Why, he’s the inspiration behind FredFlare.com !

41 responses to “Who the Hell is Fred Astaire?”

1. 

   Allison Weilbaker October 21st, 2009 at 08:27

   I love FredFlare. I’ve bought all my christmas presents there for the past 2 yrs. I always have a wish list. It’s just entertaining to be on the site let alone all of the cute clothes they have there. One of the greatest buys was a vinyl archiver for my mom I think she fell over with excitement. They also have really cool cameras that I bought my friend who is an art major. These guys really have something, they just opened a physical store too in NYC. Anther similar site is Modcloth.com though they focus on clothes more

2. 

   Zacheriah Ruggles October 21st, 2009 at 10:27

   Sounds like they are having a fun time with their business and there products make people happy. It seems to be a happy business all around. The band-aid and wallet make me smile

3. 

   Emily Wetterich October 21st, 2009 at 10:29

   This looks awesome. This is the first time that I’ve heard of them. I’ll definitely check out their website sometime. I love how original and excited they are.

4. 

   Christopher Perry October 21st, 2009 at 11:29

   The bacon bandaids are a winner in my book. Do they smell like bacon too?

5. 

   David Uhlenhake October 21st, 2009 at 12:52

   I have never heard of this company before this blog. It sounds like they are the typical story of successful entrepreneurs that work hard and with lots of passion before it pays off. Good for them!

6. 

   Chris Miller October 21st, 2009 at 13:22

   Haha I love these bacon bandages; such a good idea!

7. 

   Kyle Chen October 21st, 2009 at 13:56

   Bacon Bandage? Purely brilliant!

8. 

   Kenny October 21st, 2009 at 14:05

   As a web developer I’m appalled at the website. There are better ways to appeal to the teen and young adult audience than designing a site as if you were throwing pints of paint onto a wall.

   To me it’s just too messy and I would be very frustrated as a consumer if I wanted to find a specific thing on the website – or if I just wanted to browse.

   It’s nice that they’re doing “fun” things, but you have to make sure that “fun” doesn’t get in the way of usability.

9. 

   Josh Dennison October 21st, 2009 at 14:39

   That is what i want to do, do business and have fun with it, and give fun to others. Creating wacky products such as bacon bandages is just brilliant.

10. 

    Mayura Davda October 21st, 2009 at 15:03

    Wow!! This is a very cool way of doing a business. How enjoyable is must be to think n design things that are funky, freaky, funny or cute along with maintaining the goal of serving the purpose of the product.
    I’d love to do something similar.

11. 

    Zhiheng Liu October 21st, 2009 at 15:19

    This is a very interesting business model, Keith Corollo and Chris Bick are doing exactly what they love doing and make money out of it. It’s the ideal state of an entrepreneur.

12. 

    Andrew Rodriguez October 21st, 2009 at 15:26

    It is a very quirky, off-the-wall product line that Fred Flare has. This type of product appeals to a very select group of people from all different walks of life. Personally, I would but some of their products if they were cheap and happened to run into them in a store, but I wouldn’t go searching for them online.

13. 

    Shawn Tomlinson October 21st, 2009 at 15:31

    I had never heard of Fred Flare before this post. I don’t really know who needs the products they are selling but someone must be buying for them to open a store. Also i wonder if they generate enough traffic online to get compensation for advertising.

14. 

    Nathan Ferguson October 21st, 2009 at 16:05

    This seems like a website I should go to. The bacon band-aid is ridiculous. haha

15. 

    Olivia Freeman October 21st, 2009 at 17:03

    So Wacky and Ridiculous! Im in LOVE. I checked out the site and they have a cupcake beanie! Some of the things I would totally wear if I was in a goofy mood but I like how the website is not just about their products, its about creating an atmosphere. It seems to try and bring the essence of Fred Flare right to you as though you were walking around their store hanging out with the creators.

16. 

    Marisa Strupp October 21st, 2009 at 17:12

    So I am going to agree with 75% of these posts and say that the bacon strip band-aids are amazing. The only downfall is that you cannot purchase them from a store. I hate the hassle of online ordering.

17. 

    Jennifer Cook October 21st, 2009 at 18:06

    Thats awesome. I can imagine how much fun it would be to work for a company like that.

18. 

    Lyndsey S. October 21st, 2009 at 18:25

    Some people just really know how to make their customers feel comfortable and happy and Fredflare happens to be one of them. Great website!

19. 

    Kevin B. October 21st, 2009 at 18:50

    They definitely have some products that no one else would usually offer that are hilarious. Looks like it is a very fun place to work also.

20. 

    Amber Illig October 21st, 2009 at 18:53

    Although these products don’t seem like things that people need at all, I think their creativity and unique style makes up for a lot of that. It’s cool that they started selling their first product off the back of a whimsical-looking bike. This builds a respect and recognition among customers.

21. 

