Sometimes the best business ideas are the biggest ones. Google revolutionized the way we find information. Facebook brought social networking to the masses. But not every business has to completely change an industry or market. Some simply fill one or two small needs really well.
That’s the case — ahem — for Loopy Cases. The company, which was founded by brothers JT and Jim Wangercyn, makes phone cases that have loops on the back so that people can easily hold on to them.
The Wangercyns’ entire family is full of entrepreneurs and inventors. In fact, it was the founders’ father who originally came up with the design for Loopy’s cases. JT Wangercyn explained to the Huffington Post:
“My dad went and upgraded his phone and when he walked out he dropped his iPhone 4 right on the ground. He cracked the screen on it. He wanted to buy a case for it this time. He found the slimmest case he possibly could and he put two holes in it and put a loop on the back of it and made a case that he wouldn’t drop.”
JT had just graduated from Purdue earlier that year. And Jim was still in college at the time. But the brothers worked together to perfect the design, launch a website and get Loopy Cases off the ground. They even won two business competitions in 2012 to help fund their venture.
The idea behind Loopy Cases isn’t as groundbreaking as lots of other inventions or startups. It’s just a single product that fills a simple need. But there are so many people who have experienced dropping their phone and potentially even breaking it as a result. So the simple product is one that plenty of people find necessary. And sometimes that’s all you need.
Even though the Wangercyns were young when starting their business, they knew they had a useful product and just went for it. Though there’s a lot more that goes into running a successful business than just an idea, offering a useful product is definitely a step in the right direction. And the drive to actually jump into business right away was another important step. JT said:
“I think my best advice for somebody that’s graduating college is take as many risks and opportunities as you can and really find out who you are and what you want to do.”
Image: Facebook
A simple product with a simple value proposition. Now it’s just a matter of successfully marketing the product.
Annie Pilon
Exactly! There are people out there who will find this useful – they just have to get the product in front of those people.
Aira Bongco
And it seems that businesses are slowly adopting the proposition. It is environment friendly and it works so I like it.
Annie Pilon
Yep. It doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to be useful. The little things matter too.
Annie, Great article and great advice: “Take the Risk!”
Well Done,
Jack