March 16, 2025 • 19 mins
What do a singing plastic fish, a rock in a box, and a blanket with sleeves have in common? They all made their creators millions of dollars despite seemingly ridiculous premises. In this fascinating exploration of unlikely product success stories, we take you through 25 bizarre inventions that defied all logic yet struck gold in the marketplace.
From Big Mouth Billy Bass (the animatronic singing fish) to Gary Dahl's Pet Rock that earned $15 million in just six months by literally selling ordinary stones with "care instructions," we delve into how these quirky products captured public imagination. The Snuggie—essentially just a wearable blanket—generated over $200 million through infomercials that became cultural touchpoints themselves. Remember Tamagotchis? These digital pets that required constant attention sold over 70 million units worldwide, proving sometimes the most peculiar ideas resonate most strongly.
The journey continues with products both nostalgic and head-scratching: Beanie Babies that generated billions as collectibles, Silly Putty that started as a failed rubber substitute, and even novelties like Doggles (protective eyewear for dogs) and dog wigs that somehow found enthusiastic markets. We also explore digital-age oddities like the iFart app ($400,000 in sales) and the Million Dollar Homepage, where Alex Tew sold pixels for $1 each and earned exactly what the name promised—in just one year.
What makes these strange products succeed when so many sensible innovations fail? Maybe there's a lesson here about human psychology, clever marketing, or just the unpredictable nature of what catches our collective fancy. Listen now and discover how sometimes the weirdest ideas make the most money. Who knows—maybe your own million-dollar idea is sitting right under your nose, waiting to defy all logic and strike gold!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lynn Dimick (00:09):
Welcome to Grandpa Is Him.
A fun microcast abouteverything and nothing in
ordinary life.
I am your host, lynn Dimmick,and if I'm your host then you're
my guest and I hope that youwill enjoy this time that you
spend with me are my guests andI hope that you will enjoy this
time that you spend with me.
Before we jump into thisepisode, let's take a quick
moment to revisit episode 9,where we talked about smoking,
(00:31):
grilling, barbecuing and theglorious cut of meat tri-tip.
Last month I visited several ofmy children and their families,
bringing along with us someCalifornia tri-tip, since it's a
cut that's not widely availablewhere they live.
This past weekend my youngestson, jacob, gave it a shot.
He prefers grilling hot andfast, but with a little coaching
(00:54):
we slowed things down a bit andlet me tell you it turned out
to be one of the most beautifultri-tips I've ever seen.
Even his kids, who are not bigmeat eaters, went back for
seconds.
That just proves brown foodtastes good and when it's done
right, food speaks for itself.
And speaking of things thatseem simple but turn out to be
(01:15):
surprisingly amazing, today'sepisode is all about products
that defy logic but becamemassive hits.
Welcome to Grandpa Is Him.
As grandpas, we have anunspoken duty to know stuff,
random stuff, that might dazzleor completely confuse some young
minds.
Today, we're exploring some ofthe most unexpected, quirky and
(01:37):
let's be honest borderlineridiculous products that made
millions.
You've seen them before, thoseinventions that make you go.
How in the world did thatbecome a thing?
Well, get ready to laugh, beamazed and maybe even question
your own life choices.
As we take a look at thesestrange products that turn from
what to wow in sales, let's divein.
(01:58):
First up is a product thateveryone remembers Big Mouth,
billy Bass.
This little singing fishcreated by Jimmy Industries had
no right to be as popular.
As it was Conceived as a gaggift, it ended up turning into a
massive viral sensation.
(02:18):
Billy would sing songs likeTake Me to the River and Don't
Worry, be Happy, while swayingback and forth.
People could get enough of itand it earned Jimmy millions in
sales A truly bizarre successstory.
Next, we've got something thatis as simple as it is ridiculous
(02:40):
the Pet Rock, created by GaryDahl in 1975, this was literally
just a rock in a box withbreathing holes, and it was
marketed as the perfectlow-maintenance pet.
While it sounds like a joke,dahl ended up making $15 million
in just six months.
People bought rocks.
I mean, come on, there'ssomething deeply fascinating
(03:03):
about how the absurd cansometimes hit it big.
