Beanie business idea is no joke

An innovation to help snowboarders keep out the cold could help open up a market for similar products in Australia.

A Canadian entrepreneur has come up with the Beardo, a knitted beanie-beard which can be detached from the woven hat that it comes with.

Beardo is the brainchild of Jeff Phillips, a winter enthusiast with a passion for snowboarding, who wanted to provide a warm, hassle-free product.

Aimed at skiers and snowboarders, Beardo has just launched an online store, featuring six versions of the product, including different coloured beards and hats.

Phillips says the product has been picked up by a range of people in addition to skiers and snowboarders.

“As the design started gaining some recognition and press, more and more people became interested and even outdoor workers started using them on the job,” Phillip says.

“Our goal is to keep Beardowear current and fresh by launching new, innovative products and contests every few months.”

What was intended as a solution for a niche market has been embrace by a broader customer base for its lightheartedness, suggesting there are opportunities for other entrepreneurs to do the same. What element of fun can you incorporate into clothing or equipment?