Meet Dalaine Bartelme of COLORpockit in Fort Collins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dalaine Bartelme.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In February 2016 when having lunch with my husband and son at a restaurant, I wished out loud that I had something small and portable that I could put into my purse that would carry coloring supplies so I could color in my downtime instead of being on my phone. My husband suggested that we could have coloring cards instead of a book, and I decided that the cards should be 4″ x 6″ so they could fit into a photo frame or album and that they should be postcards that could be mailed after they were colored. We started researching, and couldn’t find anything like what I wanted, so we decided to invent it ourselves! Luckily, my husband designs for a living and was able to work with a friend to create what we wanted. Two years and thirty plus prototypes later, the COLORpockit was born! We have a version made of food-grade plastic, available in five colors, and a deluxe wood version, made of American Oak. We started selling our products online on our own website in December of 2018 and on Amazon in July of 2019. We currently have 19 artists who design coloring decks for us and our library of refill decks for the COLORpockit is over 60 strong and growing. Supporting our artists is important to us, and they earn a commission on every deck sold. This endeavor has been the following of a dream, and I’m really excited to see where it takes us!

Has it been a smooth road?
One of our original struggles was to find the right design for the COLORpockit. Some features that seemed good on paper were not practical in use. I carried each of the prototypes around in my purse to test them out. The one with very squared corners cut a hole in the lining of my purse. Several of the designs would come open and I would find random colored pencils in the bottom of my bag. Others were too noisy with pencils rattling around. Figuring out where the best place for the pencil sharpener and shavings storage was also a process.

Another challenge was finding the colored pencils. It was very important to me that we have double-sided pencils so that we could offer the most choices of colors and still keep it lightweight and small. We started out with a packaged set of pencils that we bought wholesale, and now offer a custom set of pencils made just for us. Sourcing manufacturers and trying to advertise with a small budget were also hurdles to overcome.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with COLORpockit – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
COLORpockit is a company that strives to encourage creativity by giving colorists of all ages a fun activity that is a break from electronics. Our company mascot is Serenity the sloth. She wants to encourage everyone to slow down, relax and focus on self-care.

I really see COLORpockit as more than just a product. One of the things I am most proud of is the COLORpockit Community group that we have created on our company Facebook page. It’s a closed group where members share the cards they’ve colored, and where I share tutorial videos and insider information about what’s new behind the scenes. We have around 1000 members now, and I’m thrilled to have such a supportive and friendly group that our customers can join if they wish.

Our customer service is top-notch, and I personally write “Thank you!” on every packing slip before the orders are sent out. We have heard from so many people how important the COLORpockit is in their lives. Some like it just for fun, but others have used it while receiving cancer treatment, for easing PTSD, and rehabbing after a stroke. I have been brought to tears several times after reading thank you messages from our customers.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like having the variety of cultural and artistic activities we have access to, while also being able to see the beautiful mountains and be outdoors whenever we want. I love the sunny days and mostly mild winters. I’m originally from Iowa, so Colorado weather is much better!

What I like least is the traffic. Probably what everyone says.

Pricing:

• COLORpockit Plastic price is $24.99
• COLORpockit Wood price is $55.00
• COLORpockit Pencil Set price is $10.00

Contact Info:

• Website: www.colorpockit.com
• Email: colorpockit@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorpockit/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenitysloth/
• Twitter: colorpockit@colorpockit
• Other: www.amazon.com/colorpockit

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