ZooGue Innovative, IPad, and Some Business Inspiration for 2011

ZooGue Innovative's 25 year old CEO, Tim Angel, proves that creativity combined with an adventurous spirit and sheer determination can propel a person from unemployed to successful CEO in just a few months. Let me explain.

I got an iPad for Christmas, and concerned about protecting my shiny new iPad, I immediately began the quest for a cover. I wanted it to be functional, dependable, high-quality, durable, and pretty, too. Oh, and I wanted a pink iPad cover. I got it all and an inspirational story, too, from ZooGue Innovative and it's CEO Tim Angel.

My new ZooGue Smart Kase V2 (visit zoogue.com) securely stows my new iPad while I'm traveling and getting groped by TSA agents at the airport. The sleek design opens like a book when I want to read, tilts and locks to any angle if I'm a watching a movie, or sits solidly at a low angle when I'm using the iPad keyboard to get some work done. If I'm stuck in the backseat of a car I can mount it on the back of a car headrest and watch a movie hands-free. The best part is that it's pink; pink leather. It just doesn't get any better than that. If pink isn't your color the ZooGue Smart Kase V2 is also available in black and gray leather.

After ordering my ZooGue case, which arrived quickly thanks to excellent ZooGue customer service, I learned that talk radio king, Rush Limbaugh, has a ZooGue case and loves it, too. What I really love about ZooGue Innovative is the story of its 25 year old CEO, Tim Angel, an inspiration and a study in the power of sheer determination.

At the beginning of 2010, Angel found himself a victim of the economic downturn and counted himself among the unemployed in California. Realizing that job opportunities were scant, especially considering his lack of a High School diploma, the creative 25 year old looked for alternatives to employment. He found one with the pending release of the Apple iPad. Angel knew that just like the Kindle and the Nook, there would be a need for quality covers. He got the specs for the iPad and began designing a cover. It helped that Angel's dad was a self-proclaimed entrepreneur and some of dad's entrepreneurial spirit had worn off on the son.

Brainstorming, designing and redesigning, Angel came up with his first design. He sold everything he owned, found a committed investor, and by March 2010 he was on his way to China to confirm a manufacturer for his product. Just three months later, Angel launched sales of the first ZooGue case in June 2010 and sold out of the product generating $175,000 in gross retail sales. He made several design improvements, went back to China for six weeks to improve upon the materials and manufacturing process and released the ZooGue V2 iPad Case in October 2010.

Angel may lack a college education, but the business-minded 25 year old CEO is heavy on creativity, determination, risk-taking, goal-setting, and solid business skills. Angel knew he'd need plenty of PR so he created an exhaustive list of website, television and radio venues to contact. He worked his plan and watched his dreams for ZooGue Innovative become reality, landing spots on MacWorld, Wired, The Orange County Register, Good Morning America, and tuaw.com, the unofficial apple weblog.

The tuaw.com review by Mel Martin peaked sales and a ZooGue employee noted that Rush Limbaugh had ordered a case. Angel, a Limbaugh listener for years, jumped on the opportunity and included a hand-written note to Limbaugh. About a week later, Limbaugh mentioned his iPad and ZooGue case on the air. "There was so much traffic to our site that it kept shutting down due to the enormous amount of visitors. I was getting about five orders a minute," said Angel. On that day, ZooGue was Google's number one searched word in the world.

Angel didn't stop there. Returning to China within days of the Limbaugh event, and armed with customer comments and suggestions, he improved the case's design and materials and ordered thousands more. He also made 24 custom Rush Limbaugh Cases with Rush's signature and logo embossed on the case. Limbaugh randomly gives away an iPad and case, mentioning ZooGue each time.

With his success, Angel continues to actively garner customer feedback and improve upon his product. He is also working on creating accessories for technology beyond the iPad and partnering with other technology producers. His 2011 sales goal is to sell 200,000 cases and donate one dollar for each sale, $200,000.00, to charities that help children.

Although he has little free time, spending most of his time as ZooGue Innovative's CEO, Angel does take time to hit the gym or watch his sister's basketball games. 25 year old Tim Angel is an inspiration and a role model for the unemployed and underemployed suffering through the current economic downturn. Tim Angel and ZooGue Innovative is proof that creativity combined with an adventurous spirit and sheer determination can propel a person from unemployed to successful CEO in just a few months.

Sources:

www.zoogue.com

Interview with ZooGue Innovative's CEO, Tim Angel

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/about_the_show.guest.html

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/16/a-really-useable-ipad-case-from-zoogue/

Special Note: Gina Covell Maddox has not/will not receive compensation from ZooGue Innovative and based her product review on personal experience. She really did purchase a pretty, pink ZooGue case.