PortaPocket Notebook

What's Your Transition?

There's so much happening on this topic...whether you're a newly-minted high school or college grad, or even Caitlyn Jenner :)  Everyone goes through different and sometimes unique life stages; whatever direction you take, we applaud your efforts to getting to wherever you want to be!

The saying that life is a journey is most definitely true. Sometimes we go down a certain path only to discover it's not for us, or make choices that we might someday regret. But in the grand scheme, it's not these individual detours that really matter, but the sum total of all the little steps you make on this road called life.

This is not only true for people, but for new products, too.

We discovered that putting our problem-solvers into bricks & mortar retail stores, no matter how perfect the fit, was not doing us a service as most people don't even know what PortaPocket is, let alone ever heard of it. To that end, we decided to focus on channels where we'll have more impact and appeal to people who appreciate our mission. It was a conscious effort to disengage with retailers, but we feel it will be a better avenue for us, in the big picture. So if you DON'T see us "out there" ...that's actually by design ;) 

How about you?
What's your current life transition and how's it working out?

photo credit: here.

Fare thee well, David Letterman

Today is the ending of an era... David Letterman is hanging up his mike after decades holding court on Late Night television. While it's sad to see him go, it's a new beginning for him to enjoy the many fruits of his labors and spend some quality time with his wife and son. So well deserved!

One of my husband's friends had his dog do a stupid pet trick with a ball and a frisbee on David's show back in the late 80's. Oh, such fun! But I have to say one of my favorite episodes was the one with David in the full body Velcro suit. Ha!! now THAT would be great with PortaPocket as you really COULD have a pocket absolutely ANYwhere... lol! Too bad we don't have one of those suits here ourselves...

now that's entertainment!

 What was your favorite Letterman moment? Do share!

Thanks to mom!

Mother's Day is next Sunday, but I'm celebrating EVERY day as Mother's Day. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for my mom to be a guiding force and a presence in my life... to this day. On her 84th birthday in March she said (bless her spirit) "Every day is a bonus!" 

Love her to pieces.

Just the other day a friend of mine lost his mom. She was 83 and died in his arms. ;((
Never take your mom for granted, and revel in every minute you can get.

Life is short. We need to value and appreciate those we love and tell them how much they mean to us.

Often.

xox

Do you pump?

I guess that could refer to a lot of things...

Iron? Gas? Or, how about wearing a certain style shoe? ;)

While all those are fair guesses, we're actually talking diabetes today. We're gearing up to exhibit at the American Diabetes Association's Chicago EXPO and we're excited to share our hands-free solutions with people who wear insulin pumps or who need to carry diabetes equipment. 

Over the years, we've gotten many calls from people who are interested in using PortaPocket for exactly this purpose, so it was high time we focused on bringing these solutions to this specific audience, too.

Whether you have a Medtronic, OneTouch, Animas or DexCom model of pump,
it's almost a certainty we've got a pocket to help you discreetly and comfortably
wear it, so do't be shy...stop on by! 

if you are diabetic and use a pump, where do you wear it on your body and
what do you carry it in? 
How is it working out for you?  
We'd love to know... please comment below :)

It's Clutch When You Need a Crutch

So many people having situations out there...
black ice, falls, and uneven sidewalks have us seeing red.

If such bum luck (unfortunately) happens to you...  
at least there are ways we can help ourselves. ;) 

Feel better!!

PortaPocket Belt & Pocket *bling!*

PortaPocket Combo Kit w/XL Pocket

Have you ever been in a cast or on crutches? 
How did you cope? We'd love to know...
please comment below!

Spring has sprung?

And it's 37 balmy degrees in Chicago...

ah, yes....well... maybe tomorrow then?

;)

What every self-respecting starlet needs at the Oscars

Not only SPANX goes under that gown, sweetheart ;)  

Open in case of emergency ;)

So...what's under your outft?
Gotta keep your things near (...why not tell us, here! :)

Under Armour Buys MyFitnessPal App (...do you see the missing link? ;)

BIG news!

Under Armour, the up and coming sportswear powerhouse based in Baltimore, MD, has purchased the MyFitnessPal app for $475 million. This is on the heels of their 2013 purchase of the MapMyFitness app for $150 million.

Clearly there's an interest in the latest technology and wearable tech here, and all the hoopla and excitement about WHAT you put on your smartphone is well and good, BUT what about going back to the basics? As in where are you putting that app-laden smartphone, exactly? ;)

Happy Mardi Gras!!

For all the friends in NOLA, may you enjoy a FAB Fat Tuesday.

Just hope y'all remembered to wear PortaPocket to the party ;)

  ENJOY!!! (put your paczki in here? lol! ;)

Why some ideas proliferate like rabbits

Having been on the planet for awhile now, I've been around the block enough times to see this phenomenon on more than one occasion. One big Q for many product developers is: Why do some ideas get embraced like wildfire, and others (even perhaps better ideas) never get their moment in the sun?

It's a strange, even bizarre conundrum that I don't know if anyone has the answer to, but boy don't we wish we knew!  

 A current example is the next bra-with-pockets offering that's about to hit abc's Shark Tank episode on Friday the 13th (perhaps that date's symbolic? ;)) Here's another iteration of the same idea we've seen for the last few years, with more companies excitedly jumping onto this band wagon. Of course no one can adequately explain why the concept of putting one's cell phone (and corresponding emissions) basically on top of one's heart and chest is a good thing to do. There've been concerns raised about this, and the suggestion that one can just turn off one's phone, but in the grand scheme I think both you and I know that people are simply not going to remember to do that.        

Perhaps another reason this particular idea is being heralded is the notion that 'sex sells' and the folks in the Shark Tank episode are choosing to leverage this... otherwise why would there be something called 'B**byPack'? A bit disappointing to see society embrace these kinds of tactics, but seeing how long such strategies have been in use....what can you do.                                                                       Now let's see if they sink or swim...! ;)

photo credit: Environmental Health Trust (ehtrust.org)