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This article helps with awareness. (cynical)

For research/education purposes only

From The Nashville Business Journal

August 23, 1999

Commentary

Profiting from Y2 crazies

Bill Wellborn

As the millennium draws closer, lots of people have figured out ways to make money from the phenomenon. Businesses and consultants have popped up to take care of the Y2K bug, because people all over the world are aware of the potential problems that would occur if their computers aren't able to understand that, come Jan. 1, it's not only a new year but a new century.

Doomsayers have gotten a lot of attention amid Y2K predictions, because a potentially catastrophic event gives such people a reason to speak. In truth, though, the Y2K scare now appears no more of a threat than Nostradamus, who predicted, among other things, that a "great King of Terror" would fall out of the sky sometime in July 1999. A few years ago, there was the great earthquake scare, when reputed earthquake predictor Iben Browning stated matter-of-factly that on Dec. 3, 1990, the New Madrid fault would split open like a ripe cantaloupe. Despite seismic experts assuring citizens of the Mid-South that such an event was unlikely, many businesses and schools were closed and the crazies headed back to the hills to await doomsday.

The predicted Y2K disaster is a bit more real than Browning's or Nostradamus' misguided predictions, but preparations can be made other than canceling life for a day and taping up your windows. As long as you can get your computer's calendar right, you'll probably survive.

There's still plenty of money to be made before the biggest New Year's Eve bash of the century, however. If you are one of the unfortunate ones who have yet to profit from the Y2K phenomenon, here are a few ideas that could make some money with proper marketing. I would pursue these myself, but I'm too busy getting ready for the end-time.

Real Estate Options: Buy membership lists from religious fringe groups and survivalist zealots, then take out purchase options on any real estate they own. Chances are, they'll sell them for a fraction of their worth the closer it gets to Dec. 31, 1999.

Portable Home Generators: One of the biggest fears is that all power will stop when the year turns into 2000. I remember fiddling with a hand-cranked generator in high school physics that would fire up a light bulb if you cranked it hard enough. Count on a substantial return on investment for these little babies.

How-To Books: The beauty is in the titles, not the content. The fearful of the world would be quick to buy anything titled "What the Government Isn't Telling You About Y2K" or "How to Become Y2K Compliant in Five Minutes."

End-of-the-World Survival Kits: These products exploit the fears of the gullible and the weak of heart, which could be considered the very definition of niche entrepreneurship. A kit might include a gun, freeze-dried provisions for a month, batteries, water, a Bible, a comb and some Wet-Naps. If you hurry, you might be able to strike a deal with Wal-Mart.

Millennium Survivalist's Handbook: How to live when technology stops cold. Chapters on fire-starting, lean-to construction, snares for wild game and latrine design. (For you wanna-be entrepreneurs, these could be lifted from the Boy Scout Handbook.) Other chapters might feature truck-patch farming, hunting and skinning, guerrilla warfare tactics and the best way to cook a dog.

One more note: If you pursue any of these ideas, make sure you have no longer than a four-month business plan.

Bill Wellborn is editor of Memphis Business Journal. He can be reached at (901) 259-1721.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), August 24, 1999

Answers

I wonder whether this will become the pollies mantra "In truth, though, the Y2K scare now appears no more of a threat than Nostradamus, who predicted, among other things, that a "great King of Terror" would fall out of the sky sometime in July 1999".

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), August 24, 1999.

Scoffers and mockers deserve Y2K shockers.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), August 24, 1999.