Heeling Art The first step toward getting his life back to where he wanted it was getting his shoe business off on the right foot.
Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
Vital Stats: Roger Adams,47, inventor and president of Heeling Sports Ltd.
Company: Athletic footwearcompany founded in 1998 that features Heelys, a shoe with aremovable wheel in the heel.
2001 Sales: more than $25million
Roller Boy: "I grew upin a roller rink. My claim to fame was being [in the Guinness Bookof World Records] as the youngest baby to roller skate. My mom anddad had skating rinks, my sister had a huge skate distributorship,and my nephew manufactured skates. I was the only one who did theunthinkable and [broke from tradition]. But I'm back!"
"There's amagic in believing in your product, and, when that comes, the restfalls into place." |
Wheels Start Turning:"It was a crazy time in my life; I had gone through a divorceand hated my job. I saw these kids on inline skates, skateboardsand bicycles and flashed back to a time when I was happier. Ithought, 'There's got to be something new out there.' Istarted tinkering in my garage, got the neighborhood kids involved,and, after a few days, I thought I really I hadsomething."
The Ball Got Rolling:"I started talking to big shoe companies and some other folks.But a call from a VC presented a deal I couldn't refuse, whichwas to keep the majority of the company, name, management and do itmyself."
Wheel Bliss: "This hasbeen a blessing for me. There's something about being willingto say 'I've had it; I'm going to do something I wantto do.' That, coupled with finding something I believe in, iswhat made Heelys work."
Contact Source
- Heeling Sports Ltd.
(866) HEELING, www.heelys.com
