Have you ever seen a bumper sticker on a car with a funny or serious message? Well, one man in Hawaii turned making stickers into a big success story!
From Fish Stickers to Tesla Talk
Matthew Hiller used to sell stickers of funny fish like blobfish and pufferfish online as a side job, meaning something he did besides his main job at an aquarium. He sold them on websites like Etsy, Amazon, and eBay. A few years ago, he thought about buying a Tesla, which is a popular electric car. He liked that they were good for the environment.
But then, he started feeling unsure about the head of Tesla, Elon Musk. Mr. Musk was in the news a lot, especially after buying the social media site Twitter (now called X) and getting involved in politics. Hiller felt that Musk was becoming a bully and spreading wrong information. Because of this, Hiller decided he didn’t want to support Musk or his company.
An Idea Takes Off
Hiller figured other people might feel the same way, especially those who already owned Teslas but weren’t happy with Musk’s actions. So, in 2023, he designed a sticker that said, “I bought this before Elon went crazy” and added it to his online store.
Guess what? People loved it! That sticker and others with similar messages, like “Anti Elon Tesla Club” or “Elon Killed My Resale Value,” started selling really fast. Some Tesla owners who didn’t like Musk’s association with the company but still liked their cars used these stickers to show how they felt.
Making Six Figures!
How popular did these stickers get? Very! Hiller started making a lot of money. In just one month, he made over $100,000 just from selling these stickers, mostly on Amazon! On some days, he sold $4,500 worth of stickers. He said that sales often went up when Musk was in the news for something controversial, like appearing with political figures.
People all over the U.S., and even in other countries, bought his stickers. It showed that many people had strong feelings about Elon Musk.
Still Keeping His Day Job
Even though his sticker business became a huge success, Hiller said he won’t quit his job at the aquarium in Honolulu. He didn’t plan for this to happen, and he knows that making money based on someone being controversial might not last forever. For now, though, his sticker side job has certainly made a big splash!
This article is based on the following articles:
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/25/nx-s1-5369456/anti-elon-musk-bumper-sticker-tesla
Background Information
Key People and Companies
- Elon Musk: He is a very famous and wealthy businessman. He’s known for starting or leading several major companies, including:
- Tesla: The electric car company mentioned in the article.
- SpaceX: A company that builds rockets and spacecraft.
- X (formerly Twitter): A popular social media website he bought.
- Tesla: This is a company famous for making electric cars (like the Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and the Cybertruck mentioned in the articles). They also make products related to solar energy. Elon Musk is the head of Tesla.
- CEO (Chief Executive Officer): This is the title for the top leader of a company, like the main boss. Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla.
Important Concepts
- Electric Vehicles (EVs): These are cars that run on electricity stored in batteries, instead of gasoline. They need to be plugged in to “recharge” their batteries. Teslas are a well-known type of EV. People often buy them because they are seen as better for the environment.
- Side Hustle / Side Business: This is a job or business someone does in addition to their main job to make extra money. Matthew Hiller’s sticker shop was his side hustle; his main job was at an aquarium.
- Online Marketplaces (Etsy, Amazon, eBay): These are websites where people can buy and sell goods. Etsy is known for handmade and unique items, while Amazon and eBay sell almost everything. Matthew Hiller sold his stickers on these sites.
- X (formerly Twitter): A social media platform where people post short messages, pictures, and videos. Elon Musk bought this company, and some of his actions and posts there caused disagreement.
- Controversy / Polarity: When someone or something is controversial or polarizing, it means they cause a lot of strong disagreement. People tend to have very strong opinions, either for or against them. The articles mention that Elon Musk has become a polarizing figure due to his actions and statements, especially regarding politics. Some people strongly support him, while others strongly disagree with him.
- Politics and Government: The articles mention Elon Musk’s involvement with politics, including the Trump administration. This involvement is one reason some people have developed negative feelings towards him and, by extension, his company Tesla. The term “DOGE” mentioned is related to a government role Musk took on, but the key point is his connection to political figures caused reactions.
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