Necessity inspires Willoughby woman’s creation

As nature photographer Lori Diemer strolled through the woods on a freezing winter day, the icy frost on her glasses impeded her ability to take pictures.

The warm air from her breath floated upward from the scarf wrapped around her nose and mouth thus producing an unclear view.

Diemer decided there had to be a better way and started working to find it.

An idea of creating a product with the dual purpose of keeping the steam away from eyeglasses as well as warming the face and neck led her to peruse the aisles of a local craft store in search of the right materials.

After applying some ingenuity, or”MacGyvering” as the Willoughby woman calls it, Cozy Noze was born.

“I tried all types of face masks and warmers, but none could keep my glasses from fogging up. So, I engineered Cozy Noze and was able to walk outdoors and photograph with clear glasses,” Diemer said.

The item’s 9-inch tall collar is part of the design and serves as a neck warmer.

Confident in her innovation she entered a local entrepreneurial competition somewhat similar to the popular television show “Shark Tank.”

She explained that part of the application process was fairly simple and included such basic questions as “What was your problem?” (glasses fog); “Who was your customer?” (nature photographers); and “How did you solve it?” (made mask).

Ultimately the innovative product earned her a spot as a semi-finalist.

Diemer notes that possibilities for Cozy Noze are plentiful. Sports spectators, motorcycle enthusiasts and eyeglass manufacturers are some of the groups she’s looking at to expand her burgeoning business.

Admittedly a “color junkie” Diemer offers the product in a variety of hues and patterns. Plaid, tie-dye and rainbow as well as cator wildlife-inspired looks are just a few options.

Cozy Noze is machine washable and comprised of soft fleece, sherpa and other materials.

Diemer’s interest in sewing began when her mother taught her how to make clothes for Barbie dolls. Later she used her sharpened skills to stitch much larger pieces such as draperies while working at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby. She served at the organization’s technical director from the early 1990s to 2002.

Pleased with the positive direction in which her product is headed, she claims that, “It was just a solution that I saw. And here I am looking at this small business that’s kind of going crazy.”

Although the national television production of “Shark Tank” is an opportune vehicle to help new businesses such as Diemer’s get off the ground, she isn’t quite ready to showcase Cozy Noze to the sharptoothed sharks.

“I’m an artist. I’m not a huge business person… maybe in the future,” she said. “Right now I’m just in the simmer stage. They like to know numbers. I have to be a little more successful before I go on there.”

Cozy Noze is currently patent pending and available on the website cozynoze.com.

SUBMITTED Lori Diemer of Willoughby is a professional natuare photographer and creator of Cozy Noze.