And number three on our list theSnuggie.
Let's talk about the Snuggie, ablanket with sleeves.
Who would have thought that aproduct so ridiculously simple
could bring in over $200 million?
Invented by Scott Boylan in2008, the Snuggie became an
(03:24):
instant hit thanks to ahilariously absurd advertising
campaign.
Look it up on YouTube.
It was a blanket, but it wasn'tjust any blanket.
It was a blanket that you couldwear, and people loved it.
Can you blame them?
Who doesn't love the idea of acozy, wearable blanket?
I know my grandkids still havetheir version of it and they
(03:44):
love it.
I don't know.
Ah, the Tamagotchi.
If you grew up in the 90s, youremember this one Created by
Bandai in 1996, it was a digitalpet that you had to feed, clean
and play with on a tiny screen.
There was nothing moredisturbing than see your little
(04:04):
pet poop on the screen and ifyou didn't, your little pet
would die.
Over 70 million Tamagotchiswere sold and, honestly, it was
probably the first pet many ofus had.
It was like a virtualresponsibility test.
We loved it, whether we passedor failed.
I'm not sure what was wrongwith the people in the 90s, but
(04:27):
okay, who didn't have a slapbracelet in the 90s?
Invented by Stuart Andrews,these were basically metal
strips covered in fabric that,when slapped around your wrist,
would curl and fit.
Perfectly Simple, right, but itbecame a huge craze.
I still see them today.
Andrews made between 6 millionand8 million off this childhood
(04:49):
obsession.
The sound alone of those thingsslapping on your wrist brings
back memories.
This next one when it first cameout, nobody understood Smiley
faces.
You've seen them everywhere,right?
Well, they were invented byBernard and Murray, spain, in
1971.
A simple yellow circle with asmile, and it became one of the
(05:10):
most recognizable symbols in theworld.
You still see it used in emojis.
They earned $50 million fromthis simple little design,
showing just how powerfulsomething as small as a smile
can be.
Showing just how powerfulsomething as small as a smile
can be.
All right, I'm almost well,almost embarrassed to talk about
(05:32):
this next one.
Let's move into the digital agewith something a little less
classy the iFart app created byJoel Kamm in 2009.
Yep, you guessed it it's an appthat makes fart noises Every
seven-year-old's dream, butsomehow it became a hit.
Kids and, let's be honest, alot of adults were obsessed and
(05:54):
Kamm made around $400,000 offthis hilarious concept.
Sometimes the simplest thingsare the funniest.
Here's one that still sort ofexists in some form today.
Remember the wacky wall walker,invented by Ken Hakuta in the
(06:15):
80s?
It was a sticky rubber toy thatwalked down walls when you
threw it.
It wasn't anythingrevolutionary, but Hakuta made a
huge splash with it.
After purchasing the rightsfrom a Chinese manufacturer, he
sold millions of these andearned $80 million.
It's funny how something sosimple can have such a great
staying power.
(06:36):
And now we're on to number nine.
Let's talk about the Slinky.
This classic toy was inventedby Richard James in 1945 after a
mishap with the spring.
The Slinky is a toy that walksdownstairs and to this day is
still a hit with kids.
It's made $250 million over theyears, proving that a little
(06:59):
accidental invention can go along way.
I was never able to get one towalk down more than two or three
stairs, but the TV ads sureshowed that it could be done.
I don't believe it.
Next up, we've got anotherclassic, the hula hoop, invented
by Arthur K Mellon and RichardKnurr in 1958, the hula hoop
(07:23):
became an instant sensation.
At its peak, more than 50,000hula hoops were made every day.
It's a fun, simple toy thatearned millions and still shows
up at toy stores today.
I was never able to get morethan a few spins, but I've seen
some kids that could do it forabout a half hour at a time and
they would be able to spend morethan one.
(07:43):
And to prove that timing iseverything, this next one just
kind of blows my mind when youthink about it.
In 2005, alex Tu had an ideathat turned into something
incredible.
He created a website where hesold 1 million pixels those are
the little dots for a dollareach.
(08:04):
Yep, you heard that right.
He made a million dollars injust one year.
