New business in Michigan sells ads on toilet paper

Sometimes it just takes an original idea to start a business. If one can fill a niche that nobody else has thought of before, he or she may have a viable idea for a profitable new business . One local Michigan company has discovered a new twist on an old idea. The old idea is advertising. The new twist is advertising on toilet paper.

The new company, Star Toilet, recently began to sell ads and coupons adorned on toilet paper. The firm is set to distribute free toilet paper to public restrooms in various establishments, such as restaurants and office buildings. The establishments can save money on something which they would have to buy anyways. In return, Star Toilet will be able to provide their advertisers with an audience.

More than 50 companies have placed ads with Star Toilet since the firm began selling ads. Some of the company’s secured locations include an apartment building, a bowling alley, and a dance theater studio. The firm charges advertisers for a minimum order of 20,000 ads for $99. This is approximately half a cent per ad. The firm intends to get its ads in venues with larger amounts of people, such as stadiums.

The owner of Star Toilet came up with the concept for ads on toilet paper while sitting on a toilet seat at a University of Michigan library. The 22-year-old owner of the company wants to keep the firm in Michigan. The two other people in the company include his19-year-old brother who works on the business in between his college courses. The third person is a University of Michigan graduate student and is the company’s chief financial officer.

The company was able to get a good start via assistance from Ann Arbor Spark, which is a Michigan economic development organization. This organization helped the firm obtain a $3,000 grant to fund the company’s patent expenses. Patents are always a good idea for a new business with a unique idea. However, one should make sure to understand the applicable business laws when applying for a patent or dealing with any other aspect of a startup company.

Source: TheTownTalk.com, ” Advertising’s on a roll: Michigan startup finds a captive audience in the bathroom ,” Katherine Yung, Aug. 20, 2012