A perfect category?

I co-run a company that's all about developing opportunities. Which sounds kinda new age, but is actually extremely commercial.

It's all about spotting the kinds of things that people will pay for and then helping companies come up with new products, new services and new ways of doing business in order to make money from that need.

So I tend to look at most categories and companies with a critical eye. Why isn't packet soup sold in vending machines at the office as an alternative to high fat, high guilt chocolate items? Why is your 20 mins waiting for a 4 minute meeting with a doctor wasted reading old magazines when it could be used to help make that 4 mins more effective?  How do you make a toy that makes kids laugh like drains but offends moms more palatable, without it losing its appeal? Why don't hybrids feel more like computer games? Why aren't ALL tables and chairs self leveling? Why can't I choose a 17.5 year mortgage with annual payment holidays? Why can't I borrow money from me facebook friends?

You get the picture.

So imagine my surprise when I jumped the gun and went looking at baby strollers. They're about perfect. They twist, they turn, the rise and fall, the convert, they fold at the touch of a button and self unfold at a kick. They have a frame that takes different 'tops' - they grow with kids. You can add ride along plates and toddler seats, car seats and bassinets. They have cup holders. They have shopping baskets. And parasols. They have converters to turn bassinets into workable cribs. They have wheels that lock and swivel. They have soy interiors, so that they're not allergic. The sun visor is UV protective. Some of the materials are mosquito repellent. I can think of NOTHING that's not on either a STOKKE, an UPPA, a BUGABOO or perhaps a Quinny. And that's never happened to me before. Hell they'll even bounce and play music if you ask them to. It could just be the perfect category. 

There's even Rock Star Baby

"Spa"

In Montreal the word "Massage" is a euphemism.
You usually look for "Spa" if your want something other than a light rub, a quick tug and a hefty bill.

But today I saw a new place - and it looked good.
Male beauty salon - manicure, pedicure, tanning, blah blah
The window was full of services

So I went in and asked about a pedicure.

"Oh we don't have that. But we have 4 beautiful girls to choose from. And a great massage room"

"I'm sure you do, what do you mean 'we don't have that'"

"Well we're on a main street, we want our customers to be able to leave without being stared at"

"So you're not in the pampering metrosexuals business then?"

"Nope"

And so it goes. It seems that in Montreal you don't just have to take the word 'massage' with a smear of lube, but anything prefixed with 'male'... heaven knows what goes on in the male pattern baldness center

Are you a casual couple?

Not casual as in 'I just screwed the pizza guy' - 'me too!' - but as in relaxed, laid back, kinda cool and overall just hip to be around. If so then I'd love to photograph you naked for a series that I'm doing that's all about being 'naked not nude'... nudes always being meticulously lit and bathed in soft light.

Let me hear you say 'yeah'

Unless I'm very much wrong

... this isn't indigestion

So far all of the tests and scans tell us that it's a very healthy baby, due on Valentine's Day...

(S)he already has my head,,,,