shirts/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/09/how-to-make-500-000-a-year-wearing-t-shirts/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/12/09/how-to-make-500-000-a-year-wearing-t-shirts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Each year, hundreds of companies pay 28-year-old Jason Sadler to wear T-shirts with their logos -- and then promote his fashion statement through Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Consider it the modern-day sandwich board.

 

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]]>best brandsI Wear Your ShirtIWearYourShirtIWearYourShirt.comJason Sadleronline advertisingThe Next Big IdeaTwitter marketingunique business ideasviral marketingworst brandsyoung millionairesYouTube marketingGeoff Williams2010-12-09T18:00:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? Universal Record Database, Where World Records Meet Stupid Human Trickshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/29/the-next-big-idea-universal-record-database-where-wor/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/29/the-next-big-idea-universal-record-database-where-wor/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/29/the-next-big-idea-universal-record-database-where-wor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

From "Most Giraffe Tattoos on a Shoulder" to "Fastest Time to Peel a Clementine," URDB has become a Wikipedia-of-sorts for some of the world's quirkiest records.

 

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]]>Corey HendersonDan RollmanGuiness bookGuinness World Recordshow to break a world recordThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasUniversal Record DatabaseURDBURDB recordsURDB world recordsworld recordsPatrick Sauer2010-11-29T15:00:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? The Silly Stand for Silly Bandzhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/15/the-next-big-idea-the-silly-stand-for-silly-bandz/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/15/the-next-big-idea-the-silly-stand-for-silly-bandz/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/15/the-next-big-idea-the-silly-stand-for-silly-bandz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Dave Gerolemon and Chad Walters are hoping to cash in on the Silly Bandz craze with a stand that helps kids organize their rubber bracelet collections.

 

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]]>Chad WaltersDave GerolemoninventionsOriginal Silly StandSilly BandsSilly BandzSilly Bandz collectionSilly Bandz organizerSilly Bandz storageSilly StandThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasGeoff Williams2010-11-15T12:00:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? In Search of the Next Snuggiehttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/10/the-next-big-idea-in-search-of-the-next-snuggie/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/10/the-next-big-idea-in-search-of-the-next-snuggie/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/11/10/the-next-big-idea-in-search-of-the-next-snuggie/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

With 20 million sold, the Snuggie has become big business. Now the inventors of SnugglePies and the Uni-Lazy are putting their own spin on the wildly popular "blanket with sleeves."

 

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]]>Allstar Products GroupForever LazyslanketSnuggieSnuggie inventorSnugglePiesThe Next Big IdeaUni-LazyUniLazyLauren Drell2010-11-10T15:00:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? Atayne, Clothing Made Out of Trashhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/09/26/the-next-big-idea-atayne-clothing-made-out-of-trash/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/09/26/the-next-big-idea-atayne-clothing-made-out-of-trash/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/09/26/the-next-big-idea-atayne-clothing-made-out-of-trash/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

A jog on a humid day inspired Jeremy Litchfield to quit his job and start an athletic apparel company -- that makes its clothes from recycled, environmentally friendly materials.

 

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]]>AtayneB Corporationenvironmentally friendlyenvironmentally friendly clothinggreen businessgreen manufacturingJeremy Litchfieldrecycled bottlesrecycled clothingThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasGeoff Williams2010-09-26T12:00:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? SwitchFlops, the $30 Million School Projecthttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/09/01/the-next-big-idea-switchflops-the-30-million-school/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/09/01/the-next-big-idea-switchflops-the-30-million-school/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/09/01/the-next-big-idea-switchflops-the-30-million-school/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

At 16, Lindsay Phillips came up with the idea for a flip-flop with interchangeable straps during art class. Today, she's running a $30 million company.

 

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]]>flip-flopsLindsay PhillipsRandy GageRollins Collegestarting a businessSwitchFlopsThe Next Big Ideaunique business ideasGeoff Williams2010-09-01T16:00:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? Farm Boy & Girl, Farm-Inspired Fashionhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/08/29/the-next-big-idea-farm-boy-and-girl-farm-inspired-fashi/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/08/29/the-next-big-idea-farm-boy-and-girl-farm-inspired-fashi/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/08/29/the-next-big-idea-farm-boy-and-girl-farm-inspired-fashi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Consider it Abercrombie with a country twist. How two Minnesota natives made farm clothing hip and turned it into a $2.5 million company.

 

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]]>AbercrombieBrian GoldenmanCavaendersDan AdamsonFarm Boy and Girlfarm clothesfarm fashionFFAFuture Farmers of AmericaJohn DeereMarie MahaneyMinnesota State FairThe Next Big IdeaWranglerPatrick Sauer2010-08-29T13:45:00+00:00The Next Big Idea? BrewDog, Where Beer Meets Taxidermyhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/08/05/the-next-big-idea-brewdog-where-beer-meets-taxidermy/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/08/05/the-next-big-idea-brewdog-where-beer-meets-taxidermy/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/08/05/the-next-big-idea-brewdog-where-beer-meets-taxidermy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

BrewDog's "The End of History" ale may be the strongest beer in the history of the world. Did we mention it comes in bottles wrapped in roadkill?

 

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]]>beerBrewDogBrewDog beerJames WattMartin DickieTactical Nuclear PenguintaxidermyThe End of HistoryThe End of History aleThe Next Big Ideaworlds strongest beerLauren Drell2010-08-05T16:15:00+00:00