Talk about turning a crazy ideainto a goldmine.
Yeah, I'm jealous.
I didn't think of it first.
This next one was cute, but Inever understood the fascination
then or now.
Everyone remembers BeanieBabies.
(08:25):
Right Invented by H Ty Warner.
In the 90s, these littlestuffed animals became the
ultimate collectible, and theyweren't just cute.
People went nuts over them, andthey do today, spending
hundreds for rare ones.
Warner ended up making up to $6billion from Beanie Babies.
Who knew tiny stuffed animalscould be so valuable or
(08:48):
desirable.
This next one, at number 13, wasan item that when I first saw
it I thought that's cute.
They'll sell two of them.
I was wrong.
They're called Doggles.
Yes, they are dog goggles,created by a company of the same
name.
These are protective eyewearfor dogs.
(09:10):
It's unclear why dogs needgoggles, but people bought them
anyway and the company mademillions selling them.
Go figure.
I've seen people put them ontheir dogs when they go for
motorcycle rides, which isprobably a good use.
(09:31):
This next one I was firstintroduced to at a friend's
house in about 1970, and Ithought it was the coolest thing
ever, and I'm glad I neverbought one.
But anyway, this one's beenaround for decades the Magic
8-Ball, invented by AlbertCarter and Abe Brookman in 1950.
It's a toy that gives youanswers to your yes or no
(09:52):
questions.
It's still a fun little mysterytoday and it's made millions
over the years, all by answeringlife's most important questions
like Will I get the job?
Let's change gears and seasonsIf you want to believe in a
little Christmas magic.
There's Santa Mail.
(10:14):
Started by Byron Reese in 2001,santa Mail allows parents to
send personalized letters fromSanta.
Since then.
Over 200,000 letters have beensent and Reese has made a nice
piece of change, all by bringinga little holiday joy to kids.
(10:34):
Our next item on the list wasinvented by Scott Stillinger in
1987.
The Koosh Ball, which wasdesigned to be a soft, throwable
toy that was easy for kids tohold and hold on to it.
They did.
It sold over 50 million units,making Stillinger a lot of money
from a ball of rubber strings.
(10:55):
For those of you who need tofreshen up your mullet, this
next one's for you.
Now we come to one that made mecringe when I saw it and I
thought there's a product thatis looking for a solution to a
problem that doesn't exist.
And I was wrong.
Now we've got the Flowbee, ahair cutter with a vacuum
(11:19):
attached to it, invented by RickHunts in 1986.
It's not the most glamorousproduct, but it works and it's
made over 2 million sales.
Sometimes convenience wins overlooks.
I'm glad my parents never hadthat Silly putty.
Ah, the stuff of childhoodmemories.
(11:39):
It was actually inventedaccidentally by Harvey Chen,
earl Warwick or James Wright in1943 as a potential rubber
substitute, but it became one ofthe most iconic toys, earning
around $5 million every yearsince its creation.
I remember as a young boyfinding out that the ink on
(12:00):
newsprint was not completely dryand you could copy the comics
using Silly PuttyCock-a-doodle-doo Snoring, kiss
Me.
This next one, created in 1998,is still showing up in the news
once in a while because somepeople think that these were
recording and spying on us theFurbies.
(12:21):
The Furby was created in 1998.
It was a robotic toy that couldspeak its own language and
eventually learn English.
It sold over 40 million unitsin its first few years and
remains a popular collector'sitem, proving that weird little
creatures can make a big impact.
I remember my kids used to putFurbies facing each other and
(12:45):
they would talk back and forthand it drove everybody nuts.
I'm glad to see them gone well,at least from our home All
right.
Coming in at number 20, andhonestly I think this one should
probably be number one whocould forget Billy Bob Teeth?
These novelty dentures madepeople look like they had
crooked teeth and they sold over20 million units after being
(13:09):
created by Jonah White andRichard Bailey in 1993.
It's funny how a goofy idea canstrike a chord.
As far off the hook.
As doggles were, we now havedog wigs, and they are exactly
what they sound like Wigsdesigned for dogs.
(13:30):
While this exact inventorremains unknown.
