Method: 6 sparkling insights that turned stinky apartment experiments into $100M eco-friendly empire

Hey rebel solopreneurs

Ever tried to build something amazing but felt like you were running on empty?

That's exactly where Adam and Eric found themselves - with just $16 in their bank account and $300,000 in credit card debt. Yikes!

You know that pit in your stomach when you're trying to create something new but the giants in your industry seem unbeatable?

When you're wondering if anyone will even care about your product?

Here's the thing - if you don't crack this puzzle, you might end up building something that nobody wants, burning through your savings, and having to crawl back to that soul-crushing 9-5.

But guess what?

Two friends who started mixing cleaning products in their stinky apartment turned their wild idea into a $100+ million empire.

And they did it in an industry dominated by giants like P&G and Clorox!

Method makes beautiful, non-toxic cleaning products that people actually love to show off on their counters (wild, right?).

Ready to learn how they pulled off this crazy success?

Let's dive in!

1. Spot the gap that everyone's missing

🔥 Problem

• Adam and Eric noticed something weird - people were going crazy about healthy food and beautiful homes, but were still using toxic cleaning products that looked ugly. The big companies were completely missing these cultural shifts!

🌈 How they solved it

• They hired famous designer Karim Rashid to create unique bottles that looked like art pieces - people actually wanted these on their counters instead of hiding them away

• They focused on making cleaning products that worked better than the toxic ones - no more choosing between "works well but toxic" vs "eco-friendly but useless"

• They used bright candy-like colors and amazing scents like cucumber and mandarin orange, making cleaning feel like a treat instead of a chore

💎 Your game plan:

• Look at your market through fresh eyes - what obvious changes are the big players missing? That's your golden opportunity!

2. Start scrappy, but make it count

🔥 Problem

• They had zero fancy labs or massive budgets. Just a messy apartment, a bathtub, and some beer pitchers (labeled "Do Not Drink" - smart move!)

🌈 How they solved it

• Turned their messy apartment into a DIY lab - testing formulas in their bathtub and sink, using labeled beer pitchers as mixing containers

• Created sample batches and threw parties to get instant feedback from real people who weren't afraid to be honest

• Instead of chasing big retailers first, they befriended local store managers, did live demos, and built genuine relationships

💎 Your game plan:

• Start with what you have - your "limitations" might become your best marketing stories later!

3. Turn rejections into fuel

🔥 Problem

• Target initially told them their test run didn't hit the numbers they needed. Talk about a gut punch!

🌈 How they solved it

• Instead of giving up, they dug into Target's data and showed how their products were bringing in brand new customers who never bought cleaning supplies at Target before

• They used Target's feedback to tweak their products and packaging until they were irresistible

• The same Target team that said "no" became their biggest champions when they saw how Method was growing the whole cleaning category

💎 Your game plan:

• When you get a "no," ask for specific feedback and use it to make your offer stronger

4. Fix problems fast and openly

🔥 Problem

• Their beautiful bowling pin-shaped soap bottles started leaking all over Target's shelves - talk about a stomach-dropping moment!

🌈 How they solved it

• Eric, Adam, and their friends literally ran from store to store with paper towels, cleaning up spills themselves - no fancy cleanup crews, just founders getting their hands dirty

• They went back to their designer and created a completely new bottle design that looked amazing AND stayed leak-free

• They turned this mess into a funny story they now tell at business talks - showing everyone that it's okay to mess up as long as you fix things fast

💎 Your game plan:

• When things go wrong (and they will), jump in fast to fix them - your response to problems matters more than the problems themselves

5. Make the giants chase you

🔥 Problem

• Being small meant they couldn't compete head-to-head with industry giants like Clorox and P&G - these companies had billions to spend!

🌈 How they solved it

• They invented a mind-blowing new way to make detergent - instead of diluting cleaning ingredients in water, they found a way to pack the cleaning power into tiny concentrated pods (so unique they got it patented!)

• When the big companies tried to copy their 3x concentrated formula, Method went "Oh yeah? Watch this!" and created an 8x concentrated version that worked even better

• They moved super fast - while the giants were still figuring out how to make 3x detergent, Method was already working on the next big thing

💎 Your game plan:

• Don't try to beat the big players at their own game - change the game entirely!

6. Look for everyday signs of success

🔥 Problem

• Eric and Adam couldn't tell if their wild idea would work - they just had a gut feeling and lots of hope.

🌈 How they solved it

• They treated every tiny win like gold - when random people got excited and offered to help after hearing their idea, they knew they were onto something special

• Their first manufacturing partner said yes even though they were total newbies - another sign they weren't crazy!

• Each time a store owner made space on their shelves for Method's products, it was like getting a "your idea rocks!" high-five from the universe

💎 Your game plan:

• Keep a "wins journal" - track every tiny success, they add up to show you're on the right path!

That's it, my rebel friend!

Remember this: Method started with two guys mixing stuff in their bathtub.

Look at where they took it!

Here's what Eric Ryan says: "What's the worst that could happen, and what would you do if it does happen? If you can answer those two questions, it takes a lot of fear out of moving forward."

And I love how Adam puts it: "If you want to create real change, start with the people who don't even know they need it yet." (That's exactly how they turned regular folks into eco-friendly cleaning fanatics!)

Your action step today: Write down the two biggest shifts happening in your industry right now.

Then brainstorm 3 ways you could serve those shifts that no one else is thinking about.

The next game-changing product might just start in your bathtub too! 😉

Keep rocking 🚀 🍩

Yours "making success painless and fun" vijay peduru