Hi, I’m Sal.
I’m a retired CEO and inventor living in Venice, Florida, and these days my favorite problem to solve is what to do after an 11-0 pickleball game. I grew up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, spent my career in manufacturing, including serving as CEO of an NYSE-traded company, and moved to Venice in 2021. I’ve got several patents from earlier inventions, and I’m still at it. My latest is the patent-pending SAM parabolic knife sharpener from SureAngle.
After selling my company and retiring, I traded one kind of scoreboard for another. I used to report earnings to Wall Street. Now I report 11-0 scores to my buddies. Honestly, the pickles are less stressful.
The Printed Pickle started with friends. I designed a little 3D-printed pickle in Fusion 360 that doubles as a bottle opener and began handing them out after matches. The Classic, green with a red lanyard, is the trophy for an 11-0 win. The Golden, in gold-colored PETG with a solid brass tooth, is rare, just like a golden pickle in the sport.
Friends wanted more. Then I started donating them to local tournaments to help raise money for charity. Before long, people were asking if they could buy one.
So now I make them for anyone who wants one. Every Printed Pickle is designed and made in Venice, Florida, by Liberty Designs. Grab a 4-Pack or a 10-Pack and you’ll have a few left for the next match, or the next good cause.
— Sal