While Sunday was all about moms, there was also a big dude on campus Friday afternoon and in town celebrating his wife (Joy Simmons Riley) and her hometown roots. Sean Riley, CEO of Dude Products, dropped by Washington Attendance Center for an assembly Friday and then spent the weekend enjoying the Webb Hay in May Music Fest and spending time with extended family.
Riley, who began Dude Products with friends Ryan Meegan, Jeff Klimkowski, and Brian Wilkin in 2011, spoke with 4th – 6th graders and even sent many of them home with a new product built to further disrupt the toilet paper industry. He focused his talk with youngsters on turning your dreams and ideas into reality before turning the microphone over to students to share their own hopes for the future. If all goes well, the student body has a bright future and will be made up of professional athletes, bankers, teachers, doctors, engineers, and military standouts. Riley told students, “say your dream out loud, tell others, and then do the work. Be supportive of others. It’s a reflection on you.”
There was no shortage of young people ready, willing, and anxious to shout out their future plans and each dream was met with an abundance of boisterous support. As a thanks for putting their aspirations out into the open air, Riley handed out Dude Products newest launch, Lil DUDES bubble gum scented wipes. It’s a growth market with huge opportunity for Riley and the company. He said in a LinkedIn post, “Us DUDES are now DADS. We live the chaos of potty training, the battle to keep kids clean, the struggle of school mornings. We knew there had to be a better way. So we build on – a sub-brand with big DUDE Energy.”
Washington students also had the opportunity to ask Riley questions which ranged from how he and his friends handled disagreements along the way, if they ever felt like giving up, and how many people work for the company. Riley says, “Working hard isn’t hard to do when you’re doing something you love and something you believe in.”
Dude Products wrapped up its most successful year yet in 2024 generating more than $200 million in revenue, an 81% increase from 2023, and an increase of 1,180% over the past five years. In 2015, the company was featured on Shark Tank and secured an investment agreement with Mark Cuban.
Learn more about the company and brand at DUDE Wipes. Find them at your local Wal-Mart.
