Reinventing Yourself!

WELL - as our economy continues to be an uncertainty - what is a business owner to do? Reinvent yourself - it is the only way to survive in this business climate. Find new ways to market yourself and do it with a smile. Humor is a great way to get people to notice you and your products and shows that you don't take yourself too seriously.

We are getting ready to move into the airport advertising arena and in trying to design our billboard it occurred to us that humor will always grab people's attention. So - with that in mind - we are incorporating the amazing cartoon that Mike Samuel did as a joke regarding our Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags.

The last time I was traveling, standing there at security with my travel clothes on - no buttons, under-wire, zippers or anything that could possibly set off the alarm - I was watching people stripping off layers of clothes, jewelry, shoes - not to mention the ever dreaded laptop removal - and I wanted to start singing the stripper song, "Da na na na..." I can't believe people still haven't figured out that less is more when you are flying and that S1 Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpacks make the removal of your laptop unnecessary. Why hassle at security - use a checkpoint friendly bag or backpack from S1 and make it simpler to go through security.

Take a look at our commercial and let me know what you think and remember - keep reinventing yourself and your business.

Introducing S1 Safety First in Hong Kong, China

Well - it is official - S1 has expanded internationally! Here is the press release that is posted on our websites, www.s1checkpointfriendlybags.com and www.s1bags.com. Along with S1's VP of Global Media Strategy Nancy Aborn Wuennemann, I attended the 2009 Asian Aerospace Conference in Hong Kong - not bad for a mom on a mission. There we introduced S1's full line of Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpacks, including our Made in the USA line that is "Green" - meaning it is constructed in 100%recycled materials - making it water-resistant and stronger than most Denier on the market. I am so amazed at how far S1 has come in 5 years - and we are just getting started. So, I share this announcement here with my fellow bloggers - thanks for following and keep the comments coming...

INTRODUCING S1 SAFETY FIRST IN HONG KONG, CHINA
Asian Aerospace 2009 attracted 356 exhibitors from 28 countries and 12616 attendees!

S1 SAFETY FIRST Founder and CEO Dori DeCarlo attended Asian Aerospace 2009 from September 8th - 10th. The bi-annual, 3-day event is the world’s largest single-focus exhibition and congress for the commercial aerospace and civil aviation market.

The show provided S1 Safety First Founder Dori DeCarlo a fresh opportunity to participate in some creative learning and a chance for all attendees to share new ideas across an international platform.

This year's Asian Aerospace show featured an impressive list of onsite highlights. Among them, a showcase of Connecticut companies sponsored by the Connecticut sector of the US Department of Commerce. S1 SAFETY FIRST Founder and CEO Dori DeCarlo lead by Melissa Grosso, Senior International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center.

On Tuesday September 9, 2009 S1 Safety First Founder & CEO, Dori DeCarlo was interviewed by FLIGHT DAILY NEWS, the world’s #1 Airshow publication. Dori represented S1 Safety First attending Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress in Hong Kong, China with the Connecticut delegation of the US Department of Commerce.

Please visit our sites, www.s1checkpointfriendlybags.com or www.s1bags.com to see the full article and other information on the conference. Thanks again and remember - Together, we can make a difference!

S1 Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags Go GREEN!!!

S1 is going GREEN!!! We are so proud to bring our Made in the USA Green line of Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpacks to market.

As our line has expanded I have always dreamed of a Made in the USA line of products, but alas, none of the factories here in the US can work with the materials that the line of S1 bags is made of. There was no way I was going to sacrifice quality for the US label - so in China our manufacturing remained.

Then came our Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpacks - and since the "clear" S1 features are not what makes this bag checkpoint friendly, I decided to look at making a line of bags without any of our clear material. This now opened S1 up to the possibility of a Made in the USA line, so I contacted the factory in North Carolina that I worked with in the past to see if they could make our bags.

