In 1961, Lee Mitchell designed polyurethane foam slippers named “Pillow Paws” and marketed them to housewives. She and her husband Jim soon became a power duo to produce these slippers at scale.
But little did they know, this family-owned business would evolve over the course of the next 60 years to expand their niche market with high-efficiency products across healthcare settings and private homes. Today, Principle Business Enterprises, Inc. is a multimillion-dollar company that calls Bowling Green, Ohio, home.
The company has a long history in Northwest Ohio.
“The Company began operations in a small building in downtown Waterville, Ohio, in what is currently known as Peddler’s Alley,” Kristopher Keating, manager of corporate communications and community engagement, said in an email.
In the mid-1980s, PBE expanded its company with the Tranquility brand, which manufactured absorbent products for individuals with severe incontinence. Over time, PBE has also utilized their research and development of highly-absorbent materials to expand into markets such as wound care.
Today, the company’s products and innovations have made a difference for patient safety, both in healthcare settings and for private caregivers. The original Pillow Paws footwear is used for fall protection in hospitals, and absorbent products improve patient dignity and quality of patient care.
“We focus on support for veterans, those with disabilities and the aging population; groups who often struggle with incontinence,” Keating wrote. “You’ll also see our support extend far beyond these groups by providing assistance and sponsorships to schools and other local and regional organizations where our employees and families invest their time.”
PBE is forging a new community partnership with the Area Office on Aging and the Ability Center. Together, they help Northwest Ohio residents regain their independence and confidence through access to free Tranquility incontinence supplies.
According to Keating, approximately 100 million American adults live with urinary incontinence or another bladder condition, including tens of thousands of older adults in Northwest Ohio.
“Access to quality incontinence products is not a given for many in our community,” Keating said in an email. “We are looking to not only improve health outcomes and ease caregiver burden, but also restore dignity and confidence, allowing people to visit friends and stay active in their communities.”
The company is now celebrating 65 years of operation under third-generation leader President and CEO Andrew Stocking. And from humble beginnings until now, the company’s commitment to its core values has persisted.
“Engaging organizations and supporting the communities in which the Company’s employees live is at the heart of PBE’s mission to uplift, enlighten and enrich the lives of those they serve,” Keating wrote.
