Funny Business

Never underestimate the power of a ridiculous idea. There are plenty of people who've managed to do far better financially than, well, me, by creating and selling outlandish products.

Like the folks behind Antenna Balls, raking in seven figures as "the world leader in antenna balls." Or the guy who struck gold selling fake plastic wishbones. Or the guy (gal?) who's allegedly convinced 275,000 parents to pay $10 to let their kids send a letter to Santa, and "Santa" writes back.

Then there are Wiggles and Roadkill Toys, two of the wackiest ideas out there, businesses which cash in on our feelings about animals, but not in the way you think.

Source: wigglesdogwigs.com Sarah Palin Dog Wig

Wiggles is a company which makes and sells wigs...for dogs. The Miami-based company was created by Ruth Regina, an 8th generation wig maker and Hollywood veteran who says she handled all the wigs on the Jackie Gleason Show. Wiggles not only makes wigs for dogs, but hair (fur?) extensions, too. Her new Sarah Palin dog wig, seen here, sells for $39 to $47, depending on the size of your dog.

"It's one of our biggest sellers," Regina told me over the phone. She admits that business is down from a year ago. "I'm sorry to report that," she says, "although I'm still getting orders, I can understand why this is happening." Still, she says she's getting enough business to survive. She tells me she'll soon appear on National Geographic Kids, and she's busy making a wig for a Chihuahua "bride" who's getting "married" in a dog wedding in Canada next month. "I'm having a wonderful time," Ruth Regina says. "Anyone who likes dogs, they're usually happy people."

Source: roadkilltoys.com Roadkill Rabbit Toy

On a much darker note is Roadkill Toys. The British based toymakers dub themselves "Toy Terrorists", selling "Squash-Plush" toys which depict run over bunnies, raccoons and hedgehogs. A new commercial is running on YouTube which, which is typically British--dark, funny, sick, not necessarily in that order. 

Toys cost about $40, and the blog even provides obits for the characters: "Twitch (the raccoon), after a head on collision with a green Ford Mondeo on the A369 westbound, died on 17th March 2007 age 5...educated at Raccoon Finishing School, Berks 2002-2004, where he excelled at playing dead."

Roadkill Toys' Adam Arber tells me in an email that sales are down, but that's not unusual this time of year. "Our best times of year are Christmas, and this Christmas we saw really good sales."

He says they have three new toys on the way--a weasel, a squirrel and a badger. "We're doing this in part to keep ahead of the economic down turn. You have to keep on innovating and creating new news, to keep in the public realm."

For the outraged among you, there is an area on the web site for complaints, although the ones posted are all spoofs from people like "Norman Schwarztkopf, Maine." As for the product's taste, well, maybe it's more about its timeliness. "These times are quite apt for Roadkill," says Arber. "Most people and businesses feel like they've been run over."

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