PortaPocket Notebook

How to avoid pickpockets when you travel in Europe (& beyond!)
have more confidence & peace of mind!

A funny thing that's happening on roller coasters now...
Not sure if you heard about this, but the latest apple iWatch and iPhone 14 have a new feature. It's a feature that seems useful, but it's actually creating a new problem unintentionally. While 'smart' electronics often enhance our lives, it seems that in this case it's having an opposite effect.
The issue stems from the new 'crash detection' feature. So when you're on a high speed ride, the sharp movements and drops are seemingly like those one might experience in a car accident. So your apple tech is now summoning the ambulances on your behalf. Oh my!
This is a fail on multiple fronts as any misguided efforts to assist people who don't need emergency services results in a waste of resources. Dispatching people and equipment to unnecessary missions disallows them to be available for more urgent situations where people actually need help.
Some parks that are now aware of this situation have started installing signage to tell patrons to please turn off their cell phones &/or watches, or leave them off the ride altogether. The first step in fixing the problem is always awareness.
It's a start.

Into Cosplay & Need Pockets?
We'll leave the off-the-charts-creativity to you; incognito is what we do ;)
While every ensemble is unique, we love being your hidden helper along the way.
When you want to keep your cell, ID/cards ++ close, just stop by, say hi!
With pop culture entertainment giant con C2E2 in Chicago along with so many
other worthy cons in this sphere, it's a privilege to be a part of your community,
even in our small way.
Mad respect to all cosplayers who work tirelessly to bring imagination to life.
Cheers to YOU!
pix show some happy creators modeling their PortaPocket purchases
from our booth at Anime Central, Rosemont :))

Amazing catch?
While this definitely qualifies, it begs the question:
Why is this even happening in the first place?Just another reason parks and PortaPocket are destined to become best friends.
xo
photo credit: Attractions Magazine

Wear on your chair :)
Did we mention that PortaPocket is super convenient for those who use
walkers and wheelchairs?
No matter your situation, whether you're dealing with a temporary or chronic
condition, there are ways to hands-free carry your cell and small essentials
without worry. If you must have pockets, try these Must-Have pockets! :)
xox,

Is it really Back-to-School time... already??
I sometimes get melancholy when that school bell rings and brings an end to summer. But it's also a fresh start and makes me feel good our daughter is off to new adventures and learning new things.
The start of Junior High can be exciting, but also nerve-wracking for soon to be teenagers trying to navigate through the corridors of life. With a little reassurance, I know my tween will meet her challenges head-on and find self confidence. And it doesn't hurt to know she's always got a part of me with her... every day. xo
p.s. keep that phone in your locker though, sweetheart... rules are rules ;)

Grateful for Abilities!
What a wonderful treat to be part of this very special Expo last weekend. Abilities is a show that celebrates people with all kinds of unique situations and offers resources and tools to make their lives easier and better.
Whether you're able or disabled, we're thrilled to help you have a better way to always know where your cell phone, ID/cards, medical devices & other small essentials are at all times :)) #justWEARit #pocketsRx

Oscars here we come!
Well... maybe one day ;)
For now, we'll smile to ourselves...
just knowing how many starlet's gowns we could be under.
Always helping gals help themSELVES. :)
Ticket to Lolla?
Lollapalooza is on the horizon and if you have a ticket to the annual music shindig in Chicago's Grant Park, you're in luck! Such fun scheduled for this year's festival...
Who wouldn't want to see (and hear ;) rockin' artists Metallica, Paul McCartney, and Florence & the Machine? Oh yes... and that new young Englishman Sam Smith, among others. Ahhhh....such a full menu of treats, yet so little time. But why not? Decadence is the word!
One small suggestion if you're heading to this concert extravanganza...
just plan ahead. If you're going to brave the roads, get ready for gridlock, but make it easy on yourself and use Spot Hero to find (way better priced) parking ahead of time.
I use this smart service whenever I plan a trek into the city. It saves me so much stress about finding a place to leave the car and worry about how much they'll take me for when I get there. See how it works at www.spothero.com
Though it's been a little cool in Chicago this year, you're sure to see some hot outfits in the mix. Rather goes with the territory, doesn't it? ;)
So...go down there, have a blast and enjoy!! The only thing I ask?
Just take 'me' with with you ;)
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)
Welcome to the Party! (part 2)
Let the fun continue! On our last post we'd discussed other products that are like PortaPocket in that they help people hands-free carry things, but may not be as beneficial since they encourage users to keep cell phones or other essentials near (or on top of) the chest area.
Seeing that it's almost Super Bowl time, let's now look at products with which people can hands free carry things into stadiums.
Maybe you've heard of Scottevest... it's an interesting line of clothes that have a multitude of pockets which is definitely of use to get past the NFL Bag Ban thing. I even have some of their line myself and do indeed like much of it. But sometimes too much is too much. Good things are good to a point, but then they can become overkill. For instance, I wore my SeV vest to a Bears game last year, and literally lost my sunglasses in the garment. Sure you can blame it on user error, but it's just easier if you have a way to know where your stuff is without checking 20+ places to figure it out. At least that's just me ;)
Another thing to be mindful about SeV clothing is if you load up your vest or jacket with your valuables (with everything in its place which is good!) but then you get hot so you want to take off your jacket or vest ...and now you have put your things down over ...there (which is bad). One way to get around that is to use PortaPocket in concert with Scottevest, as THAT way you have all your bases covered.
What do you think?
Are too many pockets GOOD? ...or not so good?
Stay tuned to this space as we continue the convo with products that can be used for running or exercise...
Welcome to the Party...! (part 1)
Ah, yes..... time flies when you're having fun! We've been in this space for years, and the more we go along, the more we see other products introduced into our category...it's a veritable cornucopia, but we're actually glad to see it. Competition is actually good as it just proves the need for what we do. After all...who doesn't have something small and important to carry, right?!
While we're on the subject, we might as well share a few things you might see out there, and how they differ from PortaPocket...
First up, let's talk about those who have affinity to stash that phone (etc) in their bra. Not sure why people would want to get their stuff so sweaty, but if they want, they can find a host of companies out there touting this very thing. Of course, all of this stems from the thought that often putting a cell phone on your chest area is a good idea. ;/ Hmmmmm....well... the obvious problem with this is twofold...
+
!
1. sweat can kill your cell
and
2. health concerns
As far as #2... while it's true nobody can yet realistically claim with certainty that cell phones stored there cause breast cancer (as technology's too new to have a history...) why would you even risk it? Especially as there are viable, convenient options to allow you to hands-free carry things without relying on that bra, why deliberately put a cell phone and its emissions on top of your heart+chest?
There are plenty of articles on the matter...here's one example. Here's also a segment 'Keep your cellphone out of your bra' from Dr Oz, including testimonial from a 21 yr old cancer victim. And yet more evidence.
Fortunately, with PortaPocket, you'll have much more choice in where you wear what you need...without relegating you to use that bra to do the job at all, thankfully! Nevermore will your money get moist, or your skin get indentations from your keys, please ;) Plus, we can suit both gals and guys, too.
Stop on by, and we'll continue with part 2.
So how about you?
Have you ever stashed your cell in your bra?
Why or why not?
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