Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Tim Swindle, a serial entrepreneur in the toy and game space and co-founder of Glacier Games. With his passion for outdoor sports, Tim teamed up with two others to create a new recreational game called PaddleSmash, which combines the best elements of Pickleball and Spikeball. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Victoria, and Tim discuss how incorporating fun into your day is a necessity, building a business with Kickstarter, and how entrepreneurs should advertise their ideas, not safeguard them.
Show Notes:
(0:55) Introduction to Tim
(1:27) Tim’s Origin Story
(5:16) The Development of PaddleSmash
(9:36) Tech vs Outdoor Sports
(13:41) The Importance of Having Fun
(17:33) Lessons Learned
(22:49) Increasing Your Surface Area
(26:01) The Kickstarter Experience
(29:17) Social Media Strategy
(32:34) Advice to Younger Self
(33:11) Closing Questions
Links:
Quotes:
“There’s a resurgence to being low-tech right now. People spend so much time on their computers, laptops, iPads, and iPhones that you’re seeing physical board games and outdoor games becoming more popular. We’ve become so digital with society that they provide this opportunity to get back to actually interacting with each other.” – Tim Swindle, (12:07)
“That would be my biggest advice to entrepreneurs. Go out there, share your ideas, and talk to people. Don’t worry about anybody stealing it, that’s not going to happen. Get the real raw feedback as to whether or not you have something and can move forward.” – Tim Swindle, (25:01)
“People think Kickstarter is where you start, but a lot of times these people have gathered interest and email addresses prior to launching, and they engage that community once they go. Then the Kickstarter algorithm says they’re trending, and they start to show up everywhere. So focus on pre-marketing and building a community before you ever go live.” – Tim Swindle, (26:27)
Bringing Fun into the World with PaddleSmash
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Victoria Dickerson sit down with Tim Swindle, a serial entrepreneur in the toy and game space and co-founder of Glacier Games. With his passion for outdoor sports, Tim teamed up with two others to create a new recreational game called PaddleSmash, which combines the best elements of Pickleball and Spikeball. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Jeff, Victoria, and Tim discuss how incorporating fun into your day is a necessity, building a business with Kickstarter, and how entrepreneurs should advertise their ideas, not safeguard them.
Maximizing Fun with Minimal Tech
One of the appeals to creating and selling outdoor games is they are a low-tech product and they require little capital requirements upfront. More recently, as a result of the pandemic, low-tech activities have made a comeback because parents are wanting to pull their kids away from screens and introduce them to more active and entertaining outdoor pastimes. However, introducing more fun into your day is beneficial not only for children but adults as well.
“There’s a resurgence to being low-tech right now. People spend so much time on their computers, laptops, iPads, and iPhones that you’re seeing physical board games and outdoor games becoming more popular. We’ve become so digital with society that they provide this opportunity to get back to actually interacting with each other.” – Tim Swindle, (12:07)
It takes intention to bring fun into your day, and the benefits of incorporating more joy are increased creativity and happiness. Plus, mental health is improved, and it becomes easier to combat negativity. Furthermore, games that require more than one person allow for more human interaction and connection, which helps to build friendly relationships.
Making Your Ideas Known
It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to keep their ideas close to their chest for fear they will be stolen. However, more times than not, the opposite approach should be taken. Sharing their ideas with others is a free way for entrepreneurs to acquire constructive criticism and feel out if their ideas have any merit. It’s also a chance for them to connect with mentors and receive guidance on best business practices.
“That would be my biggest advice to entrepreneurs. Go out there, share your ideas, and talk to people. Don’t worry about anybody stealing it, that’s not going to happen. Get the real raw feedback as to whether or not you have something and can move forward.” – Tim Swindle, (25:01)
In reality, nobody cares about an entrepreneur’s idea as much as they do. Therefore, they should be out networking, learning, and possibly collaborating in an effort to increase the surface area and popularity of their idea, product, or service. When they’re willing to be personal and engaged with those around them, it will only increase their likability which will make people more likely to buy into what they’re offering.
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