Business idea · E-commerce
Cool Towel
Cool Towel is a cooling neck towel designed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, providing quick relief from heat through a simple, user-friendly product that can be activated with water. It was pitched on The Side Hustle Show, hosted by Nick Loper, in the episode "696: This 15-Year Old is Running a $100,000 Business From His Bedroom" (aired September 11, 2025).
At a glance
| Podcast | The Side Hustle Show |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Nick Loper |
| Episode | 696: This 15-Year Old is Running a $100,000 Business From His Bedroom |
| Aired | September 11, 2025 |
| Category | E-commerce |
| Real companies on the episode | Cool Towel, Shopify, TikTok, Policy Genius, OpenPhone, Ali Baba |
The problem it solves
It solves the problem of overheating during sports and outdoor activities by providing a cost-effective, portable solution for cooling down without the need for electricity or chemicals.
How it makes money
E-commerce model with direct sales through a Shopify store and TikTok shop, alongside potential affiliate marketing for additional reach.
Skills you need
E-commerce management, marketing and branding, social media marketing, product sourcing, and customer service.
The market, and why this works now
The rise of eco-conscious consumer behavior supports the demand for sustainable products, making a cooling towel an appealing choice for environmentally aware athletes. A viable first-revenue move is to promote the product on fitness-focused subreddits such as r/fitness or r/running, where users frequently share tips and gear recommendations. A key risk involves customer acquisition costs, which may be high initially due to the need for effective advertising on social media platforms, potentially extending the payback window for initial investments.
Our analysis, written after the episode. Not a quote from the show.
Real companies discussed on this episode
- Cool Towel
Cool Towel is a cooling neck towel designed to provide relief from heat during sports and other activities.
- Shopify
An e-commerce platform that allows individuals and businesses to create online stores and sell products easily.
- TikTok
A social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos, often leading to virality and substantial engagement.
- Policy Genius
Policy Genius is an online insurance marketplace that simplifies the process of finding and purchasing life insurance.
- OpenPhone
OpenPhone is a business phone system that integrates calls and texts in one centralized hub.
- Ali Baba
A global wholesale platform that connects manufacturers and businesses for product sourcing.
Where this idea came from
Podcast: The Side Hustle Show, hosted by Nick Loper
Episode: 696: This 15-Year Old is Running a $100,000 Business From His Bedroom
Aired:
Summarized from the episode transcript. The show does not say which speaker raised each idea, so we credit the show, not a person.