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Here’s the True Story of How an Unemployed Tinkerer Launched a Successful Toy Company from a Shed

Nov. 27, 2012 7:52am Becket Adams

Meet Robert Darling, American entrepreneur.

A tinkerer and inventor, Darling is the creator of Slotto, a handcrafted construction set consisting of unfinished pieces of medium density fiberboard.

Because the pieces are unfinished, the parts will “absorb the oils from the hands and develop a patina over time that will give the sets character and durability that most plastic toys will never have,” Darling proudly explained to TheBlaze in an email. “There’s a warmth and a live feel to the pieces as they’re used more and more.”

But Darling wasn’t always an independent businessman. In 2008, standing on a corner in Salem, Ore., with a sign that read, “I need a job,” Darling was like a lot of Americans struggling to cope with the aftermath of the financial meltdown.

“I got my Real Estate Broker’s license in 2006 and went to work as a broker for John L. Scott Realty here in Salem, Oregon,” Darling told TheBlaze in an email. “2007 was not a good year to start out in real estate. I worked temporarily for Lowe’s, then traded my 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder for trucking school and $3600.”

“I got my Class A Commercial Driver’s License and was hired by May Trucking here in Salem. I drove a Peterbilt big rig to New Jersey and back in the dead of winter with my trainer who was 26 years old, living in the cab for 10 days. I hated it. The company had over hired and let me go soon after that anyway. It was a few months later in March or April that I stood on the corner with the sign,” he adds.

The situation was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

“I was unable to find a job for the first time in my 61 years,” he said.

However, it wasn’t long before the unemployed Darling decided to ditch the sign and focus his energy in a different direction. He set up shop in a tiny, cold shed in his backyard and set to work creating Slotto.

“The idea came from the ‘House of Cards‘ that my father brought home from Charles and Ray Eames’ studio,” Darling said when asked about the inspiration for Slotto.

The original shed where Darling created his invention.

“I turned my home garage into a sawdust factory and spent countless hours perfecting each cut of every Slotto piece,” said Darling. “I introduced Slotto in 2009 at the Portland Saturday Market and it was an instant hit.”

While Slotto was met with great reviews and was an immediate hit with the locals, the inventor just couldn’t generate the type of revenues necessary to keep his company afloat. Darling’s lack of a marketing budget barred him from reaching a wider, more profitable audience.

“I was like a toy store with one toy! The toy was selling but the store was going broke,” the toy maker recalls.

But Darling wasn’t beat. That’s when he decided to approach The Marketplace by TheBlaze.

Now, as some Blaze readers may know, The Marketplace by TheBlaze is a unique collection of some of the best and finest small businesses in the world. But more than just quality products, The Marketplace puts an emphasis on quality people — true American entrepreneurs.

Darling fit that description.

After a couple of emails and a lot of persistence, Darling got through to The Marketplace and, together with the site, they came up with an idea: A 48-hour sale on Slotto sets.

Almost no one expected what happened next.

In September of 2011, after launching the 48-hour sale, The Marketplace sold out of all 263 Slotto sets within 2 hours. Moreover, after The Marketplace’s stock ran out, Darling’s own website sold a $30 set every 30 seconds for two additional hours.

“They actually sold a number of sets over the agreed number because they couldn’t shut down the sale fast enough,” said Darling. “By 9 a.m., my phone started ringing off the hook as people started Googling Slotto after all the sets were sold out. Over the next week or so I doubled the number of orders from the initial sale.”

Before The Marketplace/Slotto duo, Darling’s company had $5,000 in revenue during the first nine months of 2011. After joining the Marketplace, Darling’s company ended the year with $25,000 in revenue.

“This is one of the largest success stories to date for The Marketplace,” said Colin Balfe, a marketing executive with The Marketplace.

