Stylish-Babe Business BLog: December 2017

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Review: SunJack 14W solar charger & waterproof LightStick

Review: SunJack Waterproof LightStick

While I do like the solar charger from SunJack, I was actually pretty impressed by the other product they sent me as well, the LightStick, because it packs both a handy lighting device and a backup battery into a single durable unit that would be just as at home in the home or garage as in the camping gear.

Measuring 10.25 inches (26cm) long and 1.25 inches (3.175cm) in diameter, and weighing just under half a pound (.47 lb, or 213g), the LightStick is a fully waterproof unit (rated to 6 feet deep) that offers four lighting settings and a glow-in-the-dark switch. Inside the device, powering the lights, is a 5200mAh battery, which can also be used to charge mobile devices via a 2A USB port under the lid (capable of about 3 smartphone charges), and can be recharged in about 4 or 5 hours.

The LEDs deliver 350 lumens on the high setting, the device's charge can last for as long as 46 hours of continuous lighting (on the low setting), and the LightStick also features a flashing "strobe" setting for emergencies. The device doesn't function like a flashlight, with its focused beam of light, but instead illuminates a large area around it, similar to a lantern or an automotive droplight or shop light, and is surprisingly bright.

The only weak spot I could see in the LightStick (and it's indeed a small issue) was that because it has spots on the ends for attaching a tether or cord, it's easiest to hang it from one end for hands-free usage, and while I could attach a tether on each end and hang it overhead horizontally from both tethers, it's less than optimal for some lighting needs. Having said that, this utility light would make a great addition to an emergency preparedness kit, camping gear, or the glove box of a vehicle. The SunJack LightStick sells for $45, and can be charged with either the company's solar charger or via an outlet with a micro-USB cord.

Business Ideas That Anyone Can Start

Hauling Services - Ever try to fit a sheet of plywood into the back of one of those new compact SUVs? Then you know why the demand for hauling services is on the rise. Besides the size issue, there’s the whole issue of things that people don't want to haul in their own shiny vehicles, such as yard waste or loads of compost for the garden. All the things they don't want to or can't haul could be money in your pocket.
eBay Selling - eBay's popularity continues to explode. I personally know very few people who haven't bought or sold something on eBay. But did you know that eBay is also a solid business idea? If you have a product that there's a demand for and that is suitable for being sold online and shipped to the purchaser, eBay selling may be the way to go. It can be a more inexpensive option than setting up your own online store and eBay offers all kinds of information to help you sell successfully - including eBay seminars.
Gutter & Siding Cleaning - One of the easiest ways to make money is to be willing and able to do things that other people don't want to do. For many homeowners, chores such as gutter and siding cleaning are right up there on the "I don't want to do that" list. Besides being messy, there's always an element of danger involved when people are working with ladders. But the great thing about this business idea is that these are chores that need to be done repeatedly so once you've built up a clientele, you've created a regular flow of income - and there's nothing unpleasant about that!
Event Planning - Are you an extremely organized person who can successfully work to deadlines? Do you handle crises well and have strong interpersonal and communication skills?Then maybe becoming an event planner is a great small business idea for you.Obviously, event planners plan events. But you may not be aware of the scope of possibilities. Corporations, hotels, non-profit organizations, municipalities and government organizations all have a need for event planners to put together everything from conferences through pedestrian only days.Or you might specialize in a particular kind of event, such as becoming a festival or wedding planner.
Gardening/ Landscaping ServicesGardening has been one of the most popular hobbies throughout the U.S. and Canada for the last twenty years and today its popularity is increasing, perhaps thanks to people's increasing interest in the quality of food they're feeding themselves and their families. (Plus, as an avid gardener myself, I can vouch for the fact that there's nothing tastier than something fresh pulled or dug from the garden!) But gardening is no armchair hobby; it takes time and work to make a garden flourish - two things that many would-be gardeners aren't able to provide. Working people with families are often short on time while many aging gardeners have physical ailments of one kind or another that prevent them from doing all the outside work they would like to do.