Idaho Falls company sells mermaid tails worldwide

Fin Fun's seven mermaid princesses (from left): Brynn, Zoey, Destiny, Crystal, Jia, Waverlee and Serena

Landlocked Idaho Falls is the last place you might expect to find mermaids, but a local company has turned one young girl’s fascination into a global enterprise.

Fin Fun, a company with its headquarters on Sunnyside Road, is now shipping mermaid tails and suits to 86 countries. The company has grown to 40 people, and has 100 seamstresses spread out across the upper Snake River Valley, from Blackfoot to Rexburg.

“Our market is little girls all over the world,” said Melinda Turner, the company’s marketing director.

It started in 2009, when Karen Browning of St. Anthony got a puzzling request from her granddaughter Emily, to make her a mermaid tail. "Having sewn for over 50 years, I laughed and said, 'I don't know how to make mermaid tails,'" Browning said. "Well, she soon showed me that by ingenuity and working together, we could do it."

Using spandex swimsuit material and rigid material for the fin, Browning applied her sewing skills to the project. "It proved so popular as she and her sister Sarah swam in them that soon her friends were asking where they could get their very own tail," Browning said. She knew she was onto something. She began selling them on eBay and set up a store on Etsy.

Demand took off, so much so that Browning’s sons, Eric and Steve, came back to eastern Idaho to run the company. Forging a relationship with Elevate Fulfillment, a third-party logistics company on Lindsay Boulevard, the company grew.

From a marketing standpoint, Fin Fun offers a great lesson in what the Internet has made possible. Turner has set up a Web site, www.Finfunmermaids.com, that features not only the company’s products but art, photos, videos and a Meet the Mermaidens blog written by Emma Turner, 16, a student at Hillcrest High School. The Facebook page has more than 27,000 likes.

The company also makes shark fins for boys and just this Monday released a merman tail. Turner said the hottest markets of late are Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and the Philippines, where there are classes that teach girls and boys how to swim with the fins.

With 39 grandchildren, Browning has a special place in her heart for young people. “We have been delighted to be a part of making dreams come true for so many little (and bigger) mermaids,” she said. "Even now, after so much growth, we are proud that all of our suits, costumes and monofins are still made here in the USA.”

In addition to offering the best product they can make at an affordable price, Fin Fun donates a generous amount of its profits to children's causes. In 2013, these included Primary Children’s Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, World Association for Children and Parents, Idaho Falls Humanitarian Center, Unicef, Mentors International, CASA, Amazima Ministries, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Operation Smile and Idaho Art Lab.

“We hope to do even more to bless the lives of children,” Browning said.

Here’s a YouTube video:

American Nuclear Society honors four from Idaho

David Nigg

Four members of the Idaho Section of the American Nuclear Society are being honored this week by the American Nuclear Society at the organization’s winter meeting. The honors are for professional contributions to the organization and to the nuclear profession.

David Nigg, Idaho Falls, was one of five members selected as an ANS Fellow. “Fellow” is the highest membership level within ANS, reserved for senior members who have compiled a professional record of significant contributions in to the advancement of nuclear science, engineering and technology. Nigg is also an INL Fellow and the principal investigator for the laboratory’s Advanced Radiotherapy program. He received a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from the University of Kansas, a master’s in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University and a doctorate in engineering sciences from the University of Kansas.

Shannon Bragg-Sitton, Idaho Falls, received the Mary Jane Oestmann Professional Women’s Achievement Award for her exceptional contributions to the U. S. Department of Energy’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program and nuclear hybrid energy programs. Prior to joining Idaho National Laboratory, she served as an assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University. She received a Master of Science and doctorate in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan.

Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar, Idaho Falls, received the Landis Public /Communication and Education Award. She is an Associate Professor and the Associate Chair in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics at Idaho State University. She received her Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University in 2003. Her research interests include the nuclear fuel cycle, systems modeling, spent fuel processing, and waste form development. She is the chair of the ANS Public Communication Committee.

Brad Merrill received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the ANS Fusion Energy Division. He is a distinguished engineer in the Nuclear Science & Engineering Experiment Programs Department at INL. He is the technical lead for computer code development for fusion safety. He also works on licensing, fusion safety code development and modifications for computer codes for the ITER International Project. He has a bachelor of science degree in nuclear engineering from Oregon State University.

The Idaho Section of the American Nuclear Society was honored for providing the Best Public Information among the large ANS local sections within the organization.

Established in 1954, ANS is an international professional organization of engineers and scientists devoted to the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. Its more than 11,000 members represent government, academia, research laboratories, medical facilities and private industry.

Westbank closure puts holiday party space at a premium

The dividing line between the Hotel on the Falls and the Westbank Convention Center. The latter has been closed since late August, when owner Dane Watkins decided to look for someone to lease or buy the business.