Well - they have always had "green" products, so one thing lead to another and we are now offering 100% Made in the USA Green Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpacks that are made with 100% recycled materials - which actually make them stronger than the existing Denier materials normally used in bag manufacturing. Needless to say, it is with great pride that we add these 3 designs to our product line.

With the name S1 - for Safety First - we are now looking at the safety issues facing our environment as well as the issues we deal with on a daily basis. Please take the time to see our new site - http://www.s1checkpointfriendlybags.com/ where you may view all of our checkpoint friendly bags and now have a choice to a Made in the USA Green product line. They cost more - which is why most company's choose not to manufacture here in the USA - but they are worth the extra money. Support our Green effort as well as a Made in the USA product and take a look at what we have to offer. We are S1 - and still - The CLEAR Advantage!

Another Elevator Pitch Contest!

Well - I went to an event at The Hard Rock Cafe at Yankee Stadium sponsored by WCBS 880 News Radio - and low and behold - the evening included an Elevator Pitch Contest!

Let me back up - I have been invited to different networking events that WCBS has had in the past, and this was the first one I was able to attend. Couple that with it being at the new Yankee Stadium and my car practically drove itself to the event. There was an excellent turn-out and great contacts to make, so I smiled and started working the room!

About an hour into the event, I hear a voice that sounded like "The Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz" meaning a voice over the microphone and no one in sight!! Well, I worked my way down into the lower part of the room and there was Chad Lopez doing his thing. He welcomed everyone, acknowledged different companies that has tables there and announced the Elevator Pitch Contest. Needless to say, I was very excited about having a chance to pitch S1 at this event.

Happily, I was one of the people selected - and I won the contest! The prize - a free round of a 60 second commercial on WCBS 880 News Radio! How amazing is that!?! Not only does S1 get this very costly advertising for free - they want me to do the voice over for the commercial.

In deciding the best route to go, we are going to modify the voice over for our TV commercial and focus on the Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpack - adding that corporate branding is available for custom orders.

This is why it is so very important to have your Elevator Pitch down cold no matter where you are. You never know when you will have a chance to pitch the who, what, where, why, when and how of your company - and when the chance arises, you want to always be on top of your game.

I will keep you posted as to when we will be on the air! So remember - we are S1 - The CLEAR Advantage!

Love What You Do!

As entrepreneurs we get caught up in the day to day running of our business while we juggle all the other responsibilities in our lives. For me that is my 3 children and all that is happening in their lives and trying to get a life for myself.

Each new day I am excited to see what is going to happen today - because you never know what the new day will bring. I was able to talk to my children, get a couple of our clear backpacks into great hands, go to a fabulous lunch and learn with The E-Circle (check out their blog on my sidebar) and then make my daughters softball game. Now, here it is 10:04 pm and I am writing this as I watch a ballgame because I had to share the cartoon S1's designer, Mike Samuel created.

Mike is the owner of Mike Samuel Graphics and is an amazing designer and has created many a logo that has branded some of the most recognizable companies. Just to name a few - The History Channel, A&E, Sears, VH-1, Nickelodeon and my personal favorite - the Keep America Beautiful symbol of the Native American man with the tear coming down his face! Needless to say - he is a great artist that knows how to convey what you are in his logo.

On the other hand - he is also an amazing illustrator who has a quick mind that always keeps me laughing. My office has cartoons from Mike World all over it and for the first time - I am sharing them with the public. I have uploaded a cartoon that is one of the reasons I love working with my partners in S1. I had called him from the road to ask him to create a banner ad for our checkpoint friendly laptop bags and I received that - which is also here - along with this cartoon and I had to put it up everywhere I could.

As hard as we all work in our respective businesses, we need to remember to laugh lots and never take it too seriously! Enjoy the brilliance of Mike - I know we do.

Checkpoint Friendly Bags Hit the Airwaves!

The first week of our commercial has finished and we are doing well with our sales. Our website is gaining exposure and other orders have come from the hits.

