Oversize business opportunities

Ed the Editor's personal blog corner

Is there no downside to over-consumption? Luckily for corporations, no! Consumption is soaring on a global scale, and the more over-indulging the better. Needless to say, companies servicing the US are best placed to take advantage of new trends. To massacre a slogan from Orange, the future is bright, the future is fat.

XXL

Until recently, the only businesses properly leveraging the growing over-sized community were fashion houses. Maternity dresses, sails and tarpaulins were tastefully adapted to suit the XXL frames waddling around the place. It was a win-win situation. The relatively niche target audience were happy to pay premium prices for comfy designer clothes tailored specifically to their rolls. For their part, the fashion houses were happy to slap designer labels in a prominent location for all to see. The consumers and producers were happy.

Needless to say, an epidemic in over-consumption soon overtook the nation and the former scraps of business from pioneer obese consumers have become big meaty joints. The minority fat market has expanded to a point where a 65% overweight / 38% obese American population (and growing) has plenty of cash to spend, and millions of needy folk are looking for products and services to suit their enlarged frames, swollen needs and insatiable desires. In the tradition of a perfect market economy, US businesses are adapting fast, in order to take advantage of the demand for all things big.

Supersize services

A couple of years ago, I laughingly suggested to a business person that they study the US trends and build a chain of hotels catering to over-size customers. I think I was on to something, because now, businesses that deal with Americans are homing in on all things XXL.

In Caribbean / Mexican resorts patronised by US visitors, some hotels have toilet seats capable of withstanding 1200lbs; scales are callibrated to 1000lbs, and California king size beds come as standard. And those are the obvious ways to cater for larger folk. How about extra -wide re-inforced beach loungers, and towels that wrap easily around a 70" waist?

When it comes to entertainment, entrepreneurs have had to think outside the box. How about the horse-trekking company that is now using Percherons and Clydesdales to take 300lb-ers out on the trails! These mighty beasts can manage the loads fine without breaking into a sweat - they just need to be extra pateint while their riders are winched aboard. The whinnies you now hear from the stables are sighs of relief from the poor old quarter horses that once tried and failed to take the blubber heads into the wilderness!

And if the trail riding proves too much and emergency medical assistance is still required, the nursing staff have syringes with extra long needles to reach hearts with that life-saving shot of adrenalin. And if the resuscitation fails, don't worry, there are undertakers now with coffins 28" wider than the norm. Congratulations on thinking inside the box.

Conconclusion

I don't know where it will end, but if anyone wants to finance a Supersize chain of hotels in Europe, go right ahead. The future is very bright, and your business will grow fat on the back of late adopters. Don't forget, fat cats, you heard it here on The Pisstakers!