Bright ideas

Citation

(2004), "Bright ideas", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 53 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2004.07953faf.003

Bright ideas

Running a business is not easy – but thinking of the good idea on which to base it in the first place is much harder.

thelightbulbfactor.com is an Internet-based service that specialises in bright ideas for starting a business. “Many people have the desire and energy to set up on their own but just need an idea to kick-start it,” says founder Angus MacLeod who had his own “light bulb” moment when coming up with the idea for the Web site.

Subscribers to thelightbulbfactor.com receive 12 (commercially-viable) business ideas a year. Covering a range of market sectors, these “business idea modules” detail the new product or service and set out commercial considerations such as target market, distribution, marketing, pricing, manufacturing and development potential.

“We’re about introducing new thinking for starting a business – the sort of ideas that make you ask “why didn’t I think of that?’” says Angus MacLeod. “We offer a complete ideas package ready to take on to the next stage of commercial development.”

As well as ideas, the site also provides a reference point for advice on the commercial and legal aspects of setting up and running a business together with a business news digest. For the future, MacLeod has plans for the site to become an on-line crucible of ideas where creativity and innovation can be turned into commercial reality.

With a 15-year career in consumer brand marketing, new product development and participation in two management buyouts, MacLeod took a year out to explore opportunities for starting his own business away from the corporate treadmill. The ideas created and developed during that time became the catalyst for introducing thelightbulbfactor.com

“There are hundreds of books and masses of advice about starting a business but everyone agrees that the first thing you need is a good idea,” he says. “Interestingly, there’s not a lot of help on offer here and that’s where the lightbulbfactor.com comes in. Our skill is in identifying and developing business ideas and we’re keen to inspire people who have the drive and determination to run with them. The objective is to motivate and get people thinking. If someone makes a fortune in the process, no-one will be more pleased than us.”

Visit www.thelightbulbfactor.com to view a free example of a business idea. Normal subscription rate: £59 per year.