Robin and Tim Emerick, Jr. live in Renovo, a rural town located in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds, and offer a unique way to relive memories through their business, Otzzy.  Named after their sons, Otis and Ozzy, Otzzy began as a side business venture in 2020 by Tim, a full-time geologist. Launched from a garage with limited internet access, the business initially focused on selling non-interactive personalized handmade products on Etsy. 

Currently in its startup phase, Otzzy has developed an innovative platform that allows users to upload cherished keepsake videos or video messages. These videos are seamlessly embedded into unique, personalized gifts, which the company plans to manufacture locally in Renovo, PA. The company’s first product launch focuses on youth sports trading cards as keepsake sports memorabilia. Tim credits his oldest son, who often joked, “Have your own ideas,” for sparking the idea. The “aha” moment came while watching his boys play youth sports. Inspired by a poster of his sons, Tim envisioned how incredible it would be to embed a digital keepsake video into the image, allowing the memory to be accessed anytime, anywhere, without the hassle of storage devices or the fear of inadvertently deleting the memory. Over the next three years, Tim dedicated his spare time to turning this vision into reality. 

Starting and growing Otzzy has not been without its hurdles. While Tim’s earlier online ventures, like drop shipping and affiliate marketing, didn’t take off, he used those experiences to shape the business’s future and marketing plan. With no external loans Tim has reinvested profits back into the business to fuel its growth. Now, the challenge lies in scaling Otzzy to meet increasing demand as the company prepares to expand its e-commerce operations and local business distribution. 

The Penn State Small Business Development Center has been instrumental in Otzzy’s growth, offering valuable local connections, customer discovery ideas, funding strategies, market insights, and testing and growth strategies. Tim discovered the SBDC through an inquiry with the PA Wilds, which led to mentorship and guidance from Elizabeth Hay, Director of Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, and Tom Keiffer, a business consultant with the SBDC. Their guidance helped Tim navigate the complexities of turning an idea into a scalable business, from customer discovery and growth strategies to winning the PA Wilds Big Idea Contest in June 2024, expanding his network and resources.  

With one part-time freelancer currently on board, Otzzy is focused on expansion, aiming to create 10 to 20 jobs in the coming years as they grow their interactive keepsake memory video gifting business.  Their interactive youth sports trading cards are set for launch soon and the owners, through the Ben Franklin TechCelerator program, are advancing their vision of revolutionizing youth sports memorabilia.  

“Otzzy is more than just a business; it’s a family-driven adventure to create something extraordinary within our small community. While growing up in a small rural area has its challenges and advantages, the support we’ve received has been incredible. This invaluable backing has given us the confidence to keep moving forward with our vision,” says Tim.