When Carl Daikeler and Jon Congdon started a direct marketing company in the 1990s, their first product was a home workout program with celebrity trainer Tony Horton. But it was in 2005 when the company, Beachbody, really hit it big with Horton's extreme home workout, P90X. The best-seller brought in more than $70 million in sales in 2011.
"Smooth Sailing" – J/Boats
Rod Johnstone was working several jobs when he decided to design his dream sailboat. He built the boat in his garage with a few hundred dollars of lumber. That boat—the J/24—went on to become the most popular fixed keel sailboat in the world. J/Boats has since designed more than 40 boats, earning millions in revenue.
"Sure Shot" – Marshmallow Fun
Kim and Beaver Raymond made marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe to entertain their two kids and 15 friends at a party in 2002. Stunned by the success of the food fight they witnessed, the Raymonds and some friends decided to construct a new toy marshmallow shooter. In 2010, they sold more than seven million dollars' worth of the toy.
"Millions in the Making?" – Replay Photos
Sports photo retailer Sue Harnett tapped into new technology to create FanCam, which takes 360 degree photos inside stadiums. Fans can go online, find themselves using pan and zoom features, and share the photo through social media. Sports teams are now lining up to bring FanCam to their venues.
