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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Scott Houdashell and his cofounder, Curtis McGill, co-founders of Hey Buddy Hey Pal. It has been edited for length and clarity.Back in 2015, I was hanging out at my friend Curtis's house, dying Easter eggs with his kids.
All of a sudden, I looked around and thought, "Where did the kids go?" Curtis told me they were bored with watching hard-boiled eggs slowly turn colors.I told Curtis to get me a hot glue stick, a drill, and some markers. I had an idea for how to get the kids off their tablets and back to the table. Using those rudimentary items, I created a system to spin the egg, letting the kids decorate it with markers.Soon, Curtis' kids — who I consider my nieces and nephews — were mesmerized. They couldn't wait to have a turn. As I drove home that night, I had a feeling that this was my lightning-in-a-bottle moment: an idea that would change our lives.When I told Curtis I was serious about making the egg-decorating toy, he didn't tell me I was nuts. Instead, he offered to invest. It wasn't the first time Curtis had invested in a friend. He trades commodities and has more financial wiggle room than I do, since I run my own insurance company. Curtis borrowed $150,000 against his kids' college funds and loaned it to me at 10% interest. While Curtis worked on the finances, I spent time in my wood shop, creating a rough prototype and breaking many eggs along the way.I wasn't worried about taking a loan from Curtis and his wife. We'd met about 15 years before that, playing music together. We had a deep relationship. We both knew I would work my tail off to make sure he was paid back, even if I had to sell the toys door-to-door.In March 2017, a shipping container with 10,000 Eggmazing Egg Decorators arrived at the building that housed my insurance company. Curtis and I stacked the boxes everywhere, leaving only a pathway to my office and one to the bathroom.We had about 40 days till Easter, and no idea how to sell a toy.We brought some to local toy shops, where owners agreed they were cool. One shop owner connected us with the toy retail association, which boosted sales. Then, a video featuring the Eggmazing decorator went viral.That's when I learned, be careful what you hope and pray for. Within 23 days, we'd sold all 10,000 units, and we were in the toy business.That summer, we went to a toy trade show and left with more than $1 million in purchase orders. From there, things moved quickly. We went on "Shark Tank" — a show Curtis and I had been watching together for years — and made a deal with Lori Greiner.Our company, Hey Buddy Hey Pal, is named for the way Curtis and I have always greeted each other. Today, it does over $8 million in annual revenue.I paid back Curtis' loan within seven months, then said to him, "I can't wait until you become a millionaire." I'm the majority owner, so that would mean I was a millionaire too, but saying that wasn't selfish; I was just so grateful to be on this journey with my friend.The Eggmazing decorator has changed our lives. I lived in a townhouse for most of the time I knew Curtis. Now, I own a house and two planes. Curtis' three kids — who probably would have gone to college in-state — have had access to an outstanding education.Through it all, our relationship hasn't changed. We're brothers. Even if this all blew up tomorrow, I know I can always call Curtis and say, "Hey buddy," and he'll reply, "Hey pal."
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