October 19th, 2007
Red Hot! I scream, you scream, we all scream for…ice cream hot dogs? How one entrepreneur came up with a cool twist on a ballpark favorite - Smart Ideas - Cool Dogs Inc.; Decor Doctors; The Bilingual Baby Company
THE IDEA FOR COOL DOGS–ICE CREAM molded into the shape of a hot dog and encased in a bun-shaped cake–came to Peter Franklin as he prepared a hot dog for lunch one day. With his wife, Tara, 43, helping with the marketing, Peter set to work developing the idea.
After he patented his concept, Franklin attended the National Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions convention in fall 2000, where Cool Dogs were an immediate hit.
Soon, Franklin had landed accounts with Dick’s Last Resort in Boston and grocery stores in the local area. In addition, they are now sold at Six Flags in New England and New York’s Shea Stadium. Cool Dogs will also be appearing at Giants Stadium in New Jersey sometime in August. Sales are expected to reach $2.5 million this year.
“When I left [my high-tech job], everybody thought I was out of my mind. High-tech was booming and I had to sell my stocks to invest in this business’ says Franklin, 51, a former marketing director. But, judging from his product’s popularity, it seems Franklin has come out as top dog.
Doctor in the House
WHAT: Interior design in a jiffy
WHO: Ellen Edwards of Decor Doctors
WHERE: Wake Forest, North Carolina
WHEN: Started in 1999
INTERIOR DECORATING PROJECTS usually take weeks to complete, but Ellen Edwards’ company gives clients’ homes and offices facelifts in just one week. By integrating existing furniture and accessories with new pieces, dull rooms are revived in just days.
During the initial free consultation, photos are taken of every room in need of a makeover. Edwards and fellow designer Elizabeth Carrasco (her only employee) then spend Monday through Thursday shopping for their one exclusive client per week, using the pictures they’ve taken as a guide. Fridays are reserved for the makeover.
A former designer for furniture retailer Ethan Allen, Edwards, and Carrasco undertake projects dressed in medical scrubs (an idea Edwards borrowed from her husband, who is in medical sales). A branding strategy, to be sure, but their uniforms also allow Edwards and Carrasco to remain comfortable as they lift heavy furniture, place objects d’art and hang paintings.
“Our whole premise is Anything you don’t like comes out that night” says Edwards, who does two Friday night walk-throughs of redecorated rooms with clients–one to show them the work, and the other to reveal price tags for each piece added to the existing decor.
Designing on a budget is no problem; Edwards has worked on projects with budgets ranging from $5,000 to $42,000. With sales estimated to reach $250,000 this year, it’s become a very attractive business.
Lingo Lessons
WHAT: Foreign language books for kids
WHO: Vincenzo Palladino and Christabelle Peters of The Bilingual Baby Company
WHERE: Takoma Park, Maryland
WHEN: Started in 1999
AS FIRST-GENERATION IMMIGRANTS, husband and wife Vincenzo Palladino, 37, and Christabelle Peters, 40 (who emigrated from Italy and the United Kingdom, respectively), found that teaching their children their native tongues came naturally. But when it was time to provide their kids with books to develop language skills, they found out just how English-centric the U.S. book market is.