This post is only remotely related to Perl, so I am not sure if this is the right place to post it. But here is the idea: Btw this idea will only work if you have a store like maybe a thrift store. There are many stores where items come and go, and there are always new stuff. But if you own a store like that, you could allow customers to submit a wishlist. It's a list of items they are looking for along with their contact info and an expiration date. For example, "In the next 12 months, I am looking for an outside pool that is about 12 ft in diameter at least. Call me at this number if you have one for sale under $100." The customers must pay $10 for submitting a wishlist or $20 if it's a long list. This way your store could make hundreds of dollars a day without even selling a single item! All you have to do is provide the ability for people to submit their wishlists. And this is where Perl comes to the rescue! Create a website that allows people to submit their wishlists. This also allows you to see what people want. If "swimsuit" is a popular item, then you know that's what people want. Then you might as well order a bunch of swimsuits and then send out an alert saying, "Hey folks, we now have swimsuits at our store!" Now you know how to attract the masses to your store! ;-)

The question is would people pay $10 to submit a wishlist? I know, I would! The other question is would this discourage random shoppers from coming to the store? How much money do people spend if they come in and can't find what they are looking for? Because once they submit their wishlist, there is a possibility that they won't come back to check on the store. So, with this idea there is also the potential to lose some customers who might buy things they don't want while looking for what they want. I think, there needs to be a study to figure this out.

Idea #2 which is related to this is to have a web app or website where people can post what they are looking for and someone who finds it can get part of that money. For example, personally, right now I am looking for some white 4x4 ft vinyl frame replacement windows with Low-E glass with a grid and screen. I'd pay up to $150 for this window, and I need at least 3 of these. This window costs about $1000 when brand new. Someone who finds the window for sale at, let's say, $120 should be able to pocket the difference which is $30. It's a good way to make easy money. And you don't have to do anything just keep your eyes open and look for things others are looking for. I can't visit every hardware store within a 100 miles where I live or be present at every flea market or garage sale or visit every online marketplace at the same time. So, having people look for me is a great way for them to make money, and it's a great way for me to find the deal I am looking for. This is a free idea for an app or website. You're welcome. If you are a Perl expert, you could pull this off and make some money. Maybe.

Idea #3. This is completely unrelated. In 2004, I was thinking about creating a landscaping website service where people could look for plants for their yard. They could enter things like "I have a shaded corner in my backyard. What kind of plant can I put there? I live in Jackson, Mississippi." Then the program would look up the database and find plants that grow well in that area and produce a list. Then clicking on the plant, the visitor could place an order which would go out to local landscapers or garden centers who would see "This person needs 3 clerodendron hydrangea bushes." The web service would make sure that someone applies for the job and goes and buys the bushes and goes out to the customer's house and plants those. It's kind of like ordering food online, but it's more involved, because it has to be connected to a huge database of plants. But I started working on this in 2004, and then I quit, because it was too big of a project. But I began collecting data on plants and create a personal database. The idea is too big for me to create it or run with it, but I hope someone might find it doable. You could make some money with this idea too. Maybe. I got inspired to do this, because I love plants and one time I stopped and looked at someone's yard, and I saw a sago palm planted in total shade. Now, sago palms love full sun. But this one was planted in a bad place, so I thought this is because the owner or whoever planted it there had no idea what this plant needs. So, I thought, I would like to make a website that tells people where to plant each plant so they don't misplace things. Then the idea expanded, but then it became too big to build. I realize that I alone by myself can't pull it off. So, here it is for anyone who wants to try. :)