I really liked this article, and I thought it really embodied a "hacker" ethos, in doing something originally for personal enjoyment, then realizing it had potential and growing it into a business.
I also really liked this paragraph from a business perspective:
Lastly, this product is viral in nature. People think it’s funny to post about sending a chocolate penis to someone in the mail. Because most people are not sending it to themselves, we always include an offer code and a way to get to our site in every order. It is a literally a direct marketing campaign paid for by our customers.
They should include a fast path to buy (at a modest discount) and send a dick back to the sender. It has to be enough such that the recipient has some pleasure of knowing that they paid less for their dick
I would also look at this as a lesson that anything that might seem weird/odd/strange/abhorrent/unworkable to yourself still has the potential to be a successful money making venture.
One of my biggest problems with starting and growing a business is that I tend to put too much of my own biases and perceptions on things, and tend to dismiss anything outside of that as being outside the norm. This article is a reminder to keep an open mind, always.
I don’t know. I mean, the gesture is clear, but at the end of the day, all you’ve done is spent a lot of money to send them a delicious (if admittedly risqué) chocolate treat!
“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what."
We've banned this account for repeatedly trolling HN. If you don't want to be banned, you're welcome to email hn@ycombinator.com and give us reason to believe that you'll follow the rules in the future.
i've always wondered, is it in anybody's interest for these revenue numbers to be correct? both the business and the indiehacker clone website know a bigger number is a better story.
Yes something I always wonder and assume many large numbers are [excessively] exaggerated. I’m surprised this concern doesn’t crop up more here. Someone usually brings it up, but not as much as I’d expect.
I will create a business called "Eat Your Face" by printing a mold of your face and send it over to you. I wonder if that gets $25K a month. Actually, you know what, I will look into this business. I will copy.
You are doing nothing wrong. It is risky business to measure oneself against the people that one reads about. Occasionally, it is productive and motivating, but I think it can often be unproductive or harmful.
This is not the first time I have read a story about someone sort of stumbling into a viable business. I'm jealous of that aspect, though I don't think I would want this exact business.
Makes sense in the Instagram-optimized commerce world we live in now. People will pay a premium if something makes a good Instagram post (I would put a chocolate dick in this category).
Walking around NYC (maybe less so SF for now) I saw many restaurants repaint exterior walls with angel wings, quotes, neon lights, etc. that were all meant to entice people to take pictures and tag the location on Instagram as a marketing tool. Maybe semi-depressingly so if you're going into e-commerce or otherwise selling some physical good your first marketing question should be "will this look good on Instagram?"
In popular cities with famous landmarks, there are many "tours" (and Airbnb "experiences") that consist of simply a photographer taking pictures of you in front of these famous landmarks, ostensibly for Instagram. They often differentiate themselves based on the Instagram cred of the photographer.
I had difficulty sourcing chocolate penises for a gag Easter egg gift. Ended up buying a homemade one off eBay just wrapped in cellophane. I thought it'd be a great business idea – no overhead and not holding unsold stock.
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[ 4.7 ms ] story [ 115 ms ] threadI also really liked this paragraph from a business perspective:
Lastly, this product is viral in nature. People think it’s funny to post about sending a chocolate penis to someone in the mail. Because most people are not sending it to themselves, we always include an offer code and a way to get to our site in every order. It is a literally a direct marketing campaign paid for by our customers.
[1] https://youtu.be/G_2l0XWxP-w
One of my biggest problems with starting and growing a business is that I tend to put too much of my own biases and perceptions on things, and tend to dismiss anything outside of that as being outside the norm. This article is a reminder to keep an open mind, always.
[0] http://shipadick.com
Can confirm, I didn't know I needed this service.
“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what."
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/706825-it-s-now-very-common...
http://www.lagustasluscious.com/shop/bluestocking-bonbons/fu...
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
https://imgur.com/a/Td9vl1f
You should remove the picture of children placing an order for your chocolate.
Edit: That's disgusting!
Mom: That's how your brother was born.
Son: But, I don't have a brother.
Mom: Precisely.
(they probably could use this as a marketing ploy, "disgusting" is part of the whole idea)
I guess it speaks for it self in this case...
Walking around NYC (maybe less so SF for now) I saw many restaurants repaint exterior walls with angel wings, quotes, neon lights, etc. that were all meant to entice people to take pictures and tag the location on Instagram as a marketing tool. Maybe semi-depressingly so if you're going into e-commerce or otherwise selling some physical good your first marketing question should be "will this look good on Instagram?"
My name is Adam and I am the creator of Dick At Your Door.
Happy to answer any questions people have. Apologies if my formatting is poor. I’m unfamiliar with the forum.
Glad you all have gotten a laugh!
Puss at your door doesn’t really roll off the toungue as well
There you go haha