Darling’s relationship with The Marketplace opened up a world of possibilities for his business. His product was suddenly introduced to millions of unique visitors from TheBlaze.com, millions of Glenn Beck’s radio listeners (through on-air national advertising), hundreds of thousands of email subscribers through The Marketplace newsletter and TheBlaze.com’s “Firewire,” and hundreds of thousands of direct subscribers and Dish Network viewers through ads run on The Blaze TV network.

In short, Darling went from having virtually no marketing budget to having the type of exposure that gets a young and fledgling product noticed.

“The Marketplace by TheBlaze catapulted my small business from a shed in my backyard to national distribution with three of the largest chains in America,” said Darling.

In May of 2012, the inventor signed a national distribution deal with retailers including J.C. Penney, Kohl’s and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

The Columbian gives the details:

Darling said he was able to sign a licensing agreement with MerchSource, and the sets are now being mass produced overseas by a branch of the company called TreeHaus.

The company produced 150,000 sets that will be on the shelves in time for the holiday season.

In the Salem area, they are being sold at the Keizer Station Bed Bath & Beyond. Darling said he was so excited when they arrived on the shelves, he went and purchased two of the sets.

He said they will be sold in other stores.

“I started out making Slotto in a makeshift shed in my backyard. It was a constant struggle. The opportunity from The Marketplace allowed me to get a real workshop, hire employees, grow my business – I realized how many people truly loved my product,” said Darling.

“The Marketplace didn’t just grow my business; it propelled my business to extraordinary heights,” he added.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Click here to visit The Marketplace by TheBlaze. Click here to visit the official Slotto site.

This story has been updated to include information regarding the manufacturing and distribution of Slotto.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (89)

TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:38am
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Services

“Please Do Not Feed the Animals.”
“The animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves.”

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- fulcrum
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 11:01am
  ‘I’m outraged that this man uses wood products and helps destroy the forest just to get rich’
  
  ‘I hope his company goes bankrupt and everyone he employs becomes unemployed’
  
  “SARCASM”
  
  Report this comment
- LetUsReason
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 1:42pm
  Obama: “Hey kid, you didn’t build that wooden plane. Someone else made that happen.”
  
  Kid: “Yes I did, Mr. President. I built it with my dad yesterday. See!”
  
  Obama: “No, son, no you didn’t. You see, a company manufactured those wooden blocks. Don’t you get it?! You’re part of the collective, kid.”
  
  Kid: “I built this plane with my own hands. It’s mine. I created it.”
  
  Obama: “You just don’t learn. Mr. Darling did not build his company, and you my friend did not build that plane. Now….tell me, does your daddy own guns, too? Does he sometimes say unkind things about the president? Does he sometimes spank you when you’re naughty? He’s a threat, isn’t he? Stick with me, boy. Learn of my ways. I’ll guarantee that you never want for anything. And remember…you did NOT build that.”
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 3:02pm
  This man owes Obama a great big thanks! If Obama had spent the almost $$$ 1 trillion TARP bucks on jobs, rather than GREEN ENERGY and bailing out the banks and WALL ST. he would have got a job and then he wouldn’t have been able to become a millionaire.
  
  Report this comment
- Birdbanbob49
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 4:11pm
  Glen Beck stated that after playing with his Son as they discovered Slotto together that Quote “Slotto is the best new Toy on the market.” That is what Glen said ” the Best New Toy on the market! ” *SLOTTO* If you are wanting to get a special Toy for a special Kid in your life I thik with Slotto you can’t go wrong! ………(( SLOTTO VIDEOS ))…The folks at Slotto desperately need your help if you would like to have your Sotto Creations be part of the Media Package they are putting together that will end up on the air on TV shows like Leno and News Shows like Shawn Hannity this Media Package will also be going out to daytime TV talk shows as well as other major Websites like the Blaze …..All you would need to do is get your Video on YouTube and copy the link on Slotto Facebook…PS If your Slotto Creation is one that will Air on TV you will be asked to sign a release so your Video can be one of those we use.. Some Videos may as well end up on a National Slotto TV Spot. If you can have your Slotto Videos posted in reply to this Video as well as post the link here in Sotto Facebook that would be great. Thanks Again for helping me help Robert Darling continue to get he word out about Slotto …Bob Nordberg…I like Slotto so much I decided t work for the Company http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhTRQmUb8Bw Slotto Facebook http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhTRQmUb8Bw
  
