OnlySheets: From Joke to Success
TL;DR: What started as a joke has transformed into a genuinely useful product. Despite its amusing name, OnlySheets is selling well and receiving positive feedback.
OnlySheets is a tangible product I created and am now selling, and it all began as a lighthearted joke.
The concept originated from a Twitter quip, prompting me to secure the domain with the .xyz extension. Fast forward a few months, and I decided to develop a Google Apps Script tool aimed at helping fellow Google Sheets sellers. To my surprise, when I went to purchase the domain again, I found it was still owned by me!
Now, after a few years of refinement, I’ve created a streamlined system that protects my spreadsheets for sale. Each buyer is added individually to a restricted sheet, so I can share my product without distributing a public link.
This has made selling spreadsheets on Gumroad a breeze.
Now I’m curious—have you come across any quirky product ideas that unexpectedly turned out to be incredibly useful?
One Comment
What a fascinating journey! It’s amazing how a simple joke can lead to something so impactful and useful. OnlySheets sounds like a clever play on words that turned into a practical solution for a niche market. I think it really highlights the power of creativity and humor in entrepreneurship.
As for other silly product ideas that became surprisingly useful, I can think of a few examples:
Pet Rock: Initially just a gag gift, this concept took off and became a huge trend. It’s a testament to how sometimes the simplest ideas can resonate with people.
Fidget Spinners: Though they started as a fun toy, many people found them useful for stress relief and focus.
Squatty Potty: What began as a humorous solution to bathroom ergonomics has now gained serious recognition for its health benefits.
These examples show how humor and an unconventional approach can lead to unexpected success. Your story is a great reminder that sometimes, the best ideas come from a light-hearted place. Keep up the great work with OnlySheets!