This is the fourth degree out from idea
at 7 I'll write about that process.
Concept Contained Within Free for Common Use.
Dear Mr. Spurlock,
I well enjoy your content creation and reporting, by having a foot in the stream you still have one on the land and can show us here what its like, and we'll believe you because you're wet. Thanks for getting wet.
I attempt similar in my own small efforts, on my site the chicken harvesting series is good raw look at processing chickens in a humane way. I have a business background and try and use those assets to help drive forward things I believe in.
Ok, so what I'd like to do is pitch you on a show concept. I have a deep seated belief that the economy is fundamentally shifting because of equalizers, like the internet, that help bring down the costs of entry and performance by businesses. I have created 50 easily accessible and communicable videos that are hosted for free, shot on a hd camera purchased off craigslist for $150 (the same cost as getting my business cards), edited on free software distributed for free through email. I get over a thousand new views a week, which is beyond tiny, but compared with the value of an advertisement impression for a business 10 years ago? This is a long long long argument that I can easily defend. As a reference I enjoy http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/85, its crushing of; the growth model as the basis for economic policy, is hilarious!
This may sound rambling but what I'm driving at is business models are quickly shifting because of changes coming faster than ever before. For example, Would you invest in a factory that made anything but it took 3 years to build the factory? …..I'm guessing no, because how would you know the thing would still be in demand? Or that your method of manufacturing would still be the most cost effective way? Or that your raw materials would be affordable to make the product at a certain price? Or that your labor costs would allow you to hit certain price points?
The uncertainty for large investments keeps the big money fluid, and things change so quickly that if the elephant sits it will be devoured by the army of ants. Being an ant, I say, Power to the ants!
I've come up with something through my own life experiences and it needs money (and/or, the latter can easily become the former) and attention to get it off the ground. I believe the story could be told and through that a much larger goal of its adoption in the world. I would propose a month to fabricate and test as a business, as is your style, a prototype of each unit. The following letter sent to a Toyota specialist explains:
Dr. XXXXX,
After doing some research it would seem like you are THE Toyota expert, so I had something I'd like to run by you. I'm trying to approach the company with a business concept and I thought you might have some suggestions on who to contact or how to proceed.
First off, I came upon this idea because I started a little restaurant I run out of a farmers market. I carry everything in my car, set it up and make gourmet diner food. You can see a video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tICZk1LOjs The problem is because of the classification of my setup I can only operate in conjunction with an event, which puts me at the mercy of others. The next tier up is a taco truck, a mobile food facility, where I can operate anywhere within the county I'm permitted in. The problem there is a used truck runs $15,000 or higher, which I do not have. However, after reading the health code statutes, I'm certain I can build the needed facilities off of a normal truck but I would design it so that it could be easily removed to allow access to the truck as a normal vehicle. With some ingenuity and used parts I expect to be able to build the body for under $2,000 and then 3-4 for a good used Toyota Truck.
This got me to thinking, how many other business models could be encapsulated in a mobile box? Let me explain why I think its important first--its the difference between owning the means of production or feeding the system. My friend has a fixed restaurant and his overhead is 15,000 a month. If he has a few bad months he loses his restaurant and all the effort he put into it, whereas if he had a taco truck it would be paid for with business failure being a much more distant possibility. Owning the means outright gives the proprietor much more flexibility and security. I remember in a marketing class learning about some innovative furniture manufacturer who broke up his assembly line into work groups with islands and how that change offered a better mix for the mix of customization and mass production his customers desired. This concept would allow for the same, an individual could have a couple of different businesses and then attach the specific body to the truck for whatever was called for that day. These are the different businesses I think could take advantage of this model, I have a lot more information on each one, but for brevity's sake:
1. Pet Grooming
2. Barbershop
3. Restaurant
4. Microgreens Growing
5. Carpet Cleaning
6. Car Washing
7. Saw Mill (Board Lumber Milling)
8. Plumbing
9. Electrician
10. Carpentry
11. Landscaping/Arborist
12. Field Office
13. Tour Guide (Camper)
14. Auto Repair
15. Field Kitchen (for large scale cooking or preserving for gleaned produce)
16. Veterinarian
17. Masseuse
18. Pool/Hot Tub Cleaning
19. Fish Tank Cleaning / Interior Plant Scaping for commercial property
20. Computer Repair
I realize that almost all of these are already being done out of trucks, in one way or another, but in an unstandardized way. If the production was coordinated by a company with the resources like Toyota they could reap many, many economies of scale.
