Big Ideas. Bold Ventures: Nottingham Spirk

Nottingham Spirk holds more than 1,400 patented products.

Nottingham Spirk may not be a household name – but their inventions are likely in your house. Have a Dirt Devil vacuum? Arm & Hammer Spinbrush, Swiffer Sweep + Vac or Sherwin-Williams Twist & Pour™ paint container? These are just a few of the 1,400 patented products the longest-standing design collaborative in the world has created for clients in the consumer, business and health-care sectors.

Founded in 1972 by John Nottingham and John Spirk in a small carriage house, today the two head up a 62,500 square-foot innovation center located in a renovated, 1929 landmark church. Generating more than $50 billion in sales – with a 95% commercialization success rate – these Cleveland disrupters are global leaders in growth-propelling innovation.