Ben Franklin and His Crazy Socks

 

 

In March, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania announced their winners of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Innovation Awards, naming RADIUS the victor of the Innovative Application of Technology category.

The Innovative Application of Technology award highlights a company that strongly demonstrates a “break-the-mold” approach to integrating new or existing technology into its business. Ben Franklin recently published an award press release with the following company description explaining why RADIUS was honored with the Innovative Application of Technology award.

RADIUS designs and manufactures premium personal care products including eco-friendly toothbrushes, molded travel cases, dental floss, and organic toothpastes. The completely solar-powered, certified woman-owned company is committed to ongoing R&D to identify innovative and sustainable manufacturing approaches to make everyday products distinctive. Its Source Toothbrush uses replacement head technology with a handle made from recycled dollar bills, paper, and wood, reducing waste by 93%. Through Ben Franklin funding and connections, RADIUS received marketing and strategy support, teamed with the Plastics Manufacturing Center at Penn College to address a breakage problem with toothbrushes, and more recently worked with Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center on facility optimization. Since last year, RADIUS has increased employment from 30 to 35 and in the past five years’ company revenue has increased by 3½ times. RADIUS will soon purchase, renovate, and relocate into a larger building to respond to burgeoning demand.

The purposes of the innovation awards are to recognize winners for their success and achievement, to highlight the effectiveness of the Ben Franklin program, and to inform entrepreneurs and established manufacturers about the resources that are available to them in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Awards were presented to seven recipients, companies or individuals who have achieved business success through Ben Franklin funding and assistance, have helped others to achieve success, or have improved their businesses through innovation. Each award recipient exemplifies outstanding achievement in that category.

Photo credit: Ryan Hulvat

Winners were honored at the Ben Franklin iXchange event on Tuesday, May 9th at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA.

RADIUS President and CEO, Saskia Foley, accepting the Innovative Application of Technology award. Photo credit: Ryan Hulvat

The award presentation was followed by a keynote presentation by Dustin Garis focusing on Disruptive Innovation. Preceded by a surprise (and rather impressive) break dancing performance, Dustin – who after graduating college, decided to turned down multiple job offers and travel the world instead – encouraged guests to break of out their routines to stimulate innovation. Dustin pointed out that autopilot doesn’t inspire creativity, which is an interesting idea considering 90% of our daily activity is exactly the same every day. Dustin told guests to rebel and break the mold and one small way to “revolt against routine” was to wear crazy socks. Ben Franklin staff, award winners, and other guests were encouraged to wear the craziest socks they could find to the iXchange event. Wearing a dress? Who cares? Wear those crazy socks with heels and pride. Revolt against the routine.

RADIUS Founder, Kevin Foley, and his daughter and RADIUS President/CEO, Saskia Foley, after accepting the Innovative Application of Technology award. Photo credit: Ryan Hulvat

 

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Welcome to the Neighborhood, Whole Foods Market Allentown.

The day has finally arrived. The day we at RADIUS have been not-so-patiently waiting for. The day a Whole Foods Market FINALLY opens near us!

Whole Foods Market Allentown had its grand opening today and the new store is ah-ma-zing! It’s only 20 minutes away from our Kutztown-based HQ (making us practically next door neighbors) and since we could hardly contain our excitement, we decided to take part in the grand opening celebrations this afternoon and check out their new location – of which we will most definitely be frequent visitors.

Their outdoor display game is strong.

You can find anything from locally grown plants and flowers….

to perfect pumpkins that are honestly too pretty to carve…

to the most delicious fresh apple cider (take it from us…we tried a few samples and then bought a few cartons).

And that’s all before you even get inside the door.

Before you start shopping, you can purchase one of these awesome tote bags to carry your haul. And as an added bonus you can show your Whole Foods Market Allentown pride wherever you go.

Um, we’ll take two please. Thankssomuch.

