While en route from Atlanta to London, a light went off in Margarett Wilson’s head. Actually, it was another passenger’s overhead light -- along with her seatmate’s incessant chatter -- that caused Wilson to toss her jacket over her head for the remainder of the flight.
When she arrived in London with a lot of time on her hands, Wilson a physician from southwest Atlanta, sketched plans for a device to help travelers block out light, noise, germs and pretty much everything in order to get good sleep.
The patented Snazzy Napper, a sleep shield featuring an eye mask with a flexible nose bar attached to a circular wedge of material, is poised to bump the Snuggie off the list of wacky sleep aids gone wild.
It has already appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where the audience whipped out their Snazzies for a power nap. On NBC’s Today Show, Kathie Lee and Hoda sipped a beverage while wearing the Snazzy. A viral infomercial helped bump online hits from three mentions to one million in just weeks, Wilson said, and sales have come in from the 50 states as well as Australia, Brazil and other countries.
Wilson is surprised by all the attention the Snazzy Napper has garnered.
“Some days I can’t believe it,” said Wilson, who credits her creative streak to a childhood in Mississippi with few luxuries where necessity bred invention. “People just want to be comfortable and there is so much now to traveling,” Wilson said. “We are looking for every opportunity to get a little rest and relaxation.”
It took only six months for Wilson to decide on a final prototype and bring the $14.99 to $24.99 Napper to market. One of the hardest tasks was coming up with a name. Snooze Hood and Snappy Napper were tossed around until Wilson’s daughter offered up Snazzy Napper. “She said, 'snazzy, you know, the z’s,' ” Wilson said.
Snazzies, with the company logo of a leaping sheep with sunglasses, have been spotted on planes, in pools and in the waiting room of a Toyota service department.
Next on the list of brand extensions, are Snazzy Nappers in school colors or Greek letters and maybe a detachable Snazzy Napper from which the eye mask can be removed.
"We try to keep an open mind and a real lighthearted spirit about it, but it really is a serious product," Wilson said. "People are still getting used to it."
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