Probably for good reason, thesenovelty items became a popular
trend, often used for fun or forpet photo shoots.
Trend often used for fun or forpet photo shoots.
Despite their seeminglyridiculous nature, dog wigs have
(13:51):
made millions in sales.
Pet owners everywhere have beenbuying these quirky accessories
to give their pets a touch ofpersonality or simply to make
people laugh.
That's one of those things thatI think if you put on your dog,
you should be arrested.
That's one of those things thatI think if you put on your dog,
you should be arrested.
Wow, as I scroll through thislist, it just keeps getting
better, well or worse.
Invented by Ken Aroni, theplastic wishbone was created as
(14:15):
an alternative to thetraditional turkey wishbone.
The idea was simple A plasticversion of the wishbone sold for
$3.99 that could be snapped forgood luck.
This invention made millions byturning into a fun traditional
practice with a modern twist.
This product became a must-haveat holiday dinners and
(14:36):
eventually sold millions ofunits.
Okay, I can understand why.
At holidays you don't have towait for the bone to dry out.
But really A wishbone?
This next one kind of bogglesmy mind, but I'll share with you
a story about why I can seethis happened.
Invented by Jennifer Telfer in2003, pillow pets are plush toys
(14:56):
that fold into pillows.
Inspired by her son's flat andstuffed animal, the design
became an instant hit.
Pillow pets quickly became apopular item for kids and even
adults, offering both comfortand cuteness.
Telfer's toy company, cjProducts, went on to make
millions from this versatilecozy creation.
(15:17):
This last Christmas, my wifegave several of the grandkids
little hand stitching kits thatthey could stuff and turn into
small soft toys, and you knowwhat they loved them.
To me it was the silliest thingever, but they loved it.
So she's on to something.
Now this next one.
(15:37):
I'm not sure why they would putit on the list of 25 items that
really probably should havesucceeded, but I kind of like
this one.
It's called Allermates.
It was developed by Iris Shamus, a girl who suffered from food
allergies.
Allermates are fun, colorfulallergy alert products designed
for children.
Their products, such aswristbands and stickers, help
(15:59):
raise awareness about foodallergies.
Since their launch, allermateshave been sold in over 7,000
locations across the UnitedStates, making millions while
helping kids with allergies feelmore comfortable and safe.
Now this next one is amazing inthat anybody bought it.
(16:20):
Now, I have suffered fromheadaches, and particularly
migraines, in the past, and so Ihate to admit it, but I
actually looked at this to seeif it was serious.
Distributed by Serivision,there's a product called Head On
.
It's a topical headache reliefproduct that gained popularity
(16:40):
due to a viral infomercial.
Despite lacking scientificresearch to support its
effectiveness, the product,essentially a wax-like stick
meant to be applied to theforehead like chapstick, became
a commercial success andgenerated millions in sales.
Its infamy grew through itsover-the-top claims and catchy
advertising, leading to asurprising market presence.
It was effective because, yes,I did look at it, no, I did not
(17:04):
buy it, and I'm glad no one gaveit to me as a gift.
And that's the end of our list.
So what's the takeaway?
The world is full of weird andwonderful ideas, whether it's a
singing fish or a plasticwishbone.
Sometimes the strangestconcepts are the most profitable
.
Maybe the next million dollaridea is sitting in your garage
(17:24):
or your backyard is a rock.
Success is weird, and that'swhat makes it fun.
In a previous episode, I askedfor your opinion and feedback on
how you would handle thesituation of a young boy doing
what was right and telling theauthorities about a potential
problem and, overwhelmingly, theresponses that I received were
(17:46):
that he was right.
The parents were wrong toprevent their child from
associating with this young boywho had done what was right.
And I want to give you anupdate on what's going on with
the privacy episode that I'vebeen working on.
I'm still working on it becausethere's still some incidents
going on.
In fact, I will tell you nowthat one of the cities involved
has repeated their actions andthey still won't talk about it,
(18:09):
and I will share with you what'sgoing on, how that happened and
other tidbits that I thinkyou'll find interesting, fun,
but always entertaining.
Thanks for tuning in toGrandpa's Hymn.
