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Feb. 12, 2025
🌴44. How to (legally) make $$$ off someone else’s idea
Not all great business ideas start from scratch—some of the smartest entrepreneurs simply bolt onto existing products and services to create something even better.
Think about Jibbitz (the Crocs charms that sold for $10M) or the countless AirPods cases and accessories that piggyback off Apple’s products.
In this episode, I explore the power of piggyback innovation (also called derivative innovation), sharing examples of people who’ve turned small, complementary ideas into massive businesses. From my own Apple AirTag keyring gift to the genius of a Melbourne hotel using Uber Eats to elevate its guest experience, we’ll uncover how small tweaks can lead to big wins.
Could your next big idea already be sitting inside a product you use daily?
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How a stay-at-home mum turned Crocs charms into a $10M business
✅ Why innovation isn’t always about creating something new—but improving what already exists
✅ Examples of everyday products and services that have spawned billion-dollar bolt-on businesses
✅ A surprising Amazon discovery that made me rethink my own product strategy
✅ How a boutique hotel in Melbourne piggybacked off Uber Eats to enhance customer experience
Listener Prompts:
🔹 What’s a product you use every day that could be improved with a simple add-on?
🔹 Can you think of a trend or product that lacks a secondary market—but should have one?
🔹 What’s something you’ve hacked together for yourself that others might pay for?
Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are three ways I can help:
- Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel:Â Let's energise your next event.
- Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.Â
- Red Carpet Campout: Inspire, Indulge, Invent. Let’s take your ideas outside in March 2025.
Let's connect on all the channels:
Visit my website: leannehughes.com
Email me: hello@leannehughes.com
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