WHICH OSCAR WINNER'S SELFIES HELPED HOLLYWOOD ENTREPRENEURS TO KICKSTARTER WIN? TOM HANKS

How would you like to have Tom Hanks all over the Internet holding your product on your Kickstarter launch day?  This is exactly what happened to two Hollywood entrepreneurs. Recently, the Internet fell in love with Tom Hanks and the wedding party he photobombed in Central Park. Playing a featured role is Tom Hank's iPhone with the jimmyCASE a handmade mahogany wallet case that Hollywood stars love.

"We've been a Hollywood secret since we launched a year ago. The guys from Coldplay, Steph Curry and a bunch of other stars have been carrying our jimmyCASEs for awhile. But, nothing put us on the radar like this -- Tom Hanks, just being the cool guy that he is. Luckily this story blew up on the day we launched our second Kickstarter, for the slimJIMMY WALLET. The Tom Hanks story broke, and just like that, we were funded."

In Los Angeles, accessories are everything.  The jimmyCASE guys saw an opening for a better iPhone case, featuring a super-functional wallet, premium materials like real mahogany, and handmade in Downtown Los Angeles. They saw this approach working big-time with influencers, and decided to double down with a new and innovative wallet,  handsewn-in-LA

Three years ago Dan Smith was an executive at Playboy, developing new digital video sites and living every junior high school boy’s fantasy career. “I grew up as a theater geek in Chicago, so making TV shows was a dream. But after a successful career in Hollywood (Playboy, Fox, American Gladiators), my inner ‘Herbie The Dentist’ took over and I realized that I really wanted to be a designer/entrepreneur. I had an idea for an iPhone case that would carry my cards and cash like a wallet, but designed with fun, California style.” Dan left his job to work in his garage for three months creating a prototype. His friends loved it, so he launched a Kickstarter to get jimmyCASE introduced to the world.

Cut to 2016 and Dan has built a successful company with a factory in Los Angeles, products sold through major retailers (Fred Segal, AT&T) and a profitable online business that reaches customers worldwide. "Working in Hollywood as a producer and digital executive was great preparation for launching a digital brand with beautiful imagery and direct social connection with fans."  Dan Smith

THE TEAM GROWS

 

Aaron Harper (Left) Dan Smith (Right)

Dan Smith with slimJIMMY and jimmyCASE

Aaron Harper with slimJIMMY

JIMMYCASE PHOTOS

QUOTE: From Dan’s former manager at Playboy

 "The jimmyCASE -- and now the new slimJIMMY -- demonstrate perfectly the kind of passion and innovation that Dan brings to everything he does. Dan was ahead of his time in the entertainment world, bridging the gap between the scrappy YouTube world and the high production values expected of a television network and a highly visual brand. Dan succeeded in that world because he didn't accept the status quo when he saw there was potential for a better way and a better product. Dan's entrepreneurial drive, strong business acumen and clear understanding of market trends have served him well as long as I've known him. I was therefore excited, but in no way surprised, to see Dan offer such a creative new take on an existing category and successfully bring this great line of products to market.”  Jeremy Westin, EVP of office decor retailer Poppin 

Dan and Aaron have taken their Hollywood marketing, social media and production skills and successfully applied them to the global market for iPhone accessories. “Aaron and I are Hollywood storytellers at heart. We’ve just moved from the Westside to the Eastside, to tell a great new story.” Dan Smith