I have experimented with SpaceBags® with mixed results. They are those big zippered bags that you use a vacuum cleaner hose with to suck all of the air out and shrink down your blankets or clothing for smaller storage. Sometimes they have worked great, and sometimes I have gotten one with a slow leak that makes it balloon-up larger over time causing a problem. Organizing pros that are friends of mine have also mixed opinions. It's a great idea, though...
Well, now there is another option! It's so new that only certain people in our industry even know about it-- some of us have been testing it in secret for a few months. Finally we can talk about it-- I am so excited!
It's called the "ShrinkSizer." It actually shrinks your stuff! A team of university physicists has actually figured out how to alter the molecular structure of physical items so that they take up less space, making them into a tiny version of themselves temporarily. When you're ready to "reconstitute" your items, you just change a setting on the device to reverse the process. In my testing of household applications, one of my favorite things to shrink is books, and I also have loved shrinking out-of-season clothing and large sports gear in the garage.
Of course, I am sure you can see the implications of this for any kind of shipping or storage, and many other uses! The smaller household version won't be widely available to the public until the fall, but FedEx and UPS are starting to experiment with it commercially starting next month with permission from their test customers. There will be an upcharge to shrink your shipments, but it will still be cheaper than shipping at the original weight and size. Our little household uses for this will pale in comparison to all of the creative ways it will be used in business. It's absolutely revolutionary! And it's also a great APRIL FOOLS JOKE. (Click here for last year's.)
Big cheesy grin,
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LOL, Wouldn't that be nice!
Posted by: Tanna | April 01, 2009 at 07:39 AM
Hahahaha! Good one!
Deb =)
Posted by: Deb Lee | April 01, 2009 at 08:14 AM
Hahaha! I wish!
Posted by: chaotic kitten | April 01, 2009 at 08:17 AM
Can I get one of these ASAP. I'm helping a client move and this would make everything so much easier to pack. Thanks.
Do you take AMEX?
Posted by: Scott Roewer aka declutteryou.com | April 01, 2009 at 03:49 PM
I will be the experiment and won't even charge you to try all my clutter.... :)
Genny Esterline
www.connectionsforwomen.com
This is the first quiet April Fools I have had as a mother. Usually I have to check for saran wrap on the toilet, rubber bands around the spray faucets etc.
Posted by: Genny Esterline | April 02, 2009 at 04:14 PM
That's hilarious, Lorie--happy April Fool's Day.
Posted by: Aviva Goldfarb | April 03, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Did anyone notice that the link for ShrinkSizer actually takes you to the April Fools Day page on Wikipedia? Just asking. ;)
- Lorie
Posted by: Lorie Marrero | April 06, 2009 at 01:20 PM
No, I didn't notice. Didn't even think about clicking on ShrinkSizer. You thought of everything.
Posted by: Gloria | April 06, 2009 at 05:06 PM