After doing some research it would seem like you are THE Toyota expert, so I had something I'd like to run by you. I'm trying to approach the company with a business concept and I thought you might have some suggestions on who to contact or how to proceed.
First off, I came upon this idea because I started a little restaurant I run out of a farmers market. I carry everything in my car, set it up and make gourmet diner food. You can see a video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tICZk1LOjs The problem is because of the classification of my setup I can only operate in conjunction with an event, which puts me at the mercy of others. The next tier up is a taco truck, a mobile food facility, where I can operate anywhere within the county I'm permitted in. The problem there is a used truck runs $15,000 or higher, which I do not have. However, after reading the health code statutes, I'm certain I can build the needed facilities off of a normal truck but I would design it so that it could be easily removed to allow access to the truck as a normal vehicle. With some ingenuity and used parts I expect to be able to build the body for under $2,000 and then 3-4 for a good used Toyota Truck.
This got me to thinking, how many other business models could be encapsulated in a mobile box? Let me explain why I think its important first--its the difference between owning the means of production or feeding the system. My friend has a fixed restaurant and his overhead is 15,000 a month. If he has a few bad months he loses his restaurant and all the effort he put into it, whereas if he had a taco truck it would be paid for with business failure being a much more distant possibility. Owning the means outright gives the proprietor much more flexibility and security. I remember in a marketing class learning about some innovative furniture manufacturer who broke up his assembly line into work groups with islands and how that change offered a better mix for the mix of customization and mass production his customers desired. This concept would allow for the same, an individual could have a couple of different businesses and then attach the specific body to the truck for whatever was called for that day. These are the different businesses I think could take advantage of this model, I have a lot more information on each one, but for brevity's sake:
1. Pet Grooming
2. Barbershop
3. Restaurant
4. Microgreens Growing
5. Carpet Cleaning
6. Car Washing
7. Saw Mill (Board Lumber Milling)
8. Plumbing
9. Electrician
10. Carpentry
11. Landscaping/Arborist
12. Field Office
13. Tour Guide (Camper)
14. Auto Repair
15. Field Kitchen (for large scale cooking or preserving for gleaned produce)
16. Veterinarian
17. Masseuse
18. Pool/Hot Tub Cleaning
19. Fish Tank Cleaning / Interior Plant Scaping for commercial property
20. Computer Repair
I realize that almost all of these are already being done out of trucks, in one way or another, but in an unstandardized way. If the production was coordinated by a company with the resources like Toyota they could reap many, many economies of scale.
I think this idea is right for the times, it would vastly lower the cost of entry for many different professions and being mobility, allow the owner to go to the customers. I'm interested in approaching Toyota with this because I'd like to see it out in the world, I have great respect for them as a company and believe they would build them both well and at an affordable cost. So, if you wouldn't mind, how do you recommend I proceed?
...
...is what my letter said. He said it was very interesting but Toyota never works with outsiders, so I'm bringing it to you. If it happens you could run through the money twice, once with the show and then again through the making and selling of units.
I respect you so bring this to you. I hope to hear back soon.
Sincerely,
Colin A Watley
P.S. I'm going to turn this into a blog topic for BA.Klaxon in 7 days time, call it “Dear Mr. Spurlock”
...Your Eyeballs)Spurlock)Toyota)Notepad)(My Brizain)
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