Until next time, stay curious,stay amused and keep questioning
how the weirdest things makemillions.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of Grandpa Is Him.
(18:41):
We hope you enjoyed ourdiscussion and stories and maybe
even found some inspiration foryour own family adventures.
Now we want to hear from you.
What questions do you have orwhat topics would you like us to
explore in future episodes?
What stories can you share?
Share your ideas?
Simply visit our website atgrandpaishimcom and fill out the
(19:04):
submission form.
You can also reach out to us onemail at grandpaishimcom at
gmailcom.
We're always looking for yourthoughts and experiences, so
don't be shy.
Join the conversation and helpus create the content that
matters to you and your family.
Join the conversation and helpus create the content that
matters to you and your family.
(19:24):
Until next time, keep laughing,keep sharing and keep those
ideas coming.
Welcome to Grandpa Is Him.
A fun microcast abouteverything and nothing in
ordinary life.
I am your host, lynn Dimmick,and if I'm your host then you're
my guest and I hope that youwill enjoy this time that you
spend with me are my guests andI hope that you will enjoy this
time that you spend with me.
Before we jump into thisepisode, let's take a quick
moment to revisit episode 9,where we talked about smoking,
(00:31):
grilling, barbecuing and theglorious cut of meat tri-tip.
Last month I visited several ofmy children and their families,
bringing along with us someCalifornia tri-tip, since it's a
cut that's not widely availablewhere they live.
This past weekend my youngestson, jacob, gave it a shot.
He prefers grilling hot andfast, but with a little coaching
(00:54):
we slowed things down a bit andlet me tell you it turned out
to be one of the most beautifultri-tips I've ever seen.
Even his kids, who are not bigmeat eaters, went back for
seconds.
That just proves brown foodtastes good and when it's done
right, food speaks for itself.
And speaking of things thatseem simple but turn out to be
(01:15):
surprisingly amazing, today'sepisode is all about products
that defy logic but becamemassive hits.
Welcome to Grandpa Is Him.
As grandpas, we have anunspoken duty to know stuff,
random stuff, that might dazzleor completely confuse some young
minds.
Today, we're exploring some ofthe most unexpected, quirky and
(01:37):
let's be honest borderlineridiculous products that made
millions.
You've seen them before, thoseinventions that make you go.
How in the world did thatbecome a thing?
Well, get ready to laugh, beamazed and maybe even question
your own life choices.
As we take a look at thesestrange products that turn from
what to wow in sales, let's divein.
(01:58):
First up is a product thateveryone remembers Big Mouth,
billy Bass.
This little singing fishcreated by Jimmy Industries had
no right to be as popular.
As it was Conceived as a gaggift, it ended up turning into a
massive viral sensation.
(02:18):
Billy would sing songs likeTake Me to the River and Don't
Worry, be Happy, while swayingback and forth.
People could get enough of itand it earned Jimmy millions in
sales A truly bizarre successstory.
Next, we've got something thatis as simple as it is ridiculous
(02:40):
the Pet Rock, created by GaryDahl in 1975, this was literally
just a rock in a box withbreathing holes, and it was
marketed as the perfectlow-maintenance pet.
While it sounds like a joke,dahl ended up making $15 million
in just six months.
People bought rocks.
I mean, come on, there'ssomething deeply fascinating
(03:03):
about how the absurd cansometimes hit it big.
And number three on our list theSnuggie.
Let's talk about the Snuggie, ablanket with sleeves.
Who would have thought that aproduct so ridiculously simple
could bring in over $200 million?
Invented by Scott Boylan in2008, the Snuggie became an
(03:24):
instant hit thanks to ahilariously absurd advertising
campaign.
Look it up on YouTube.
It was a blanket, but it wasn'tjust any blanket.
It was a blanket that you couldwear, and people loved it.
Can you blame them?
Who doesn't love the idea of acozy, wearable blanket?
I know my grandkids still havetheir version of it and they
(03:44):
love it.
I don't know.
Ah, the Tamagotchi.
If you grew up in the 90s, youremember this one Created by
Bandai in 1996, it was a digitalpet that you had to feed, clean
and play with on a tiny screen.