  Report this comment
- Birdbanbob49
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 4:37pm
  To me Robert Darling’s personal success story is much more than just about a guy making a Toy that Glen and his Son fell n Love with. This is a story about THE PAST…THE PRESENT AND …THE FUTURE….of Robert Darling.
  This Great Success Story is about how Confidence in a great idea can lead to a Product That is Fun….a Product that is Educational…..a Product that inspires the Kids to build their own Inventions….Slotto is a Product that grows confidence of young Children by discovering their Designs they Dream up in their Mind they actually build in the Physical real world! (not another mind numbing flat 2-D invention that disappears when the Power is turned off) Slotto is a great Toy that is in the real world we live in. It is a accomplishment the Kid can be proud of until he decides to create the next vision in their head, Try to do that with another plug in Toy.
  
  Report this comment
- Birdbanbob49
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 4:51pm
  T me I think the Sky is the Limit for both Robert as well as his invention Slotto…. It is a fantastic story that when you hear it, you wonder if you have inside the faith Robert Darling has in him. This is a very uplifting story about having Faith in oneself finaly payoff, This is a story that when you learn about Robert’s life over the last few years it teaches us about perseverance!
  Robert’s story is about Never Giving Up! … Never Giving In!…. And mostly it’s about not Quitting when the Chips are truly down and you need faith and confidence in yourself. Kids can truly learn much from playing with Slotto…….America can learn much from Robert Darling.
  
  Report this comment
- Birdbanbob49
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 7:50pm
  Make something cool with your mini-me …post it on Youtube…..and cherish the moment for years to come….just a idea…one I hope you like! http://s3.grouponcdn.com/images/site_images/2826/0889/RackMultipart20121204-31383-45pibk_wide.jpg
  
  I was lucky…….this is the kind of fun I had with my Pop
  
  Start a Father Son tradition …like Glen did with his little Boy…..you wont regret it.
  
  Report this comment
Beckaj
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:31am
It is sold out. :-(

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- Captain Crunch
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 12:30pm
  Don’t worry. Soon you will be able to buy it at Walmart soaked in formaldehyde with a Made in China label on it.The box will be made in the USA by proud union workers.
  
  Report this comment
- LeadNotFollow
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 7:36pm
  .
  SLOTTO’S website states that they are sold at Bed Bath and Beyond Stores, but the product is no longer made in America.
  
  I was going to buy a bunch of the sets to give as gifts, until I saw that they are now imported from another country.
  They would be great for kids and adults, but I can’t bring myself to buy them, knowing that they are imported. There’s no telling what sort of toxic crap is in them now.
  
  Report this comment
- Birdbanbob49
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 4:17pm
  Slotto is now available at Bed Bath and Beyond as well as Kohl’s also you can get the Slotto Toy on Overstock.com …….
  
  Report this comment
- Birdbanbob49
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 4:26pm
  JC Penny’s now also has the Slotto….. Robert Darling’s story is already a fantastic story to tell. Not just because the Slotto Toy is a great teaching Tool. as well as a Toy that will allow Children to use their own Imagination, or simply follow the many examples of different Fun Toys they can make. But the reason the Media already has enjoyed the telling of the Robert Darling / Slotto success story is because his personal story of loosing his employment, he lost his wife, he lost his home, everything! But the one thing Robert did not lose is his Dream!
  Robert did not lose his Hope!
  During a time when the unemployment numbers have recently climbed back above 8% (of those still looking for work)
  When you turn on the News you hear loads of scary news about falling off the “fiscal cliff” along with other bad news night after night! Robert Darlings emotional story is about one American pulling Himself up by his Boot Straps! Robert Darling took a roll of the Dice and Bet On Himself with his last Dollar in his pocket. He built a Shed in his friends back yard and Robert Darling did not even have the funds to finish a roof on the shed……..Very few people believe them self and are ready to Go-For-Broke…. I admire Mr. Darling.
  
