Washington Business Spring 2016 | Page 46

doing business as Rite in the Rain J.L. Darling’s torture-tested, all-weather writing products have made it easier to work and play in even the worst conditions for 100 years. founded: 1916 headquarters: Tacoma the product: Water-resistant, durable and archival-grade notebooks, paper products and writing utensils. The company manufactures roughly 400 products, but may be best known for its tough pocket top-spiral notebook. the story: Founder Jerry Darling started the company with his invention of specially-treated,