Rows of beautiful organic produce, cheeses, and so much more fill the aisles. Honestly, if you can’t find it here…it probably doesn’t exist.

You go on ahead. I’ll just wait here by the FRESH PASTA BAR until you get back. #Lunch

And now on to our personal favorite… the Whole Body Department…

Well, well, well. Look what we found…our adult toothbrushes and Floss Sachets proudly on display…

and look…our entire children’s toothbrush collection!

Don’t forget about our brand new USDA certified organic toothpastes! This store is definitely showing some RADIUS <3.

We got pretty excited about this bright and fun water bottle display. Can you say new designs from Lifefactory?!

On your way out, make sure to stop by the soap and bath salt bar…

and check out the beautiful “Local” section that’s currently featuring THE BEST handcrafted, wooden utensils from our friends at Jonathan’s Spoons.

All in all it was a pretty successful first visit to our new local Whole Foods Market. The store looked great and the staff was super helpful and friendly – all while being CRAZY busy. I’m sure it won’t be our last visit…in fact we’ll probably be on a first name basis shortly 🙂

If you’re in the area, definitely make sure to check out Whole Foods Market Allentown…after you visit our RADIUS outlet in Kutztown, of course. ;-D

750 N. Krocks Road

Suite 301

Allentown, PA 18106

484-506-2159

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/allentown

Take a Tour of RADIUS

This is where we design, create, manufacture, and bring our innovative products to life. Take a tour of our historic factory and HQ and get an inside look at what makes RADIUS tick.

This is where it all happens – the RADIUS HQ.

A restored feed mill from the early 1800’s located in Kutztown, PA.

Where we bring our products to the masses.

Come take a walk with us through our HQ and get a glimpse into the life of RADIUS.

When you first arrive you’ll see large solar panels because here at RADIUS we’re proud to say that we’re powered by the sun.

If you think the outside is pretty, wait until you see the inside.

Taking the first flight of stairs you’ll enter our offices and outlet.

Make sure you take a moment to enjoy the scenery.

Exposed beams, large windows, and brick walls make for a very pretty work space.

As you enter our space, you’ll meet Kelly who will always greet you with a smile.

Now it’s time to browse through our outlet where you can get all of the RADIUS products that you know and love.

Looks like the gang’s all here.

Travel with the TOUR.

Floss like a boss.

And you can’t go wrong with the Original.

Take a pin and show your RADIUS love.

Choose your favorite flavor.

It’s always good to buy local.

Check out our award and press table. We’ll be adding a few more shortly!

Meet Paul the Palm. A gift to our CEO on her birthday, he’s been growing like a weed (pun intended) since he arrived.

Here’s our makeshift store so we can see what you see when you see RADIUS in a store. See?

We even have a few oldies but goodies on our shelves…like this throwback red Original…

..or these vintage SCUBAs….

…or our personal favorite, the coveted gold Original.

A rare sight – our conference room is empty.

Our CEO decorates her office with DOCs and toothbrushes. I mean…doesn’t everyone?

We have two Amanda’s on our team who we affectionately refer to as “The Amanda’s.” This is Amanda V (or Vasko). The other Amanda (or Mandi) is apparently camera shy.

Venture into our Inside Sales Department where Jen and Chrissy are ready to bring RADIUS to a store near you.

We never miss an opportunity to educate and we have the brochures to prove it.

Our Memory Wall where we highlight the RADIUS Team throughout the years.

Head on upstairs to the loft where you can get a birds eye view of the entire office.

Our Accounting, Marketing, and Data Entry Departments all call the loft home.

Keeping it green with a succulent in a teacup…naturally.

Memories leftover from our CEO’s baby shower.

Should we sit on our yoga ball or chair today? Tough decision.

Our DOC is good for pretty much anything…even serving as a post-it nameplate.

Remnants of the mill still hang from the ceiling.

Hello, from the upstairs.

It’s time to go all the way downstairs to say hi to our Shipping and Production Departments.

