Reinvention of Rick Hopper

Local Inventor’s Journey from Hardship to Shark Tank

When local inventor and entrepreneur Rick Hopper walked onto the set of ABC’s Shark Tank back in 2012 and stumbled his way into infamy, he wasn’t just pitching a product — he was sharing a chapter from a remarkable tale of redemption. 

His invention, the ReadeREST, was brilliantly simple: a magnetic clip attached to your shirt that keeps your reading glasses secure and within arm’s reach. But behind that small piece of stainless steel and magnets is a story of ingenuity, perseverance, and the courage to reinvent himself.

Rick’s journey didn’t begin with television lights or celebrity investors. Long before he earned a deal with the “Queen of QVC,” Lori Greiner, he was simply a guy who was looking for solutions.  

“I learned to be an inventor when I was a little kid,” Rick said. “My family was poor and we struggled growing up, so me and my brothers created things to entertain ourselves. I’ve probably solved hundreds of my own problems by creating or developing something new.” 

Rick’s struggles, however, continued into adulthood. He and his wife married young and had two children in his early 20s. Life’s pressures drove him down a dark path of drug addiction. What followed — separation, homelessness, and even a brief stint in jail — was a chapter that could have easily defined his life.

“I made a choice to turn my life around,” he said.

Attributing his turnaround to faith and Biblical wisdom he learned earlier in life, Rick cleaned up, reconnected with his wife and family, and went back to work. He took a job at Home Depot, where sparks of inspiration began to reignite. 

Working in the home improvement business, he noticed window installers struggled constantly with finishing window trims neatly. This epiphany spawned his first invention, TrimQuick.

This flexible vinyl trim system made installation faster and cleaner. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was incredibly practical. Rick then patented the idea and began selling his invention on the side in 2001, rapidly gaining traction and made his first million. That success planted a seed that would grow into his next big idea.

Always fidgeting with his classes, he fashioned a small clip, which he secured to his shirt using magnets. Out on sales calls, people noticed and commented on his brilliant little invention, and like that, the ReadeREST was born. Although he
believed in his product, Rick quickly discovered that belief alone doesn’t guarantee a buyer. 

Initially he approached QVC, who rejected the product. But after he took a nasty tumble on a skateboard that left his shoulder broken, he had yet another eureka moment. At the hospital, he noticed that his glasses remained safely in place, thanks to his invention. 

Then came his moment on Shark Tank. There, standing before the Sharks on a national stage, Rick demonstrated how the ReadeREST worked by tumbling to the ground. He rose to his feet, glasses still neatly in place. The feedback was mixed, especially after his infamous stunt, but one Shark saw something special. Lori Greiner extended an offer, and together they hit the ground running.

Once Greiner showcased the ReadeREST on QVC, it sold out almost instantly, garnering $300,000 in sales in just five minutes. Overnight, Rick went from tinkerer to thriving entrepreneur. 

Made in Bartonville, ReadeREST has since sold millions, proving that even the simplest ideas can have a big impact when fueled by persistence, passion, and a dramatic entrance.

Looking back, Rick doesn’t credit luck or timing. He credits grit, faith, and the willingness to reinvent yourself. 

“God let out enough slack for me to go into the depths of the gutter and survive. I get to carry that wisdom with me for the rest of my life and learn from it.”

Today, Rick is more than an inventor — he’s a local inspiration. He continues to develop new ideas and plans to release his first book, “The Bridge From Idea to Money” this spring. In addition, he collaborates with other local entrepreneurs with Biz Owners Ed, which serves as a mentorship group for serious, committed entrepreneurs. The lesson he wishes to share is simple yet profound.

“There is no fail. There is only learn,” Rick said. “The most fun you have in life is when you go from zero to something. That push, the relationships you create, the problems you get to solve, that is the joy of life. As cliched as it sounds, it’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey.”