Retail & Consumer Goods

Pittsburgh – September 20, 2026 -- A Canadian inventor from Chateauguay, QC, has filed a patent-pending design for the SPY SEAT, a seating attachment that lets anglers sit or lean while fishing from a paddleboard instead of standing.

Design eliminates the need to stand while paddleboard fishing

The SPY SEAT attaches to a paddleboard to give users a stable, comfortable seating position, freeing both hands for casting and reeling. The inventor said the goal was to add stability and support that standard paddleboards lack during fishing use.

Inventor submits design through InventHelp's Toronto office

The concept was developed and submitted through InventHelp's Toronto sales office. A working prototype and technical drawings have been produced and are available for review by interested parties.

Pittsburgh – – September 20, 2026 -- A Windsor, Ontario-based inventor has filed a patent-pending design for COOL SCREEN, a protective cover engineered to shield air conditioning units from weather exposure and debris clogs.

Design targets AC unit longevity and energy efficiency

The invention aims to reduce premature wear on outdoor AC units by blocking environmental debris that typically causes clogs and efficiency losses. By maintaining unobstructed airflow, the product could lower the energy costs tied to reduced compressor performance over time.

Product built for homeowner installation without technical expertise

COOL SCREEN features a durable construction designed for straightforward use, positioning it for the residential HVAC maintenance market. A prototype and technical drawings are available for review by interested manufacturers.

Miami – September 20, 2026 -- Boats Group has expanded eligibility for co-op reimbursement to dealers across six Malibu Boats Group brands, allowing them to recoup 50% of costs for platform membership and digital marketing solutions.

Six Malibu-owned brands gain co-op access to Boats Group marketing tools

The program, officially launched at the Cobalt Dealer Meeting last week, covers authorized dealers representing Malibu, Axis, Pathfinder, Cobia, Pursuit and Cobalt. Eligible dealers can now claim 50% co-op reimbursement through Malibu's existing dealer co-op program for Boats Group membership fees and qualifying digital marketing products, including New Boat Listings, Spotlight Listings, Homepage Hero advertising and Geo/Precision Targeting campaigns.

Guangzhou – September 20, 2026 -- DG Display Showcase is developing a new production base with a planned gross floor area exceeding 30,000 square meters to support larger and more complex international retail projects. The Guangzhou-based company, which specializes in customized display and retail space solutions, said the facility will integrate manufacturing, R&D, engineering and customer experience functions under one roof.

Founded in 1999, DG Display Showcase has completed more than 9,380 brand store projects worldwide and handles over 200 customized projects annually. Its team includes more than 180 engineering and craftsmanship professionals serving jewelry, watches, fragrance, luxury retail and museum display sectors.

Calgary, AB – September 20, 2026 -- Instappraise has integrated its cloud-based jewelry appraisal platform directly with Jewelers Mutual Group's insurance system, enabling real-time personal jewelry insurance quotes at the point of appraisal.

Integration eliminates separate steps for appraisal and insurance coverage

When an appraiser or retailer finalizes an appraisal document within Instappraise, the user can now request an instant insurance quote directly from Jewelers Mutual using the valuation data already entered. The platform emails the personalized quote from Jewelers Mutual to the client, who can then purchase a policy in a few steps.

Early-access rollout begins this month ahead of full-scale launch

The integration is currently available through an exclusive early-access program to select Instappraise users starting in September 2026, with a broader release planned later this year.

El Segundo, Calif. – September 20, 2026 -- Emergent Media has launched "Get Rugged With Me," a creator-led social video campaign built with Leatherman and The Shipyard, running through September 20, 2026 to align with National Preparedness Month.

Campaign adapts "get ready with me" format to position Leatherman as everyday-ready gear

The debut episode features outdoor photographer and environmentalist Colleen preparing for a multi-day backcountry camping and hiking trip. In an unscripted, UGC-style video, she highlights gear she never leaves behind, including the Leatherman Signal and Skeletool CX, showing how the tools fit into her packing routine and time on the trail.

Pittsburgh – September 19, 2026 -- An inventor from Nampa, Idaho, has developed the Hike & Hide, a multipurpose attachment that combines a trowel, stake driver, and trekking pole accessory into a single lightweight tool, according to a submission filed with InventHelp.

Device merges three camping tools into one trekking pole attachment

The invention adds a trowel head to a standard trekking pole, allowing users to anchor and remove tent stakes, retrieve dropped stakes or poles, dig a cat hole, extinguish campfires, and garden without bending. The design eliminates the need for a separate hammer when driving stakes into the ground.

New York – September 19, 2026 -- Kohler has returned as the official kitchen & bath and plumbing partner of the 2026 Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York, joining 22 designers and architects transforming a historic Greenwich Village townhouse at 80 Washington Place.

Kohler fixtures anchor a six-level design showcase

The 1839 Georgian townhouse, spanning six levels with grand entertaining spaces, private terraces, a dedicated wellness level, and a rooftop deck overlooking Washington Square Park, opened to the public on September 16 and runs through September 19, 2026. Kohler products integrated into the residence include the Synthos workstation sink, Numi 2.0 Smart Toilet, Kohler x Remedy Place Ice Bath, Artifacts faucet collection, Occasion collection, Components collection, Memoirs collection, and a cast iron Porto Fino sink.

Carlsbad, Calif. – September 19, 2026 -- Hall of Fame quarterback and broadcaster Troy Aikman has taken an ownership stake in Qualia Life Sciences, a supplement brand founded in 2015 that has built its reputation on human clinical studies conducted on every formula prior to release.

Aikman moves from potential endorser to equity owner in longevity brand

Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl champion and current broadcaster on the third most-watched television show in America, said he has historically turned down endorsement offers from nutritional brands due to skepticism about efficacy. He credited Qualia's supplements with personally sustaining his energy, fitness, and mental sharpness at age 59, stating the results convinced him to join the company's ownership team rather than simply lend his name.

Littleton, Colorado – September 19, 2026 -- Employee-owned retailer SCHEELS will open its 38th store in Littleton, Colorado in 2029, creating more than 500 new jobs before the doors open.

SCHEELS anchors new Mineral Place development alongside Costco

The flagship store is planned as an anchor retailer at the Mineral Place development, positioned along the C-470 corridor in the Denver metro area's growing Front Range region.

CEO Matt Hanson calls the store the company's deepest commitment to Colorado

"On behalf of our employee-owners, we could not be more excited to expand our footprint across Colorado's Front Range," said SCHEELS CEO Matt Hanson, adding that the store will serve as a destination bringing families together and generating hundreds of career opportunities.