Shame on Jimi...

The Jimi wallet is tagged as 'The wallet for people who hates wallets' -  I've had one for over 6 years now.  I bought two at the same time, but the first one is still in great shape and the second one has yet to be needed. I have bought several other over the years as gifts...great product to say the least, especially when considering the price - around $15.

However, I was disappointed today to see the Jimi in their new (at least new to me) retail packaging.  In the past, I've only seen them sold without any packaging... and don't get me wrong retail packaging is needed and always a good thing (have to believe that - that's my industry)!

But what I saw... a clamshell with recycled paper insert was a bit mind-boggling.  When I think of Jimi - I think of eco-friendly (they strongly promote this) and hip... their packaging reflects neither.  And although the wallet/product is plastic... they are conscious and aware.

Although the clamshell packaging was produced by Placon - it's still a plastic clamshell.  As noted, yes - this is what I do - market, sell, design ecological and sustainable retail packaging, and that's why I am so intrigued... every time I pull my wallet out I get comments, it starts a conversation - I then talk about the product, the company, their environmental stance... and now I can't or at least it has to be tempered due to the choice of clamshell packaging.

And trust me, I know this package, I'm not completely against the use of plastics - that Placon clamshell used for the Jimi package (I hope) is the ECO-STAR 50% post-consumer RPET - it's better than a PVC clam for sure... but I can get them into a package with 70% less plastic... while making sure the plastic that is used is 100% post consumer RPET. Beyond that... use essentially the same amount, or just slightly more, paperboard - whether recycled or virgin (doesn't matter based on all the ecological scorecarding) - and all the while giving them a more marketable, cutting-edge, green, hip (what ever you want to label it) look.

I just fear Jimi went with Placon's cookie-cutter stock clamshells because they didn't know any better.  Price and ease of closure was apparently key to Jimi, as the clamshells are snapped closed (no RF sealing).

Bottom line, the package has to match the culture... of the product... of the company.  Unfortunately the Placon clamshell does not achieve this for Jimi, in my opinion of course.

So I'm going to contact Mr. Smith, the maker of Jimi, tomorrow - tell him I'm a fan of the product, but not of the packaging.  I'm going to offer him a solution and go from there.  In short - I'm going to do my job but this time on a product I used, liked, and promoted long before I was in the industry I am.

* Make no mistake - all you out there, please buy a Jimi - trust me, you'll love it - but if you do, take 8-10 minutes to swing by your local post office and send the packaging back to Mr. Smith and company: 151 Alma St. San Francisco, CA 94117.

If I didn't believe in the product or the company - I wouldn't care this much, but they have a very cool line of products and a unique niche'... I would hate to see their success sacrificed due to their choice of retail packaging. 

* Timothy

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Back to the blog

I'm back... like Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

It's been 2+ weeks since my last entry, a down period that doesn't happen very often on this blog.  The reason has been two-fold - work has been insanely busy and we closed on the house and made the big move.

The move went well overall, due to tons of much appreciated help from family and friends.  Of course the weather didn't cooperate, as we got 14+ inches the two days leading up to the move and then an additional few inches throughout.  Nothing that derailed us, just another nuisance to deal with.

But now we are all settled - amongst boxes - and it's 'good to be home'.  It's amazing to think that we moved back to Cleveland in December 2008, our Charlotte house took 14 months to sell - finally selling in December 2009 - and now we can finally feel like we've made it official.

It's also strange - the feeling - how fast you settle in and the house feels like you've been in it for 6 years... not 6 days - that's a good feeling - knowing you made the right decision on the house and comfort and happiness that comes with that.

* On the running front, miles have been nonexistent.  I hope by now the Achilles is 100%, but I haven't even attempted or thought about running, so I'm not exactly sure if that's the case.  I'm pretty sure I will start lacing the shoes back up soon, so I will know fairly quickly if the time off has been a blessing for injury. 

* And speaking of running and injuries... here's to hoping Captain and his calf heal up quickly.  His training has been going absolutely awesome - best case, he caught it in time and this will be a very brief setback... as there are PRs to grab on the roads this spring!  And although there will be no 1/2-thon assault for him this weekend, the real racing season is right around the corner! 

* Timothy

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Surprise!

I was notified early this morning as I was packing my bags in Tampa that the second leg of my week’s travel, to Baltimore, had been changed until 2 weeks from now.  So I took the opportunity to surprise Hannah with the early return home.

So, once I arrived in Cleveland, I picked up TJ and we headed over to BW to pop in on Hannah at her office.

