Information publishing is one of the most heavily promoted ways to make some extra money, and yet many people aren’t really clear on what it is. Put simply, an information product is any piece of knowledge that has been recorded in some way – whether that be in a printed format, an audio format, or a video format – so that it can now be passed on to others. There are dozens of ways to package and sell information. Some of the most common products are, printed books and e-books, booklets and special reports, manuals and workbooks, CDs, downloadable audio files, DVDs, newsletters, subscription-based web sites, workshops and seminars.

All of us have information or knowledge that would be useful to others, and packaging and marketing it in the right way can be highly lucrative. If you have an idea for an information product, and want a second opinion on it, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Perhaps you thought that your relationship with your partner was something that would just grow, develop and evolve naturally. Well that’s not going to work in today’s busy and high pressured dual-career world according to the people at www.Unboxlove.com

The company sells a monthly subscription to couples. It’s a box designed to give them the inspiration and tools to create an evening of unorthodox activities. They say that the ideas will “allow couples to learn about each other, experience something new together, and make memories that will last”. Couples can open the box together on the night of the date in order to create some excitement and surprise about what they will be doing. Each box costs $50.

The service is only available in the US at the moment, so it could be one to keep tabs on with a view to copying if it becomes successful. As an additional thought, if this ‘relationship-help’ market sector continues to grow, it could be worth thinking about what other services you could provide to enhance personal relationships.

We’re all familiar with Chinese imports, but less so with stuff we export to China. One of the most interesting is people – or butlers to be precise.

It seems that the wealthy Chinese are enthusiastic about the idea of having an English butler. The Guild Of English Butlers is seeing a boom in demand and has trained 20% more butlers this year than last. Demand is outstripping supply with trainees being placed as soon as their training is complete. Much of the new demand is coming from China.

If you’ve reached a crossroads in your life or career and fancy something a little different, this could be worth a look. It’s clearly not something that would suit everyone, but you’ll know if it appeals to you.

Thinking more widely, how can you cash in on the growing demand in China for things western – and British in particular? Fire up the imagination of just a tiny proportion of the population and you have a huge market.

Do you think you could start a car repair business for $15. Sahid Khan did, and the way he did it could provide a template for creating a business in many fields.

SK Motor Syndicate is a one stop shop providing vehicle inspections, servicing, body repairs, interior fabrication, exterior add-ons and everything else the motorist might need. It does none of the work itself, but claims to be a value-adding intermediary between the customer and about 18 authorised service-providers in different parts of Karachi.

Why would a customer involve an intermediary and not deal with the companies themselves? According to Khan, the company provide a pick-and-drop service along with a seven-day workmanship warranty. They charge customers strictly the going market rates, absorb all risks and get the repair work done from a select group of service-providers at discount rates,

So there you have it, they market the service, pick up the cars and get someone else to do the work – taking a percentage for their trouble. Could you copy something like this in your area? Or how about taking the model and applying it to another market? As a middleman, you can let someone else worry about start-up costs.

Ever seen a tourist photo of someone posing by the famous ‘Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas tourist sign. All may not be as it seems. You see in Las Vegas McCarran airport there’s a fake sign set up on a red carpet by baggage reclaim. The business that owns the sign, Confess, offers a quick studio quality photo along with a digital copy sent to the customers email for easy uploading to social media. For many tourists, that will be seen as one ‘job’ ticked off the list – a photo to show the world where they are.

Might this be an idea you could copy. If you live close to a ‘gateway’ to a major tourist destination there could be an opportunity to do something similar. What famous sign or landmark could you create a credible reproduction of?