  Report this comment
- charmedlife
  Posted on December 10, 2012 at 4:32pm
  Not any more. Bob also sells them from his site. Slottoforkids dot com and on his facebook page, facebook dot com slash slottoforkids.
  
  Report this comment
TheMajority
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:24am
Great conversation here today. May be that is because we are all on the same page, that everybody in the USA has the right to persue their happyness—-through our Capitalism, because our business—is our business.

I would love to be able to hire people, and watch some of them learn, grow, and start their own business also. A job is just a education that you get paid for, because you may have better plans.

To the communist left–jobs equal jobs only, and you will be a “worker” only, all your life, if your lucky to find a job under communism.

To the Individual with the tool of Capitalism, jobs offer future opportunity for you, and the people you hire, and we expand our economy exponentially, even creating new industries with our hands and our minds.

Thanks for the great conversation folks. I now have to produce something, so I can get out of debt.

If I could do it—-so can the nation. :)

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- rosegrower
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 11:15am
  I agree with what you say, with the exception of one minor point. Under communism, the “state” (government) assigns people to jobs. It doesn’t matter whether the person likes the job – or is even good at it – and that person better not complain, because unemployment in communist countries is illegal – they get a “vacation” in Siberia until they learn to accept that Uncle Vlad knows best. This was the reason why Rudolph Nureyev defected – he was to be assigned to work as an engineer, and he knew he would hate that profession even though he was turning down a plum assignment in the Soviet Union.
  
  Report this comment
mom4times
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:23am
has anyone looked for where these are now being sold……went to the marketplace…..jcp, bbb and kohls and found nothing……except for jcp (says imported)? WHERE CAN I BUY IT ; )

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- Beckaj
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:33am
  http://marketplace.markdown.com/markdown-slotto/ It is now sold out though.
  
  Report this comment
LOTO
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:05am
Nice plug for May Trucking and the trucking industry.

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TheMajority
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:04am
Producing those simple parts in the USA can be done . All he did was look at some big producers here in the USA, and got a big quote that he knew he could not retail. He just needs to find a few guys, in their garage, with no employees to be punished with.

You need one milion wheels this quarter? I can do that in my garage, and compete with china, as long as I stay one man in one garage.

If he did that—he would have helped create 5 to 10 new businesses, who would be ready to grow and hire, if we ever get Capitalism back in our hands.

I say, with Capitalism back in our hands (making the USA the #1 attraction to start and do business in), we provide our own opportunity and prosperity—exponentially higher than any collectivist has plans for.

That is why our Republic and our Capitalism is under attack.

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- The_Veteran
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 11:40am
  No, he sold his idea to Treehaus which now produces them overseas probably using harsh labor conditions in some backwoods factory with a dirt floor.
  
  Report this comment
- AZRACISTBIGOT
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:36pm
  Majority
  I like your idea. A profitable workshop in every garage
  Government is the answer to very few problems and the cause of a great many
  
  Report this comment
Angry-Elf
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:04am
Good on you Mr. Darling; Good on you!

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The_Veteran
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:38am
Wow. I guess Mr. Darling and TreeHaus just realized that production in the US is just too costly because they are now manufactured outside of the US. Now our government DID build that.

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- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:51am
  Case in point.
  
  The USA has been made a unattractive place to produce by this 2-party system.
  
  He can’t produce here. As soon as he makes a profit, somebody will knock him off in china, and people will buy for the lesser price,—while we creat no jobs, opportunity.
  
  I have seen it time and time again over the last 25 years, and it is shy I modify existing product, instead of producing new product.
  
