You can take the girl out of Detroit…
DBusiness recently published a story about my growing up in Detroit and winding my way to being a company founder. The reporter, Tom Murray, did a fine job…
Will America buy American Made Products?
Since the beginning of the 2016 presidential election cycle, media airtime, click-bait headlines and radio broadcasts have been dominated by claims and prognostications of what’s best…
The dogs are eating the dog food
“Will the dogs eat the dog food?” It’s the favorite way for investors to ask whether a product has legs. It’s crude–but the question does…
A guy who takes grommet worship to a new height
I’m always asked what inspired the name of our company. There are some strong branding reasons but the first catalyst was my extreme love of grommets.…
Grommets a-go-go
One of the deepest joys at The Grommet is getting love letters and news from our Makers and the customers who appreciate them. Here are two worthy…
My one rule for making big decisions
I gave a talk to The Grommet team and to the teams at Mass Challenge on this topic. It’s had more impact than I expected, including this…
Why paying interns is a civic duty for our company
An insightful short comic by Toby Morris is blowing up online. (See all the panels here.) It’s about how success and privilege are unmistakably correlated. Reading the diverging tale…
Real Deal Road Trip No. 20: Watching as the Charlestown Marina gets born
My childhood home featured the constant hum of a nearby Diesel plant, frequently punctuated by the explosive passing of freight trains. When a train rattled our little brick…
Real Deal “Road” Trip No. 19: Boston Harbor’s Epic Winter
Since moving to an apartment on Boston Harbor I start and end most business trips with a water taxi ride to and from the airport or…
Real Deal Road Trip No. 18: Sewing & Vacuum Center
How many stores will back up a product you bought over 20 years ago, no questions asked? I had that experience, just this week, when I…
