PortaPocket Notebook

Happy pi day!
But of course. PortaPocket can fit that, too
(though no doubt a bit messily ;)
Have fun with it!
xo
(image courtesy of Time)

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. :)
Are you having Halloween fun??
or...should we say HOWLeen (as some people may do when they find they have nowhere to put their cell)..? lol
Stop the madness!
We're always ready for your costume..or anime outfit ...or any other pocket challenged ensemble you decide to wear. Don't be a fashion slave. Put those pockets on yourSELF (literally ;)
Love,
an EPIc fail for the public?
Have you heard about how Mylan just increased the price of their EpiPens to the tune of 460+%? Seems almost shades of that piece-of-work CEO who bought a longstanding drug that was needed by a small segment of the population... but then screwed them over by jacking up its cost 7000 fold.
Apparently, greed is still here to stay, sadly. ;(
http://fortune.com/2016/08/22/mylan-epipen-price-hike-monopoly/
Even with this drug suppliers' unfortunate increase of this life-saving drug (along with a huge uptick in their own already hefty salaries...), we here at PortaPocket still offer you the same useful products you've come to count on and appreciate...and at consistent pricing that won't break your wallet... for almost 9 years now. For us, it's all about putting good things out into the world...in the true spirit of making life better. We will never put profits over purpose.
Ever.
xo
Lets go sing in Vegas, Baby...
in a week or so we're heading to Las Vegas to participate in our first Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition! So exited to be part of this very exciting event and are looking forward to sharing how PortaPocket can make performance life easier for singers who need microphone packs or just their ID and cards so they won't have to leave them somewhere backstage.
This all brings back memories for me as I used to sing as a youngster. I was a member of what then was called the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus (now known as Anima) and we were fortunate to participate in many concerts on such revered stages as those at Orchestra Hall, Chicago, and Carnegie Hall, New York. We even got to travel to England and sang at Ely Cathedral and some other incredible venues. Such a treat!
Looking back, I remember how us kids used to think how much work it was to go to 3 hour rehearsals several times a week, but boy am I grateful. How many people can have the joy of knowing they were on stage in glorious concert halls and under the direction of master maestros as Sir Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim, and James Levine? No...now I know how lucky I was to have those experiences and wouldn't trade them for anything.
Here's to the artists of the world! Long may their voices light up our lives with song.
xoxo
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 ;)
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 :)
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? ;)
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?
All Mariah wants for Christmas....
is probably a mic pack holder that works...
*oops!*
Yes, another 'wardrobe malfunction' has hit a songstress...
right in the middle of a performance.
I think you know where she can find her Hero... right HERE :)
Another thing PortaPocket is excellent for:
wayward wireless mike packs.
Cheers!