The Next Big Thing

Sitting in your dorm room, eating ramen noodles and watching late night infomercials wondering how Vince the ShamWow guy managed to find such a simple product and make millions of dollars off of it? Well the truth is, people don't know they need something often until a smooth sales man like Vince or a catchy sales line comes along and points it out to them. You could potentially be the inventor of the worlds next must have item because in the world of inventions, anything goes. And to prove that here are just a few wacky inventions that have hit the market and made it BIG.

1. Lucky Wishbone – Why wait around for thanksgiving when you could get a wishbone whenever you feel like it? This company manufacturers and sells plastic wishbones. They are producing 30,000 of them a month and sales have exceeded one million dollars.
2. Doggles – If there is one thing dogs don’t need, it’s a pair of goggles, but this idea, which got its start online, has made millions of dollars and real stores have opened up all over the world.
3. Silly Straws - In 1936, Arthur P. Gildersleeve of Denver, Colorado, added a twist to the basic drinking straw. His “crazy straw” design met the need of parents whose children refused to drink certain liquids, such as fruit juices, milk etc..Today, silly straws, sold under names like Krazy Straws, are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes, including triple looped designs and even build-your-own variations.
4. Billy The Big Mouth Bass – Because who doesn't want a singing fish on their wall?
5. The Pet Rock – Around since 1975 it's the pet that never dies. It also doesn't play or protect your house but in a pinch it will keep your paperwork from blowing away. Up to today over 5 million people have purchased a Pet Rock.
6. The Snuggie – Remember in the 1990's Kris Kross wore their clothes backwards and everyone thought they were super cool? Well the Snuggie might not keep you cool but it will keep you warm. This simple idea of a backwards housecoat has made millions and millions of dollars and can be bought in almost any department store.
7. Mood Rings – Around since what seems like the dawn of time, these rings could tell what mood you were in simply by wearing or holding them. Mine always stayed blue, I just assumed it was because I was always in a good mood, turns out I just have warm hands.
8. The Pez Dispenser - 1927 brought in what is arguably the worlds best known candy dispenser. Who would have thought the slightly disturbing thought of flipping our favorite cartoon characters heads backwards and eating chalky candy out of their necks would be so insanely popular?
    

Now you may not come up with something quite as hugely popular as the Pez dispenser or something as useful(?) as Doggles, but those two pens you're currently using to eat your ramen noodles could become the latest in combination writing/eating utensils, you should get on the phone to Vince before another starving student beats you to it.

By Jodi Sonoda

Jodi has been blogging for over 3 years, and is excited to currently be blogging with collegejobbank.com for Nexxt. She is attached to the internet at the hip and enjoys the constant connection. She spends most of her offline time playing dolls and reading picture books with her two year old.