Alan is a 19 year old entrepreneur who started a fidget spinner business during the fad in past years. He suffered from severe ADHD and fidget spinners helped him focus. He started his business by selling fidget spinners to his fellow classmates. The thing that sets Alan business apart from his competitors is that he was one of the few companies to mass produce them through the use of 3D printing. It started by using the printers in the high school and then got so busy to him buying a small warehouse and filling it with printers to match the demand. Even while being still in high school business was booming and he was selling about 10-15k in spinners a day. This was Alans first big success and once the fad began to die out he realized he needed to pivot his business onto new things.
I really like how Alan saw a very fast growing product and was able to find his own way to add a unique touch to it. I also thought it was very interesting that the fidget spinners that he was producing ended up helping him with his ADHD. As entrepreneurs it is not always about being the first to do something but rather adding a unique twist to a product that already exist to meet the demands of consumers. Alan was able to do this by 3D printing his spinners quickly and affordably to meet the demand of his customers. Alan also mentions at the end of the video that even though the fad died out and his sales have taken a hit he is still striving to out due himself in his next business venture.
I like how you emphasized both the fact that he was able to relate to the pain of the customers he was serving through his ADHD and how he recognized the need to pivot with his business as the fidget spinner business saw less demand.
I had no idea that this was who created fidget spinners and why they were created. It is inspiring that he was able to turn his condition into a business idea that helps himself and other people like him.
It’s so cool to see someone young take something and put a twist on it.
I’m also really glad about your emphasis on ADHD. This fidget is truly wonderful for neurodivergent people and I’m sad that there was a ban for fidgets like this in schools because they were “too distracting” and “noisy” at times. We need more. kids like Alan who want to make a difference in that area!
I remember when fidget spinners were all the rage back in high school, amazing to see that they came from someone from that age category! Also interesting to see how he helped other students deal with the same issues he was having in a simple and effective way!
The fidget spinners took over my school like many others, everyone had one! Pretty amazing to think he was building and shipping thousands of fidget spinners while still in High School. 3-D printing is a pretty interesting field and it will be interesting to see what we be constructed in the future. Even houses and rocket ships can be built with 3-D printers. It is so much easier to produce complex parts with these printers. Good article