Here are 10 people who came up with a few crazy ideas that cashed in
Text Credit: Rochelle D’Souza Featured image source: sabusinessindex.co.za
It goes without saying that not all ideas are good ideas. So what was going through the minds of the creators of these rather ridiculous but highly successful products? Here’s a list of people who have made millions of dollars for their strange, unusual, and sometimes even pointless inventions. You’ll not only recognize most of these: Odds are, you or someone you know has even bought one.
Big Mouth Billy Bass, conceived by Gemmy Industries
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We all loved to hate the Big Mouth Billy Bass, and that was kind of the point. It’s clearly nothing but a gag, but basically everyone you knew bought one, earning the company millions of dollars in the process.
The Pet Rock, invented by Gary Dahl
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This adorable (albeit pointless) stony companion profited 15 million in the first six months it was on the market. Each rock was sold for $3.95, profiting Dahl $3 per sale. They came with a hay bed, a pet carrier, and a manual on how to deal with this “hassle-free” housemate.
The Snuggie, invented by Scott Boilen of Allstar Products
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The real brilliance behind the Snuggie was its advertising campaign: The product was sold in ridiculous infomercials, featuring families wearing the Snuggie while roasting marshmallows and attending sporting events. According to Boilen that approach was taken because the Snuggie in-and-of-itself is ridiculous: Why not advertise it in a humorous way? The approach worked: So far, the Snuggie has profited over $200 million dollars.
Tamagotchi, created by Japanese toymaker Bandai
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This pet simulation device prompted a huge craze back in the nineties, and was perfect for kids – and adults, for that matter – who simply weren’t responsible enough for a real pet. More than 70 million Tamagotchis have been sold: At one time, they were selling one Tamagotchi every second.
Slap Bracelets, invented by Stuart Andrews
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Who didn’t love these as a kid? Most of us had at least five – most of the time, we’d slap them on all at once. Andrews hit the jackpot with this idea: He was a high school shop teacher before he invented the slap bracelet. In 1990 alone, the bracelets were estimated to be profiting between $6 million and $8 million.
Yellow Smiley Faces, invented by Bernard and Murray Spain
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Bernard and Murray Spain wanted to start a novelty store, so they bought the exclusive rights to the smiley face. They also bought the tagline, “Have A Nice Day,” to go along with it. The put the image and words on everything they could, netting them 50 million dollars in sales after the first year-and-a-half.
The Slinky, invented by Richard James
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James was a naval engineer who was known around the block for being clumsy. After dropping a tension spring and watching it creep along the floor, he had his big idea. He debuted the toy in 1945, and 400 Slinkys sold out in 90 minutes. To date, the Slinky has earned James $250 million dollars.
Hula Hoop, invented by Arthur K Melin and Richard Knerr
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At its peak in the fifties, more than 50,000 hula hoops were being manufactured every day. Can you imagine what it must have been like to pitch this (slightly confusing) idea?
The Koosh Ball, invented by Scott Stillinger
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The Koosh was initially all about practicality: Stillinger wanted to give his young children a toy that they could hold on to and throw easily. He contacted his brother-in-law, a marketing manager at Mattel, to make it happen. Two years later, it was one of the hottest toys on the market. 50 million units were sold – and even more dollars were made in the process.
Silly Putty, created by either Harvey Chin, Earl Warrick, or James Wright
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It’s unclear who invented Silly Putty, but Peter Hodgson was the genius who started marketing it. In 1950, he sold 250,000 units for a dollar apiece – all in three days’ time. By the time Hodgson died in 1976, Silly Putty was bringing in over $5 million a year.