Getting a “no thanks” on Shark Tank — twice! — may lead some folks to assume that they wanted a brand new concept. However Joe Burke just isn’t a type of folks. He continued with a children’ toy concept that he developed at his kitchen desk, and at this time, Ollyball has offered over 3 million items and has received a number of awards, together with Toy of the 12 months.
Ollyball is an inflatable ball designed for “full-speed, full-force indoor play.” It weighs lower than an oz, so children toss it round with out concern of knocking over or breaking something in the home.
On Could 28 at 2 PM ET, Joe will be part of Entrepreneur for a web based workshop to offer a behind-the-scenes take a look at how he turned Ollyball into the all-time best-selling indoor play ball — and the methods he used to do it with out large traders or flashy adverts.
This occasion is free for Entrepeneur+ subscribers. Sign up here to order your spot and have the chance to ask Joe your personal questions reside.
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Prematurely of the dialog, we spoke with Joe to get some insights about his product and his entrepreneurial journey.
What impressed you to create Ollyball?
My 9-year-old daughter was crying within the kitchen after breaking stuff in the home with a volleyball. I knew if we may invent a ball for folks to let their children play with in the home, we might promote thousands and thousands of them. It grew to become an obsession via 100 prototypes, two U.S. utility patents and a Toy of the 12 months award earlier than we ever went to mass market.
How did you try it out?
I made a ton of prototypes with totally different supplies and sizes. I’d take the youngsters to the Youngsters Membership at 24-Hour Health and have them convey the prototypes with them. I would watch to see if the youngsters had been into it or not. After I introduced an early model of the now-patented KrunchCor Construction Ball on a Saturday, the youngsters went bonkers and the supervisor needed to take the ball away as a result of all of them fought over it. I knew then we had been near the reply.
Some other large moments that stand out to you concerning the early days?
When the hosts of the CBS Morning Present began drilling one another with Ollyballs reside on nationwide TV. For that second, they had been children in a playground. One other key second was an Instagram put up from 2019 of a child named Martin Vodicka and his father in Austria enjoying Ollyball collectively of their dwelling. I spotted a ball can change the world.
What has been your largest problem and the way did you pivot to beat it?
COVID and tariffs. Handled them the identical: Go head-first and full-force into disaster and discover an unfair aggressive benefit. Our pivot was to take a reckless leap of religion. The opposite large problem was monetary — investing $150k of financial savings, rising on earnings, and heading off predatory traders. The important thing pivot there was trusting two fellas I met doing non-profit/charitable service, a CPA and a patent lawyer.
What recommendation would you give entrepreneurs on the lookout for funding?
Once you need capital, you will not get it. When you do not want capital, everybody will supply it — do not take it. My finest recommendation is to keep away from surrendering fairness and rejoice in studying each dimension inside your small business and model. Get busy constructing your empire brick by bloody brick.
How do you recommend making ready for a pitch?
Anticipate a room filled with a-holes asking a-hole questions. Out-research and have a real reply for each a-hole query. This forces actuality.
What does the phrase “entrepreneur” imply to you?
“Survivor.” The movies The Shawshank Redemption and There Will Be Blood illustrate each the apex and the dungeon of entrepreneurism.
What’s one thing many aspiring enterprise homeowners assume they want that they actually do not?
Cash. I began my first firm on a card desk and a steel chair on the finish of a hallway that I traded out for work.
What’s a guide you at all times advocate?
Listed here are 4:
- The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Biggest guide on authenticity in enterprise.
- Henry IV by William Shakespeare. Particularly, Act I sc. II., which pertains to understanding your visitor/buyer.
- Lean Startup by Eric Ries. I am residing it.
- Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. Finest guide on genuine advertising.
- Anatomy of Yes by Joseph G. Burke. That is the guide I wrote in 46 hours on a prepare. It was printed by Matthew Kelly’s firm and the foreword was written by the founding father of Domino’s Pizza.
Is there a selected quote or saying that you simply use as private motivation?
Sure, I’ve three of them:
- “Champions are made within the lonely hours.” A great good friend, Kevin Karro, writer of Rules of the Red Rubber Ball, handed me this pearl of knowledge.
- “A workforce is a bunch of people that belief one another.” It is an unavoidable fact.
- “Put God on the heart of every part you do.”
Getting a “no thanks” on Shark Tank — twice! — may lead some folks to assume that they wanted a brand new concept. However Joe Burke just isn’t a type of folks. He continued with a children’ toy concept that he developed at his kitchen desk, and at this time, Ollyball has offered over 3 million items and has received a number of awards, together with Toy of the 12 months.
Ollyball is an inflatable ball designed for “full-speed, full-force indoor play.” It weighs lower than an oz, so children toss it round with out concern of knocking over or breaking something in the home.
On Could 28 at 2 PM ET, Joe will be part of Entrepreneur for a web based workshop to offer a behind-the-scenes take a look at how he turned Ollyball into the all-time best-selling indoor play ball — and the methods he used to do it with out large traders or flashy adverts.
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