  Report this comment
- Artlife
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:13pm
  TheMajority is absolutely right. It is very difficult to produce product here and bring it to market at a price that the buyers (for retailers) will buy and then to the consumer at a price people will pay. Secondly, regulation compliance is very costly as is freight. You spend a lot of your margin paying for all sorts of things you never dreamed. And, a successful idea will get knocked off and cheaper replicas will appear on the market.
  
  Report this comment
GrayPanther
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:31am
I have no doubt the EPA and OSHA will be after him for all the “dust” he is creating. That cannot be allowed. After all, no dust is more important than no job.

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- The_Veteran
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:39am
  Nope. They are no longer built in the US and no surprise there.
  
  Report this comment
The_Veteran
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:31am
Wait, he didn’t build that. It was through great fortune that Der Leader Obama was in office. If it had not been for Obama maintaining the unemployment in this country he never would have had to dig down and find another way to make an income. Obama built that and Mr. Darling needs to recognize this by forking over a large percentage of his revenue to show it.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:14am
She escaped communism and came to America only to see communism taking a foothold here and she wrote about it and predicted what would happen in Amerika.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euq9oRI5Wl0&feature=g-high-u

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- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:26am
  Most of us are here in the USA because our earlier generations moved here to flee collectivism also, back when the USA was called “The land of Opportunity”. Mt Great Grand parents fled communist Poland, and not one kid ever hit the welfare rolls (during the able/productive years) to this day. But they are all gone now, and our children have no voice to superceed a teacher of collectivism.
  
  Report this comment
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:36am
  It’s a damn shame isn’t it to see this country being rotted from within by communists,they started roughly a century ago with TR, Wilson, FDR and now Barry Soetoro. You’re right they’ve taken control of the education business and indoctrinated a generation maybe two into their sick twisted ideology.What’s worse is the people don’t even realize it,of course they planned it to work that way.
  
  Report this comment
- Pantloadian
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:44am
  PRONGDREAMER . . . It’s a damn shame isn’t it to see this country being rotted from within by conservatives,they started with Goldwater, Reagan, and now . . . uh . . . . Rick Santorum! You’re right they’ve taken control of business and indoctrinated a generation maybe two into their sick twisted ideology.What’s worse is the people don’t even realize it,of course they planned it to work that way.
  
  Report this comment
- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:46am
  What amazes me about her is, she was not a producer. Here in the USA, most people who do notproduce anything, do not understand who Capitalism belongs to. She was a screen writer and book writer and Philosopher, but usually those people are taught to be anti-productive. She stepped back out of the woods, and saw all the trees. Her mind, from Russia, is much like mine from rural USA in the 70′s, (more in USA Founding, as progressive indoctrination was scarce in small schools, with teachers who lived through WW2).
  
  I love her work, as she knew, better than most Americans today, the difference between Individualism and collectivism.
  
  When it taks a dead Russian woman, to try to terach Americans how to think like Americans again,—we got trouble.
  
  Report this comment
- Inlightofthings
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:30am
  Do they come any dumber than the PANT character?
  
  Report this comment
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:32am
  Themajority. It’s good to see some people have some common sense and intelligence.
  
  Pantload Not so much you’ve read all the wrong books.
  
  Report this comment
- grimmster
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 11:07am
  pantload here, is none other than encinom, what do you expect?!
  
  Report this comment
- Banter
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 11:14am
  Amazingly, she wrote this when the makers still outnumbered the looters in this country. She knew, by experience, where we were headed, and it seems we have now arrived at the only logical outcome. The looters outnumber the makers, and with the election they intend to keep the free stuff coming.
  
  Like collectivism around the world, this theft too will come to an end, and it will be ugly.
  
  Report this comment
term limits for congress
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:05am
He should willingly give his profits to Dear Leader so that he might redistribute the benefits to all of those who made his success possible.

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- Mainer forever
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:35am
  Good Grief!!!
  
