Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

136 - The Never Touch Plastic Revolution: Building a Marketplace for the Concerned with Chris Koerner

Mar 21, 2025

Chris Koerner, a partner in entrepreneurial brainstorming, joins for a lively discussion on quirky business ideas. The duo explores a unique marketplace for products free from microplastics, connecting sourdough baking with environmental concerns. They dive into leveraging USPS for marketing and unlocking government subsidies for entrepreneurs. The conversation takes a turn to innovative uses of AI in data collection and potential health business trends, merging creativity with practicality in today’s economy.

36:08

Episode guests

Chris Koerner

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Leveraging the subsidized United States Postal Service can significantly reduce marketing costs for businesses through cost-effective bulk mail campaigns.

An ultra-premium sourdough starter free from plastic illustrates how combining health concerns with consumer trends can lead to innovative business opportunities.

Deep dives

Government Subsidies and Marketing Channels

The United States government subsidizes the United States Postal Service, which serves as a significant and often overlooked marketing channel for businesses. Sending bulk mail through USPS can be dramatically cheaper than using private carriers, with savings of up to 67 cents per postcard. This cost advantage enables businesses to engage in direct mail marketing on a budget, making it a viable option for customer acquisition. The discussion emphasizes how this unique government subsidy can be leveraged to create profitable business models, particularly in marketing.

Intro

2min

Sourdough, Plastics, and Marketplace Innovations

7min

Monetizing a Podcast: Balancing Fun and Business

2min

Unlocking Government Subsidies for Entrepreneurs

13min

Revolutionizing Survey Data with AI and a New Newsletter Introduction

2min

Harnessing AI for Survey Engagement and Health Innovations

10min

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨

Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), and my business partner Chris Koerner (https://x.com/mhp_guy) in another brainstorming session packed with unconventional business ideas!

We dive into how to spot emerging trends and combine them for unique opportunities, even if it sounds a little crazy at first, like the sourdough and microplastics concept. We also explore overlooked distribution channels, particularly the United States Postal Service, and how its unique economics can be leveraged for marketing.

Plus, we tackle some bigger questions about government efficiency and the future of data collection with AI.

Questions This Episode Answers:
How can combining two mega-trends create a viable business idea?
What's a surprising marketing channel that is currently being heavily subsidized?
What's a potentially more effective (though harder) way to find off-market real estate deals?
Why might the government not be capitalizing on its existing distribution networks for revenue generation?
Could AI revolutionize the survey industry and create new income opportunities for individuals?

Enjoy the conversation!
__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 Government Subsidies and Marketing Channels

03:00 Innovative Business Ideas and Trends