Visit www.s1bags.com and take a look at our Checkpoint Friendly Bags. Our Laptop Messenger Bag design comes in two sizes - 15" and 17" and our Laptop Backpack holds up to a 15.5". At each airport I have used we gain more support and find others who want to cut time at security and safeguard their laptops at the same time.

It is exciting to take this next step into the spotlight and know that our commercial is on the air. As I have said before, don't give up - because it takes as long as it takes!!!!

Visit our site - purchase a great bag - and fly safe!

S1 Hits the Airways!

S1 Hits the Airwaves - how amazing is this!!!
As entrepreneurs we work and sacrifice and deal with family and friends wondering "why you don't get a Real Job" - but you believe so strongly in yourself that you keep on growing and learning and finding the right connections to make all your work a success.

S1 has gone through so much; I have worked and relied on the team that I picked by hand and heart when all of this began and we have persevered. You have to have nerves of steel to see your business through the first 5 years - because that is how long it takes - and you have to have the guts to tough it out.

We created a new site to launch with our commercial and love our new look! Linda [our webmaster] and Mike [our director of design] and I worked our tails off to create this new look with a new hosting company - and thank God we found them - so http://www.s1bags.com/ has a brand new style and even more of the finest line of clear bags on the market.

Our Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpack are now available, and if you are in Portland, Richmond, Los Angeles, Dallas/Ft Worth, Providence, New York and Washington, DC you can see our commercial on CNN Headline News and Travel Channel. How amazing is that!

Media-Corp, our production partner, has developed an amazing commercial for our checkpoint friendly bags and selected key cities for this test. They are the As Seen on TV company - so we couldn't be in more professional hands.

You can't imagine the pins and needles that I am on right now - we all are - and it is so exciting and...I just can't seem to find the words...but it just is.

Let me know if you see the commercial - take a look at our new site and share your reaction - and for all of you that fly with your laptop - buy yourself and S1 Checkpoint Friendly Bag. They meet all Federal TSA requirements as checkpoint friendly so you can fly without having to remove your laptop at airport security. Having just flown from both NYC airports to KS and TX going through security was a breeze and everyone loved our bags. One of the NY airports was amazingly empty when I went through the checkpoint and the TSA personnel called over a few of their colleagues to take a look at our laptop backpack. Validation is mine!!!

If you truly believe in what you are doing don't EVER stop believing...stay the course and take the risk...and surround yourself with a team of people that are experts in their field and go for it. This is why Together, we can make a difference is one of my favorite ways to close a letter; we can't do it alone. My other favorite closure I will use here as we are S1 - The CLEAR Advantage!

Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags - Our National Launch

Wow -
So much has been happening gearing up for the launch of our first TV commercial. It is going on the air beginning April 6th!
We are test marketing in Portland, Providence, Richmond, Dallas/Ft Worth, Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, DC. We will be airing on the Travel Network from 6am till midnight for 30 days.
We have been test marketing our Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpacks at different airports and ALL have loved our bags and they passed with flying colors!!!
Imagine the ease of going through airport security checkpoints WITHOUT having to remove your laptop - and not having to pay a fortune for a bag with a 3 year warranty against manufacturers defects!
The S1 Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags and Backpacks meet all Federal TSA guidelines as Checkpoint Friendly and have the added security of our 5 mil 20 gauge clear materials to further enhance the checkpoint friendliness of our laptop bags.
The 4-clip design of our backpack gives you a bag that will carry your personal belongings and a padded laptop compartment that will un-clip and lie flat on the security screening belt at security so nothing obstructs the view of your laptop! The TSA personnel at the airports thus far love this bag!!!!!
Our Messenger style Laptop Bag comes in both 15" and 17" for all your laptop needs and has a front flap that can hold your peripherals and paperwork with ease and again, opens fully to lie flat on the screening belt.
It is unbelievably exciting to know that we are going to be in household all across the country in less than a week!!!!! NEVER give up on your dreams - no matter how long it takes!!!!!
Visit http://www.s1bags.com/ and see why we are S1 - The CLEAR Advantage!

Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag and Backpack for Corporate Branding!

Wow - I can still remember the Y2K frenzy like it was yesterday - and that was 9, count them 9, years ago! It's a silly cliche but true - how time does fly!

Well - I don't know about you - but I want to make 2009 the best year my business has ever seen. I want to find more ways to use the new technology to my best advantage and make the day to day business of online networking an art form! Too much to ask - I don't think so.

With all the tools at our fingertips, we should be able to create a network of truly motivated savvy businesspeople looking to build their businesses, pool resources and make the www truly a world wide web.

For me, growing my business internationally is going to be a major focus in the coming months. The launch of our Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag and Backpack will be our two biggest products to date.

Imagine the ease of security checkpoints when you no longer have a need to remove your laptop when going through the scanner! With and estimated 250,000 passengers daily in the US alone, the time that can be cut at checkpoints is staggering.

S1 has always been committed to providing the finest line of bags and backpacks on the market at a price that is much too low for the quality of our products - but silly me - I'd rather have a little from a lot!

At this point we are only taking quantity orders for the Laptop Bag and Backpacks for Corporate use and Branding. My direct email is dori@s1safetyfirst.com so please contact me there for more information.

We will be adding the bags to our site - http://www.s1bags.com/ - within the next 2 months for the public - and know that the response will be overwhelming - especially at a $49.95 price tag!

When security faces the task of monitoring large crowds, S1 will continue to expand our line to fit every need.

We are S1 - The CLEAR Advantage!!!!!

The Elevator Pitch

Hello fellow bloggers...
Here is the actual pitch that I used to win the contest. Hopefully it will encourage you to create a pitch that will excite people about your company and make them want to learn more - cause lets face it - that's what it is all about!

Hi I’m Dori DeCarlo, Founder and President of S1 – for Safety First.

S1 has a full line of clear bags and backpacks designed to assist with the safety measures being implemented in schools, offices, airports, sports arenas and other public venues.

After Columbine as a mom, I wanted to find a way to keep our schools safe and began S1with our Standard and Mini Backpack, Messenger Bag and Wheelchair Bag because I didn’t want to say to a child in a wheelchair, “Oh maybe someday we’ll make a bag for you.”

Our manufacturer uses the thickest materials available, offers a 3 year warranty and I worked with Chiropractors on the ergonomic design of our products all to ensure that S1 bags are CLEARLY the finest see through bags available worldwide.

We began with 4 bags and this fall numbers 15 and 16 hit the market - our Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag and Backpack that meet TSA requirements so travelers don’t need to remove their laptop when going through security.

Visit S1Bags.com or call me at 203 924 6577. We’re S1 – the CLEAR advantage!

Putting the Work into Networking!

As I all navigate through the new technology, I am trying ultimately to reach out to other business professionals who are looking to build a strong network in a diverse business climate.

S1 has a unique timely way to brand your corporate identity as well as promote your company and its unique position in the marketplace.

As I continue to expand our outreach as well as our product line it is exciting to see how well the corporate world is receiving our products. As I post in my profile, I am just a mom who wanted to find a way to keep our children safe in their learning environment, which is how S1 - for Safety First - began. Sadly, the change in security world-wide has expanded my business in ways I never dreamed possible - well - dreamed yes - but actually see as a reality - it is amazing!!!

It just goes to show you - "thoughts are things!" So never stop pursuing your goals and always remember to reach out the next person as they fulfill their dreams. Together, we can make a difference.

I invite you to post comments and let me know how the safety and security issues have effected your schools, offices, travel plans and enjoying going to public venues and dealing with security. I am interested in assisting with the solutions to make security checkpoints an easy stop for all of us.

Please visit my site - www.s1bags.com to see just how far this dream has progressed. Here's to having a vision and making it a reality!