When local realtor Matt Kelly got a new cell phone a few years back, he worried about the slippery feel. He slapped on a piece of skateboard grip tape and considered the problem solved. However, when his wife, Missy, spied the cat-tongue-coarse DIY accessory, she pointed out that it would “scratch every surface of the house.” So the couple set to work seeking out an alternative solution, ultimately enlisting expert help from the world’s largest manufacturer of nonslip products.

Eight prototypes later, CatTongue Grips (cattonguegrips.com) was born. First came the Phone Grip in 2017, then the Phat Cat (for iPads, tablets, and such), and, most recently, Non-Abrasive Utility Grip Tape (for use on everything from lacrosse sticks and carpet runners to wheelchairs and tools). All are easily customizable, which is how phone grips bedecked with the US Ski & Snowboard logo landed in athlete swag bags at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games—and why college bookstores, like University of Southern California, have hopped on board.

Locally, the slip-stoppers are available at BRAND PC (brandedpc.org), a pop-up shop located through April at 692 Main St and at Hugo Coffee Roasters.