Replacement Heads about to be bristled in Production.

Away they go.

Unbristled Totz Plus Toothbrushes waiting for their turn on the bristler.

After bristling comes packaging.

After being packaged they’ll head to the sealer…

…where they’re sealed and ready to ship.

And finally, we arrive at our Shipping Department….

… where we keep the shelves full and ready to go.

Thanks for taking a walk through RADIUS with us and we hope to see you again soon.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

5 Ways to Prevent Kids’ Tooth Decay

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and the American Dental Association® has 5 tips for keeping your child’s smile bright and shiny.

1. Don’t Share. – It may cause more dishes but avoid using the same spoon as your child. Sharing utensils or drinking from the same cup can transfer cavity-causing germs.
2. Eat Healthy – Eating fruits and veggies doesn’t just help your child grow big and strong – it also helps their teeth fight off decay. In fact, the first signs of poor nutrition often show up as cavities. According to MyPlate, fruits and veggies should cover half of your child’s plate.
3. Meet the Dentist Early – According to the ADA, your child should have their first dental visit no later than 1 year old.
4. Seal of Approval – Ask your dentist about applying a dental sealant to their teeth. Sealants can help protect against decay.
5. Two is the Magic Number – Make sure you start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they poke through the gums. When they can brush teeth on their own, have them brush for 2 minutes 2x per day.

Keep up with your children’s growth stages by using the RADIUS Children’s line of toothbrushes. BPA-free and age-specific the Pure Baby®, Totz®, Totz Plus™, and Kidz® Toothbrushes are designed with your child’s health and smile in mind.

For more information about children’s oral care visit MouthHealthy.org. 

Happy National Dental Hygiene Month!

If, like most people, you perform your oral care regimen on autopilot, then National Dental Hygiene Month is the perfect opportunity to stop, examine and maybe even improve your daily routine.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) defines four core steps for complete protection against tooth decay and gum disease — AKA The Daily Four:

1. Brush Twice a Day, Every Day

Brushing teeth and gums is the most important method for reducing plaque and preventing cavities, gingivitis and other plaque-related diseases.

Dental experts know that when it comes to brush bristles, softer equals better. RADIUS® toothbrushes boast finer, longer, softer bristles that reach every nook and cranny of your mouth while massaging the gums, rather than aggravating them like harder brushes. Bonus: using a RADIUS  toothbrush feels so good you’ll want to brush for more than the recommended two minutes.

2. Make Flossing a Daily Habit

“Interdental” cleaning of those tricky-to-reach spots between teeth is important for ensuring there aren’t any hidden layers of plaque or pieces of food — ticking time bombs that can spell problems down the road.

RADIUS® makes two types of floss: A glossy biodegradable silk, and a pliable vegan-friendly nylon. The latter is coated with naturally sourced, tree-based xylitol (which prevents bacteria and reduces acidity while adding a hint of sweetness), and it comes in two delicious flavors, each with bonus oral health-boosting properties — antibacterial cranberry and antiseptic mint tea tree.

3. Rinse With an Anti-Microbial Mouth Wash

Brushing and flossing alone can only cover so much ground, but following those steps with a quick swill of anti-microbial mouth rinse will eliminate germs and plaque throughout the whole mouth, for complete protection.

Look for an antiseptic mouthwash which displays the ADA Seal of Acceptance on its packaging, or talk to your dentist for a recommendation.

4. Chew Sugar-Free Gum Between Meals

Every time you eat or drink, the bacteria in plaque begin to produce acid, which can contribute to demineralization and even decay.

While it’s certainly not convenient to brush your teeth after every meal or snack, chewing a piece of sugar-free gum will tide you over until bedtime. It stimulates the salivary glands — washing away stubborn food particles and neutralizing acid to help keep your teeth strong and cavity-free.

RADIUS® loves Glee Gum — a naturally delicious chewing gum made with sustainably harvested rainforest chicle and sweetened with Xylitol, just like our cranberry and mint tea tree flosses.

