A new product is on the market ? and the whole idea stems from a bare staircase and two dedicated women.
Clarkston resident Judy Hoddinott and Ortonville resident Judy McBride worked hard to create the newest trend in home decor ? Volban.
What is Volban? To understand, Hoddinott and McBride began explaining from the root of their creation.
If you take a look at your staircase, you may not see much. Many are traditional wood or steel and are used for only one purpose, as a guide to walk up and down steps. The Judys saw something more.
At the foot of many staircases is a post called the newel. Usually, the post has a swirling design. Hoddinott attempted to place a vase on top of the post, but the idea didn’t work very well. The vase was unstable and could have crashed down upon the slightest movement. She proceeded to tape it down, glue it, anything that would help, but nothing did.
That is when the idea was born: Hoddinott and McBride put their heads together and came up with…Volban.
Volban is a system by which a custom made vessel, bowl or pot is safely and securely stabilized on the post (volute) using a specialized, patent-pending fixture. With the help of ceramicist Don Fuchs, the specialized pots are already in production. Also, with the help of their husbands, Hoddinott and McBride were able to specify the details of their product.
‘I expect to provide homeowners with the option to personalize their staircase,? said Hoddinott. ‘It has been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.?
The pots are water tight and can hold eight inch potted plants, fresh flowers, dried silk flowers or any decorative piece of your choice.
Hoddinott and McBride have showcased their product at gatherings including the SCAMP auction.
‘We are great partners,? said McBride. ‘There were times that we were saddened by results and there were times that we were thrilled, but we stayed focused.?
Volban is currently sold at The Parsonage, Frames N Art and North Oakland Trim and Mill Works Incorporated and Moran’s Flora Incorporated.
Hoddinott and McBride have definitely worked hard and experienced great success.
Something they both feel has helped them acheive all they do is a saying by Winston Churchill: ‘No matter how tough it got, we never gave up.?