Fidget Spinner History and Popularity
The inventor of the fidget spinner is Scott McCoskery, an American entrepreneur and founder of Torqbar. In 2014, he created the first fidget spinner after seeing a 3D printed prototype on YouTube. He was inspired to make a more durable metal version.
As interest surged, bigger companies began mass production, causing prices to fall. Fidget spinners are advertised to help concentration for those with ADHD. The toys became very popular in 2017, with many students using them in school. Global toy sales reached $104.2 billion in 2021.
Fidget spinners sales brought $2.6 million revenue last month, with one manufacturer seeing 200 orders an hour. The cheapest spinners cost $3-$4, but the most expensive reach hundreds. They are made of plastic, brass, steel, titanium, or copper. The world’s most expensive spinner is $16,800.
In an interview, McCoskery said, "I saw the potential and thought I could make something better." Although banned in some schools, spinners remain an internet hit. The original inventor has not profited. A Shenzhen wholesaler said spinners are a huge part of their business now, with factories stopping other production.
Inventors of Fidget Spinners
Catherine Hettinger is often credited as the inventor of fidget spinners. In 1993, she filed a patent for “a spinning toy” to provide entertainment. Her idea came after visiting Israel and hearing about young boys hurling stones at police officers.
With economic reports suggesting nearly 19 million fidget spinners sold in the first six months of 2017, there’s plenty of room to fill the consumer desk toy void. The woman who invented the fidget spinner isn’t making any profits.
It was her seven-year-old daughter — and her fidgeting — who gave Catherine Hettinger the idea. After the recent boom in sales, US newspapers claimed to have found the original inventor living in Orlando.