Oral Health Starter Kit

Stock up on these RADIUS products to kickstart your new oral heath routine.

Shop The Source™ 

The Source has an unbreakable slim neck that’s longer than your average toothbrush to provide maximum reach in tight spaces. Plus, thanks to replacement-head technology and a handle made from repurposed materials, The Source reduces waste by 93%.

See toothbrushes for babies, tots and kids >

Shop Natural Biodegradable Silk Floss®

Flossing is an integral part of any thorough oral care regimen, but not all flosses are created equal. Our Natural Biodegradable Silk Floss® takes us back to a time before the nylon of today’s floss took over — when floss was made of pure, inviting, luxurious silk. Free from the toxins found in similar products, RADIUS®’ silk floss glides easily between teeth for a meticulously clean finish.

Check out our silk floss sachets, perfect for on-the-go flossing. Or, shop our vegan floss and vegan floss sachets.

Shop The Doc™

The Doc is so much more than a toothbrush holder. Its a game-changer in the bathroom and beyond. The suction base fixes easily to any smooth surface, securely clasping your RADIUS toothbrushes.

Smile…it’s RADIUS Picture Day!

If you haven’t heard, we’re in the process of a total website revamp. We’re designing a totally new site that will really showcase why we’re different, why that’s a GOOD thing and why that makes us awesome. ;-D

Last week we headed to NYC and the 24th Street Loft for RADIUS Picture Day. We spent the day at a photo shoot for all of our products to get brand, spankin’ new photos for our brand, spankin’ new website. Here’s a bit of a preview.

To see the finished products, stay tuned for our official site unveiling later this month!

We have arrived.

Travel Cases & Floss are ready to go!

Toothbrushes lookin’ good.

the DOC? Check.

The RADIUS Bathroom.

We’ve got some pretty awesome props to make our RADIUS Bathroom complete!

Shaving Kit, anyone?

Lights…

…camera…

…action!

Now it’s time for our models to get ready…

…a little hair and make-up and voila!

How do you get a baby to smile? Jump up and down and wave your arms. Works every time.

This little guy loves to brush his teeth with his Totz Plus!

A little help to make sure he gets his teeth nice and clean…

And that’s a wrap!

Calling All Bloggers & Social Media Gurus! We Want YOU to Feature RADIUS!

If you haven’t heard we recently debuted two brand new items: the TOUR Travel Toothbrush and the Totz Plus Toothbrush! Both of these items are pretty awesome (if we do say so ourselves) and have been creating quite the buzz since their launch at the beginning of April.

 

We work with a long list of awesome bloggers who have featured RADIUS. We would love to add to a few more and we’d love it even more if you featured our newest products.

The Gist:

Try us out. Review one or both of our new items (and other RADIUS products if you’re interested). Share your thoughts with your fans. Post it far and wide on all of your social media pages. Make sure you tag RADIUS.

The Ground Rules and What We’re Looking For:

They like you. They really like you.

Bloggers who have a strong social media following (at least 1,000 followers on Facebook and/or Instagram).

We’re not picky but…

We’re pretty open-minded to the type of blog, but we think the following categories would work best: lifestyle, review blogs, parenting, travel, eco-friendly/natural product, made in USA, design, unique finds, health, holistic, dental, girl power (we are women-owned after all :)), Vegan/Cruelty Free.

Let’s share the love.

We think giveaways are awesome so if you’re interested in that, let’s chat.

We love everyone in the (b)RADIUS Bunch but…

For right now, USA based bloggers only please.

Let’s Brainstorm.

We’re always open to ideas and suggestions so keep ’em coming! If you have an idea about partnering with RADIUS, let us know and we can talk about it.

 

If this sounds right up your alley please email Amanda, our Marketing Associate, at astimpfl@radiustoothbrush.com to hash out the details and get started.

Please take a moment to read the fine print at the bottom of this post.