If you're wondering why there are barriers and a fence between the Hotel on the Falls and the locked-up Westbank Restaurant and Lounge, they've been erected for liability reasons, said Dane Watkins, owner of the latter property.

With the holiday reception and party season at hand, the Westbank's closure has put space at a premium, and the Shilo Inn is doing business like never before. Anyone thinking about an event between now and the end of the year has only Monday and Tuesday from which to choose, said Bill Gossett of Keefer's Island Restaurant and Catering.

While the Westbank's closure, which happened in late August, has meant more business for his catering company, Gossett said there was enough business for everybody. "We're sad to see them go, but very happy we can accommodate the community," he said.

Watkins said he is looking for someone interested in leasing or buying the business. Signs in the door to the restaurant say "Closed for remodeling," but they're waiting to hear what any potential operator might say needs to be done, he said, adding that he recognizes the site's great location and historical resonance.

The restaurant and lounge, motel and pool (now frozen solid) date back to the early 1960s, when they were built by Ferris Clark, who started on the land with two log buildings in the 1920s. Clark, the grandson of Idaho Falls' first mayor, built the eight-story tower in the mid-1970s and reportedly had plans for a second where the convention center and motel now stand empty. Due to age and declining health he retired in 1980, and died in 1987 at age 79.

After his departure, the hotel went by different names, including Best Western, Red Lion and finally the Hotel on the Falls. Until 2012, the property was owned by Jim and Sharon Bennett and Robert and Sharon Paulus. That year, the hotel was deeded to trusts set up by the families while Watkins bought the convention center and the land on which it sits.

In 2006, an Indian company called Om Shiv Ganesh LLC took over operation of the hotel and convention center. Doing business as Red Lion Hotel on the Falls, the managing partner, Bhupendra Patel, took out a $4.37 million mortgage in 2006. In summer 2008, terms were amended to reduce the unpaid balance to $2.505 million, then, in April 2011 the company got a loan extension allowing it to make interest-only payments for six months. But with the economy at a low, the company's struggles didn't end. In June this year, Idaho Hotel Holdings, the Los Angeles company that now owns the tower, filed a default judgment against Om Shiv Ganesh for more than $3.4 million, claiming they had stopped making payments after December 2012 and failed to pay property taxes for five years.

Brady Kraupp, who runs the hotel for Westerra Realty & Management, the Salt Lake City company managing the receivership, said he's optimistic about the tower's future. "It's in pretty good shape, really," he said. "It's a concrete building. We're hoping to have a new owner after the first of the year, perhaps have some chain come in and buy it. I could be partial, but we still have the best view and the biggest rooms."

Meanwhile they're getting dozens of phone calls every day from people wondering if they can rent a room for a party. Sales manager Tom Williams tells them to call the Shilo.

Togo's opening first eastern Idaho restaurant in Rexburg

Togo's Eateries is opening its first eastern Idaho restaurant in Rexburg at 485 North 2nd East. To celebrate the occasion, it is giving away 1,000 free hot pastrami and turkey avocado sandwiches and giving guests a chance at winning free sandwiches for a year, free product, a catering party and more.

The grand opening will take place Nov. 2. The Togo's team will also host a training fund-raiser for Madison High School Athletics on Tuesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. There is a $5 suggested cash donation in exchange for a regular sandwich and drink.

"We've been hooked on Togo's since our first bite," said franchisee Debbie Jenkins, who with her husband, Ty, announced plans last spring to open five Togo’s in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Twin Falls. "We sincerely love the food and know the people of Rexburg will love it too."
In all, the restaurant plans seven weeks of giveaways, including:

The hot pastrami or turkey avacado sandwiches will go to the first 1,000 people to sign up at www.togosrexburggiveaway.com. The coupon will be valid Nov. 21-26.

Week 2, free sandwiches for a year will go to every 100th guest.

Togo's Rexburg will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guests can call 208-372-8040 or visit http://www.togos.com to place an order. Delivery will be available throughout the local community.

Gator Jack's opening in old Winger's location

James Pace amid the remodeling in the old Winger's restaurant, soon to reopen as Gator Jack's.

You might not have noticed, but the old Winger's building on Hitt Road has changed from blue to green. It will soon be the second location of Gator Jack's, a Rigby restaurant operated for seven years by James and Kimberly Pace.

Pace said he hopes to be open by Dec. 1, but admitted it might be more like the middle of the month. The interior of the 3,300-square-foot restaurant is being remodeled to give it a "swampier" motif. Gator Jack's specializes in Cajun food, fried chicken, gator tail, etc.

Originally from California, Pace's experience includes operating a bed and breakfast in Saco, Maine. He came to eastern Idaho in 2004 to attend BYU-Idaho, after which he started Gator Jack's near the North Rigby exit on U.S. Highway 20.

