Claridge Products’ Post

Think disability inclusion and accessibility don't help profits? Think again. Sheri Byrne-Haber (disabled) shares a great example from Campbell's. Look at that! I'm promoting the company in a positive light. They didn't pay me to say this. They made their products accessible. Word of mouth, y'all! Now if Campbell's would cut motion or put it in the viewer's control. That page reporting their changes is loaded with motion. Trigger warning! #Accessibility #Inclusion #Profits

Sometimes, life has a way of pulling us right where we’re meant to be. I was all the way out in Utah on a road trip when I heard that an old go-kart track back in Maine was being brought back from the dead. Shredway Maine(previously known as Boxshop Speedway) was a thriving spot back in the ’90s and early 2000s, then left behind and abandoned. But I knew that I had to be a part of its comeback story—and that’s exactly what we’re doing with Bolt-On Marketing & Media. The name Bolt-On is more than just a saying for me; it’s a philosophy. In motorsports, “bolt-on” parts are those you can add to make your vehicle faster, better, or more efficient—without overhauling everything. In the same way, I aim for Bolt-On Marketing & Media to be an add-on service for my clients, something that integrates seamlessly to help elevate their business, drive their growth, and get results. Just like a turbocharger or a supercharger can take a car to the next level, I want our work to amplify what’s already great in the businesses we work with. Shredway Maine, is the perfect example of why I do what I do: giving a boost to something that has all the potential to be amazing and making it thrive once again. I’m thrilled to be part of this revival and can’t wait to see this track buzzing with energy, excitement, and community again. Ready to "Bolt-On" some marketing horsepower to your business? Let’s make it happen.

🏓 Exciting News for Garner, Iowa! The new pickleball courts in Garner have quickly become a community favorite, attracting people from all walks of life seeking a fun recreational activity. The popularity of the courts reflects the growing trend of pickleball participation across the U.S., seeing a remarkable 650% increase in the last six years according to USA Pickleball. 🇺🇸 Mayor Tim Schmidt's commitment to providing recreational opportunities, like the well-maintained pickleball courts, is a testament to the city's dedication to its residents' well-being. Investing in facilities like these not only fosters physical activity but also contributes to the economic growth of communities, as noted by the Urban Land Institute. Amidst the rise of recreational sports, the initiative in Garner aligns with creating inviting spaces for all ages and skill levels – truly highlighting the positive impact of community engagement and investment in public health and well-being. Have you tried pickleball yet? What recreational activities do you enjoy the most? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🌟 #pickleball #recreation #communityengagement #publichealth

I use my phone all day every day to run JUUCE. Today, Friday, was a typical end-of-week chaos: At 2 PM: I was visiting an MLB partner, taking videos, and my battery hit zero, 6 hours after waking up. I JUUCED UP for 20 minutes and got another 5 hours of battery life. At 6 PM: Wrapping up back to back to back calls, and my phone said that's enough calls for today. Good thing I had my JUUCE with me to bring it back to life. 7 PM: Phone almost died while Facetiming our Head of Business Development, Daniel. Caught it at 1%! 9 PM: Met up with friends in DC and (very much unlike me) I forgot my JUUCE at home, so I rented one at our new partner venue, Shaw’s Tavern. Gotta contribute to top-line revenue! You can see in the screenshot me charging right now. Days like these remind me why we started JUUCE. Every venue should have JUUCE available for their guests. ESPECIALLY ME! If you have a venue that wants JUUCE or know one that needs JUUCE, message me! #TGIF

I am really excited to see that Dan Bee, my former student, has won 2 European Product Design Awards for her ‘Litter Ridder’ sweeping toy. This concept was conceived in my VT Industrial Design lab during the fall of 2022 based on a brief to explore past, obscure and electricity-free design that in many cases deserves reconsideration within current sustainable design discourse. Here, Dan Bee's class developed redesigns for the humble, manually-powered carpet sweeper, first introduced in the 19th century. Offered 2 years in a row, the range of design approaches were broad and addressed many different user types. Carpet Sweepers are quiet, use no electricity, yet they are surprisingly effective. Several sweepers, including a fully operational 1924 antique, were tested by students first-hand and with outside users.  Bissell and others continue to produce these today. The brief was informed by my book “Reimagining Alternative Technology for Design in the 21st Century” which broadly surveys these kinds of passive and manual technologies, with examples ranging from Persian Wind Catchers, Fireless Cookers, Zeer Pots and (of course) Manual Carpet Sweepers. Many of these technologies might not fully replace the ones we use today, but they certainly provide insight into designing more conscientiously with energy use, material lifecycle and longevity in mind. To that end, Dan Bee’s concept also proposes a repairable configuration using materials developed from renewable resources, including mycelium. As a toy, it also offers educational value to the young users who would be first to use them. Bravo Dan Bee!!! 

