Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/300984
H a rd wa re & H o u s e wa re s Re vi e w 4 7 Tu e s d a y, M a y 6 , 2 0 1 4 of business? JH: Viribright is a manufacturer by defi- nition of LED light bulbs and solid-state lighting solutions. Our LED light bulbs are engineered utilizing advanced technol- ogy and developed to produce the highest quality of light at affordable prices. HHR: What was your program last year? JH: Last year, we introduced our range of LED bulbs and our merchandising programs, and had a very positive response. Some of the relationships we made at the show have landed us retail on-shelf programs across the U.S. HHR: Describe your company's current marketing strategy. JH: Our unique approach to market enables us to provide independent retailers, cooperatives and mass merchants "factory direct" connection to new profits. We have always been dedicated to the independent retailers in providing a high quality product at prices that enable them to compete. HHR: Are you introducing new products? JH: Yes! We are launching a new LED A type lamp which will yield the same high quality of light at a price point that will ensure our partners great success as the LED A lamp prices drop. In addition, we have reworked our entire lamp line, implementing new drive technologies and engineered for more aggressive price points. Additionally, we are offering LED nightlights and retail merchandising pro- grams for these as well as new Plan-O- Viribright ( Cont'd. from p. 1) Grams, making it easy for retailers to plug–in to the LED trend and profit. HHR: What distinguishes your product from the competition? JH: First and foremost, we are a true man- ufacturer by definition. Most companies, to include major brands, are OEM manu- facturers, as they contract others to manu- facturer for them. We are the factory. We developed our products to exceed market requirements in fit, form and function using IPT™ Isolated Phosphor Technology, which provides higher effi- ciencies. We produce more lumens at lower wattages than competitors, making for a shorter time to ROI. Example: We produce 800 lumens at 9.8W vs. the typi- cal 11-13W of other bulbs. Our light bulbs are CRI (Color Rendering Index) correct- ed by adding red light into our white. This makes our light output more like natural light of the sun and incandescent lights. Additionally, our technology yields color temperature consistency between produc- tion runs and within our product range. At this show, we challenge retailers to stop by our booth to "Dare to Compare" the qual- ity of light and price points of their current program to our assortment. HHR: How can our readers learn more about your company? JH: That is an easy question! They can come to our booth and talk to us, or go to our website or give me a call! Stop by and take the Viribright challenge! Visit Viribright at booth 2615. For more information, go to www .viribright.us, call 951-336-8108 or email sales@viribright.com. plumbing products since 2004. We make luxurious, full-flow (2.5 gpm) shower- heads for adults and water-saving (1.5 gpm) bath and shower wands for chil- dren. Our adult line is called the Waterfall™ Series of showerheads, because we name each model after one of the largest or most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Our kids' line is called Rubber Duckie & Friends™ because the fixtures are fashioned in the shapes of fun bathtub toys, such as rubber duckies and toy frogs. We make a series of water-saving faucet washers that never wear out called DripStop™ Valves. We also make an assortment of devices used outside the home to save huge amounts of water. These include our sprinkler shutoff valve called GeiserMiser™ and one of the world's best-selling Hose Bibb Locks. HHR: What's new at ConservCo? TT: We're launching two new shower- heads in the Waterfall Series at the 2014 National Hardware Show, as well as using the show to introduce our line of bath and shower wands for children (which we sell in other channels) to home improvement retails. The new Waterfall Series shower- heads are named after Yosemite Falls in California. They are dual-showerhead "Combo-Packs" that include one fixed and one handheld unit, and come com- plete with a three-way water-flow divert- er and five-foot hose. The Yosemite™ series offers five different spray patterns, and includes a shutoff position to restrict ConservCo ( Cont'd. from p. 1) water flow to a trickle. While the heads flow at 2.5gpm, the shutoff feature allows consumers to save water when shampooing or lathering. We're introduc- ing the line in both chrome and gold fin- ishes because that's what our customers asked for. Also new to hardware retailers is our line of bath products for kids called Rubber Duckie & Friends. The idea for Rubber Duckie & Friends came from mothers who told us about three univer- sal problems they were having with their children. Apparently, some kids don't like to bathe; some kids are intimidated by having shampoo rinsed from their hair; and for some the transition from taking a bath to taking a shower is scary. Rubber Duckie & Friends solves all three problems. They make it fun for kids to bathe, so it's easier to get them in the tub in the first place. Each wand offers a very soft, gentle spray pattern and low 1.5gpm flow rate, so rinsing