First of all I want to thank you all for having me and please keep those great product submissions coming. Since meeting Ben and the Quirky team earlier this year, I have been very intrigued with the business model and the great potential it has.
My job here at Quirky is to head up our sales efforts and lead our push into mass retail and help get your products onto the shelves of some of the country’s largest retailers.
Previous to moving to NYC and working with Quirky I lived in Minneapolis, which by far is my favorite city (disagree if you want). I worked as a consultant and sales representative for a number of different companies, selling just about any product you can imagine to retailers like Target, Home Shopping Network, Sears, and Sports Authority.
Walk with me through just about any big retail store and I can point out a product that I had a part in someway/somehow. To be honest, I still get an amazing feeling seeing these products on shelves and I hope you can experience that same feeling sometime very soon.
I also see great opportunities outside of traditional retail and my plan is to try and explore various strategic partnership opportunities with companies who are well aligned with Quirky.
And yes, I’m originally from Australia, but please don’t think I just drink beer and fight kangaroos. I drink wine also!
Fun Facts:
1. I was published as a case study in a book called “Startup Chat” in 2005.
2. In 2006 I appeared in Australian Newspapers on average 1.3 times a week.
3. I collect hotel room keys, wine corks, and receipts.
4. The first product I sold to U.S. mass retail was a cupcake holder.
5. I am starting helicopter lessons in 2011 and plan to have a Quirky chopper on top of our building by Fall!
13 Comments
Clinton | 09/28/2010 12:16 PM
Hey Chad – welcome to quirky!
William | 09/28/2010 12:27 PM
Welcome Chad! I’m curious where you’re going for your helicopter training? I am moving out to Arizona in hopes of going to a school in Prescott in the near future.
M Cavada | 09/28/2010 12:28 PM
Welcome Chad!
One question… Does the roo ever lose?
chad hetherington | 09/28/2010 12:47 PM
I will be doing my license in Minneapolis at Complete Helicopters. Its about 30 hours of dual instruction, 10 hours of solo practice and 25 hours of ground instruction. I will go back fourth on weekends.
William | 09/28/2010 1:50 PM
Just going for private? no instrument rating? I think I am going to go for all out and go for CFI with instruments. Guidance Helicopters is the school I’ll be going to. They have flight sims to make the cost of training a little more reasonable and its high altitude training so you get a better understanding of the helicopters capabilities. Good luck!
Clinton | 09/28/2010 2:39 PM
Good Luck?
What kinds of flowers do you guys want at your funerals? ha
Daniel Schier | 09/28/2010 4:04 PM
Welcome captain. Personally, I’d rather fly a brick with wings-and have. Actually, I’d rather not fly.
Anyway, one area I think is ripe for partnering is with the indie entertainers; people like Conan O’Brien or web personalities like what Kevin Pollik is doing with his “chat show”. These people seem to understand the untapped welll and might align with this concept of crowd sourced product development (Sorry Ben, but that’s how I see it.) I think there is a value in reaching their audiences and expressing that they can create their own commercials by virtue of their own products. No more need to fast forward through commercials!
pamachapura | 09/28/2010 6:47 PM
Just two questions since my brother lives in the Twin Cities – (1) where is Mary Tyler Moore’s house and (2) do you know MichelleB from the Land Down Under?
chad hetherington | 09/28/2010 6:49 PM
Unfortunately no and no! Sorry….
michelleb | 09/29/2010 3:22 AM
Let me introduce you to MichelleB – me. I live in Melbourne and my husband is an areomedical pilot, but a proper pilot not a helicopter pilot. I am surprised that Ben didn’t mention me to you are I am a constant pain in the collective HQ arse – and at 54 products in the hole I intend to stay very VERY focused on your progress. Now get of your clacker and make me some money sport!
the reverend | 09/29/2010 7:29 AM
Good luck my son
Michael M | 09/29/2010 11:51 AM
Welcome Mate. We need someone who is tight with Mel and can get some respect around here and in the marketplace.
KaKUKUKUKUKUK
Matt F | 09/29/2010 3:08 PM
Welcome, chad! But I have to say, I have mixed feelings about seeing Mel Gibson. I hope you have his passion, but are more open-minded than him about women and minorities.