    Jenna York October 21st, 2009 at 19:24

    These guys are so much fun! NIce to see some enthusiasm in their marketing and the humor in their products. Don’t know if I would personally buy anything, unless it was for a gag gift or something.

22. 

    Christina Jacobs October 21st, 2009 at 19:25

    These products are very creative and fun to use I’m sure. Maybe one day I will use a bacon bandadge for a wound…

23. 

    Brent McClean October 21st, 2009 at 19:27

    These guys have a lot of passion. Some of there ideas are pretty extreme, but that’s a unique appeal.

24. 

    Katelyne Moody October 21st, 2009 at 19:40

    It was said in chaper 1 of our book the first and foremost thing a successful entreprenuer has is passion for their business, and that’s what FredFlare has! I’m definently going to check out their website sometime in the future. Maybe do like Allison and buy some Christmas gifts this year.

    –katelyne–

25. 

    Eugene October 21st, 2009 at 21:06

    their wedsite is so funny….I wonder how well the business does economically? Am too lazy to look it up somebody check and post it.

26. 

    Eugene October 21st, 2009 at 21:14

    Ok I look it up and so far this year, they have made 3 million and have 15 employees.

27. 

    Quentin Campbell October 21st, 2009 at 21:29

    Who’s idea was the bacon band aid. That is the most sexist thing I’ve ever seen. Everyone knows that guys love bacon… not girls. Hes basically holding all males at gunpoint with this product because guys go nuts for bacon.

28. 

    Greg Forney October 21st, 2009 at 22:03

    While this may be a successful idea, it honestly does not appeal to me at all.

29. 

    Ankit Buti October 21st, 2009 at 22:28

    This looks really nice, and I admire their enthusiasm and the way they are excited about their product. Its very creative fun and they have a wonderful website to back it up.

30. 

    Phillip Jenkins October 21st, 2009 at 23:09

    Some of the stuff looks interesting, but how would you maintain a market on something like that? I agree with Greg, it does not appeal to me and I wonder how big of a market they actually have. The attitude they have is perfect, but realistically I saw very little other than the website that would prompt this to be chosen above other vendors. Price? Nope. Gimmicks? Nope. There are alot of issues not addressed from an entrepreneurial side. The website also was missing a way for people wanting to contribute or sell their products, which would be helpful for a business like theirs.

    However, they are doing the entrepreneur’s dream. Working out of home and on the fly by using others services. Hopefully it all lands solidly and it grows. Not sure about the international thing, but who knows.

31. 

    Alex Selby October 21st, 2009 at 23:39

    I can’t say buying frivolous things like funny bandaids interests me, but I know the market it would apply to, neat idea.

32. 

    Zheng Wang October 21st, 2009 at 23:41

    Successful business starts from enthusiam and the passion to manage a company and sometimes from a dream.

33. 

    Mark Minissale October 22nd, 2009 at 00:14

    Ha that’s funny a bacon bandage, never would of thought

34. 

    Yi Li October 22nd, 2009 at 10:02

    This is a really creative and fun business. I like how they do everything with love and enthusiasm which can be easily shown when browsing their site.

35. 

    Michael Mullen October 22nd, 2009 at 11:06

    This seems like a fun website to visit every once and a while. Although I don’t know if I’ll be buying anything anytime soon.

36. 

    Marisa Nakajima October 22nd, 2009 at 13:15

    LOL this made me laugh…sounds like they are having mucho fun though Good for them. Who says you can’t have fun at work. I have helped my dad move in to his new company and the feeling after the move in is complete is so exciting so I understand their excitement!! I hope the succeed in their business. Sounds like wonderful and fun ideas!!

37. 

    SungJae October 23rd, 2009 at 15:50

    This design company really looks interesting. They would make lots of money if they sell at Korea! They can do what they like and make money off of their business. I really like the bacon bandage. I think they have to focus on the quality of the product as well as its product innovation.

38. 

    Sree Harsha Uddandam October 25th, 2009 at 13:54

    this is the first time i have heard of this guy…..i will definitely check out the website

39. 

    Bin Lin October 25th, 2009 at 15:50

    I really wish i can do that, do business while having fun with it, because it’s what I want to do, not what I need to do! Creating the wacky products, like bacon bandages was just unique. And try to share fun with my customers.

40. 

    Cara Cymbala October 28th, 2009 at 22:14

    I love them! Their energy just radiates off them. Who wants to watch a boring video? I love their high energy, fun, outgoing, real vibe they have going for themselves, and I’m sure it’s rubbed off onto their merchandise. This is a great example of what the entrepenuer our team interviewed gave us for advice. That is, do something because you’re passionate about it, not just for the money. I can tell these guys are so passionate about what they do, and are truly excited to be opening their store. That’s what I think will attract customers.

41. 

    Cara Cymbala October 28th, 2009 at 22:17

    Oh! I almost forgot… AND they had one of my favorite bands playing in the background. “Mama’s boy” by Chromeo. They could deffinately be my friends.