The plan went perfectly and Hannah was pleasantly surprised!

Bonus points…

* I am looking forward to this weekend as a few of my college teammates are coming into town for various reasons.  Friday night the plan is to head up to BW for the Indoor Track meet.  This will be the first meet of the year for me… something about watching collegiate athletes run slower than they did in high school is not particularly entertaining to me.

However, Hannah and TJ went to a meet earlier in the year, but I opted for the NFL Playoffs… or maybe I decided to shovel the driveway with a plastic spoon… sorry, I can’t remember the exact excuse I used to avoid my attendance.

But Friday should be a good time with some of the old guard at the meet.  We will have a blast reminiscing and retelling inaccurate stories that may or may not have happened during our college years.

* My thoughts on the Jamison trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers... I have too many.  Maybe I will post a seperate blog entry tomorrow.  Quickly though, here's some bulletpoints in case that blog never materializes.

- Ferry called Kerr's bluff... Kerr will lose his job at the end of the year because of it.

- I preferred Amar'e, but by keeping JJ, this was the 'smarter' of the two deals.

- Z, may or may not be back - sort of sad. The buyout will happen, but other teams are interested (Dallas specifically).

- I was a fan of a trade, any trade... and this is the one that was on everyone's mind for months - got to give credit for Ferry making it happen.

- For me, it wasn't about JJ... he is 2nd best forward on the team before the trade (Varejao is better overall), and now the 4th possibly that Jamison is here and Powe is coming back.  

- Does this help or hurt LeBron's chances of resigning?  That's irrelevant - a NBA Title in June is the factor, not who is on the roster in February 2010.

- Does this make the Cavs the favorite to win the title.  Yes.  But the deadline is tomorrow, more things can, and most likely will, happen.

- If there is such a thing as chemistry for NBA teams, then Jamison is a better fit over Amar'e.  But I don't believe there is such a thing...

- Amar'e is a SUPERstar, and would have wanted his shots.  Jamison is a star, won a title at UNC in college, he will come here, do all the little things right, and respect his role and what the organization asks of him.

- Amar'e is 27, Jamison 33... that's a lot of extra miles.

- In the end, I'm just glad we didn't pull the trigger on that Corey Maggette rumor! 

* Timothy

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Slow, Low, Mo...

I have been very slow with my blogging as of late... just a lot going on across the board with work, upcoming travel (Tampa and Baltimore this week), and the closing and move to the new house in the next 10 days.

Hate using 'lack of time' as an excuse... technically, I'm just using it as a front.

With all that going on and the lingering Achilles injury still prevalent, my motivation has been very low to blog, as I feel like I'll get on here, release my frustrations and sound a bit annoying.

Just don't want to do that.

Typically when it comes to injuries, even the major ones in my past, I don't let them dictate my mood or motivation... or my 'daily life'.  I have always kept my running and training in a good perspective and have always said that the length of time off due to injury is manageable, because at the end of that time-period, whatever the length, the outcome would be that I am 100% healthy and ready to go.

However, this Achilles seems to be the tipping point in regards that that 'theory' of mine.  As I have well documented in this blog, 2009 was an absolute and complete disaster in terms of racing and training due to injuries and the inconsistency that goes hand and hand with being nicked up.

So, with that noted, I was ready to turn the page, and start 2010 fresh... and healthy.  Well, it didn't last long and now after 4 weeks with only a few random runs logged, the Achilles is not responding and the frustration that I rarely have sensed in the past, is starting to strongly get at me.

I'm not looking for comments and emails trying to put a twist on this situation to make me feel better... I know a lot of you have experienced setbacks, injuries, etc. - it's part of our sport - I fully accept that. I've also coached enough athletes that have gone through stretches like this, so I've played the psychiatrist role first hand as well.  I'm just filling you all in with where I'm at.

In regards to the Achilles, I'm still trying to be pro-active. I have heeded the advice of a good friend of mine - thanks Tom - that has battled Achilles issues in the past, and ordered some adjustable heel lifts to see if that can help in the process of getting back on track. Getting a MRI is also on the short list of things to do in order to have some answers about the injury and how severe... or not... it is.

* This post may be the only one until later this coming week... I am off to Tampa in the earlier AM tomorrow for a day of meetings, then from there (Wednesday morning), I'm heading to Baltimore for the remainder of the week.  On the docket, several very big meetings that could open the door to some great opportunities... and if nothing else, for a few more days, an easy way to keep my mind off of the Achilles and the inability to train. 

* Timothy

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