Ideas for Palmerston North

I was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand 39 years ago. I did all of my schooling including university in Palmerston North. In fact Palmerston North was known and may still be known as The City of Knowledge with it's university providing a significant proportion of the town's economy.

I am back living in Palmerston North now after 15 years away in Japan and it is with this perspective that I want to comment on possible business ideas for Palmerston North. I noticed in the local newspaper yesterday that a new mini golf facility has opened up here and it is entirely indoors. Apparently it is the first indoor mini golf course in New Zealand and it is something that is an interesting business idea in my mind and I hope that it works and people get there to have some fun. Good luck I say.

So, what other businesses could work in Palmerston North? If I had the money what would I like to have a go at or even finance so that Palmerston North's economy could be moving on the up and up.

1. Recently an organisation put in a temporary ice skating rink in the middle of the Square. It proved to be very popular and was open to 10 o'clock at night. An ungodly hour for some businesses in Palmerston North. I think that shows that there is a market for a permanent rink in Palmerston North. It could make Palmerston North the centre for ice hockey in this country. Who knows?

2. A public bath. Now hear me out. As I have told you, I spent 15 years living and working in Japan. One of the great cultural aspects of that society are the public baths. Could it work in Palmerston North. It may do. I remember a few years ago my cousin came to visit me and I told him we are going to a public bath. He thought I was crazy. Within two minutes he was loving it and planning one for Palmerston North. With Palmerston North's Japanese population it could be a winner

3. A 24 hour restaurant. Sometimes at 3am after a 12 hour work day I am looking for something that it is good to eat. Unfortunately a McDonalds burger or a Burger King 'Whopper" do not do it for me. Wouldn't it be good if I could go and get a Cobb Salad or a plate of pancakes? Of course you run the risk of drunken assholes ruining your dining experience but I think these people wouldn't go to a place like this.

4. An amusement park. Obviously this would have to be run in conjunction with the city council. Is the city big enough for an amusement park. It depends on how they do it. There is potential for it been a shitty one like the one in the esplanade a few years ago. That one was embarrassing.

5. Would a juku work in Palmerston North? Would students give up their free time to go to a 'cram school' to prepare for their national exams? Maybe they would if the price was right for the parents. I think fundamentally it would be different than the ones that are run in Japan but it could prosper.

6. A business that helps people with translations. I have met a woman who is doing this for Japanese language but what would be good if you were the base for many languages. You would hire in the freelance translators to do the work and pay them a bit of the money that the company or individual pays you.

7. A tour company specialising in golf tours for Japanese and Korean tourists. Obviously you don't have to be in Palmerston North for this but it is as good a base as any for that.

8. Did you know the small settlement of Bunnythorpe, about a 10 minute drive from Palmerston North is the birth place of the pharmaceutical giant Glaxo? How many people know that? Is that a tourist attraction? At the moment, no way but it could be if you did it correctly. Museum, gift shop etc. International tourists come to Palmerston North to look at the New Zealand Rugby Museum. Would they also want to see the Glaxo Museum? I don't know. Maybe

9. A match making service. I'm not sure this city has one. I'm sure that it would have it's takers. There are a few lonely people out there.

10. Regular speed dating events. This would just be a part time even a hobby business but if you did it correctly and lets get real had hot women then the blokes will come in off the street in their droves.

With the internet these days, you can run a business from anywhere selling anything but the above a specific to Palmerston North and are just my opinion about what I want to see in this city.

If you have any other ideas I would love to hear from you.