There was nothing moredisturbing than see your little
(04:04):
pet poop on the screen and ifyou didn't, your little pet
would die.
Over 70 million Tamagotchiswere sold and, honestly, it was
probably the first pet many ofus had.
It was like a virtualresponsibility test.
We loved it, whether we passedor failed.
I'm not sure what was wrongwith the people in the 90s, but
(04:27):
okay, who didn't have a slapbracelet in the 90s?
Invented by Stuart Andrews,these were basically metal
strips covered in fabric that,when slapped around your wrist,
would curl and fit.
Perfectly Simple, right, but itbecame a huge craze.
I still see them today.
Andrews made between 6 millionand8 million off this childhood
(04:49):
obsession.
The sound alone of those thingsslapping on your wrist brings
back memories.
This next one when it first cameout, nobody understood Smiley
faces.
You've seen them everywhere,right?
Well, they were invented byBernard and Murray, spain, in
1971.
A simple yellow circle with asmile, and it became one of the
(05:10):
most recognizable symbols in theworld.
You still see it used in emojis.
They earned $50 million fromthis simple little design,
showing just how powerfulsomething as small as a smile
can be.
Showing just how powerfulsomething as small as a smile
can be.
All right, I'm almost well,almost embarrassed to talk about
(05:32):
this next one.
Let's move into the digital agewith something a little less
classy the iFart app created byJoel Kamm in 2009.
Yep, you guessed it it's an appthat makes fart noises Every
seven-year-old's dream, butsomehow it became a hit.
Kids and, let's be honest, alot of adults were obsessed and
(05:54):
Kamm made around $400,000 offthis hilarious concept.
Sometimes the simplest thingsare the funniest.
Here's one that still sort ofexists in some form today.
Remember the wacky wall walker,invented by Ken Hakuta in the
(06:15):
80s?
It was a sticky rubber toy thatwalked down walls when you
threw it.
It wasn't anythingrevolutionary, but Hakuta made a
huge splash with it.
After purchasing the rightsfrom a Chinese manufacturer, he
sold millions of these andearned $80 million.
It's funny how something sosimple can have such a great
staying power.
(06:36):
And now we're on to number nine.
Let's talk about the Slinky.
This classic toy was inventedby Richard James in 1945 after a
mishap with the spring.
The Slinky is a toy that walksdownstairs and to this day is
still a hit with kids.
It's made $250 million over theyears, proving that a little
(06:59):
accidental invention can go along way.
I was never able to get one towalk down more than two or three
stairs, but the TV ads sureshowed that it could be done.
I don't believe it.
Next up, we've got anotherclassic, the hula hoop, invented
by Arthur K Mellon and RichardKnurr in 1958, the hula hoop
(07:23):
became an instant sensation.
At its peak, more than 50,000hula hoops were made every day.
It's a fun, simple toy thatearned millions and still shows
up at toy stores today.
I was never able to get morethan a few spins, but I've seen
some kids that could do it forabout a half hour at a time and
they would be able to spend morethan one.
(07:43):
And to prove that timing iseverything, this next one just
kind of blows my mind when youthink about it.
In 2005, alex Tu had an ideathat turned into something
incredible.
He created a website where hesold 1 million pixels those are
the little dots for a dollareach.
(08:04):
Yep, you heard that right.
He made a million dollars injust one year.
Talk about turning a crazy ideainto a goldmine.
Yeah, I'm jealous.
I didn't think of it first.
This next one was cute, but Inever understood the fascination
then or now.
Everyone remembers BeanieBabies.
(08:25):
Right Invented by H Ty Warner.
In the 90s, these littlestuffed animals became the
ultimate collectible, and theyweren't just cute.
People went nuts over them, andthey do today, spending
hundreds for rare ones.
Warner ended up making up to $6billion from Beanie Babies.
Who knew tiny stuffed animalscould be so valuable or
(08:48):
desirable.
This next one, at number 13, wasan item that when I first saw
it I thought that's cute.
They'll sell two of them.
I was wrong.
They're called Doggles.
Yes, they are dog goggles,created by a company of the same
name.
These are protective eyewearfor dogs.