  Report this comment
TheMajority
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:53am
My personal life story is simular. I got into manufacturing, and worked in many non-union machine shops (you gain actual skill in non-union manufacturing), while paying my own way through college part time for two more Bachelors degrees in manufacturing and quality engineering. Those opportunites, went to china, and I was stuck as a machinist (simply not making enough money to not worry about my utility bills and keep a car running).

When I was a kid working in my dads store from 10 to 16 for $1.00hr, I bout a new dirt bike every 2 years.

Today I modify small gas engines (simular to the older dirt bike engines), and have probably sold more than anybody in the world, with the help of a Mormon distributor over the last 10 years with nothing but a “Hand shake” contract over the phone.

I don’t worry about my utility bills anymore, and my home is almost paid for during the worst economic crisis since the great depression.

That is how I know Capitalism (citizen run business) is not compatable with communism (government run business), and Capitalism can only be called “Capitalsim” if we own it, run it, and profit from it, because like I said before, when the government(s) run the economy, it is called communism.

This is how I know Capitalism belongs to us, the Citizenry,—from a Large corporation all the way down to the girls trying to sell lemonade.

The only problem with Capitalsim is—-government intervention, when a court system works just fine as a ref

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:07am
  Yes what we have today is crony capitalism and it needs to go extinct,the less government involvement in business the better.
  
  Report this comment
- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:19am
  I don’t like new words since–ohh–about Nov 23rd 1963 (the day JFK, who often spoke against communism last).
  
  Croney capitalism—is communism.
  
  Since it is not called “croney communism”, you can see the intent of the new phrase “croney Capitalism” demonizes Capitalism—not communism.
  
  IMO, the design of new words, always favors leftist/communist movements.
  
  Report this comment
chickenfried
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:47am
Darling the elf escaped the frigid north and set up shop in Oregon. Check his citizenship status.

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- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:57am
  Don’t give the left any ideas that were ignored these last 2 elections.
  
  I would not be suprised if this article,—buys this small business man some audits.
  
  Report this comment
piper60
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:32am
You know, this is just the sort of thing Obama and his minions want to shut down. They hate individualism, pure and simple.

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:03am
  Ain’t that the truth,this regime is all about the collective and it’s obvious now to even the casual observer.
  
  Report this comment
Sickandtiredofextremists
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:28am
Either he is the first entrepreneur on our road to “comeback”, or the last in line on our way down the tubes…………..thanks to “Our Lord and Savior, Barack Obama”.

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- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:11am
  I am not sure who will go broke last.
  1) the public union “worker”
  2) they guy/gal in his/her garage.
  
  I do know though, once the garage guy/gal can no longer make a profit, the public pensions, wages and benifits will be gone.
  
  Only more opportunity can fight poverty, and make sure our Public service sector :workers” (as overhead–making 30 to 40% more than sabotoged private production) can keep their pensions.
  
  Voting left—(either party) insures they will lose their pensions, wages, benifits.
  
  I already lived through it—in the private sector that produces the profit, that overhead lives on.
  
  Report this comment
Wolf
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:24am
Congratulations on your successful enterprise, Mr, Darling. Makes me happy to see my generation still has a few people who aren’t interested in living on the dole from dotgov.

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ONLY4UANDME
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:21am
What a great example to kids.The looks on their faces are rare now a days.
That’s what happens when you teach someone to fish instead of giving them one.

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- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:32am
  Right. And since public schools took out metal and wood shops at the same time outsourcing began, kids don’t learn how to bait the hook, let alone actually build anything. Hmm—metal and wood shops leave public schools at the same time outsourcing began. How do you blame that on corporations?
  
  You blame it on the 2-party system.
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:07am
  I’m thinking that somewhere out there is person that hasn’t learned anything about woodshop or welding and will try to teach himself. No rules to follow and will then completely change the way it’s done. Trying something different always improves the way it’s done. Hope Obama doesn’t find out about the thinking side of Americans.
  
