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The "Gripper" – It's Great

Versatile, inexpensive product can get a ton of use and provide great exposure.

12/31/2015 | Annette Kurman, Learning the Ropes

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the jar opener. You know, the inexpensive, oftentimes round, rubber piece that fits in your hand as you make a scrunched-up face trying to twist off the un-twistable jar lid. As a consumer, I always have one or two in my kitchen drawer when I need it, and I sometimes glance down to see from where it came. I even have one in the bathroom, should the tub require its use. (I actually just cleaned out my kitchen drawers this very day and found eight!)

From the promotional products side of things, the jar opener is a gem waiting to be revealed. We all know that businesses serving kitchen consumers like them as promo items, and I've even seen them used by a plumbing (get it?) and heating company as a leave-behind with their contact information on it.
Before we get down to why I really, really like the jar opener, let's think about the standard shapes these silicone, rubber, recycled tire, vinyl, microfiber, or fabric are available. Pay attention here, because in addition to square and round, you'll find jar openers are shaped in, well, just about any shape you can imagine, from an awareness ribbon, to a delivery van, to a golf ball, to a wedding cake – dozens of options, not to mention custom shapes.
As you were reading these shapes, did specific customers come to mind? Pest control for a rat shape gripper? Automobile repair/gas stations for the gas pump or car? Seafood restaurant for the crab shape? Urgent care, doctor's office, or funeral home for the tissue box? The dentist for the tooth? Gosh, virtually any and every business can benefit from a gripper/jar opener! And because of their flexible shape, do you think a business can drop them in the mail?
Who knew? And because of their low cost (less than 50 cents each for 1,000), they can be the vinyl/recycled/silicone, fabric foot-in-the-door for bigger and better orders. Before you dash out the door to every current and future customer with this great item, shaped for their special needs, STOP here.
As Ron Popeil (look him up on Google) often said: "But wait, there's more!" And the "more" is actually what initially piqued my interest in jar openers.
Can you name a dozen uses for a gripper/jar opener?
If you get to 12, good for you! You know your stuff. But there actually are many more uses. Fortunately, several individuals and businesses have compiled lists, and I am going to share some of them with you – and there's even a video from Bay State Specialty Company! Due to space limitations, I'll suggest some of the more unique uses:
• Help remove mouthpieces from trumpets & tubas.
• Put one on the console of an SUV and cell phone won't slide forward when stopping. 
• Put one under desk fan and it will stop that annoying base rattle. 
• Great for holding hot or cold drinks.

• Cut tiny slits in one, and put in your potted plants to help retain moisture and keep weeds out. 

• Use to twist sprinkler devices, and separate the hoses. 
• Help remove mouthpieces from trumpets and tubas.
• Wrap around a butcher knife handle to avoid slipping. 
• Use for extra grip to help remove the oil filter in a car. 
• Place a jar opener between the rod and the tile to keep your shower curtain from falling. 
• Use a jar opener and a sheet metal screw to plug a leak in a water line until a plumber can make a repair. 
• Works great for shucking oysters. 
• Place a clove of garlic in the jar opener. Roll on counter. The skin comes right off. 
• Place a jar opener on a seat of a high chair to keep the baby from sliding down in the chair. 

• Place a jar opener under a pet's food bowl to keep it in place. 

• Removing stuck light bulbs. 

• Holds a cake in place on a counter while frosting. 

• Place under a laptop to prevent sliding. 

• A great coaster for your desk. 

• Use to unscrew the bottom of the blender to wash it. 
• Place under a cutting board to keep it from slipping.
• As an emergency lint remover. 
• Place in between iron skillets when storing so they don't rust. 
• Forget paper, use jar opener as a modern day business card. 
• Under a throw rug to keep it from sliding on tile. 
• To remove rubber sole marks from linoleum.

• For those who put things on your speakers, helps to put under your objects to prevent them from falling off when vibrating.

The list goes on and on. Truthfully, can you think of a more versatile promotional product?
So what I want to do is list all these uses in very small font on a sheet of paper share to give to your customers with their next order to share with their customers. If you'd like more, email me and I'll provide you with my complete list.

Special thanks to Dave Reed Insurance http://bit.ly/1Zjf3Te, Bonnie Graham Realty, http://bit.ly/1kaNVG9, Heritage Advertising http://bit.ly/1J14rUV, \Lewtan http://bit.ly/1memIUg, and Bay State http://bit.ly/1Oh75rP.

Happy Holidays and best wished for 2016!

Annette Kurman, an award-winning writer, holds bachelor degrees in journalism and nursing, an MBA, and Accreditation in Public Relations. She has been a newspaper reporter, director of public relations at several non-profits, a senior living administrator, and is a registered nurse. She recently joined Allstates Business Solutions and is learning - and living - the life of a distributor. She can be reached at akurman@allstatesbs.com.

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