(09:10):
It's unclear why dogs needgoggles, but people bought them
anyway and the company mademillions selling them.
Go figure.
I've seen people put them ontheir dogs when they go for
motorcycle rides, which isprobably a good use.
(09:31):
This next one I was firstintroduced to at a friend's
house in about 1970, and Ithought it was the coolest thing
ever, and I'm glad I neverbought one.
But anyway, this one's beenaround for decades the Magic
8-Ball, invented by AlbertCarter and Abe Brookman in 1950.
It's a toy that gives youanswers to your yes or no
(09:52):
questions.
It's still a fun little mysterytoday and it's made millions
over the years, all by answeringlife's most important questions
like Will I get the job?
Let's change gears and seasonsIf you want to believe in a
little Christmas magic.
There's Santa Mail.
(10:14):
Started by Byron Reese in 2001,santa Mail allows parents to
send personalized letters fromSanta.
Since then.
Over 200,000 letters have beensent and Reese has made a nice
piece of change, all by bringinga little holiday joy to kids.
(10:34):
Our next item on the list wasinvented by Scott Stillinger in
1987.
The Koosh Ball, which wasdesigned to be a soft, throwable
toy that was easy for kids tohold and hold on to it.
They did.
It sold over 50 million units,making Stillinger a lot of money
from a ball of rubber strings.
(10:55):
For those of you who need tofreshen up your mullet, this
next one's for you.
Now we come to one that made mecringe when I saw it and I
thought there's a product thatis looking for a solution to a
problem that doesn't exist.
And I was wrong.
Now we've got the Flowbee, ahair cutter with a vacuum
(11:19):
attached to it, invented by RickHunts in 1986.
It's not the most glamorousproduct, but it works and it's
made over 2 million sales.
Sometimes convenience wins overlooks.
I'm glad my parents never hadthat Silly putty.
Ah, the stuff of childhoodmemories.
(11:39):
It was actually inventedaccidentally by Harvey Chen,
earl Warwick or James Wright in1943 as a potential rubber
substitute, but it became one ofthe most iconic toys, earning
around $5 million every yearsince its creation.
I remember as a young boyfinding out that the ink on
(12:00):
newsprint was not completely dryand you could copy the comics
using Silly PuttyCock-a-doodle-doo Snoring, kiss
Me.
This next one, created in 1998,is still showing up in the news
once in a while because somepeople think that these were
recording and spying on us theFurbies.
(12:21):
The Furby was created in 1998.
It was a robotic toy that couldspeak its own language and
eventually learn English.
It sold over 40 million unitsin its first few years and
remains a popular collector'sitem, proving that weird little
creatures can make a big impact.
I remember my kids used to putFurbies facing each other and
(12:45):
they would talk back and forthand it drove everybody nuts.
I'm glad to see them gone well,at least from our home All
right.
Coming in at number 20, andhonestly I think this one should
probably be number one whocould forget Billy Bob Teeth?
These novelty dentures madepeople look like they had
crooked teeth and they sold over20 million units after being
(13:09):
created by Jonah White andRichard Bailey in 1993.
It's funny how a goofy idea canstrike a chord.
As far off the hook.
As doggles were, we now havedog wigs, and they are exactly
what they sound like Wigsdesigned for dogs.
(13:30):
While this exact inventorremains unknown.
Probably for good reason, thesenovelty items became a popular
trend, often used for fun or forpet photo shoots.
Trend often used for fun or forpet photo shoots.
Despite their seeminglyridiculous nature, dog wigs have
(13:51):
made millions in sales.
Pet owners everywhere have beenbuying these quirky accessories
to give their pets a touch ofpersonality or simply to make
people laugh.
That's one of those things thatI think if you put on your dog,
you should be arrested.
That's one of those things thatI think if you put on your dog,
you should be arrested.
Wow, as I scroll through thislist, it just keeps getting
better, well or worse.
Invented by Ken Aroni, theplastic wishbone was created as
(14:15):
an alternative to thetraditional turkey wishbone.
The idea was simple A plasticversion of the wishbone sold for
$3.99 that could be snapped forgood luck.
This invention made millions byturning into a fun traditional
practice with a modern twist.
