Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#1

Post by gilbax » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 12:45 PM UTC

My mom is a travel agent working in a physical travel agency. Needless to say their business isn't going well, and she'll have to look for another job, which can be hard for a 50+ woman.

So my goal right now is to help her create some kind of a lifestyle business where she could work from home.

Right now I could only think of helping her to set up some kind of blog/e-magazine about travels and hopefully make money from hotel lead generation / affiliation. Though that would require to have some critical mass. I also thought about ebay, but I don't have any experience on the seller side so it's hard to see what's possible.

Any HNer set up a business lifestyle for his mom before ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#2

Post by vaksel » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:12 PM UTC

She should just stick with what she knows, since she has some expertise in that.

A few possibilities there:

1. a business that organizes all these business nomads out there. Does all the necessary research, finds out all the services that are needed etc. Instead of 1 person moving at a time, it'd be a group of 200. Instead of arriving and knowing noone in the area, you arrive with 200 people you know. Instead of getting the first available apartment, you have one rented by the time you arrive. etc etc.

2. a business that does something as above, but for big 3 month long vacations aimed at those who want to see the world.

3. concierge vacationer for rich folks, figures out exotic destinations etc.

4. just answer for travel questions

5. unbiased travel destinations reviews for $10/yr

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#3

Post by fat_tony » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:12 PM UTC

Blogging may work, as long as she treats it like a business and not just a hobby. Within a couple of years she could establish an authority blog on the subject. And don't let her limit herself to hotels either. There are all sorts of affiliate programs for that demographic (language courses and software being one of them). And she can create her own products, as well as organizing trips, etc. The blog side attracts the audience, the business side sells something valuable to them.

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#4

Post by petervandijck » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:17 PM UTC

Is there something she likes to do, like make gift baskets or something, that could become a business? Is there a certain goal in terms of time it takes to take off, and/or amount of money she should make?

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#5

Post by geekfactor » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:24 PM UTC

vaksel wrote: post #2

She should just stick with what she knows, since she has some expertise in that. A few possibilities there: 1. a business that organizes all these business nomads out there. Does all the necessary research, finds out all the services that are needed etc. Instead of 1 person moving at a time, it'd be a group of 200. Instead of arriving and knowing noone in the area, you arrive with 200 people you know. Instead of gett…

I really like idea #2. Call it something like WorkTheWorld.com. Work out all the details for folks who just want to live and work someplace else for a while. It's something I think a lot of people want to do but it seems too hard for most. This service could make it easier.

For independents, pre-screen living situations with fast internet, find the best language courses, identify meetups and other groups that they might want to connect with while they're gone, plus all the usual travel stuff.

Maybe for folks working for other folks, provide info on visas/work permits and possible employers.

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#6

Post by iqster » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:30 PM UTC

So .. consider forigners who come to your country ... they face barriers of language, customs, etc. If your mom is multi-lingual (or can work with a translator), she could build a speciality service where she helps people of a specific set of foreign countries visit your country. Basically, help with hotels, local customs, etc. This isn't necessarily just an Internet-based business but can likely be done from home (using a combo of the net and a telephone).

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#7

Post by beilabs » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:37 PM UTC

Why not get her to set up a niche Deal of the Day website specializing in adventure tourism in your area?

She knows the industry, group buying is hot and it could be easily run by a single person.

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#8

Post by hnhg » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:47 PM UTC

geekfactor wrote: post #5

vaksel wrote: post #2

She should just stick with what she knows, since she has some expertise in that. A few possibilities there: 1. a business that organizes all these business nomads out there. Does all the necessary research, finds out all the services that are needed etc. Instead of 1 person moving at a time, it'd be a group of 200. Instead of arriving and knowing noone in the area, you arrive with 200 people you know. Instead of gett…

I really like idea #2. Call it something like WorkTheWorld.com. Work out all the details for folks who just want to live and work someplace else for a while. It's something I think a lot of people want to do but it seems too hard for most. This service could make it easier. For independents, pre-screen living situations with fast internet, find the best language courses, identify meetups and other groups that they mi…

Agreed, the idea is great. Perhaps another focus would be on people who want to take a career break to go travelling and need help. I've known a fair few people who've done this and then gone back to their job. They get a taste for adventure, need something a bit more substantial than the usual 2-3 weeks off, and try a bit of travelling for a while. You get something that inspires them and makes life easier for them and I think you have a winner.

EDIT: You could do it by region. I've known people wanting to tackle China, or S.America or Europe in big chunks. 3 weeks isn't enough for these places and 3 months seems just right.

I would like to know, however, if your exposure as a tourist agency to litigation risks increases as the trips become more complex and lengthier.

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#9

Post by almost » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:56 PM UTC

beilabs wrote: post #7

Why not get her to set up a niche Deal of the Day website specializing in adventure tourism in your area? She knows the industry, group buying is hot and it could be easily run by a single person.

That's kind of an awesome idea, I'd love to get a groupon style email every day offering some great deal on some kind of travel/adventure type thing. You could make the terms kind of restrictive (it's got to be on this day, you only fly from this set of airports etc) and I'd still probably read it each day to see if I could do it.

Re: Ask HN: what lifestyle business could I help to create for my mom?

#10

Post by almost » Wed, Feb 23, 2011, 1:58 PM UTC

iqster wrote: post #6

So .. consider forigners who come to your country ... they face barriers of language, customs, etc. If your mom is multi-lingual (or can work with a translator), she could build a speciality service where she helps people of a specific set of foreign countries visit your country. Basically, help with hotels, local customs, etc. This isn't necessarily just an Internet-based business but can likely be done from home (u…

I like the idea of a virtual local guide, someone you can call while in a foreign country to help with language, directions, booking stuff. Just someone with reasonable local knowledge, both languages and the internet.