If you want to know more, the Facebook page is as good a place to look as any: https://www.facebook.com/GatorJacks.

Rocknak's opening Postal Service shipping center

Brian Rocknak of Rocknak's Hardware

Rocknak's Hardware will be opening a U.S. Postal Service mail and shipping center in its store. When that will happen is a good question, but they hope it will be in time for the holiday rush.

Idaho Falls' west side has been without such a location since Walker's closed in the spring. Brian Rocknak said the USPS approached several businesses in the area, and that he and his father, Dave, decided it made good business sense, as it would bring more people in the door.

The contract was signed in October, and they are now waiting for fixtures and training from the Postal Service. They plan to be hiring three people to help out, he said.

A west side retail mainstay since 1996, when Dave Rocknak bought Jones Hardware, Rocknak's has carved out a niche for itself on a few different fronts. "This is the best year we have had since we opened the new store in 2005," Brian Rocknak said.

Right now, their hottest selling item is .22-caliber shells. "For some reason, everybody else is having a hard time getting them, but we've got a few sources and have been able to keep them in stock, he said.

Also, the store's special focus on bird seed and bird feeders has made it a destination for a lot of people in the areas. "I never thought it would be that big a part of our business, but it has," he said.

Take a Chance: Hire a Veteran

In all my years in HR management, Mike, the mechanics laborer, is my most memorable hire and recruit.

The position was with a company in Boise that did industrial repairs for major companies and corporations. It was entry-level, supporting more of the technical and high skilled positions. The work was laborious and the pay was low. We were not hopeful about finding solid candidates, because unemployment was low at the time and the job offered no benefits. It would be a challenge finding someone willing and able to do the work, let alone stay with it more than a few days.

Then we met Mike. After 10 years in the United States Army, working with tanks and combat equipment, he had decided he needed a change. With a couple of tours in Iraq under his belt he headed off into the civilian world to find a new career.

I’ll never forget looking at his resume and being surprised how with his extensive experience he hadn’t found a job after leaving the Army. Actually, I was completely shocked.

I asked him why he thought he hadn’t found a job.  His response was just as surprising. He looked at me, paused for a moment and said, “I guess what I did in the Army doesn’t really make sense to a lot of companies and I don’t have the right skills or experience to fit their needs.”  He said his search had been so disheartening and disappointing he was considering rejoining the military.

I hired Mike on the spot. His supervisor, who was a very tough manager to please, respected Mike so much that he told people every mechanics laborer needed to be “just like Mike.” Mike worked hard and moved up in the company.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 800,000 veterans are currently unemployed nationally. According to a 2012 study, 60 percent of veterans listed “finding a job” as the greatest challenge in transitioning to civilian life.

As we wake up and hurry off to work on Veteran’s Day, many of the people who fought for our freedom would like to be doing the same. Veterans deserve a chance to prove themselves as solid candidates. They deserve more than the opportunity to shake hands and pass out resumes at career fairs.

Employers who choose to unfairly evaluate or consider veterans for open positions could face discriminatory legal liabilities. However, the loss for not considering veterans goes well beyond lawsuits. Employers who choose not to consider veterans as candidates are missing out on a large pool of high-caliber candidates.

While logistics technician, paratrooper or even combat infantry might seem like military jobs with
non-transferable skills, they actually are. Regardless of job title, military service provides high-level leadership development and vocational training to all service members. Many times this extensive and high-intensity training comes in a non-traditional and high-stress environment. Veterans are accustomed to working in diverse and cross-functional teams to accomplish common goals. They are detail oriented and adapt quickly. They have the ability to handle conflicting priorities and expectations and hold others accountable for their responsibilities. High levels of compliance and discipline are engrained into their mindsets and work ethics.  Dedication, loyalty, team-work and perseverance are also traits that can’t be forgotten when considering veterans as employees.

So the question is why wouldn’t a company consider a veteran as a candidate?  Companies like JP Morgan Chase, Disney, Capital One, Toyota, Johnson and Johnson and Verizon have come up with programs to recruit and hire veterans and are wondering why other companies aren’t doing the same.

I am not suggesting that employers simply hire a veteran over another candidate just because of the veteran’s status. I am suggesting, however, that if you have entry level positions, a general pool of candidates, or are in a situation where you are considering Candidate A vs. Veteran Candidate B that you take an extra look at that veteran’s resume and really consider the potential.

As a business owner and proud wife of a veteran, I am dedicated to giving those who have served a chance to find careers and opportunities and enjoy the American dream they fought for. I challenge you today to take a stand and make a difference for these brave men and women. Isn’t your freedom worth it?

Monica Bitrick is CEO of Bitrick Consulting Group, an Idaho Falls human resources company.