  Report this comment
Eastinfection
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:21am
“Tinkers” and “Tinkerers” are generally regarded as unskilled menders…

This gentleman is a “craftsman”.

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- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:35am
  Thought by who, a communist? They don’t like the Individual tinkerer/inventor doing all the major break throughs. It builds nations with a prosperous Citizenry better than the rulers can.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:46am
  Communists? lol.. where did that come from?
  
  It’s a dictionary definition that i know well because i am a carpenter.
  A tinker and a craftsman are essentially the same thing except one is regarded as “unskilled” and the other as “skilled.”
  
  Report this comment
TheMajority
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:17am
One skilled man in one garage, in a “recreational industry” (little or no fed regulations–yet) is the last man enjoying “Citizen run Capitalism”.

Like me, this man is doing better than any unioin “worker” in the world, and it is only becase we embrased our Capitalism, before government takes it all over.

I don’t remember the Founder who said this, but I like it.

“The Constitution only gaurantees you “the right to persue happyness”. It is up to you to gain it.”

How can you gain happyness—if government is taking your Capitalism from you?

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:50am
  “pursuit of happiness” comes from the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution.
  
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- ShyMan
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:59am
  @east
  
  Actually, it comes from the Creator.
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:22am
  SHYMAN… i agree that our inalienable rights are inherently provided by our Creator… but the phrase “pursuit of happiness” comes from the Declaration.
  
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kickagrandma
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:14am
What a wonderful “overnight success” story!

Perseverance, BLAZERS!

Congratulations to the man with a dream… hmmmm, seems to be more than one man with a dream in this story.

GOD BLESS THE DREAMERS AND THE DOERS!

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- TheMajority
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:27am
  Once upon a time—we were taught to be dreamers and doers. It worked a lot better than the 49.5% of our population on government assistance.
  
  If his product sells today, somebody will knock him off in a slave labor communist nation.
  
  I have seen it happen for 25 years now. That is why I modify existing product (1/2 from Japan, 1/2 from Japans work knocked off by several companies and made in Tiawan), instead of creating new product.
  
  But–the cracks to slip through to avoid poverty (with your own skills) will probably close some day before I expire.
  
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- Wisdom7
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 12:53pm
  I have a real problem with this story. On Darling’s Slotto website (http://www.slottoforkids.com/) it states:
  
  “Slotto is a Toy Construction Set reminiscent of those great toys of the ’50′s and ’60′s. Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, and even Lego in the early years. One customer commented, “It’s like Lincoln Logs on steroids!” And They Aren’t Made In China!”
  
  HOWEVER, on the home page it now states:
  
  “We have discontinued production of the Slotto construction sets in the USA.
  
  Slotto sets are still available and are now being marketed under the name TreeHaus Wooden Slotted Blocks in Bed Bath and Beyond Stores nationwide.”
  
  Did you read that? The production was DISCONTINUED in the USA. The company that trademarked TreeHaus is MerchSource LLC which is an importer and distributor. I can’t find any information on who actually manufactures Treehaus toys. The last shipment to MerchSource was from TIANCHANG RENREN IMP.& EXP.CO. according to ImportGenius.com, which was Discovery Kids toys.
  
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D-Fence
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:14am
Only in America. What a tradgedy it is to see the destruction of a nation where individuals can take an idea, and in such a short amount of time turn it into a business. Sure, he’s got a ways to go but, once he starts to be successful he’ll be put in his place by regulations, taxes, God only knows what. Maybe even incarcerated.

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SREGN
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:13am
He didn’t build that, Obama did.

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Dano.50
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:07am
Kind of ironic that…

He really did build that.

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- Pantloadian
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:45am
  Yeah. stick with that one. It worked out so well last time.
  
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Proud Stray Dog
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:07am
This is the American Spirit. Adapt, Innovate, Overcome. Kudos to Mr Darling. You chose to break out when others are calling for you to submit. I wish you many happy years of success in your endeavor.

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