Heeling Art
The first step toward getting his life back to where he wanted it was getting his shoe business off on the right foot.
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Vital Stats: Roger Adams,47, inventor and president of Heeling Sports Ltd.
Company: Athletic footwearcompany founded in 1998 that features Heelys, a shoe with aremovable wheel in the heel.
2001 Sales: more than $25million
Roller Boy: “I grew upin a roller rink. My claim to fame was being [in the Guinness Bookof World Records] as the youngest baby to roller skate. My mom anddad had skating rinks, my sister had a huge skate distributorship,and my nephew manufactured skates. I was the only one who did theunthinkable and [broke from tradition]. But I’m back!”
“There’s amagic in believing in your product, and, when that comes, the restfalls into place.” |
Wheels Start Turning:“It was a crazy time in my life; I had gone through a divorceand hated my job. I saw these kids on inline skates, skateboardsand bicycles and flashed back to a time when I was happier. Ithought, ‘There’s got to be something new out there.’ Istarted tinkering in my garage, got the neighborhood kids involved,and, after a few days, I thought I really I hadsomething.”
The Ball Got Rolling:“I started talking to big shoe companies and some other folks.But a call from a VC presented a deal I couldn’t refuse, whichwas to keep the majority of the company, name, management and do itmyself.”
Wheel Bliss: “This hasbeen a blessing for me. There’s something about being willingto say ‘I’ve had it; I’m going to do something I wantto do.’ That, coupled with finding something I believe in, iswhat made Heelys work.”
Contact Source
- Heeling Sports Ltd.
(866) HEELING, www.heelys.com
Vital Stats: Roger Adams,47, inventor and president of Heeling Sports Ltd.
Company: Athletic footwearcompany founded in 1998 that features Heelys, a shoe with aremovable wheel in the heel.
2001 Sales: more than $25million
