Archive for January, 2010

Welcome to “Michelle’s Musings”

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

I have always been an artist looking at the world from a very unique place.

Textile and product design was not a career that I set out to have but one that seemed like a good idea at the time, and a great way to express my artistic mind. I love creating an idea on paper and then watching that idea develop into a finished product. It is very exciting and extremely satisfying. It is even better when I see my designs being used and enjoyed by so many people…

My design Motto is to laugh a lot and to have a lot of FUN. If I can’t laugh and have fun I find it very hard to create. I try very hard not to take myself too seriously!!!!

I am the kind of person that never stops creating and cannot stop learning. I am on a constant search of understanding universal truths if you will. That search led me to the art of Feng Shui, which is a Chinese system of esthetics based on nature. I often use these principles when I am creating new products. I received my Feng Shui certification 6 years ago, which opened a door to the world of energy healing and dowsing. If anyone would have told me I would some day be a designer and a healer I would have laughed out loud. I do have to admit that this unusual dichotomy makes for very interesting creations, and ways of seeing the world.

Working at Better Bath, as Design Director, among a whole cast of characters, I have truly found a home.  It is here with Robert and Bill that I can fully express myself as an artist, designer and as a healer.  I really enjoy creating cool and innovative products that we can all use everyday…Products that have a function and that solve some kind of problem or need.

As a Feng Shui Designer I am greatly aware of “clutter” and how so many people struggle with it. How funny that I should find myself designing products that help people “Put stuff in its place.”

Clutter as I see it, is anything that you don’t love or that you truly do not need. One of our newer products is our “Take Anywhere Tote”. I designed this basket remembering my days in college when all we had was a plastic bucket to store all our bathroom stuff in. Stuff like shampoo, soap, toothpaste and other “unmentionables”.

I thought it would be so cool to have a wire basket that stores all your bathroom stuff and where you can even put your shampoo bottles upside down to get out the very last drop…

I added a little color on the bottom to give the basket a bit of personality. These totes can also store and organize car washing stuff and garden stuff…

Check back next month for some more updates on whats happening here at Better Bath…

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Get Organized, Stay Organized and Live Organized!

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Welcome to better-bath.com my name is Bill Emery and this is my blog there are many like it but this one is mine!  Some days I feel like I have brought a knife to a gun fight in getting my message out to the world.  What is my message you ask that is simple Get Organized, Stay Organized and Live Organized. I am one of those very lucky people that have been able to turn my anal retentive compulsive behaviors into a career.  This blog will be a place that I hope you return to on a regular basis it will have my own musings but also will feature special guest bloggers from time to time.  People that have impacted this company and myself or anybody that has anything remotely interesting to say.  It could be you, all you have to do is ask!

I want to say right up front that this site has come to life as a result of hard work by a dedicated group of people.  You know who you are but why not list out a few of the outstanding players I have been proud to work with on this project [and who doesn’t like to see their names in print].  First off there is my brother Robert Emery without his tireless product design and sourcing efforts none of this would be possible. Robert and I have worked together since 1983 [I started in 1981] and together we have seen a lot of changes in the world of shower caddies and bath mats.  Retailers have come and gone yet a little company like Better Bath lives on; go figure.  Look we are just two simple guys selling shower caddies!

Robert started working with Michelle Zanoni our chief product designer [see Michelle’s Tip] two years ago and she has been a wonderful addition to the family.  In fact Michelle has become the sister Robert and I never had.  A lot of what you see on this site Michelle and Robert have designed, their work in developing new items is a true joy for me to watch.  I really have to say I look forward to our New Item Review Meetings or NIRM it is like Christmas you never know what you are going to get [or is that a box of chocolate?].  The point is we love what we do here at Better Bath.

Next is my wonderful and dedicated staff headed up by my Logistics Manager and in-house I.T. Guy Kevin “I am getting it from space” DeBello.  Kevin is the eyes and hears of Better Bath and every time something goes wrong Robert and I sit in our offices and cry [like two year olds] for Kevin to solve all of our tech issues.  Tami heads up the Customer Service Team and Dennis makes sure that all the orders get processed on time every time.  Last but not least is our Plant Manager John T Matthews, John came to work with us as a result of losing a bet in a poker game in 1982 and was an usher in my wedding so John and I go way back!  For the record John lasted longer than my marriage but that is a topic for anther blog.

Now that I have paid homage to current cast of characters here at Better Bath there are two people that should be recognized for making us what we are today.  You see Better Bath was an off shoot of our parent company Better Sleep Inc.  A company started by my Grandfather William Mills Emery and my Father William Willard Emery.  Without their vision and hard work none of what you see on this site would have been possible.  Robert and I learned from the best you see we grew up in the world of manufacturing long before everything was made in China.  So today I say thank you to those came before us.  Knowing where you came from will be your guidance to success in the future. No quote marks needed on that one people that wise saying is mine. Till next time this is Big Bill saying stay organized and Put Stuff in its Place.

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