Insect Shield® Repellent Apparel and Gear Products Resonating Strongly with Do it Best, ACE and True Value Hardware Co-op’s
Seattle, WA and Greensboro, NC (PRWEB) February 29, 2016 -- Insect Shield® technology, originally developed for the US military, is widely utilized throughout a multitude of industries including outdoor lifestyle, work wear, global health, pet and equestrian. New interest from the lawn, garden and hardware industry is sparking strong sales as retailers seek to provide additional methods of insect protection for their customers in the wake of the Lyme disease epidemic and recent concerns about Zika virus and other dangerous insect-borne illnesses.
In 2015, Insect Shield introduced the hardware industry to an assortment of apparel and gear accessories including outdoor blankets and bandanas with built-in, EPA-registered protection. The collection was met with great interest from hardware retailers and was immediately adopted as a warehouse item by both the Do it Best and ACE corporations. In response to strong sales and demand, Insect Shield has expanded the 2016 hardware offering to include hats and socks, enhancing buying options for retailers and personal insect protection choices for consumers.
Recently, Insect Shield products were added as drop-ship items for their newest co-op partner, True Value Hardware. The new collection generated great response achieving strong initial sales via the 2016 True Value Spring Reunion in Houston, TX. The collection will also be shown in the coming weeks at the ACE show at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV and Do it Best Market in Indianapolis, IN.
“Ace Hardware continues to be interested in providing customers with not only the newest products, but items that provide additional value,” says Mark Klonowski, Automotive/Sporting Goods Merchant, Ace Hardware. “Insect Shield blankets and bandanas, now stocked in the Ace Retail Support Centers, help protect against the insects that can carry dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease and Zika Virus.”
Insect Shield products also earned recent recognition from a national panel of Do It Best hardware retailing experts. Blankets and bandanas featuring Insect Shield Repellent Technology were featured in the New Idea Exhibit at the Do it Best October Market, held October 9-12 in Indianapolis, IN. Thanks to their innovative technology and ability to diversify retailers’ merchandising mix, these Insect Shield products earned the coveted Members’ Choice Award from a judging panel comprised of Do it Best member-owners who are leaders in the home improvement industry.
“Our markets are important in bringing exciting new products to our independent retailers that can help them expand their merchandise mix and increase their sales,” said Trisha Hinen, Manager of Divisional Promotions for Do it Best Corp. “The New Idea Exhibit is a valuable source for identifying the next breakout product stars for our retailers. And Members’ Choice Award winners like Insect Shield can certainly help them compete and win in their marketplace.”
Based in Fort Wayne, Ind., Do it Best, Corp., is the second largest co-op in the industry with annual sales approaching $3 billion, serving more than 3,800 member-owned locations in the United States and in 54 other countries. The Ace Hardware Corporation is a retailers' cooperative based in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States. As of 2015, it has over 4,600 locations, and does over $13 billion in retail hardware sales annually. The True Value Company is an American retailer-owned hardware cooperative with over 5,000 independent retail locations worldwide.
About Insect Shield®:
Insect Shield Repellent Apparel and Gear are revolutionary products designed to provide long-lasting, effective and convenient personal insect protection. The durable protection provided by Insect Shield is the result of years of research and testing. In July 2003, Insect Shield Repellent Apparel was registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Insect Shield Technology is utilized by leading lifestyle brands, work wear distributors and International relief organizations across the globe to provide effective protection against insects and the diseases they can carry. Insect Shield is an approved vendor of the US Army and US Marine Corps. For more information visit insectshield.com
Media Contact:
Janine Robertson
Insect Shield Marketing/PR
Ph: 206 354-9093
janinerobertson(at)insectshield(dot)com
http://www.insectshield.com
Media Kit: http://bit.ly/InsectShieldLifestyle
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Janine Robertson, Insect Shield, http://www.insectshield.com, +1 (206) 354-9093, [email protected]
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