PortaPocket Notebook

Did you run into a problem because you had no functional pockets in your costume this year?  Sometimes folks don't think of this issue until they're in the thick of it (again ;)...

Next time you have to get into a getup, why not get up and try a better way...
try PortaPocket today.
(and help yourself!)

It was 1941 and Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral took his dog  hunting in the Alps. During the trip he noticed his dog and clothes were getting covered with small burrs. Inquisitive, he decided to take a peek at these under his microscope upon his return. What he saw was how spikes of the burrs were engaging with the fur or fabric, and his idea for the popular hook & loop fastener was born.  As well-known as Velcro® has become, it actually took 20+ years before his creation was a hit.

De Mestral found the process of getting his invention right was a marathon, not a sprint. It took trial & error, and a Herculean effort for nearly a decade to perfect the nuances of this concept and to effectively manufacture the creation he'd named Velcro® (a blend from French words velour for 'velvet' & crochet, for  'hook'). He applied for a patent in Switzerland in 1951, which was granted in 1955.  But it took until the 1960s when NASA happened to be looking for fasteners to be used during its missions that gave Velcro® the big boost it needed to finally become astronomically successful. 

Since we use Velcro® ourselves to create PortaPocket, perhaps we're on the same trajectory...
we've been here 14+ years now, and still hiding in plain sight. lol! Maybe one day we'll reach critical mass as this one of our components has done...which would be wonderful as we know we help make people's daily lives easier. While we can't cure cancer or COVID, we can get that proverbial rock out of your shoe in giving you a safer, simpler way to keep your cell phone & other small essentials handily available. We're grateful for the road we're on, though it'd be nice to get in the faster lane for awhile! ;)

If you think your friends would like to know about a more versatile solution for ineffective pockets in their clothes, please share this.

Together, we can all help change the world.
For better!

 

Ever go to the gym and see people taking cellphones, ID/cards, keys/fobs, Airpod cases, etc
out of their pants pockets and leaving their things on the floor? Why would folks do that...
and why now especially, during this age of the deadly COVID and delta variant viruses
with their airborne particles everywhere (!)

The other day I thought I'd simply ask them.
This is what they told me:

"I don't like it when my keys jab into me"

"Sucks to sit on my cellphone"

"When I lift, I'd rather not hit my phone screen with the weight"

"Stuff falls out..."

OK!

So...exactly. 
Exactly the reason why we're here.
Why not stop by, say hi...
and help yourself!

♥,
portapocket.com

We're thrilled to announce PortaPocket has now been picked up by zappos.com especially due to the beneficial capabilities PortaPocket offers for those with disabilities.  Zappos has been a force in providing resoures for the differently abled community and we applaud their efforts to promote inclusivity! 

Check out PortaPocket and many other cool products on their adaptive menu, found at www.zapposadaptive.com 

Many thanks to our PP model Users who shared their pix: radiant Megan (kudos to her mom Karen for this excellent picture at Wrigley Field!), the fabulous Anh and amazing Linda from the Abilities Show in Schaumburg, and a joyful pianist / composer Ros in Wilmette! 

xox,
portapocket.com

is to keep it ON yourself, but not in a way that you sit, sweat and bend on it.

We gotcha covered, you smart people you! ;)

Stop by, say hi and help yourself!

(that includes all the one-dimensional products out there including flipbelt, spibelt, eagle creek money belts, etc)

Keep your CDC / COVID immunization card in a PortaPocket pocket, and you're good to go.

Your card will fit easily in our wearable XL pocket, as shown:

 Find your kit here (or the fancy version here), today!

Be safe out there :)

LA's Staples Center is re-opening for both Lakers and Kings games, which has a lot of California sports fans super excited.  But they're also super angry.

Why?

They're super angry because of the arena's restrictive new rules
which exclude ALL purses, clutches, bags, totes and the like:

With this annoucement, droves of female fans have taken to
social media to unleash their displeasure (here's just a
couple examples):

Can't say I blame them. It seems a bit over the top for arena management
to take away these small conveniences for their guests, but during a
pandemic and this time of world upheaval, far be it from me to tell
anyone else how to run their operation.

The good news is... there are simple solutions to this problem that will
make life easier and give fans the chance to enjoy their game day,
without worry. And compliant with these bag ban rules...

Stop by, say hi, and #HelpYourself!

love,
portapocket.com

If you ever get a gift package in the mail...

whether you expected it or not...

it'd be sooooo awesome if you took a moment to contact the sender(s) and let them know you received it (and a few words of what you thought about it are always welcome).

