Joe Sale, Creator of the iTie
Is your tie on straight? If it’s over your shoulder, dipped in your soup, or blowing in the wind, you didn’t buy it from Joe Sale. The 31 year-old Florida native created the world’s first necktie that stays perfectly in place during any activity. Yes, even upside down (if that tends to happen to you at work.)
A former account executive for a Fortune 500 company, Joe lost his job in August of 2008. The following day, he went to his lawyer’s office and filed a patent for The iTie, the invention Joe had been working on (and wearing) in his spare time. By November of 2008, the product website was up and the iTie was on its way. Thanks to aggressive marketing and PR efforts, the iTie quickly achieved consistent online sales, media attention, and even had a TV mention by Conan O’Brien-the first of many celebrities Joe hopes to reach.
The iTie. Perfect for your next trip to Chicago, soup-tasting, or office melee. Because you never know when your employees may try to hang you upside down.
1. Does having a straight tie really matter? Wearing a necktie will always be a status symbol that conveys a certain level of distinction and authority. I can’t take someone seriously when their tie is over their shoulder, flipped over or tucked into their shirt. Why would you buy a tie, at often over $200 a piece, for it only to make you look less professional? Now you can wear The iTie and never have to worry about it.
2. You have some incredible sales footage with Billy Mays. Tell us how that came about.
It was really a matter of great timing and utilizing my professional network. I am a member of many entrepreneur and networking groups and received an Email notifying me of a casting call for Discovery Channel’s “Pitchmen”. The next day, I was doing handstands (to show how The iTie stays in place) and knocking over Billy Mays. They were impressed with me and offered to make a short video that I could use on my website. Billy was awesome!
3. Do you have any plans to expand beyond the necktie? (What else would you like to keep straight?)
I am always thinking of new ideas and I write them down (I can’t tell you how many ideas I have thought of, but I can tell you the ones I have written down!). Once I have the time and resources I will start on the best of those ideas. Stay tuned….this is only the beginning of SALE VENTURES!
4. What celebrity or public figure would you most like to see wearing an iTie and why?
It would have to be President Obama. I have pictures of him (on my facebook) with his tie over his shoulder and always see him in the news with his tie out of place. I think it would be amazing if he wore a few and actually mentioned it. That would reinforce his emphasis on entrepreneurship. Then he could order thousands of iTies for the Secret Service!
5. Would Americans be more productive if men still wore neckties to work? Do you worry the focal point of your business will someday become extinct?
50 million neckties are sold in America every year…last year, none of them were iTies. There is plenty of market share to be had, remember The iTie does more than every tie out there. The necktie will never become extinct, not in my lifetime. Until they stop making suits and dress shirts, there will be ties…correction, there will be iTies!
6. As an experienced salesperson, is it more difficult pitching for your small business than it was for a Fortune 500 company, or do you feel more confident in selling your own product?
There is nobody that knows more about The iTie than me and nobody can sell it better (even though it speaks for itself). I have always enjoyed sales. Regardless of what you sell, if you believe in it and are passionate about it, people will buy it. If your product or service exceeds expectations, your customers will turn into a sales force for you.
7. Describe the person who would best complement your life and your business.
Someone who understands the constraints and demands that go along with starting/running a company. There is a lot of pressure to succeed. Like a relationship, there has to be a solid foundation to build on. Success in life and in relationships takes a lot of hard work, dedication, flexibility and patience…do you know anyone?
8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself being happily married to my wife. Will have two kids Clarence and Summer, then we will have the whole Sale family! Really, who knows? If I had a crystal ball, I wouldn’t need to be an entrepreneur.
Joe’s Bio
Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Joe graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Sports Management and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Throughout college, he played baseball, football, golf and volleyball, and continues to plays golf on a regular basis. After college, he moved to Boston where he worked at Cheers (yes, I know your name) and has sold everything from car stereos, shoes, life insurance, real estate, technology consulting, and everything in between.
Joe started The iTie after realizing there had to be a better way to wear ties. Wearing a tie every day working for a Fortune 500 company, Joe would see hundreds of people a day with their tie out of place. He started making prototypes of The iTie in his spare time and wore them to work where the few people he trusted to show it to loved the idea. After losing his job in August of 2008, Joe filed the patent within a week, got a website up in November and has never looked back. He currently lives in Tampa with his yellow lab named Porter.
