I had the idea for the Fobbie® a few years ago
when I was reading a magazine that showed how to make homemade gift tags for your packages. At the time I was recycling pine beetle killed trees on my land by making rustic ornaments that were stamped with images of moose and bear. I thought they would look good as package décor and wondered how I could incorporate ribbon into the ornament to tie it to a package. Many hours later in the middle of the night, I woke up with the idea for my parallel slot system. After many prototypes and ideas, it developed into the patent pending product you see today.
The Fobbie® name comes from the word fob who's definition is “an ornament that hangs at the end of a ribbon.” which describes it perfectly. It was easy to turn it into Fobbie®, which gives it its own playful name and identity. So The Fab Fob Company, and the Fobbie®, were born.
I'm often asked about the process of inventing a new product and where to start. I started by attending a meeting at my local inventor’s club, the Rocky Mountain Inventor’s Association, www.rminventor.org. I learned about the process of patenting a product, manufacturing, marketing and more. If this is something you’re interested in, there are many websites that can help, starting with the United Inventor’s Association website at www.uiausa.org, or the Inventor’s Digest, www.inventorsdigest.com.
I appreciate you visiting our site. Visit often to see new ideas on wrapping or alternative uses for the Fobbie® on the inspiration page. Submit a photo of your Fobbie wrapped gift, or alternative use to: inspired@Fobbie.com, if we use your photo we'll send you an assortment 5-pack of your choice.
If you have a question, you can click on the link below and it will text me on my cell phone. You can follow me on twitter at FobbieGirl.
Happy Wrapping!
Liz
The Fobbie®, meets the three "R's". Reduce: Our product is durable and long lasting, it can reused over and over. Reuse: Because we are often celebrating some occasion the Fobbie® can be reused on packages we gift to others, or it can have an alternative use, such as an ornament or a refrigerator magnet. Recycle: The Fobbie® is made from recycled materials,
so even after it has lived it's life, it can be recycled again.
None at this time.
The Fobbie® recently debut in over a 1000 Michaels Craft Stores in the U.S. and Canada. Send us an email with the city you saw us in Michaels and be entered in a drawing to win one of every Fobbie!
June 2009
An interview with Liz Mrofka about the Fobbie® recently appeared in Cloth, Paper, Scissors enewsletter. To subscribe to this newsletter visit www.quiltingarts.com
May 2009
Keeping It Real Colorado TV Show on KWHD in Denver Career Spot on Inventing
April 2009
July 2008
The Fobbie® is featured in Gift & Decorative Accessories, On Trend, What's Hot. What's New. What's Notable. Gift Wrap, Top If Off.
The Fobbie® is featured in Gifts and Tablewares Magazine "Gift TV" video coverage of the National Stationary Show New
Product Winners and Article
The Fobbie® wins Best New Product Award in the Party Category at the National Stationary Show, May 2008
New York, NY, May 19, 2008. . .The addition of "Think Green" categories to the Best New Product Awards competition at the National Stationary Show propelled the contest to a new level, as judges reviewed a record-breaking 375 new products to select 13 winners. The coveted Awards are presented in 12 categories and are considered a top honor within the social stationary
industry. . .
Party Category:
The Fab Fob Company, LLC (Drake, CO), for Fobbie, a 4-inch, slotted square or round card that is adorned with a greeting or personal photo, allowing ribbon to be weaved through in opposite directions, cinching the package tightly and eliminating the need for bows that are easily crushed. . .
"These exhibitors are innovators and trend-setters in an ever-evolving social stationary industry," said Patti Stracher, show manager. "Each product that captured the attention of our judges exemplifies creativity, functionality and fun - and in the case of our "Think Green" winners - social responsibility. These companies are to be commended for their ingenuity and continued efforts to provide the industry with fresh resources."
November 2007
November 2007
Fall 2007
The Fobbie® is featured in the "Findings" department of the November/December 2007
issue of PieceWork magazine. Click here to see a pdf version.
The Fobbie® is featured in the "Product News " department. November/ December 2007 issue of Handwoven magazine. Click here to see a pdf version.
The Fobbie® is featured in an article in the Fall 2007 issue of the Junior Storyteller.
I believe great ideas come from great inspiration. The day I created the Fobbie® was preceded by watching an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show. As I watched Oprah and her guest discussing helping others I was deeply moved, and wished I could do more. I believe that inspiration continued to influence me throughout my day until the concept of the Fobbie® emerged.
In honor of that inspiration, 5 cents of every sale will be donated to charity. As the Fobbie grows, so will the contributions.
The O'Nan Project for Change donation.
The Project is a non-profit that will be serving teenagers in public schools in the state of Mississippi. We will be providing mentorship and life coaching scholarships to soph/juniors in high school - with the idea and purpose of wanting teens to know that there are a lot of opportunities out there and that they are capable of living a life that makes them happy!
For more information contact: The O'Nan Project for Change, 201 N Montgomery St., Starkville, MS 39759 or email Meagan O'Nan at: megonan@gmail.com
Our first donation! The Fobbie fund is making it's first donation to www.kiva.org. Kiva lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world—empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty.
The Fobbie Fund Teams with The Tickled Pink® Foundation. The Tickled Pink® Foundation empowers women business owners to follow their dreams and achieve the highest level of success. They support women in business by:
• Co-developing products for the Tickled Pink® product line with women business owners, including home-based businesses, and selling those products.
• Using the profits from product sales to fund grants for women business owners seeking to grow their businesses and live their dreams.
Visit The Tickled Pink® Foundation at www.tickledpinkfoundation.org
