Wednesday, November 17, 2010

New iPad Case Unveiled by Powis

From developing the first ever desktop thermal binding machine, to the Photobook binding industry, to iPad cases – Kevin Parker reinvents and expands his business which has always been based in his passion: handcrafted book binding. For Kevin, it’s always been about books and binding – and inventing an original product that changes the game.

Powis iCase, the latest product from Powis, offers sturdy iPad protection with personalization, design customization, and 9+ positions for all iPad activities. This stylish, unique cover, which is inspired by the traditional book, enhances the sleek, streamlined look of the iPad, while offering quality protection.

What’s Your Favorite Position?
With its patent-pending designer stand, Powis iCase provides more than 9 sturdy positions for every iPad use. Whether you are watching a movie, playing a game, writing emails, presenting to a colleague or just surfing the web, Powis iCase secures the iPad in the most comfortable position for your activity. The various positions accommodate every location where you may be using your iPad – at the office, at home, in a coffee shop, on an airplane or on the go.

Premium leathers to Popular Patterns to Personal Designs
To support the personal nature of the iPad, there are more than 40 handcrafted leathers and popular patterns to choose from on www.powisicase.com. Powis iCase can be personalized with a name, company logo, monogram, inscription, or a favorite quote. For designers or for people who just know what they want, Powis also offers the ability to put unique designs or photos on the Powis iCase.

More features
Powis iCase offers a snap-in frame to hold the iPad securely in place, while maintaining the streamlined design of the iPad. To keep the iPad clean, Powis iCase comes with a handy microfiber wipe cloth with secret storage. The iPad floats above the frame so that debris wipes off the iPad and not into the case. On the inside cover, there is a convenient business card holder. And the movable hand strap provides secure closure and carry.

Eco-friendly construction
Powis iCase has the environment in mind. Fiber content of its handcrafted leather is 100% recycled cowhide fibers. All cases are constructed with 100% recycled board.

Powis iCase is Designed and Assembled in the USA.

Pricing and Availability
Powis iCase is available in many different leathers, patterns, and with personalization, ranging from $49.95 for a patterned iPad case on printed laminated cover to $79.95 for premium handcrafted leather.

Powis iCase is available online at www.powisicase.com.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The History of Powis Parker

The history of Powis Parker – “There has to be a better way..”

1983, the year M.A.S.H aired its last episode and the Washington Redskins beat the Miami Dolphins in Superbowl XVII, there was a young man with a mission to make bookbinding better. Kevin Powis Parker incorporated his company Powis Parker with the intention to share his passion of handcrafted bookbinding and introduce the first ever desktop thermal binding machine, the Fastback.

Teenage Parker
It all started in 1979; Kevin was a teen with a mission and a bright idea to glue loose printed pages into a booklet. Kevin grew up in Berkeley with his parents, both artists. Growing up in an environment of artistic values and a basement surrounded by glue pots and tools of the trade sparked Kevin’s incubated interest in bookbinding. Many of the Parker family’s artistic friends wanted their books to be bound and Kevin would do this for them from scratch.

Artist turned Entrepreneur Parker  - UC Berkeley years
Kevin’s high school teacher and mentor, Jim Kelley, owned an office supply business that sold bookbinding equipment. Unfortunately, this equipment was sub-standard. It used very poor adhesive strips which resulted in loose pages in the bind! There had to be a better way. Jim recognized Kevin’s artistic values and suggested he develop a new, better adhesive for bookbinding. Kevin followed the path of famous success stories like Apple founder Steve Jobs and modern day Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg by taking an early exit out of college to focus on his idea and passion for invention. In 1982 Parker developed a new adhesive strip to work with the Cheshire machine sold by Jim Kelley and eventually, with the help of his astronomy buddies from UC Berkeley, Kevin developed a new machine which could feed his own invented strips.

Today
More than two decades later, Kevin runs a global business producing multi-color and multi-size patented binding strips in his home town of Berkeley, California.  Today, the Powis Fastback© system is used by every branch of the US Federal Government, many Fortune 500 companies, and even the White House copy room.. During the 2003-2004 years Powis entered the PhotoBook binding industry. Photo labs and large photo companies like Fujifilm and Kodak use the Powis photobook hardcover binding methods to beautifully bind their products.

Most people spend a lifetime searching for their passion and a practical application for it, but Kevin quickly turned his passion and artistic values as a teen into a successful bookbinding business! Stay tuned for yet another chapter in the Powis Parker story.

Published By: Amir Shobeiri
October 26, 2010