The fact that cities are creating laws against trans fats and that companies are selling 100-calorie snack bags doesn’t take away from the popularity of bacon. Consider the Bacon of the Month Club and odd offerings like bacon mints. In Seattle, a trendy club is serving a chocolate bacon martini, and lately, restaurants have been putting bacon not just on hamburgers, but also on hot dogs. And if that doesn’t persuade you, consider that almost 25 years after Footloose, Kevin Bacon is still very popular. OK,maybe now we’re reaching.

TRASH INTO TREASURE You can be the company that recycles the plastic soda bottles left in the employee break room, or you can take it a step further. TerraCycle turns soda bottles into fine-looking bird feeders and CapriSun drink pouches into tote bags, which are clearly a popular recycled end-item.AlchemyGoods does something similar with its recycled bags, wallets and other accessories. Ecoist makes bags out of old candy wrappers. And a company in New Zealand makes bags out of recycled billboards. So if you’re inspired, go to your city dump and start sorting out your next business.

DIYWEDDINGS High gas prices, heating bills and sub-prime mortgages: Something had to give, which is probablywhywe’re seeing a lot of do-it-yourself weddings.ThewebsitesDIYBride (diybride.com) and Do It Yourself Weddings (do-it-yourselfweddings. com), for instance, help brides create dream weddings on small budgets. If you can offer a product or service that helps brides and grooms at the altar or during the reception, your customer base may be extremely grateful. After all, it’s not that each couple doesn’t want your help—just not $50,000 worth. Businesses like CakeRental.com and RentaFakeCake.com will even rent out cakes to the bride and groom.

Four out of every 10 households include at least one dog, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA). That alone should tell you there’s still amassivemarket for dog products and services until,perhaps, the pet rock takes off again. Anything goes: pet spas, pet day cares, organic pet foods, pet wastemanagement products and services.There’s evenDoggyspace.com, a social networking site for canine-lovers who want to create profiles and share photos and videos of their dogs.That the economy has been shaky doesn’t matter: Upscale pet products continue to do well.According to the APPMA, spending on pets, including vet care, increased from $41.2 billion in 2007 to an estimated $43.4 billion in 2008.

WATERLESS CARWASH
What’s next?Maybe restaurantswill offer dinner plates without food? Still, think of how hand sanitizer isn’t soap and you don’t need water. Numerous brands—Eco Touch, Green Earth Waterless CarWash, DriWash ’n Guard, Freedom and Simply Shine—all promote their liquid products as nontoxic, biodegradable and phosphate-free. Just spray it on,wipe it clean and enjoy the shine—and the money rolling in if this is an area you decide to pursue. On-site waterless car washes have yet to open.