I attend a small liberal arts college (3,400 students) where most of
the students have a fair amount of disposible income. I'm an aspiring
entreprenuer and enjoy creating products and selling them to my peers.

In the past I have sold mainly t-shirts ("freshman" t-shirt, baseball
t-shirts, etc.) non-executed ideas include: breakfast in bed service,
dating service, mugs for big party weekends. etc.

I'm looking for a list of ideas of things I could create and sell to
them. this doesn't have to be a list that you found on the internet
via researching (although that's okay too). creative/risky ideas are
welcome.

some background on the students: most come from well off families,
party a lot, a good amount are very social and athletic (although not
all). for example, a sellable idea could be some trinket students
would use when comsuming alcohol.

if you are a researcher or a reader who was not the official answerer,
please feel free to email me and I will pay you $5 (via paypal) for
every good idea. my email addres is tombleary@hotmail.com. if you are
uncertain of my honesty please check my feedback on ebay.

http://cgi2.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=thomasbleary

thanks!

Hi! Thanks for a very fun research project.

In researching for a business idea that will cater to your target
market, which is party going college students, I stumbled upon some of
the usual and unusual ideas.

A UK based website sells party stuffs your friends would enjoy. You
can either order them or would be inspired to make products of your
own. They are the following:

Board games
Amusing Shot Glasses
Roulette Set
Pub Optic Sets
Mirror Balls
Light Hats
A Bottle Opener Game

Time projector - Ideal for dark parties projects digital time on roof
or wall also doubles as an intense power light.

CD Light

I found these sample products in this link:

Drinking and Party Games
http://www.gadgetsuk.com/party.htm 

The Blotto Drinking Game picture doesn’t work in the above link. I
found a picture of it in the next site.

“BLOTTO DRINKING GAME -the hot, funny sexy drinking board game”
http://www.gobazaar.co.uk/detprod.asp?ProdCode=1662 

I also found more party and drinking stuff you could sell. Some
products are repeated from our first link but others are quite
different and amusing. You can browse around the websites to get more
ideas but I highlighted the sections which I feel would be of more
importance to your business.

Drinking and cocktail novelty gift ideas
http://www.cantbarsed.com/giftideas/drinkstuff.htm 

Party Stuff
http://www.drinkstuff.com/party_stuff.htm

Wine Accessories
http://www.drinkstuff.com/wine_accessories.htm

Novelty Stuff
http://www.drinkstuff.com/novelty_stuff.htm

Games
http://www.drinkstuff.com/pub_games.htm 

During pre-party planning, you could also supply things like party
invitations and equipments. These are samples that are more
appropriate for your target market.

Conrad’s College Gifts: Party Supplies
http://conrads.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CCG&Category_Code=Party

Party rentals could also be another source of business. Instead of the
usual tables and chairs, this website provides some pretty innovative
ideas. I will enumerate some of them here:

Carnival games and rides 
Moon bounce
Rock climbing walls 
Sumo wrestling suits 
Helicopter rides 
Stages 
Generators 
Food carts 
Barbecue grills
Patio heaters 
Casino equipment 
Fog machines 
Bubble machines
Special effects equipment 
Outdoor and indoor fireworks
Classic cars 

I got the ideas in the next link.

Party Rentals
http://www.101partysupplies.com/party_rentals.htm 

Here are some ideas I thought of myself. I also tried to find links
that will be in support or enrich my idea.

One idea I thought of is to offer services to parties like these. One
such service could be DJ services. Although DJ services are more
reliable if they have years of experience, you can solve this by
partnering or taking in DJ consultants to help you in your business. I
found the following advice websites on what people should look for in
DJ services and maybe you could put them into practice.

“Tips For Finding The Right DJ”
http://www.mobiledjnetwork.com/tipsadvice/finding_right_dj.html 

“Things to Consider When Hiring a DJ” (A commercial website but you
still can get good tips from them.
http://www.spinnersdj.com/HireDJ.htm 
 
Another service you could offer would be bartending services at the
parties. Just like the DJ service, if you haven’t had much experience
in this arena, it might be wise to get a consultant or a friend who
knows the ropes.

Samples of Bartending Services
http://www.webtender.com/index/Bartending/Bartending_Services/ 

Finally, I think that you should also use an online party guide as a
complimentary service to your products. People may order the type of
service or product they need directly from your website. Our next
links provides samples of party guide websites.

Keg Party
http://www.keg-party.net/

Spring Break Party Net
http://www.spring-break-party.com/ 

PubClub.com
http://www.pubclub.com/collegefootball/ 

Search terms used:        
Party gadgets
Drinking board games
Party bartending services
mobile dj service tips
   
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
       
Thanks for visiting us.       
       
Regards,       
Easterangel-ga       
Google Answers Researcher

If it were me, I would do the following:
Imagine the 'typical' class day, then
non-class day, for students.  Do it
for both genders.  Walk through the day
thinking of everything they do, every problem
they face and everything they do/might buy.
Analyze their specific problems.  This will
be the best way to come up with something
that isn't just a 'me too',  Good luck, also
might think to ask the schools business/permit
office.  In addition to possibly needing one, they
will be able to tell you all the things done in the past.

At the beginning of the year, sell supplies to freshman that are
needed and often forgotten. Alarm clocks is one possibility.

I currently have a variety of ethernet related equipment (network
cards and cables mostly) I got from ebay that I intend to sell to
students (which I purchased on ebay for less than half the going rate
here in town). Since it is the middle of the semester sales are slow,
but I intend some pickup at the beginning of next semester as new, non
internet equipped students come into the dorms.

Perhaps you could do something like this?

Thought of you when I read this.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/02/14/student.entrepreneur.ap/index.html