Allen Hirsch, CEO of HANDL New York, says, “Retailers are finally admitting that a growing number of their smart phone customers are having trouble holding their cell phones. They are suffering from deformed pinkies (known colloquially as “smartphone pinky”) and muscle pain between the index and middle finger. That’s what I have been warning the industry about for years.”
Hirsch is a fine art painter who recognized the grip problem years ago. “After you have been holding a paint brush for as long as I have, you realize that cell phone users need a grip that holds them, not the other way around. I have personally designed all HANDL grips to have a very comfortable relationship with the user. That’s why I got into the business.”
Ira Feigelman, HANDL’s Vice President of Sales said, “Retailers confided in us that some of the most popular phone grip brands are just not comfortable. HANDL is not designed to be a phone grip; it’s precisely the opposite. It allows the phone to comfortably “grip” your hand. HANDL is a patented multi-useful “phone grip” that’s perfect for moms, dads, kids, vacation travelers, business travelers, and more. HANDL securely holds their phone in their hand for easier texting, creating videos on TikTok and YouTube, or taking photos and selfies and can quickly transform into a kickstand that flips between landscape and portrait modes for more accessible viewing of photos, movies, or just reading the news.”
A few years ago, Hirsch was painting a picture with one hand, while texting using a new large screen phone with the other hand and was immediately struck by the similarities of both actions. “In one hand, I was projecting my thoughts and feelings effortlessly on canvas with the brush and with the other, I was also projecting my thoughts and feelings into this little metal box- although with none of the flow and efficiency of the paint brush. I immediately felt this was a problem for me to solve.” Hirsch spent the next 8 months attaching all sorts of homemade constructions on his phone until one day, with a bunch of popsicle sticks held together with thumbtacks, tape and a rubber band, he had an epiphany and HANDL was born. “With HANDL, we replace that stressful grip on our devices with a feeling that our phones are an organic extension of our hands and fingers.”
Now HANDL comes full circle with its O series. The circle is the symbol of flow, rotation, symmetry, and perfection. No other product on the market comes close to HANDL’s functionality and style. The O features a patented elastic loop which allows standard HANDL flexibility and ergonomics with additional versatility- including the ability to hold your phone with just one finger! And as with all HANDL products, O converts easily to a full landscape and portrait stand.
If you have been fond of circles – there is no longer an excuse to use the other uncomfortable, impractical plastic grips. No other product on the market, especially that “other” circle grip comes close to HANDL’s functionality and style.
HANDL O Element, Wild & Sparkl Collection
The HANDL O Wild, Elements and Sparkle Collections, available now for $14.99, feature HANDL’s patented elastic brace and stand system in a variety of finishes. The HANDL O Wild features animal prints and textures such as leopard, cheetah, snakeskin and gator. Like in nature, each Wild product is unique with distinct pattern and color variations. Classic, professional styles and colors including Carbon Fiber, Black, White and Rose Gold are among some of the styles that comprise the HANDL O Elements collection. Show off your bling with the Sparkle Collection, featuring bright sparkly crystals in a variety of colors including gold, silver, and rose gold.
HANDL O Benjamin Collection
Benjamin was an orphan capuchin monkey rescued by HANDL’s creator and New York City artist Allen Hirsch back in the late 1990s. Benjamin became a New York City resident for 14 years and brought magic to the concrete jungle. Benjamin and Hirsch’s adventures in New York are the subject of an Emmy award winning documentary produced by the New York Times. www.nytimes.com/benjamin
Hirsch studied and painted Benjamin’s elastic and animated movements and he was an original influence on HANDL. HANDL New York honors his presence and his species in a line of fun products in the O series. The HANDL O Benjamin Collection is currently available and retails for $9.99. New styles are being added throughout the next few months.
magHANDL Collection
Now HANDL combines the flexibility of its brace/elastic technology with the versatility of a removable magnetic product
Now you can take off your HANDL to magSafe charge or switch styles to match your mood or outfit. The magHANDL combines magnetic force with microsuction material and can connect directly to your bare phone or with the accompanying adhesive ring base to your phone or case. magHANDL is crafted and engineered with quality precision molded parts to create the most compact and functional HANDL yet.
A special adhesive mirror ring base is also included with magHANDL products and provides a more secure connection to your phone, while also serving as a convenient mirror when the magHANDL is removed. Use of the mirror disk does not affect functionality of other magSafe compatible products. MagHANDL products will be available late December 2022 for $29.99 – $39.99.
HANDL x POPL
HANDL is proud to announce its partnership with the leading digital business card in the industry, POPL. POPL uses NFC chip technology to allow you to tap another phone and pass on whatever contact/social media/business info you want fast and effortlessly to the other phone. No more fumbling with “please type your Instagram, LinkedIn, email or phone here”
HANDL was POPL’s first collaboration when it first launched in 2020 and was built into a number of HANDL’s classic rectangle products. Now HANDL and POPL are expanding the collaboration by including Popl technology for free in all magHANDL products and most other HANDL O lines. Products including Popl functionality range from $14.99 – $39.99.
HANDL New York products are currently available for purchase at handlnewyork.com and Amazon.com from $9.99 – $39.99. Mass market retailer availability coming soon.
