8.10.2024
Reading time 5 min.
The origin: A challenge becomes inspiration
According to Thisi Schmid, the problem with conventional clickers lies in their handling: they often block a hand or are not ready to hand quickly enough. But with clicker training, timing is everything. An incorrectly placed click can dilute the animal's desired behavior or even reward the wrong behavior. These difficulties motivated Schmid to develop a better solution.
His answer: a clicker that is worn on the finger like a ring - always ready for use, without restricting freedom of movement. The development was an exciting journey: Months full of tests and challenges passed between the idea in 2019 and the first functioning prototype. But the result was convincing. Within a short space of time, tens of thousands of CLICINO Clicker Rings were sold, not just in Switzerland but worldwide.
Theleap into the limelight: appearance on Swiss Lion's Den
OnOctober 8, 2024, Thisi Schmid ventured into the Swiss Lion's Den to attract investors for his product. Despite his impressive sales figures - over 60,000 units - and words of praise from entrepreneurial giants such as Roland Brack, he was unable to close a deal. The main reason: the CLICINO Clicker Ring is not patented and the company valuation of 1.4 million Swiss francs was too high for the lions.
But the appearance was by no means in vain. Brack, one of Switzerland's largest online retailers, was impressed by Schmid's performance as an individual entrepreneur and added the CLICINO to its product range shortly afterwards. This new sales platform offers enormous potential, which Thisi Schmid now wants to expand step by step.
The vision: more than just a clicker ring
Thisi Schmid is dreaming big: a new, professionally designed website with an integrated web store is being planned to drive international sales. Despite limited resources and a lack of a team, Schmid is optimistic about the future of his product. His goal: CLICINO Clicker Ring should not only inspire dog owners, but also be used for training other animals such as cats, horses or even wild animals.
Conclusion: No deal, but a big step forward
Schmid'sstory shows how passion and a spirit of innovation can achieve impressive results even without major financial backing. The CLICINO Clicker Ring stands for more than just a better training tool - it symbolizes the determination of one individual to challenge the status quo and create a solution that resonates worldwide. And who knows? Maybe the Clicker Ring will attract a "lion" or two after all.
Want to know more? Then you can read the two newspaper articles from the Urner Zeitung here:
