Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ridiculous Ideas That Made People Millions
yahoo ^ | Friday May 8, 2009, 6:47 pm EDT | Katie Adams

Posted on 05/11/2009 9:42:48 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Have you ever watched an infomercial or seen an item in a department store and thought "I could have thought of that!" Have you wished you had invested money early in a blockbuster invention? Learn the stories behind some (seemingly) ridiculous ideas that have made inventors and investors very wealthy, and find out what you, as a potential investor, should look for and consider before putting up capital for a potential funding opportunity.

The Koosh Ball You've may have never heard of Scott Stillinger but somewhere in your home or office you probably have one of his inventions – the Koosh ball, which made millions of dollars. Stillinger came up with the idea for the Koosh ball when he tied rubber bands together to create a smaller, easier-to-catch ball for his young children in 1987. He founded OddzOn Products Inc. to distribute the small, simple toy, and within just 12 months it was flying off of store shelves as that year's hottest Christmas gift.

Santa Mail Every year, millions of children around the globe pen letters to Santa and hope for a response. Byron Reese realized the potential in this market. In 2002, he launched "Santa Mail," a service that allows kids to send letters to the North Pole. Parents enclose a small fee of just $9.95, and little Johnny or Jane receives a personalized letter back from the "big man" himself. By 2009, Santa Mail had responded to nearly 300,000 children. At close to $10 a letter, well, you can do the math - needless to say, it was a little idea that has earned Reese a big return.

Lucky Break Wishbones

Antenna Balls

(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: acorn; globalclimatechange; greenenergy; obamanomics; unfailures
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 next last
To: theDentist
remember the foam brick? you could throw it at your TV screen during sports events, the news, or presidential speeches. That’d sell big now.

The Soviets have a solution from back in the old days of Communist rule.

They'd put windshield wipers on the tv screen to clear away all the spit from their sets.

21 posted on 05/11/2009 10:19:30 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (If Liberals are so upset over torture, why did they mock John McCains stiff arms during the campaign)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: theDentist

I use a rubber dart gun ; )


22 posted on 05/11/2009 10:24:38 AM PDT by ravingnutter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Le Chien Rouge

“10) Al Gore and the cap and trade scheme”

11) Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign


23 posted on 05/11/2009 10:26:35 AM PDT by DrC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

The concept of “survival of the fittest” often challenges our notion of what constitutes “fit”.


24 posted on 05/11/2009 10:40:18 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (John Galt was exiled.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Le Chien Rouge

Every time I go into the men’s room at work, I am struck by the need for my idea of a commode with built-in exhaust ventilation.


25 posted on 05/11/2009 10:47:35 AM PDT by fredhead (Liberals think globally, reason rectally, act idiotically.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

The latest big seller, Topsy Turvey tomato grower, simple and they do work great.


26 posted on 05/11/2009 10:52:33 AM PDT by eastforker (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; ...
Antenna Balls

*...nah, too easy.


27 posted on 05/11/2009 11:01:05 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Israel is built on rock. Arabia is built on sand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: AngelesCrestHighway
AH! yes!....the pocket fisherman!...you’d have better luck catching fish with a dart!

One day, a friend was screwing around with one of those, and latched onto a bluefish that was about an 8 pounder, about 26 or 28" long. He managed to fight it for about 5 minutes, at least, before it snapped the line. Funny as hell. Wish I had a video of it.

Bluefish are vicious saltwater fish.

28 posted on 05/11/2009 11:08:18 AM PDT by Travis T. OJustice (I can spell just fine, thanks, it's my typing that sucks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
There needs to be an 'inside' squeegee.

Every time I clean the interior windows of my car, espeically the windshield and back window, as soon as I hit sunbeams all I can see is the horrible mess I made and how much I missed.

It's hard to get it done right!

29 posted on 05/11/2009 11:12:29 AM PDT by synbad600
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: synbad600

I just saw one advertised yesterday on TV, it’s a stick with a pad on the end made just for wiping the inside of your car window.

Of course it was buy one get one free, just pay shipping and handling charges...


30 posted on 05/11/2009 11:18:51 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: eastforker
Topsy Turvey

Great idea!

31 posted on 05/11/2009 11:24:03 AM PDT by Eaker (The Two Loudest Sounds in the World.....Bang When it should have been Click and the Reverse.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Abathar
Cool.

I was thinking of how I could devise my own somehow by wrapping some window-cleaner sheets around my regular squeegee. I think it might be too big to get way down by the front of the dash, though.

Old Steven Wright joke: I felt like streaking so I drank some Windex.

32 posted on 05/11/2009 11:32:21 AM PDT by synbad600
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: synbad600

http://www.windshieldwondertv.com/index3

2 for $10


33 posted on 05/11/2009 11:35:43 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Abathar
Thanks, but . . . . I'm always dubious when I see things like that. If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.

They figure if it sucks and falls apart or doesn't work you won't take the time, effort, and money to return it b/c it was so cheap from the get go. Hence, they make gobs of money off suckers like me.

You go first and tell me how it works.

34 posted on 05/11/2009 11:42:18 AM PDT by synbad600
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: synbad600

lol, I would, but I don’t have a credit card. If they take Paypal I will and tell you how it works.


35 posted on 05/11/2009 11:44:06 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: synbad600

Forget it, the price went from $10 to $23.98 with shipping.

I’m a tightwad.


36 posted on 05/11/2009 11:47:33 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

I found this page by sheer accident:
http://www.freeenterpriseland.com/index.html

I like the ‘mad bluebird’ story.
Hard to believe that a guy can make millions off of a single picture of a bluebird.


37 posted on 05/11/2009 12:02:05 PM PDT by Bon mots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Abathar

That’s gotta tell you something right there, if the shipping costs more than the product!


38 posted on 05/11/2009 12:08:12 PM PDT by synbad600
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Two words:
“Sham Wow!”


39 posted on 05/11/2009 12:11:08 PM PDT by Bon mots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bon mots

In the same era as the pet rock was a product that peaked and fell in the blink of an eye: the Invisible Piranha. It was, simply, an empty fish bowl with a big warning flyer in the box.


40 posted on 05/11/2009 12:20:18 PM PDT by I Buried My Guns (I just hope CW2 comes before my creaky knees give out completely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson