People who enjoy board sports like skateboarding, snowboarding or wakeboarding are always looking for ways to up their game. Bored with the limitations of most balance boards, our guest on this episode of Brandstorm, Erik Olsen, invented the Whirly Board out of his garage.
Giving the Whirly Board a Spin
Using PVC pipe, a piece of wood, a bowling ball and two pool balls was able to create a versatile balance training board with three balance points that make it possible to spin and walk it around. Erik’s invention opened the door to markets beyond board sports. Whirly Board is a new way to get fit, using the board for push-ups, squats, agility training, cardio and even yoga. It’s a new accessory for the office. Employees with standing desks can use the Whirly Board in conjunction with a standing desk to stay active, stretching the legs and improving overall balance. The balance boards can even be customized with company logos to give out employees with standing desks or as a corporate gift.
The Power of Word-of-Mouth Referrals
The Whirly Board is distributed through Erik’s website, Amazon and The Grommet, an online marketplace and product discovery platform for small businesses. It was the Grommet that discovered the Whirly Board and reached out Erik last Christmas. While not expecting much, the site sold more than 150 boards in the first hour.
Sales are currently up 400 percent year over year, primarily through word-of-mouth referrals and 5 Star reviews from satisfied customers. Erik is hoping that brand satisfaction will generate more customer reviews and YouTube videos of customers using the Whirly Board in creative ways.
Contact:
Email: erik@whirlyboard.com
Website: www.whirlyboard.com
LinkedIn: @erik-olsen