Today we’d like to introduce you to Jules Pieri.
Jules, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
We started The Grommet in 2008, because while working at Keds my co-founder Joanne Domeniconi and I saw that a lot of the most innovative and unique products were never making their way to store shelves. Too often, big national chains were afraid to take a chance on new products, so instead of people ever having a chance to buy and try them, they were withering on the vine.
We started The Grommet to help the best products win. It’s that simple. And we want our community to learn about the people behind the products, to understand why they created them, to learn what problems they solve, or the history behind their company. So every day we launch one or two brand new products from an inventor or entrepreneur and we tell their story.
Has it been a smooth road?
The short answer, heck no! We started in October of 2008, right in the midst of the financial crisis. I’m convinced I hold the world record for funding rejections with over 250. It was so bad that at one point during fundraising, the shoes I was wearing literally disintegrated underneath me.
For the first half of 2012, we were juggling growing accounts payable while trying to maintain operations. I wrote a bankruptcy plan and put it face down on my desk hoping I would never have to turn it over.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The Grommet is a place to discover new, innovative products from inventors, entrepreneurs, and Makers. Every day, we launch one or two products across 16 product categories – tech, travel, kitchen, hardware, etc. – and we tell the story of the product and the company behind it with a video and write-up. And we show that to our community of 3 million via our daily email and social channels.
Ultimately, we’re proud of the work we do in evening the business playing field for the little guy. In 2014, we elevated that mission with The Grommet Wholesale, which connects the innovative product Makers we represent with the tens of thousands of Main St. Retailers that remain the lifeblood of retail. Most recently, we’ve partnered with Ace Hardware to instill innovation in their stores nationwide, which is a perfect match for us.
Beyond our place in the market, I am very proud to walk in our office and bask in the general good humor, talent, commitment, and smarts displayed by our team. It’s such a wonderful feeling to create the kind of company you would hope your best friend or son or sister could work at.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
What I love about Boston is the committed workforce. Maybe it’s our Puritan work ethic, maybe it’s our existing in the shadows of New York and San Francisco. Whatever it is, I would bet on this talent pool any day. If I were looking for a different place to start I would consider Detroit—the creation and tech drive vibe there today is brilliant, and the people starting ventures, civic organizations, and doing architecture and urban planning in today’s motor city are making modern history.
Contact Info:
- Address: 87 Elmwood St
- Website: thegrommet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrommet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrommet
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegrommet
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