This product became a must-haveat holiday dinners and
(14:36):
eventually sold millions ofunits.
Okay, I can understand why.
At holidays you don't have towait for the bone to dry out.
But really A wishbone?
This next one kind of bogglesmy mind, but I'll share with you
a story about why I can seethis happened.
Invented by Jennifer Telfer in2003, pillow pets are plush toys
(14:56):
that fold into pillows.
Inspired by her son's flat andstuffed animal, the design
became an instant hit.
Pillow pets quickly became apopular item for kids and even
adults, offering both comfortand cuteness.
Telfer's toy company, cjProducts, went on to make
millions from this versatilecozy creation.
(15:17):
This last Christmas, my wifegave several of the grandkids
little hand stitching kits thatthey could stuff and turn into
small soft toys, and you knowwhat they loved them.
To me it was the silliest thingever, but they loved it.
So she's on to something.
Now this next one.
(15:37):
I'm not sure why they would putit on the list of 25 items that
really probably should havesucceeded, but I kind of like
this one.
It's called Allermates.
It was developed by Iris Shamus, a girl who suffered from food
allergies.
Allermates are fun, colorfulallergy alert products designed
for children.
Their products, such aswristbands and stickers, help
(15:59):
raise awareness about foodallergies.
Since their launch, allermateshave been sold in over 7,000
locations across the UnitedStates, making millions while
helping kids with allergies feelmore comfortable and safe.
Now this next one is amazing inthat anybody bought it.
(16:20):
Now, I have suffered fromheadaches, and particularly
migraines, in the past, and so Ihate to admit it, but I
actually looked at this to seeif it was serious.
Distributed by Serivision,there's a product called Head On
.
It's a topical headache reliefproduct that gained popularity
(16:40):
due to a viral infomercial.
Despite lacking scientificresearch to support its
effectiveness, the product,essentially a wax-like stick
meant to be applied to theforehead like chapstick, became
a commercial success andgenerated millions in sales.
Its infamy grew through itsover-the-top claims and catchy
advertising, leading to asurprising market presence.
It was effective because, yes,I did look at it, no, I did not
(17:04):
buy it, and I'm glad no one gaveit to me as a gift.
And that's the end of our list.
So what's the takeaway?
The world is full of weird andwonderful ideas, whether it's a
singing fish or a plasticwishbone.
Sometimes the strangestconcepts are the most profitable
.
Maybe the next million dollaridea is sitting in your garage
(17:24):
or your backyard is a rock.
Success is weird, and that'swhat makes it fun.
In a previous episode, I askedfor your opinion and feedback on
how you would handle thesituation of a young boy doing
what was right and telling theauthorities about a potential
problem and, overwhelmingly, theresponses that I received were
(17:46):
that he was right.
The parents were wrong toprevent their child from
associating with this young boywho had done what was right.
And I want to give you anupdate on what's going on with
the privacy episode that I'vebeen working on.
I'm still working on it becausethere's still some incidents
going on.
In fact, I will tell you nowthat one of the cities involved
has repeated their actions andthey still won't talk about it,
(18:09):
and I will share with you what'sgoing on, how that happened and
other tidbits that I thinkyou'll find interesting, fun,
but always entertaining.
Thanks for tuning in toGrandpa's Hymn.
Until next time, stay curious,stay amused and keep questioning
how the weirdest things makemillions.
Thank you for tuning in to thisepisode of Grandpa Is Him.
(18:41):
We hope you enjoyed ourdiscussion and stories and maybe
even found some inspiration foryour own family adventures.
Now we want to hear from you.
What questions do you have orwhat topics would you like us to
explore in future episodes?
What stories can you share?
Share your ideas?
Simply visit our website atgrandpaishimcom and fill out the
(19:04):
submission form.
You can also reach out to us onemail at grandpaishimcom at
gmailcom.
We're always looking for yourthoughts and experiences, so
don't be shy.
Join the conversation and helpus create the content that
matters to you and your family.
Join the conversation and helpus create the content that
matters to you and your family.
(19:24):
Until next time, keep laughing,keep sharing and keep those
ideas coming.
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