It’s about to be summer in New Orleans again, that time of year when most of us barely want to raise a finger, let alone go out and launch a new enterprise.
However, if you think about it, summer offers some unique entrepreneurial opportunities. For instance…
Sidewalk cafes Literally! Everyone says the sidewalks in summer here are hot enough to fry an egg on – but why stop there? Surely that much heat could grill everything from pancakes to hamburgers, oysters to hash browns. Every city neighborhood would feature its own special tastes — certainly the sidewalks in Lakeview offer different flavors than those in the French Quarter. A low-investment, ultimate pop-up opportunity.
Mosquito racing The only thing more aggravating than the temperatures in summer are the mosquitos. But instead of just swatting these pesky critters, why not harness them for entertainment? Grab some old, clear tubing, cut it into foot-long pieces, lash the pieces together, catch some skeeters, put one in the near end of each tube, convince some poor soul to put the other end up against their leg, and you’re off to the races! Hard to believe that Caesar’s or the Fair Grounds wouldn’t want to sponsor this. And for extra entertainment value, have your “finish line” friend chug a half bottle of hot sauce before post time and see which mosquito not only bites first but is also the first to explode from the super-spiced blood.
Humidity spa We all hate the humidity almost as much as the heat and mosquitos, but remember, that’s what keeps our skin looking so young — and therein lies another great opportunity. Just find an unused barstool, draw up a quick sign, maybe raise up an old beach umbrella for a little shade, and open your very own on-street spa, featuring all-natural humidity facials. No supplies needed, you just rub the humidity that’s already in the air into someone’s face, for that ever-youthful appearance.
Fan on a truck If we can have roaming keyboard concerts enabled by Piano on a Truck, we can certainly lash a couple giant fans to the bed of an old pickup and hire it out for family picnics, front yard cookouts or just some old-fashioned stoop sitting. For an additional fee, a water drip system down onto the fans would spray a gentle, cooling mist over your customers. What a great way to experience outdoors in summer without melting away completely.
Snowball fights There are only so many snowballs even the most dedicated New Orleanian can eat over the course of a summer. But for snowball makers, here’s a great way to boost sales. Few locals have ever experienced the exotic thrill of throwing snowballs at each other, and the pleasure would only be enhanced by getting hit by your favorite flavor. For the over-21 crowd, lacing the snowballs with some adult beverages only adds to the fun.
Reverse tattoos This combines the ongoing popularity of tats with the fact that some people are crazy enough to venture into the summer sun to get a tan. Get yourself some heavy-duty tape — medical or duct will do — and cut up various sized rectangles. Then draw nice silhouette designs on the tape pieces and sell them to the sun-worshipers. Before hitting the beach or the swimming pool, your still-pale customers will cut out the designs and affix the tape to their skins. A few bursts of dangerous UV rays later, they will have lovely reverse tattoos offsetting beautifully their pre-cancerous skin.
Sure, it’s only June, summer hasn’t actually begun, but you should start working on these amazing entrepreneurial opportunities ASAP. Strike now, before the iron gets too hot!
Keith Twitchell spent 16 years running his own business before becoming president of the Committee for a Better New Orleans. He has observed, supported and participated in entrepreneurial ventures at the street, neighborhood, nonprofit, micro- and macro-business levels.
