• EcoATM Kiosk Helps You Sell Your Old Electronics

    Sprinkles Cupcake ATM Beverly Hills

    Sprinkles in Beverly Hills eases your late-night cravings with the world's first cupcake ATM. But cupcakes aren't the only things ATMs are dispensing.

     

    Southern California is full of modern-day kiosk conveniences; like the world's first cupcake ATM at Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, CA. Coinstar is another innovative kiosk to turn your coins into a gift card or paper bills, Redbox helps you rent movie and video games and Amazon's Locker organizes online purchase package retrieval. So what else is out there?

    The EcoATM

    Developed by Outerwall in San Diego, EcoATM is an automated device-recycling kiosk that collects unwanted or used cell phones, tablets and MP3 players for instant cash (also known as a cellphone buy-back or trade-in program).

    The machines determine the amount by looking at three things:

    1. Model
    2. Condition
    3. Current market value

    Did you know by the end of 2015, there will still be an estimated 422 million idle or inactive mobile devices, and out of those, only 99 million will be recycled. They're hoping to help increase the recycled amount. Here's a cool video on how it works.

    EcoATM video: 

    If you are the kind of person who has amassed a truckload of electronics, and you want to responsibly turn them in (and make some cash), EcoATM sounds like a convenient, easy and safe way to declutter your office.

    Your Turn to Comment

    What do you think of the new EcoATM kiosks? Would you ever use them? Do they provide enough value for you? Will Apple's iPhone Buy-Back program crush EcoATM? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check me out on Instagram (@johntrosko).

     

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  • Watch This Commerical. Do Vacuum-Compressed Storage Bags Encourage Hoarding?

    Ziplock Pillow Commercial

    Ziplock Space Bag commercial screenshot – this gal is hoarding pillows inside her kitchen cabinets and her partner isn't thrilled.

    As a professional organizer I am often asked about my thoughts on vacuum-compressed storage bags. It seems like people have a love-hate relationship with them (you either love them, or hate them). In fact, I was most recently asked about them for a Tips for Storing Winter Clothing piece for About.com.

     

    My thoughts on vacuum-compressed storage bags

    "John (in About.com): If you don’t have room for large plastic bins, plastic vacuumed compressed storage bags are a great option because once they’re shrunk down, you can sneak them into just about anywhere like cabinet nooks and the tight space under your bed. Be aware that clothes may wrinkle inside the bags, the bags don’t sit square and they slide off each other if stacked on a shelf. They’re prone to “pop” open, too. In that case, use some heavy duty tape to seal the zippers so you won’t have the popping issue. Check the bags in the first few days of the summer for sweat or beads of water under the plastic surface."

     

    The Space Bag "I Really Like Pillows" Commercial:

    We've been seeing this Ziplock Space Bags-brand commercial the past few days. Space Bags are incredibly popular and this commercial is quite humorous. If you can't see the video below, click this link.

     

    iSpot.tv says "this woman, likely being a hoarder, likes pillows so much she ended up piling them in her closet, the kitchen cupboards and all over the living room. But, with the convenient storage Ziploc Space Bags provide, she can put away most of the pillows in order to make room for the special ones like the "His" and "Hers" pillows… and also make room for her husband's sanity."

     

    The commercial is really cute but I think they went overboard with the idea. I don't like that this gal:

    • Didn't part with any pillows – donate or sell any;
    • Put her need to collect over the value of her relationship;
    • Did not examine her shopping addictions.

     

    I know they're playing up the drama and at the end of the commercial, the couple are back on the couch existing as one happy couple– all in 30 seconds!

     

    Your Turn to Comment

    What do you think of the new Space Bag commercial? Do you think they've gone way over the line and encouraged people to continue to hoard their pillows? Do you use vacuum-compressed bags? Do you like them? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check me out on Instagram (@johntrosko).

     

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    Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.

     

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  • Terry’s Fabrics: Interior Design Insights with John Trosko

    Terry's Fabrics UK Interior Designer Insights
    This past week Terry's Fabrics, a United Kingdom based fabric and home furnishings store asked me to participate in some trend-forecasting for their "Designer Insights" series. Not only do I choose my top pics of the season, but I talk about my design style and aesthetic, creative process and who inspires my work. I also provided advise for people looking to follow in my footsteps as a professional organizer.  Click here to read the interview.

    Organizing product trends for 2015

     

    What are the hot new trends for organizing products in 2015? Simple: Everything metallic and copper (storage boxes, suitcases, vessels), trays covered in raffia (for the nightstand, den– anywhere because they're covered in fabric and won't scratch) and chunky open Parson's storage (great for a stylish storage area, family room or small business office).

     

    Designer Insights Interview

     (clicking on the image below will take you to the interview)

     

     
    Image above courtesy of: Terrys Fabrics
     
     
    You can check out over 300 interior designer interviews on the Terry's Fabrics designer series. Our favorites are Los Angeles interior designers Dee Murphy of Murphy Deesign, Isla Schmidt of Jac Interiors, blogger Adrienne from Chic California  and Los Angeles Architect Dan Brunn.
     

    Your Turn to Comment

     

    What do you think are the hot new trends for organizing and interior design for 2015– and beyond?  Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check me out on Instagram (@johntrosko).

     

    Like this Topic?

     

    Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.

     

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  • Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Hires an Organizer And You’ll Never Guess What Happened

    Mayim bialik at home with kids

    Big Bang's Mayim Bialik seems to be happy to have hired a Professional Organizer; her results really opened her eyes.  (photo)

    We don't think we've ever seen someone write about their celebrity organizing experience like Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik wrote about recently.

     

    Best known for her lead role in the 1990s NBC sitcom Blossom, as well as her current role as Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS' The Big Bang Theory, Mayim really, really opened up on Kveller, a Jewish parenting blog and you've got to see this.

     

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  • Hollywood’s Hottest Geek Olivia Munn Loves A Shipshape Bedroom

     

    Olivia Munn at Home

    Magic Mike Actress Olivia Munn at the front door of her very organized and clutter-free Hollywood Hills home

    The film Magic Mike might be focused on romance in the bedroom, but the Actress who starred in the original film is all business, proclaiming that she cannot stand clutter and prioritizes keeping things neat and tidy.

     

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  • Organizing Emergency: Should You Use Dry Cleaning Bags For Clothing Storage?

     

    Dry cleaning bags

    Can dry cleaner bags really harm your clothes?

     

    Barbie B., a Malibu Realtor wrote us the following question recently and agreed to have us feature her on the OrganizingLA "Organizing Emergency" section.

     

    "Is it okay to store clothing garments in dry cleaner bags? And for garments that aren’t worn often and are prone to dust or are delicate and need some TLC, what type of bags do you prefer? I would love to use something clear."

     

    (more…)

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