Hello, and welcome!
Thank you for taking a few moments to learn a little about me, how the Gripper came to be, and why helping people enjoy their favorite card games has become one of the most rewarding parts of my retirement.
Prior to becoming a crafter, I was a self-taught artist, dabbling in watercolors, oils, acrylics, and pencil. When I retired in early 2007, I tried my hand at painting landscapes, birds, flowers, and even portraits. However, it didn’t take me long to realize that unless an artist is exceptionally talented, much of their work goes unnoticed.
I’m thoroughly enjoying retirement, but I’ve always been the type of person who needs to stay busy.
I’m Rob, and this is my wonderful wife, Jeanne.
She’ll be the first to tell you that bringing the Gripper to life took a lot of experimenting. Thankfully, she’s a talented seamstress whose sewing experience, encouragement, and countless suggestions helped turn my early idea into the Gripper you see today.
So, how did the Gripper come to be? Read on…
A couple of years later, when Jeanne retired, we decided to try the ‘Snow Bird’ lifestyle for a while. It was a wonderful experience, but eventually all the driving back and forth, packing, and unpacking became more work than fun.
While we were there, I noticed something. Many retirees loved gathering around the card table, but quite a few struggled to comfortably hold their cards because of arthritis, hand fatigue, or simply having too many cards to manage. Watching that got me thinking: there had to be a better way.
After many rounds of trial and error, I came up with a prototype. With Jeanne’s sewing knowledge and helpful suggestions, I refined the design and decided to test my invention at local craft fairs. To my surprise, I sold out at my very first show! I hurried home that evening, made more Grippers, and nearly sold out again at the very next craft fair.
After returning home, I improved the design yet again and made more Grippers for our next trip south. The following craft fair proved just how powerful word-of-mouth can be, as many of my customers were referrals from people who had purchased one the year before. That’s when The Amazing Gripper Playing Card Holders truly came to life.
Since then, my unique card holders have continued to evolve into the Grippers you see in my shop today. Over the years, I’ve introduced many different styles, all with one goal in mind: helping make card games more comfortable and enjoyable for players everywhere.
So there you have it—my story in a nutshell. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know me and learning how the Gripper came to be. Please enjoy browsing my shop, and if you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks again for stopping by.
I hope one of my Grippers helps make your next card game a little more comfortable—and a little more enjoyable.