doesn't hurt and is not intimidating. For older kids transitioning to taking showers on their own, Rubber Duckie & Friends makes it easier because of their fun and adorable look. HHR: How can our readers find out more about ConservCo? TT: Our booth number at the 2014 National Hardware Show is 2510 and our new items are on display in New Product World. Our phone number is 775-747- 3333. My email is tony@conservco.us. Our website is www.conservco.us. Our mailing address is 550 West Plumb Lane, Suite B-147, Reno, Nevada 89509. Visit ConservCo at booth 2510. are sensitive to oxygen or moisture. How does it work? Bloxygen uses ultra pure argon, a complete- ly inert gas that cannot react with any other chemical. Argon is about 25 percent heavier than oxygen and over two times heavier than water vapor, and therefore sinks down and forms a barrier to protect the leftover paint or other chemicals. It will push oxy- gen or moisture up to the container lid where it cannot harm the stored product. Is argon safe? Yes. About one percent of its air is argon; it's totally natural. There is argon in your lungs right now, and it is the third most common gas on earth. What can we use it on? There are millions of uses, and Bloxygen gives out a free can for each new one it finds. Some of the bigger uses are for preserving: varnish, polyurethane, oil- based paint, marine coatings, boat bot- tom paint, stain, oil-based ink, urethane, polished metals, printing chemicals, sign paint, gunpowder, catalysts, auto body chemicals and coatings, photo chemicals, furniture refinishing chemicals, chemical compounds, fuel additives, glue, tung oil and epoxy. Food uses include guacamole, liquor, wine and coffee. Is this really a problem? Yes. In the U.S. alone, the EPA showed that about 65 to 69 million gallons of paint are thrown away each year, and about 15 percent of that is oil-based. That's a line of quart cans from Los Angeles to New York tossed out each year. Each can of Bloxygen can prevent 75 quarts from oxygen or moisture damage. Bloxygen is only about $0.15 Bloxygen ( Cont'd. from p. 1) per use in quarts. Why should consumers buy it? Why buy a car that gets good gas mileage? Nobody wants to waste money, and certainly nobody wants to waste time. With Bloxygen, you can use all of your finish, not just the first half, elimi- nate spray gun clogs and jams and reduce or eliminate your hazardous waste. You can also save by avoiding paying a pre- mium for small volumes of finish, storing leftovers in the original, labeled contain- er. By eliminating the need to filter your finish, you can save time and get done sooner. Why should retailers sell it? We are all in the business of cultivating happy customers. By bringing this solu- tion to your customers, you build trust and create value. Suddenly, the finishes on your shelves are worth more because the customers know they will not be wasted or ruined. Being the person that brought the Bloxygen solution to your customer, they will trust your next sug- gestion even more. How should retailers sell it? Bloxygen recommends that it be sold as an add-on or up-sell to any oil based or moisture sensitive finish sale. Simply telling consumers they can 'use every drop' and handing them the can (which feels empty) will begin a conversa- tion. Consumers hate having to dispose of waste as much as they hate finding their product crusted over. Visit Bloxygen at booth 2052. For more information, go to www.bloxygen.com, email IronWood.Designs@pobox.com or call 888-810-8311. At the show, buy three cases and get four cases, a starter kit, plus free shipping. MK: ECO-heater manufactures and dis- tributes economical room heaters. ECO- heaters offer the ideal supplemental heat- ing solution for homes and offices, using only 400 watts, 70 percent less energy than typical 1,500 watt heaters. Instead of wasting energy to heat unoccupied or unused space, the ECO-heater only heats where and when you want it to. Lower your gas, propane, electric or oil-burning furnace to implement ECO-heater zone heating and start saving money right away. HHR: What do you anticipate to be your greatest challenge in the year ahead? MK: An ongoing challenge is educating the consumer about wall panel heaters. It is a different, innovative approach to supple- mental heating and it is often misunderstood. Once the consumer realizes the benefits of wall mounted panel heaters they typically purchase several for their home or office, and recommend them to friends and family. ECO-heater ( Cont'd. from p. 1) HHR: What is your outlook in general for this product line? MK: We believe there will be tremen- dous growth for ECO-heaters as more people learn and understand the bene- fits of this heating solution. Lowe's will be carrying them again this year, four years running, and have seen tremendous sell through. HHR: What product do you see as being hottest this year? MK: The wall mount panel heater with a built in digital thermostat should be a hot item this year. It is efficient, as it uses only 400 watts and it has a built in ther- mostat so the room temperature can be maintained at a constant temperature. It was the model that Lowe's sold last year with great success. Visit ECO-heater at booth 4415. For more information, go to www.ecoheat.com, email marketing@ecoheat.com or call 321-474-3399.