| Here is yet another
creation that will have you kicking yourself because it is so simple and obvious that you
lament, "Why didn't I think of that?" Remember in grade school while sitting
in study hall, you and a friend would make a triangle-shaped football out of paper and
then flick it across the table as if you were kicking a field goal, trying to place it
between your friend's fingers?
Richard Crasnick, president and chief executive of 3Point Enterprises Inc., has made
table-top football into FIKI (Flick It & Kick It) Football. His creation features a
triangle-shaped football made of genuine leather with a pro-style pebble surface, coil
stitching and laces. A yellow goal post and red goal post pad is included along with an
attachable base. This is packaged and available in most retail toy and sporting-good
stores for $4.95.
"I have played table-top football since I was a kid, and a few years ago I was
watching a game with some buddies and was flicking a paper ball around. That is when the
idea that it should be a real football came into my head," Crasnick said.
At first glance, a strong future for this product may be hard to see. After all,
naysayers might say this is a product you could make yourself with a single sheet of
paper. However, Crasnick firmly believes his product has a five- to 10-year shelf life.
This assumption is based on the fact he has already acquired collegiate licensing from
close to 20 schools, including Florida State and Michigan.
"Certain FIKI Footballs will have half pro-style material and half white leather
with the college logo, and this is just the first step as to what these balls can have on
them," Crasnick said. "In the future a player action photo can be on the white
leather surface, so it would be a FIKI Football card. If the product is as successful as I
hope, one day an autographed version may be available."
Some major corporations have also expressed interest in branding their logos on the
ball. Crasnick recently signed his first deal with Budweiser and has also spoken with
Miller. Also, NFL teams have expressed an interest in aligning the mini football with a
sponsor and using it as a giveaway at home games.
"I am the small guy trying to crack into the toy industry, so as of right now
these public-relations moves will be the start to FIKI Football," Crasnick said.
"The next four to six months will determine how well the product will do, as an
extensive national P.R. campaign will be run."
Crasnick's optimism about his creation is not ludicrous. Research helped him discover
that Southern Comfort sponsored a triangle football contest in 1990, in which 100,000
people participated nationwide. This competition was held before the Internet and sports
talk radio really took off, leading Crasnick to have a firm belief that if he were to hold
a similar FIKI Football competition someday, he could get well over a million
participants.
"This game has been played for about 30 years, so it reaches young adults,
teenagers and children," Crasnick said. "I am not saying that getting people to
go FIKI-crazy is going to be easy, but this game is not on a learning curve. When people
see this product in the stores, it is going to be instant recognition."
Crasnick believes that people will buy his product instead of just making a paper
football because it is unique and will make a great gift.
"It is like when you were a little kid and you held an official NFL football for
the first time instead of a cheap imitation. The uniqueness of college logos, player
pictures and possibly autographs make this a collector's item as well," Crasnick
said. "They would make terrific stocking stuffers and secret Santa gifts."
Crasnick added, "When I hand the ball to people at trade shows, I glance down and
see them running their fingers over the ball because they love the feel. I have also heard
from companies, who I have sent samples to, who say the office is abuzz because people are
just sitting around flicking the football to one another."
Richard Crasnick may be someday flicking his FIKI Football into a field of green, crisp
dollar bills. Who knows? One day we may even see a commercial featuring Randy Moss and
Marshall Faulk flicking the triangular ball to one another. |