We NEED more courts! I ran a poll here recently and you all said that the court shortage is one of the biggest roadblocks to pickleball’s growth. The shortage is definitely real, so how are we going to solve it? When I first discovered #pickleball, I was blown away by the lines of players waiting to hit the courts. Since then, the enthusiasm has only accelerated. Today, there are just over 50,000 known courts across the US (USA Pickleball). Huge leap from a few years ago. But we're still struggling to meet demand. Players everywhere face wait times and overcrowding. This is a real obstacle to our sport's continued growth. To keep pace, we need a massive expansion of pickleball infrastructure. Estimates suggest a $900M investment is needed to balance supply and demand. The good news is communities across the country are getting creative: → Creating multi-use areas that include pickleball alongside other activities → Repurposing spaces (while respecting existing tennis communities…) → Integrating courts into new urban developments And for us, we’re taking those old big box retail stores and flipping them to pickleball facilities, one by one, in state’s across this country. What innovative ideas have you seen for creating more pickleball spaces? Tag some people doing great work bringing pickleball to the masses!

📣THIS OR THAT THURSDAY!!📣  Comment with 🪡 or 🧵 with your opinion:  Team Fireline Thread🪡 or Team Nymo D Thread🧵   Don't have a preference for your go-to thread choice we got some pointers at Sundaylace Creations. #beadingthread #beadsupplies #beadingsupply #beadstore #beading #beadwork

the early 1980s, Springfield Remanufacturing Corporation (SRC) in Springfield, Missouri, was a near bankrupt division of International Harvester. That's when a green young manager, Jack Stack, took over and turned it around. He didn't know how to "manage" a company, but he did know about the principal, of athletic competition and democracy: keeping score, having fun, playing fair, providing choice, and having a voice. With these principals he created his own style of management -- open-book management. The key is to let everyone in on financial decisions. #vogandwod #vogandwodbooks #vogandwodbookstore #Vogandwodannexstore #ikejabookshop #bookstoresinlagos #books #bookstagram #beinginspired #Thursdayreads #Businessandmanagement #Greatgameofbusiness #jackstack #readlearnknowgo

Here's a full motion video of my new listing in Edgebrook created by Matt Feddermann Baird & Warner. #realestatevideo #fullmotionvideo #chicagolandrealestate #jankupiecsellshomes #Edgebrook

B is for Barry’s. So it is. If you’ve ever been to Portrush, you know the place…even though it doesn’t exist anymore- at least by that name. How many local businesses can claim to have created a brand that is so well known locally AND is remembered with such fondness? Not many I would suggest. Anyway…this is the ‘B’ from the Barry’s Big Dipper sign. It still exists! 🎢 It was auctioned off some time ago following the closure of Barry’s, bought by my brother-in-law, shipped to Orange County, California and now adorns the wall in his outside bar. Due to the complexity of the electronics in said ‘B’ it also necessitated the recruitment (and goodwill) of some local electrical engineers to get the thing up and running (who I am sure were provided with a decent backstory as to why they were spending their time trying to work out this matrix of a lighting system on a consonant from a theme park, that closed years ago, thousands of miles away). ⚡ After a significant amount of time, effort and circuit failures, they even got it lighting up and flashing. Back to its old glory. 💡 Why all this effort you ask? Brand loyalty. Perhaps my brother-in-law is mad (I did raise an eyebrow) but he also has a real connection with Barry’s having grown up in Portrush and even worked there during the summers. I get it. It means something. I’m sure many others reading this will get it too. Whether their love of a brand would drive them to such lengths, I’m not so sure but it does show the power of a good, strong brand. Lastly, having spent 2 weeks looking at this thing, with an occasional 🍺 in hand, we wondered where the A, R, R, Y or S went to. Anyone know? Extra bonus points if they got the lights working. ❓ #BrandLoyalty #Nostalgia #Portrush #BarrysBigDipper