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| Monday, 05-Jul-1999 23:03:07 EDT |  Ad Info |
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Fringe Report:
Welcome to the far side of e-commerce.
Stupid.com
Let's start with Stupid.com, an online store dedicated to selling the most ill conceived, disgusting, or stupid candies and novelties that one can find. "The stupider, the better," says Gary Apple, President of the New York-based company. These products include gummi maggots, worms in dirt (actually, crushed cookie crumbs), and spooky glow-in-the-dark lollipops. Formerly a comedy writer for The Simpson's and Fox's Sinbad Show, Apple got started on the Internet two years ago, when he created Web sites that were designed to entertain viewers.
"After I actually won some awards for my work, I began to ask myself, 'How can I make money from the Internet?'," says Apple. One year later, Stupid.com opened its virtual doors, and sales have been increasing at an incredible rate of 25% a month.
Butterfly Celebration
On the lighter, more festive side, we have Butterfly Celebration, an online store where people can purchase butterflies to release at special functions. Based in Shafter, California, the company has been selling butterfly kits over the Internet for the last three years. Casey Stockton, a spokesperson for Butterfly Celebration said that the company got its start by selling butterfly kits, in which a caterpillar would be shipped to a customer's house before it hatched from its cocoon, to change itself into a butterfly.
"We started to get calls from brides who were interested in releasing butterflies at their weddings," says Stockton, "so the idea hit us to sell butterflies that were just about to hatch." While most of the butterflies are intended for weddings, they are also released for memorials and birthday parties. "Most people find that releasing the butterflies creates a breathtaking effect," explains Stockton.
Happy D Ranch Worm Farm
Are worms more your style? Check out the Happy D Ranch Worm Farm, for a fine selection of composting worms. Located in Visalia, California, the Happy D Ranch sells composting worms that aid in the breakdown of organic matter safely to create a natural fertilizer. Chrissy Benoy, a spokesperson for Happy D Ranch, says that the site sells to a lot of schools, individuals interested in recycling, and homeowners who want to use them to help fertilize their gardens.
Benoy says that, "people also buy the worms to place under rabbit cages, so that they can process the -- you know what." In addition to worms, the site also sells a three-layered bin, called a vermicomposter, in which the compost worms can do their work. Organic matter (paper, banana peels, egg shells, etc.) is placed in the bin for the worms to eat. The bottom level of the bin is used to collect the worm's "castings," for use as fertilizer. "The fertilizer is totally organic -- it won't hurt the soil," claims Benoy.
Fairfax Cryobank
Of course, the far side of e-commerce also has a more serious side. The Fairfax Cryobank, for example, offers donated semen and related information to help people address various infertility problems. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the site is designed to make the purchase of donor sperm easier and more convenient.
"The Internet is the best way to disseminate this kind of information," says Brent Hazelrigg, Program Director for the Fairfax Cryobank. Interested parties can also use the site to view a list of donor specifications in order to find one that meets their exact criteria. Visitors then e-mail, fax, or phone in their order. Two days later (or overnight, if they're in a rush), the package is received by their licensed physician. Most patients order one or two units of semen, which can cost between US$168 and US$198, plus shipping.
All items are shipped with a container of liquid nitrogen, used to maintain the integrity of the contents. According to Hazelrigg, 99% of Fairfax Cryobank's patients place their orders by telephone, but he adds that it is only a matter of time before people start purchasing frozen semen right over the Internet.
What Will They Think of Next?
While these sites offer products and services that most people would find unusual, they have each successfully carved out their own niche markets. Worms, butterflies, weird candy, and frozen semen represent just a small sampling of the highly unusual and unexpected stores that can be found only on the far side of e-commerce.
The Far Side of E-Commerce
E-Commerce Times Special Feature
Contributed by Justin Bridge
Candy in the shape of maggots, unhatched butterflies, compost worms, and frozen semen are not exactly the kinds of products that most people would expect to find in online stores today. These items are, indeed, most unusual, but they are also examples of how all-encompassing online shopping can be.
The E-Commerce Times is designed and produced by Widecast Media, Inc., an Internet marketing agency specializing in business Web site creation and E-Commerce sites. |