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.

I sent the following message as an email to all Piggers, and we decided to share it here as well—not to toot our own horn but to show our passion for our company and our work.

YES, I’m PIGGER PROUD…AGAIN!

Piggers know that meetings, conferences, group tours of our facilities go on here all the time for customers, prospects, suppliers, students, teachers, consultants, salespeople, joy seekers, whoever! No big deal.

Anyway, this past Tuesday, 42 high school students and 4 faculty met with six departments in three buildings to learn first hand about how a local business operates and what career opportunities are available in their own community. They experienced not only our people up close and personal, but also our products, marketing, manufacturing, warehouse / distribution, human resource services and customer service. They raved about their visit. No surprise—it happens ALL THE TIME and that’s what’s amazing!

It’s the norm here, and it should never be taken lightly. But it’s not the norm in most places. It’s just remarkable how consistently enthusiastic, professional, and friendly everyone is toward fellow Piggers and visitors. After each visit, without fail, our guests have always expressed nothing but the highest praise and admiration for our people and company. And they’ll share their delightful New Pig experience with many others. That’s powerful and a very important element of our success.

Sometimes we get to play a major role like the six managers who presented on Tuesday and sometimes just a minor role. But everyone contributes to the whole. Whether we realize it or not, no matter what our role may be in the company, we’re all in a sense in public relations, sales and service.

The face we show to the public is a major element of the PIG® Brand. We are New Pig. May it always be so and never taken for granted.

Thank you to Pam and Paula at the Altoona Area School District
for providing these photos!

I’m not only an employee of New Pig—a Pigger, as we’re called—I’m also a fan of New Pig.

I still remember the moment, 20 years ago this fall, when I first saw the PIG® logo and learned about PIG® absorbents. It was a big kick just to be introduced to this company that was taking a fun approach to products used by hard-working people—I grew up around farmers, mill workers and quarry workers. New Pig made my world brighter. It was a triumph of good humor and product value.

Then I got to work there!

I mention all that because there are moments when I see something new from New Pig that I wasn’t involved with creating—so it’s as fresh to my eyes as it is to a non-Pigger’s—and I still get that kind of kick out of it.

This time it was a new character in the new video on the home page at newpig.com. He’s a little poly fiber guy, but strong. He lifts weights! He does push-ups! He wrestles with other fibers of his own kind! He’s what makes PIG® Absorbent Mat the Mat with Muscle®.

I poked around and found out who was behind the video. It turns out that my fellow blogger Kitty was one of the producers. She said the little fiber guy has no name.

We have to call this cool little creature something. So name him! Suggest a name with a comment on this post. Here are the guidelines:

• If your name idea submitted on The Pig Blog is used, you won’t receive any compensation of any kind other than the glory of having supplied the name
• If your name idea submitted on The Pig Blog is used, we’ll thank you publicly on The Pig Blog by using the name (for yourself) that you use in your blog comment
• If New Pig uses a name submitted by more than one person on The Pig Blog, we’ll name each of you
• Piggers are (yes, are) eligible to make a grab for this naming glory
• All name ideas submitted on The Pig Blog become property of New Pig
• New Pig makes all final decisions related to this character, including whether he does get a name and whether the name comes from a comment on this post
• New Pig makes all final decisions on whether to publish a given comment on The Pig Blog
• Deadline for submissions is, oh let’s say, noon ET on June 15

Whether or not you want to toss out a name idea, go see the video. Watch the fiber guy. He’s great.

Those of you with loading docks might be interested in the new Rite-Vu™ Light Communication System from Rite-Hite. It’s designed to help prevent collisions between forklifts and/or pedestrians as well as trailer separation accidents. The key is lights that show whether a forklift is inside a trailer and whether the trailer is secured to the dock.

Right-Vu™ System

New Pig’s own loading dock expert, Kevin Rhine, showed me that our safety system includes Dok-Lok Vehicle Restraints, also from Rite-Hite. The restraint latches onto a trailer to keep it from separating from the dock during loading or unloading, and the system includes lights that show when the restraint is engaged.

Dok-Lok lighting panel in use at New Pig

At all New Pig loading docks, even those without a Dok-Lok System, a driver will apply a Glad Hand Lockout to the brake line of a docked trailer, or a Club Lockout to the steering wheel of a docked box truck, so there’s no unexpected pulling away from the dock.

Glad Hand Lockout in use at New Pig

Club Lockout stored at New Pig loading dock

We don’t sell the items shown above, but we do sell wheel chocks and these loading dock accessories.