Happy Accidents #009 - Silly Putty

Welcome to the HAPPY ACCIDENTS newsletter

Are you ready to dive into another tale of fun and serendipitous moments! Today we're taking a look at the sticky, stretchy, world of Silly Putty!

Let’s see where this tale begins, shall we?

Back in 1943 (the same year the Slinky was accidentally invented, for those of you following along at home) a guy by the name of James Wright was trying to create a synthetic rubber that could be used for tires during World War II.

But in his attempts, he actually stumbled upon something far more interesting - a gooey, bouncy substance that was unlike anything he had ever seen before.

Wright was intrigued by the new substance he had happily fallen upon by accident and wasn't quite sure what to do with it at first.

He initially tried to market it as a rubber substitute, but the idea didn't quite stick (pun intended).

That's where someone with a different perspective gave him a new idea.

It was Ruth Fallgatter, owner of a toy store called Gimbels in New York City, who noticed the new substance had a unique texture that made it fun to play with.

She suggested that it be marketed as a toy, and soon it became a popular item on store shelves. Together they named it "Bouncing Putty".

The name was changed from "Bouncing Putty" to "Silly Putty" in 1950, when the product was officially launched. The new name was coined by an advertising consultant, who believed that "silly" was a word that would appeal to children

But it wasn't an instant success by any means. James had to try several different marketing strategies before it became a hit.

One of the most notable things he did was sending a batch of the putty to 400 elementary schools across the United States. He also sent samples to major magazines for children, and even went on a tour of different schools to demonstrate the toy's unique properties.

In addition, he started advertising the product on television, which helped to boost sales. Overall, his efforts paid off, and Silly Putty became a beloved toy for generations of children.

Today, it’s still a household name, and a memorable part of many people’s childhoods.

All due to this 'Happy Accident'!

Some fun facts:

• The original Silly Putty recipe is still a closely guarded secret. Even today, no one knows exactly what's in it!

• In 1968, NASA even took Silly Putty to space on the Apollo 8 mission to test its properties in zero gravity.

• Silly Putty was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2001, joining the ranks of other classics like Barbie and LEGO.

• To this day, Silly Putty has proven to be very versatile. It's been used for everything from removing lint to copying newspaper comics.

The lessons here:

• Sometimes accidents can lead to great discoveries: Silly Putty was a result of a failed experiment in trying to create synthetic rubber. But the accident led to the creation of a unique, fun and iconic toy that has been loved by generations of children.

• Think creatively: James Wright had an open mind and was willing to experiment with materials that had not yet found a use. His curiosity and experimentation ultimately led to the creation of Silly Putty.

• Keep an open mind: A suggestion by a toy store owner to sell Silly Putty as a toy for kids helped create an entirely new market for the product. Being open to new ideas and opportunities can lead to unexpected success.

• Patience and perseverance pay off: It took several years for Silly Putty to gain popularity, and even then it required some creative marketing efforts to make it a success. Wright didn't give up, and his persistence ultimately paid off.

YOUR Happy Accidents

Check out this captivating Happy Accident story from Nathalie Lussier. She shares how turning down a lucrative job after college took her on a winding path that accidentally led from one thing to another and eventually to the lucrative 7 figure business (AccessAlly) she founded. AccessAlly is now the #1 WordPress Course and Membership Solution for Industry Leaders. All due to a happy accident!

Got your own Happy Accident story? Some fortunate coincidence that led to a lucky break or cool discovery? I'd love to hear it? Send it to me here. It might just get featured in a future Happy Accidents edition!

Happy Accidents is brought to you by, The Accidental Solopreneur

Dennis Geelen is the author of this best selling book, bringing you a riveting parable about how one man found success through a happy accident and how you can too!