Rize - Home of the Spotlight Awards

02/23/2024

Have you ever tried a product from a big company and thought "I could create something better than this?"

Well, Gary Erickson (Clif Bar) was running a small bakery and barely making ends meet when he went for a long-distance bike ride and couldn't choke down another unappetizing energy bar.

After tinkering in the bakery, he named the flagship product after his dad (Clifford) and within 8 years, Clif Bar grew so fast that he received an offer from Quaker Oats for $120 million! He turned down the offer, and instead set up an employee ownership plan so now ALL employees participate in the success of Clif Bar!

What have you tried lately that you think you could do better?

Media/news company

02/16/2024

Often times, businesses don't "figure it out" until many pivots and adjustments have been made - Mattel is one of those businesses.

Ruth and Elliot Handler, both children of immigrants from Europe, used their art and design skills to build things like lamps and picture frames out of their garage in California. Their small family business was named "Elliot Handler Plastics". They soon joined up with another local craftsman - Matt Matson - to form Mattel (Matt + El) to create picture frames. Elliot often used the scraps to make dollhouse furniture for his daughter. It didn't take long for Ruth to propose a doll, named after their daughter Barbara, that could use all of that dollhouse furniture... the doll would be named Barbie.

02/16/2024

We love telling stories of entrepreneurs, pioneers, mavericks and fighters... do you know the story of Olivia Poole?

Olivia grew up in Minnesota on the White Earth Reservation (Ojibwa) where mothers often attached their babies, safely snuggled within a makeshift cradle, to a low hanging tree branch.

The mother would occasionally rock the tree branch and the babies would swing and laugh in delight.

When she had her own children, Olivia created the "Jolly Jumper" in 1910 using a cloth diaper, axe handle, and steel spring. Olivia become one of the first Indigenous women in Canada to patent an invention, and soon after, the Jolly Jumper entered mass production.

You likely have used a similar product that evolved from the Jolly Jumper with your own kids or grandkids!