 

Our Newest Family Members:

 

The TOUR Travel Toothbrush

Just Unfold. Snap. Brush. It’s that easy with a jack-knife design the TOUR folds into itself for a 2-in-1 toothbrush and travel case.

The TOUR uses a Replacement Head just like the super popular RADIUS Source Toothbrush.

The Totz Plus Toothbrush

Just like our #1 bestselling Totz Toothbrush but with a cool, non-slip grip extender perfect for growing hands.

Perfect for children 3 years and up as they transition from the Totz to the Kidz Toothbrush.

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The Fine Print: We do not typically pay for social media/blog posts. The cost to RADIUS will include the cost of the donated product and shipping. The number of products being featured will be at the discretion of RADIUS and we reserve the right to limit the number of products for each review and giveaway. Due to a high number of inquiries, we cannot fulfill all requests therefore we will review each request on a case by case basis. The number of requests we fulfill will be at the discretion of RADIUS and we reserve the right to decline requests as we see fit. We require all participating parties to tag RADIUS on all pertaining social media posts. At this time, we will only be accepting USA based requests.

Evolve the Way You Travel

Introducing a new way to travel with the RADIUS TOUR Travel Toothbrush!

Just unfold, snap, and brush.

The TOUR uses RADIUS Replacement Heads (just like our Source Toothbrush) and a “jack-knife” design that folds the head into the handle making travel simple and easy. ‪#‎MindBlown‬

Get your TOUR today at www.RadiusToothbrush.com or your local Whole Foods Market. The TOUR is currently 30% off on RadiusToothbrush.com (until 4/19/15)!

Attributes & Benefits

• Unfold. Snap. Brush. Clean jack-knife design for sleek, & compact travel while still enjoying the luxurious RADIUS® brushing experience
• Reusable handle & replacement head for ultimate eco-conscious usability, perfect for any trip!
• “Slim Neck” for easy reach in tight spaces & soft massaging bristles to help invigorate gum tissue for reduced chances of bleeding/ receding gums & enamel erosion
• Zero Petroleum wood-based (#7) handle & vegetable-based bristles for 100% eco-friendly travel
• Free from all BPA, Phthalates & Latex
• Initial TOUR Travel Toothbrush Retail unit includes 1 SOFT head & 1 handle; Available in assorted colors for the whole family!
• 2-pack Replacement Heads available online in SuperSoft, Soft & Medium once it’s time to switch out the initial Soft head

No, Seriously…We’re Happy Just to be Nominated

Have you ever watched the Oscars, Grammys, or any other award show and thought, “Yea right, I’m sure they’re just happy to be nominated. I don’t believe that for a second?” Well, we’re hear to tell you that being happy just to be nominated can actually happen.

RADIUS was nominated for the Martha Stewart American Made Award (which was super awesome in and of itself) and then imagine our excitement when we come to find out that out of hundreds of entries in our Style category we were a chosen finalist!

We work really hard to make our company and the products that we produce the best that they can be and to have that recognized in such a big way was a huge honor.

The winners were chosen on Friday October 17th and, sadly, RADIUS did not win. Are we a little disappointed? Of course, but we knew the competition was steep and all the companies who did win were well-deserving and we couldn’t be more excited for them. As cliché as it sounds, we were really  honored to be included in such an exclusive group of companies and we congratulate each and every one of them.

Now, with only a few more months left in 2014, we’re looking forward to 2015 and all the the things that it can bring. If we’re nominated again next year hopefully we’ll win, but if not, make no mistake… we’ll still be happy just to be nominated.

To each and every person who voted for us, we thank you so much for your support! We’ll see you again next year.

Click our Martha Stewart American Made page below to see what being American Made means to us!

Find Common Ground with RADIUS

September was National Yoga Month and Common Ground Magazine wanted to honor all the yogi’s out there! We were super excited to be included in their annual and widely popular yoga issue!