Power Balance: the End of a Shonky Fad
What can we learn from the short history of the Power Balance wrist bands in Australia? It was a pseudo science fad that the Australian Skeptics played a part in ending.
The recent ACCC threat to prosecute retailers who continued to sell them has had an immediate chill effect.
Sports shops, health shops and retailers of all kinds have now removed Power Balance wrist bands from shelves and counters all over Australia.
How did it happen? Who’s behind it? Can we do the same to (insert your favourite pseudo science product here)?
What follows is a potted history of the end of the Power Balance fad. (If you disagree or have more to add please make a comment below.)
How did it all start?
2007 (USA)
Two young entrepreneurial brothers, in Orange County California, Troy Rodarmel and Josh Rodarmel started the company in early 2007.
The business model is quite straight forward: design colourful, stylish wrist bands that can be manufactured very cheaply in China and sell them locally at a much higher price. Market the bands by making health and technology claims and View More Power Balance: the End of a Shonky Fad