That's all.

xo,
portapocket.com

Smart women make the world go round! Today's feature spotlights Tara Bruley, a mom and business founder who hails from the Seattle area and one who strives to make womanhood just a little easier for us females on the planet :)

• What were the main reasons you created your business, Be Prepared. Period. ?

The idea of Be Prepared. Period all started with the challenge I had as a parent of a tween daughter. As my daughter quickly approached puberty, I wanted to make sure she was educated about her body and the changes to come in a positive and empowering way. I knew I wanted a better experience for her than what I got back in sixth grade that left me feeling embarrassed and grossed out. Unfortunately, I came up empty handed in my search, so I began piecing things together myself. Long story short, this effort resulted in the creation of the Be Prepared 1^st Period Kit and the launch of BePreparedPeriod.com.

  

• What have you found to be the biggest challenge as a business owner?

I would say learning to wear so many hats. There are so many facets to running a successful business you end up learning many new skills. Whether you outsource or hire others to do the various work there is always a period (no pun intended) that you do a fair amount of learning for yourself so you can properly manage things. Learning these skills and then choosing whether or not to delegate based on time and budget can be quite a challenge.

• Do you have a motto or words to live by that encourage you on your mission?

I really like the quote by Albert Einstein, “You never fail until you stop trying.” There are so many things in life you will fail at, and as a business owner the opportunities increase significantly. Focusing on the goals I set out to achieve allows me to see the many failures along the way as steppingstones on the path to success. This perspective lets me celebrate the wins and learn from the mistakes.

• Has being a mom informed your business decisions? And if so, how?

Since Be Prepared. Period started from a challenge I had as a mom, it absolutely has impacted my business decisions. As a mom of a tween I got to experience firsthand the challenges both a parent and child has during this time of life. Being a mom and talking with other moms is actually how BePreparedPeriod.com exploded to not just be a site for girls and their parents but for those of all ages. In the early days, I talked with a lot of moms experiencing the same challenges I had. Through those conversations I quickly learned that far too many women experience menstrual issues well into adulthood. Always wanting to do what I can to help, I promptly began to work with health professionals to develop resources to help with these concerns as well. As a result, I’m proud to say BePreparedPeriod.com is a full throttle platform that helps those from puberty to menopause!

• What's the one best piece of advice you'd offer to other women who may be thinking of starting their own venture?

Find something you are passionate about and never quit! Having something you are passionate about will give you the strength to endure when things are challenging. Running your own business can be quite a rollercoaster ride, there are days you are flying high and days you feel low. The ups and downs can sometimes make it hard to chart your true success. I like to keep an achievement jar on my desk to jot down my “wins” so when I have low day I can look back and see the many things I’ve accomplished.

• Please share your favorite business success moment to inspire others to reach for their dreams :)) 

I would say my favorite success moment came when developing our own line of affordable, organic, biodegradable pads and tampons. Believing budget should never come before someone’s health developing an affordable product for the market was really important to me. Growing to this point was a huge accomplishment. I’ve always been someone that sets large goals but getting to the point where you can go into mass production where you are arranging shipping containers of product to be delivered is a pretty awesome feeling.

Well, we think you're pretty awesome too, Tara.  Thanks so much for your insights and sharing with us!  Now go and check out her site to see how Be Prepared. Period. can help!

xox from us all at 
portapocket.com

The Chicago Tribune's Heidi Stevens has been chronicling the odyssey of some good hearted restaurant owners here in the Chicago suburbs. Erika Castro & Pablo Sanchez have worked so hard to beneft others by provding over 25,000+ free meals to people who are hungry during this pandemic. Their caring spirits are shining examples for us all. They inspire us too, so let's all do what we can to help out this wonderful family-owned small business :))

Get a FREE Caring is Contagious Tshirt while supporting the mission of these big-hearted folks... We're gifting 15% of all product sales in March from our portapocket.com webite to Gyros Planet when you order $10+ of any goodies and use code GYROSP...good thru 3/31/21.

Simply make sure to add the Tshirt to your cart before check out.

Let's all get through this thing together, and help each other as we go along...

Cheers to YOU! 

I was curious why they do this, so I asked a few.  Here's what they said:

"I hate it when my keys jab into me while I'm working out..."

"My cellphone gets in the way when I'm doing this exercise"

"It's uncomfortable to have my stuff in my pocket, and it falls out anyway."

So, there it is. I honestly thought the advent of COVID would lessen these habits
given the added risk of picking up germs by leaving stuff lying on questionable
surfaces... but nope!  The situation seems to be as prevalent as ever.

Go figure. ;)

xo, portapocket.com