Innovations don’t always have to be groundbreaking to be successful. Some are weird ideas that became million-dollar ideas. To our surprise, the list was long and amusing. Let’s look at fourteen weird innovations that made millions. We’ve sourced the list from various online records and publications.
The Snuggie
The Snuggie is a wearable blanket with sleeves and a pocket. Isaac Shapiro invented it in 1999, and soon it became a popular product. It was marketed through television commercials and was a prominent fad in the late 2000s. Estimates say over 30 million Snuggies were sold within five years, making over $500 million.
Slap Bracelets
Stuart Anders, a Wisconsin teacher, invented slap bracelets in 1983. They are made of a thin metal band covered in fabric or plastic, and you can slap them on your wrist to form a bracelet. Slap bracelets were a big fad in the early 1990s and are still popular today. In markets, it became famous as “Slap Wraps” and made around $15 million in retail sales in 1990.
Million Dollar Homepage
The Million Dollar Homepage was a website created in 2005 by Alex Tew, an English student. It consists of a million pixels arranged in a 1000 x 1000 grid. Alex sold these pixels for $1 each, and others could put a tiny image and link on their purchased pixels. The website sold all its pixels and raised over $1 million for Alex’s education.
Lucky Break Wishbones
After noticing how people enjoyed breaking them, Ken Ahroni invented Lucky Break Wishbones in 1999. Since the Thanksgiving turkey has only a wishbone, people often fight for it. He saw an opportunity to create a plastic alternative that is constantly usable. The bright-colored plastic wishbones were successful, generating millions in the upcoming years.
Yellow Smiley Faces
The familiar yellow smiley face was created in 1963 by Harvey Ball, a graphic artist from Worcester, Massachusetts. While working for an insurance company, he created the design, which he thought was a way to spread cheer. The smiley face became popular and has been used in countless ways. The amount of money generated by the sensational design is still being determined. However, he only charged $45 for it back then.
Santa Claus Mails
Santa Mail was a service created by Byron Reese in 2002. It allows children to send letters to Santa Claus for a small fee of $9.95. In return, the child receives a personalized letter from Santa. The idea was a success; in 2005 sales touched $1 million. According to the official page, they’ve sent over 500,000 letters.
Wacky Wall Walker
The Wacky Wall Walker is a toy that defies gravity. Someone in China invented it, but Ken Hakuta bought the rights to the toy for $100,000. A positive review by the Washington Post created a buzz around the product, and it sold millions of units.
Tamagotchi
For the kids who couldn’t have a real pet, Tamagotchi was the closest thing to a pet. It is a digital pet keychain created by the Japanese toy company Bandai. Released in 1996, it became a huge hit, particularly among children. Tamagotchis are small virtual pets that need care and attention from their owners. They can get sick, hungry, or bored, and it’s up to the owner to keep them happy and healthy. By 2009, there were more than 82 million units sold.
Pet Rock
Tamagotchi still seemed sensible in front of this weird product. The Pet Rock is a novelty item that may seem like a joke, but it was a massive success story. In 1975, advertising copywriter Gary Dahl came up with the idea of selling rocks as pets. He packaged them in a cardboard box with straw and an instruction manual, and people loved it. Dahl sold millions of these rocks in six months for $3.95 each.
iFart App
The iFart App is simple but amusing, turning your phone into a whoopee cushion. Joel Common created the app in 2006 and sold it for $0.99 on iTunes. Despite its simplicity, the iFart App was a huge hit. It generated around $40,000 across Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2008. During 2008-2010, it sold about 800,000 units.
Billy-Bob Teeth
Billy Bob Teeth was a novelty fake tooth product popular in the 1990s. Unlike traditional costume teeth, Bill-Bob Teeth look imperfect and goofy. They have significant gaps and protruding features. Some even have gold plating and embellishments. The American Novelty Company created Billy Bob Teeth and marketed it to add humor to any costume. Twenty years after their launch, they sold over 15 million sets.
HeadOn
HeadOn is a topical pain relief product launched by Perrigo Company. It’s medicated for temporary relief of headaches and muscle aches. The ointment contains simple ingredients like menthol, camphor, and salicylate. The product became popular due to its tagline – “HeadOn, apply directly to the forehead!” At the time, many mocked the commercial for its simplicity. However, the product was a huge success and has remained in the market for over 25 years.
Koosh Ball
The Koosh Ball is a colorful, textured ball with rubbery spokes. Unlike regular balls of that time, it is squishy, bouncy, and stretchable. Scott Stillinger invented the Koosh Ball in 1986 as a physical therapy tool. Over time, kids enjoyed playing with it instead of hand rehabilitation. Its unique design and squishy texture made it a popular toy for children and adults.
Beanie Babies
Beanie Babies are plush toy animals created by Ty Warner in 1993. Unlike traditional teddy bears, They have a unique design. They have a teardrop-shaped body and minimal stitching. Each Beanie Baby has a name, poem, and birthday tag, creating a sense of collectability. Although its popularity died over time, it made around $1 billion in sales during its peak.