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SMALL BUSINESS
13 Products We Wish
Were in America
Previous-
Overseas Items to Envy
America is certainly the land of plenty in many regards. Our store shelves are stocked with endless varieties of countless products ... and then some.
However, from time to time, we hear about a great product that is not available here in the U.S.
In our gallery, we share 13 examples found by freelance writer Jacqueline Mroz.
Article: Coming to America?
Next: Bug-Free SlumberMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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Benny Seu, MCT
Plug-in Mosquito Oil
Where available:
Spain and in other parts of Europe, including England
What's to like:
With Prallethrin as the active ingredient, it will keep your room clear of bugs and let you sleep mosquito-bite free without having to slather yourself in sticky mosquito spray before you go to bed.
Read Product Description
Next: If You Do Get Bit ...More Hot (or Not) Products:
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Anti-Itch Cream
Where available: England
What's to like:
Sure, we have anti-itch cream here in the U.S., but we don't have the extremely effective Anthisan Bite & Sting cream which contains the active ingredient mepryamine maleate.
Read Product Description
Next: Cozy ToesiesMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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Electric Heated Carpet
Where available: Japan
What's to like:
Made by Panasonic, the temperature of the rug is adjustable and heats up to 114 degrees F. The heating elements are waterproof, so there's no need to worry about washing it. But since the rug is also stain resistant, you may not actually need to.
Read Product Description
Next: Keeping Kids HappyMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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Benny Seu, MCT
Crustless Bread
Where available: Spain
What's to like:
Sick of cutting the crust off your kid's bread? The answer: Crustless bread. Available in Spain since 1999, under the Bimbo brand, it was introduced as IronKids Crustless in the U.S., but is not widely available.
Next: Free PhotocopiesMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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Tadacopy Machines
Where available: Japan
What's to like:
Popular with money-strapped college kids in Japan, Tadacopy machines offer students free photocopies by printing ads on the back of the copy paper, and it gives local advertisers a great way to reach a targeted audience.
Read Product Description
Next: Couture on the CheapMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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StyleShake.com
StyleShake Dresses
Where available: England
(Can Now Be Shipped to U.S.)
What's to like:
You design your own dress online using virtual pattern pieces and a selection of fine fabric. Your custom dress is then delivered in as little as 10 days for around $250. That's a big discount considering haute couture usually costs thousands.
Read Product Description
Next: At-Home Dry CleanerMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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Aqua Washing Machine
Where available: Japan
What's to like:
The Aqua front-loading washing machine by Sanyo saves you a trip to the dry cleaners. It uses bacteria-killing chemicals without the use of water to clean your clothes. The dry cleaning detergent is available in most supermarkets in Japan.
Read Product Description
Next: A Gardener's FriendMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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The Water-Leech
The Water-Leech
Where available: Australia
What's to like:
Capturing water runoff from the bath or shower in a self-contained storage tank, the Water-Leech unit can be wheeled outside to water your lawn or garden -- saving water, money and your garden during a drought or water restrictions!
Read Product Description
Next: That's Electric!More Hot (or Not) Products:
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en.think.no
Electric Car
With Battery LeaseWhere available: Norway
What's to like:
Soon the two-seat, electric-powered Think City car will become available in Norway for around $15-$17K. Since the battery is the costliest part of the car (about $34K), the company plans to allow consumers to lease it for about $100 to $200 a month.
Read Product Description
Next: Whoop, There It Is!More Hot (or Not) Products:
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Pop-Up Hair Salon
Where available: England
What's to like:
HairPOD brings quick, inexpensive haircuts to people on the go. These freestanding styling booths are easily transportable and can be placed in airports and other convenient locations. The pods look like space capsules and can be locked up for the night and only require an electricity supply.
Read Product Description
Next: Super-Fast FoodMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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Cell Phone Payment
At McDonald'sWhere available: South Korea
What's to like:
Customers place an order by pointing their cell phone at the items they want (once software is downloaded). Items are then charged automatically to their cell phone bill. When their order is ready, their cell phones receive a message to pick up their food at the counter.
Read Product Description
Next: Charge It, LiterallyMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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Cell Charging Stations
Where available: The U.K.
What's to like: ChargeBox is a set of lockers designed to charge batteries for mobile phones, ipods, and PDAs. The machines are available in Internet cafes, hotels and airports. Customers leave their phones in the locker while they are being charged for about $2. The door can be locked while your gadget is being juiced.
Read Product Description
Next: Instant HeatMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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Tankless Water Heater
Where available: Australia
What's to like: A great water-saving product, the instant, compact, continous-flow hot water heater is slowly gaining popularity in the U.S. Some estimate that the average family can save between 30-50 percent on water heating costs with the tankless systems.
Read Product Description
Next: More on AOLMore Hot (or Not) Products:
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