S06.E16: Victoria's Kitchen, Green Box, Tycoon Real Estate, PhoneSoap

[Taeolas]

With the pizza box, as outlined, someone brought a similar box to Dragon's Den Canada; I think that's what Kevin was alluding to. The fact that Jim "Boston Pizza" passed on it was probably a big factor too in how he reacted to it. Of course "Boston Pizza" is a sit down restaurant, not as big of a delivery one, so Jim isn't as good a target for that sort of product and probably affected the other Dragon's going for it.

 

The idea itself is fantastic; I really wish more delivery companies would have that sort of box. Up here, Greco, a chain mostly in Atlantic Canada, has foldable boxes (I think; one of the chains here has them but I'm not positive which) as well, and they're great for that. 

[nobodyyoucare]

With the pizza box, as outlined, someone brought a similar box to Dragon's Den Canada; I think that's what Kevin was alluding to. The fact that Jim "Boston Pizza" passed on it was probably a big factor too in how he reacted to it. Of course "Boston Pizza" is a sit down restaurant, not as big of a delivery one, so Jim isn't as good a target for that sort of product and probably affected the other Dragon's going for it.

 

The idea itself is fantastic; I really wish more delivery companies would have that sort of box. Up here, Greco, a chain mostly in Atlantic Canada, has foldable boxes (I think; one of the chains here has them but I'm not positive which) as well, and they're great for that. 

Jim the Montie passed on it because he didn't know if any of his franchises would take it. Boston Pizza is both sit down and delivery. They are a large chain in Canada and have restaurants in the US and Mexico. However no chain took up the Pizza box which as Kevin noted was the touch of death.Pizza places aren't going to spend over a dollar on a delivery box when a regular pizza box which is cardboard costs 29 cents each. Cardboard can be recycled. In fact several recycling centers take in pizza boxes already from the recycling bins people put out. Only reason most don't is because of food waste on the pizza box. 

 

People may not be aware of this but cardboard theft is huge. http://theweek.com/speedreads/539150/california-cracking-down-cardboard-theft

"When the economy is booming, creating a shortage of cardboard packaging for manufacturers, pilfered cardboard can be a hot commodity, fetching up to $200 a ton at recycling yards"

 

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Crushed-Cardboard-Thieves-Walmart-Sams-Club-NJ-Operation-Trucks-163616466.html

"An organized recycling theft operation netted more than $100,000 in profit by stealing crushed and baled cardboard boxes from Walmart and Sam's Club stores across New Jersey, police say"

[Meushell]

The phone cleaner reminded me of when I looked over and saw my three year old licking my phone.

[portfino]

I don't understand the objections to Tycoon. What makes it different from Lending Club and similar sites or even Angel List? In fact, it's more transparent than Lending Club because the investor could actually research the property and lead developer. The larger issue seems to me would be getting lead developers to sign on who have a set business model and wouldn't want to deal with hundreds of tiny owners. They wouldn't want that kind of uncertainty when you could get an institutional investor, REIT, or even high net worth individuals to provide equity.

 

Despite what Mark Cuban says, I would rather want Grandma to invest in real estate even online, then head to the Indian casino.

[LeGrandElephant]

Despite what Mark Cuban says, I would rather want Grandma to invest in real estate even online, then head to the Indian casino.

 

Did he specifically compare it to an Indian Casino during the episode? I don't remember. But in general, if your other option is literally gambling at a casino, then you could argue any investment is good in comparison. That's not really the standard by which we usually judge investments. That's like saying "I'd rather have grandma losing her money in the slot machines than burning it in her fireplace."

[portfino]

He didn't use Indian casino, but he said "big return on investment" which presumably means he's talking about unsavvy investors who aren't interested in safe instruments (or the fireplace.)