"We said we wanted to find ways to expose good, decent companies and good, decent people and get them exposure and help them launch," Glenn told listeners on the radio show this morning.
Today, Markdown.com does just that.
At 58 years old Robert Darling, founder of Slotto, found himself unemployed for the first time in his life. He first went to the streets with a sign that read, “I need a job.” As months turned to years, Robert realized the only way out of his desperation was to create his own destiny. Out of Robert’s hardship, the brainchild of ‘Slotto’ was born. Slotto represents everything 'Made in America' stands for - that anyone with a dream, a little ingenuity & willingness to work can become successful.
Even the local news picked up on his amazing story:
Darling writes:
Inspired by Charles Eames’ House of Cards when I was growing up in the 1950’s, Slotto finally came to life in 2008 when I was unable to find a job for the first time in my 61 years. I sold Slotto at the Portland, Oregon Satur- day Market for 3 years as my wife’s job paid most of the bills. I tested large and small Slotto sets at local pre-schools and as the sets got better so did the response.Today, Slotto has become part of the Early Childhood Training pro- gram at one of the largest Children’s Museum in America and they claim it’s “...right at the top!” when compared to other construction sets on the market today.
After being featured on a TV news station in January, I was contacted by the CEO of a major US corporation about mass production. Our original plan was for them to produce the plastic sets and I would produce the wood- en sets. On his reputation alone, Walmart has agreed to place Slotto in their stores pending pricing and cost studies. Unfortunately, they have been un- able to find a way to make a plastic set that will fit into their cost limits.
In the meantime, still on the rags side of what I’d hoped was going to be a “rags to riches,” story, Glenn Beck and the great people at Markdown.com are helping me keep the dream alive with this 48 hour sale.
I still hand make each set in my 10’ x 8’ backyard shop with old, but still accurate tools.
Three members of the 1st Place team in the 2010 State of Oregon Lego Competition, have Slotto sets and integrate them with their Lego creations. One 13 year old girl commented, “I like Slotto because you’re not limited in what you can create.” Her brother said, “..everything just fits!”
I was featured in a recent toy industry magazine, The Toy Book as a new toy that’s coming to the market soon as we’d expected to be in Walmart by now. I’m still looking for investors who might help this American rags to riches story become a reality and be an inspiration for others to be free to create and pursue their dreams in this greatest country on God’s green earth!
Thank you for your time and consideration and each set has a money- back guarantee. I haven’t gotten one back yet!
Check out Slotto here