GreenGraffiti creates advertising on dirty city streets and walls using the clean, green power of plain water. Armed with just a template and a high-pressure water sprayer, the company has “cleaned” advertising messages out of the dirt on behalf of read all »

Travis Creek found himself out of work soon after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

As a skilled worker in structural steel, he felt the impact of a slowing economy. He was living in Houston, and building projects had significantly decreased.

To fill the time, he started making smoker barbecue grills, and he got a friend and a family member to help him.

“I was just killing time waiting on the structural steel business to come back,” Creek said. “About six months after we started the barbecue pits, our (structural steel) contracts in the Houston area started calling again, and we had to turn them down. We had too much work to take on anything else at that point.”

Creek, 35, sold his first barbeque pit on eBay for $800. read all »

Everyone has things lying around that they no longer have a use for. Many of these things have great value to others. Even though many people know that eBay is there, they do not know how it works or they just do not feel like messing with it, this is where you come in. read all »

As the EU’s restaurants, bars and clubs gradually become smoke-free, cigarette butts on the doorsteps of such establishments are an increasingly common sight. Belgium-based “Ashvertising” hopes to make the best of that bad habit with an outdoor device that combines an ashtray with a medium for advertising. read all »

Dionna Mustybrook suspects you’ve got a bad habit but don’t even know it: Using your foot to kick open the car door.

“I think everybody does it at one time or another,” says the 33-year-old Sacramentan, who’s devised a simple invention to avoid the resulting scuff marks: “The Doorkick,” a soft pad that’s affixed to a car door’s inside panel. read all »

From Germany this time, Sonntagmorgen (German for Sunday morning) sells made-to-order coffee blends online. Customers can choose from nine regional varieties and set their own blend ratios. read all »

People in China, and all over the world, spend their days playing games like World of Warcraft, making gold from the game and selling it in “gold farms” for actual cash.

An astounding half million Chinese now make a living - about $100 a month - from the acquisition and sale of WoW gold to US and EU gamers. read all »

Using heavy-duty cargo tricycles, Bikecaffe travels emission-free as it serves up a range of coffee blends from roasters Segafredo Zanetti and Integrity Fair Trade. The company’s trikes use a gas-powered machine for brewing and can produce up to 500 cups per day—served in recyclable containers—along with chai, biscotti and other edibles. Best of all read all »

In local news, an 11 year old girl from New Ulm has taken up an unlikely hobby that looks to benefit the environment. 11 year old Kennedi Kokesch makes all these bird feeders with recycled glass. After seeing glass being thrown away, and into garbage bins, at a local business, she had a creative epiphany. Kennedi Kokesch says, ”I asked them is this going to a landfill or are you throwing this away? And they said they’re gonna throw it away, and that just got me interested.”Interested in re-using that glass, to create beautiful and unique bird feeders. read all »

Ever consider quitting your job and working from home? Well, a local couple has done just that and it has paid off for them.

Instead of working a 9 to 5 job, Daniel Porter and wife April, stay at home with their three young daughters and work from their computer selling on eBay, specializing in golf clubs. read all »

Plenty of companies sell log cabin kits. But Argos seems to be the first major retailer to market an attractive and affordable model that reportedly can be built in two days by just two people. read all »

How’s this for another crazy idea? Would you buy a crumpled up piece of paper?

Well, whatever your opinion, this site sure is generating a ton of sales. The webmaster sells an ‘Origami Boulder’, which is actually a wadded bit of paper!

For just $ 3, he’ll crumple up a piecec of paper, call it an Origami Boulder, and email you with a brief description. He also offers you the choice of selecting a ‘deluxe’ kit. read all »

My business is designing and laminating bookmarks for wedding favors, business promotions, nonprofit organizations, holidays and other special occasions or projects. I design them on my computer, depending on what the customer wants. Then I print and laminate them.

I came up with the idea of a bookmark business because it was a fun way to express my creativity and would require a low investment. read all »

I live in San Diego, California in an area where there is a College nearby. Within five blocks of my home you can choose from any type of cuisine you could possibly desire. The College students and people who work in surrounding small businesses have to go way out of their way because there are not many places that are easily accessible during lunch hour (because of long lines and parking problems). read all »

Onitsuka Tiger, the Japanese sports brand, launched a sneaker vending machine on Carnaby Street today in London. Sneaker vending isn’t entirely new— read all »