They say, "In every problem lies an opportunity"
I could not agree enough, especially in the context of making, sourcing or selling products in India.

I am a karate enthusiast (always have been), and am especially fond of the nanchaku (that thing with 2 handles joined by a chain, which Bruce Lee immortalized in his cult film, Enter the Dragon).
Well, soon after watching the film, I went and bought myself a nanchaku. Over the years, I bought, broke and lost many, but the one I really miss was a little custom one, with short handles, that you could tuck away in a pant pocket!
I have never been able to find a similar piece again, in India. So my next project is to make one - and then put it up for sale for others! (and if someone makes it earlier, please let me know at sunilprem44@gmail.com. I'll buy one!)

I have come across many people who say, "In India, you still can't get everything" - I see a great opportunity to make these things in India.
They also say, "In India, you get poor quality stuff" - well then, if that isn't an opportunity to make kickass quality products in India, then what is?

Have you had a similar experience, where you were looking to buy an unusual product - and you knew for sure that others wanted it too - but you could never find that thing in the market?
If so please share your ideas with others - maybe someone could make something of them. Or better still, go ahead and make those products yourself - then sell them too, if you feel like it!

Here are some product ideas that keep popping into my head. If you can make or source these, please approach me or Col Ajay Singh (Retd.), ex CO 88 Armd Regt, now CEO Soldier2ndLife - ajay.singh@navyuginfo.com. We shall be most happy to sell these at SoldierKart.com - a site where all products on sale are made or sourced by faujis:

• A beautiful, natural, non-chemical, ittr-sampler, for the wife, from Kannauj (the Perfume Capital of India), to go with a raw Silk Saree from Assam, and a lovely Naga Shawl!
• Some new durable tasty snacks from apna Gujarat / Rajasthan, which last for ages.
• A lovely army-type tow-trailer which you see behind every car in a Hollywood movie - (idea stolen from MG Venkatesh - friend and coursemate).
• Those lovely motorcycle fitments and accessories, for the biking enthusiasts - like biking goggles for Biggles Prem (my dog) - I have tried tempting friend Manoj Keshwar to make some of these (Col Manoj Keshwar (Retd.), Engrs, runs really amazing Indian and international mobike tours - see some at SoulStay.com).
• A lovely handmade hammock, for the next outing to the beach!

Actually there are as many opportunities as there are gaps in supply. It would take a 100 pages to list all.
Besides, ideas don't count - the doing does! What I can share, is that making a product is one of the greatest fun projects one can embark upon - hugely satisfying, and a great something to yak about, like this!

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[In case you are wondering why we are so keen to throw such "novel" ideas at you, instead of making them ourselves, please read this other article, Sharing Works, Hoarding Fails!