Grabbit Tool Co.
• The grabbit tools
Price: Varies by retailer
Where you can get it: Gander Mountain, Sportsman's Warehouse and some Ace Hardware stores
Business owner: Brian Combes
Location: Littleton
Tidbits: Grabbit tool inventor Combes, who is also an avid camper, decided he'd had enough of being at the mercy of Mother Nature and tarps that continually blew down.
After buying some PVC pipe and spending an evening in his shop experimenting, he created a tool using a technology called linear grappling.
"The grabbits are designed to grab and hold a tarp firmly in place without risk of tearing," said Jim Doherty, vice president of sales. "But it can also be used with other fabrics. It's really an all-purpose tool."
Grabbits consist of two parts - the dog bone and sleeve. The dog bone can be mounted to a surface or used by inserting rope through the center hole. The tarp is then folded around the dog bone, and the sleeve is placed over the tarp until the material resides within.
Grabbits come in three sizes and colors and are made of acetal resin (a durable plastic) with glass reinforcement.
The company also has released a 6-inch bag grabbit, which has a handle that can be attached to any bagged product for transport (up to 50 pounds) and storage.
For more information: grabbittool.com or 303-960-8140
Colorado Mountain Fine Jams & Jellies
• Organic jams and wine jellies
Price: $5 to $5.50 a jar
Where you can get it: plumdaisy.com
Business owner: Brian Olesen
Location: Palisade
Tidbits: Brian Olesen's Organic Strawberry Colorado Mountain Jam was named "Best USDA-approved Organic Product" at the prestigious 53rd Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.
Olesen, a former Redstone lodge keeper who's been in the jam business for only five years, was stunned. It is the first time he has entered the fancy foods competition.
"This is huge," he said. "To be named the best organic product - this is worldwide."
Last year at this time, Olesen was hawking his jams in person at farmers markets in Lone Tree and Evergreen. He doesn't think he'll have time to repeat that this summer.
"I've got to get to work on marketing," he said. "People have been telling me all day not to squander this opportunity."
For more information: plumdaisy.com or 1-866-464-0745
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