When life hands New Piggers lemons, New Piggers make lemonade.

When life hands New Piggers outrageous amounts of snow, New Piggers do what you see in the video below.

(Watch this twice! Once for the sculpture, once for the clouds.)

Click here for photos

New Pig’s address has been One Pork Avenue from Day One, but now it feels more official than ever. The county 911 system has been gathering street and road names lately (and changing some, and sometimes getting dramatic reactions) and fortunately they accepted “One Pork Avenue” from us.

That’s data that Google uses, and after only (!) two months, we’re now showing up on Google Maps with our semi-famous address! We’ve arrived!

I’m going to link to a episode of Hoarders, the eye-opening TV program about people whose homes become crammed with things that they can’t throw away, and let me first express sympathy for those profiled. They and their loved ones suffer. This clip shows two hoarders seeking improvement and therapy. I respect that and wish the best for them and their families.

Having said that, my fellow Pigger Dan noticed that the PIG® logo makes a brief appearance at the 6-minute mark. It’s always nice to be in the middle of cleanup operations.

New Pig was asked by Saint Francis University to participate in Science Day 2009. This is a day where approximately 450 local high school students come to Saint Francis and attend various activity sessions of their choice that involve scientific principles. Jason of Customer Service  and I represented New Pig at Science Day and created a Spill Drill Obstacle course for some of these students.

The session began with discussing New Pig, how it got started, an overview/explanation of our absorbents and core products, and then the students were asked to apply this knowledge in an obstacle course.

The students were split into teams and each student had to suit up with appropriate protective clothing (goggles, gloves, and apron) for each of their tasks. Each student participated in the obstacle course, which provided hands-on learning for a safe work environment. After each event, the team was given a puzzle piece; at the end of all the events they had to put the puzzle together and use a decoder to reveal the message: “Safety is Everyone’s Business.”

The first event was a simulated oil spill on water. The teams had to select the correct absorbent mat and remove as much oil as possible from the water and retrieve a puzzle piece which was fastened to the bottom of the pan.

The next event involved the students making their way through an obstacle course of absorbent socks on the ground to get to a simulated spill of “Chemical X” (which was really colored water). There were mock drains on the tiled floor where the students had to deploy samples of the Drainblocker® Drain Cover and select the correct sock to contain and absorb the chemical spills. Their puzzle piece was found under their drain.

During the third event, the teams had to sort through various gloves that had questions about personal protection equipment inside of them. One of the gloves contained a piece of the puzzle they needed. They had to correctly answer all of the questions before proceeding to the final event. They were allowed to ask the rest of their team for help during this event.

During the final event, the students had to properly dispose of the spent absorbents by placing their absorbents using the proper disposal method. Several bags were labeled with different disposals, which aided in the understanding that absorbents take on the properties of whatever is absorbed into them. They then were given the final piece to the puzzle and the decoder to unscramble the message.

Prizes (promotional items) were awarded to the winning teams, as well as students who could answer questions about New Pig, our products, and their applications.

At least two times a year, New Pig hosts the American Red Cross Bloodmobile so Piggers have an easy and convenient way to donate blood.

During today’s visit, New Pig surpassed its goal by 4 pints by donating 24 pints of blood to the Red Cross.

Cheryl, a loyal, blood-giving Pigger, waits patiently to donate.

By the way, if any of that blood should spill … here’s how to be ready.

The world needs more of what you see below: Smiles being created.

That’s marketing guru Lois Geller in the PIG® Hat sent to her by yours truly. She’s talking about The Pig Blog at a marketing conference (see me in the slide???!!!). She said everyone wanted her hat.

Good news, you Lid Lovers! We’re always offering some kind of gift with a purchase at newpig.com. That PIG® Hat could be yours yet!

Lo, thanks for talking up New Pig and for giving permission to post this photo! See ya on Twitter!

One of our fabulous Piggers here in Customer Service, Cheri, has a “journal” full of funny quotes that were overheard. She inherited this journal from another fabulous Pigger, Leigh, who now works in another department. These are some of the tamer entries! Enjoy!

Pigger to dismayed Customer
“Fear not!”

Customer discussing a volume of liquid with a Tech Services Pigger
“You could pee more than we’re talking about.”

A shining example of our listening powers
Pigger: Did you say your name is Tom or John?”
Customer: “Charlie.”

Good stuff from customers
Customer: “We got them from your distributor—Sweat Hogs?”
Pigger: “Safety-Kleen?”
Customer: “Yeah!”

Exchanges related to promotional items
Pigger: “Do you want the Stress Balls?”
Customer: “No, I have bourbon for that.”

Pigger: “We have T-shirts, a Sporksball … That’s like a Nerf ball that looks like a pig.”
Customer: “A sports bra that looks like a Nerf ball?”

Pigger: “Just a minute, let me get out of the Shirt.” (meaning go to another part of the order system)
Customer:  (stunned silence)

Classic one liners from Pigger to Customer:
Discussing options for shipping some items: “They should be able to go postal.”

“Are you Rich?” (Yeah, how wealthy are you, anyway?)

“It has 2″ and 3/4″ bung holes for you to get in and out of the drum.”

“Let me grab Jennifer for you.”

“I don’t want to hold you any longer.”

Ever get the Return Guilts? I get ‘em.

I’m standing in line at a store returns desk, and even if everything’s in order—I have the receipt, I didn’t open the package, I even smoothed down the corner of a price sticker that curled up, so it’s nicer than when I bought it—still, I’m bracing myself like it’s traffic court. I have Return Guilts based on bad experiences. Some stores seem intent on creating an aura of suspicion: brisk returns clerks, complicated procedures, intimidating postings about policies.

I have my credit card out. I double-check that it’s the one I used for that purchase. It’s signed, but I’m also ready to show my driver’s license. Not just show it—I slide it from the holder because I’m sometimes asked to do that. I have my clergy person on speed-dial as a character reference. I work at looking relaxed.

Return Guilts are hard on the innocent.

I was stunned recently when a store return was quick and easy.  I handed over the receipt, there was some bar code scanning and button punching, and I got the processed receipt back with a smile. I barely had time to pick up the pen on the counter. I didn’t need to sign anything anyway.

The power of easy returns hit me in a fresh way. I could feel the appreciation ripple through me as I walked out. I’d be back.

New Pig has always offered an unconditional guarantee and easy returns. We even pay the original and return freight if you’re not satisfied. I’m glad to say that. Life is too short for Return Guilts!

P.S. I was back in that store sooner than I expected. I was so stunned that I walked away with their pen. I returned it with a smile.