PortaPocket Notebook

Addressing the COVID-19 Virus
Many people are in panic mode right now. This thing has legs and is already pandemic wolrdwide. Who knows where or when the corona virus will show up next. All we can do is act as responsibly as possible to minimize not only our own risks, but the risks for those around us.
Here are a few common sense things that often seem overlooked. Let's do our diligence and see if we can all make a difference:
- NEVER cover your mouth with your hand. PLEASE use your sleeve/ crook of your elbow instead so you don't spread all those germs around when you start touching things, thereafter. Phew!
- Unless you're sick yourself, please leave those face masks off. Buying into unnecessary 'protections' just exacerbates shortages. These won't do much good for you, but WILL be needed by medical personnel who are in more direct contact with those who are infected, or are possibly so.
- Don't spread more falsehoods and disinformation by amplifying unsubstantiated reports that are being made for polical reasons and not backed by SCIENCE.
- Stay calm. Level heads and cool thinking serve us better than rash reactions. Nobody quite knows how this thing will resolve, but we're fortunate to live in an age where brilliant minds and problem solvers still exist. We may have to plan for the worst, but let's hope for the best.
In the meantime, if you want to eliminate the habit of leaving your cell (etc) lying around on the floor (& whatever else), just stop by. We're happy to help you keep your stuff closer...& cleaner! :)
While this outbreak's a bad thing, use code COVID for a good thing. Good for 30% off your first order at www.portapocket.com
Working to keep you safer,
your friends at PortaPocket
❤️
photo credit: thanks to Johns Hopkins University, Newsweek & Statista

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
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 :)
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 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?