Tecnu’s Key to Success: Customer Loyalty

I discovered the onerous approach I’m allergic to poison ivy. My first response to it was so unhealthy, I needed to go to Pressing Care.

Since then, I’ve been tremendous cautious however nonetheless take care of small outbreaks. Till I discovered Tecnu in 2023, I relied on Daybreak dish detergent to scrub my pores and skin after yard work. It’s a degreaser.

However as soon as I started utilizing Tecnu’s Poison Ivy & Oak Scrub, I grew to become a loyal person. It’s superb stuff – it successfully removes the oil that causes the rash, plus it smells good and leaves your pores and skin feeling cool and refreshed.

This yr, nevertheless, has been notably powerful. We’ve got poison oak and ivy rising in every single place as a result of numerous rain and excessive temps late spring into mid-summer.

At some point I discovered myself scratching and OMG – realized my legs and arms had small patches that shortly grew to become massive patches. It was actually unhealthy. I’d clear up one patch solely to have one other seem. The stuff is bloody terrible – the itch is like tiny needles beneath your pores and skin. And the blisters and oozing – ugh!

After two weeks of distress, and realizing rubbing alcohol wasn’t drying issues up as I had hoped, I knew it was time to name within the massive weapons. I ordered Tecnu’s Calagel and Detox Wipes.

I can not say sufficient good issues about this line of merchandise, and apparently, I’m not the one one.

In line with Lisa Muller, Advertising and marketing Director for Tec Labs, a division of Quest Merchandise, LLC, the corporate has very loyal customers. “We get numerous testimonials on social, in fact, however even when somebody posts a damaging assessment, our customers will reply to elucidate why the reviewer is unsuitable.”

I’ve tried all of the completely different lotions and gels out there for poison ivy and oak rashes; solely Tecnu’s Calagel works – and works quick. It dries and heals the blisters inside 24 to 48 hours — plus it relieves the itch. After I requested Muller why, she mentioned to give attention to the inactive components versus the lively ones.

“The inactive components comprise the supply system – which means, how the pores and skin absorbs the gel,” she says. “Calagel has a implausible supply system. That’s all I can say!”

The Detox Wipes are superior as nicely: I exploit them to wipe down Rocky post-walk – it was he who was spreading the oil from his fur to me!

The way it began: Serendipity plus numerous poison oak

Tecnu was initially developed by Dr. Robert Smith (Doc) in the course of the Chilly Warfare as an answer able to eradicating radioactive fallout from the pores and skin. The answer, named Tecnu® for “technically new,” was bought in five-gallon buckets as a bomb shelter staple.

It was Doc’s spouse who by accident found the answer eliminated the rash-causing oil (urushiol) from poison oak vegetation – which grew throughout the Smith’s yard. After coping with her children’ frequent rashes, she single-handedly pulled out all of the vegetation (barehanded!) after which washed up utilizing a bottle of Tecnu Doc had left by the sink.

A number of days later, she had zero indicators of rash! She informed all her associates and neighbors and information shortly unfold.

The corporate, based in 1962 within the Smith’s storage, and now primarily based in a 58,000 sq. foot facility in Albany, OR, grew to become a household affair. Doc’s son Steve took over within the early Eighties to develop the enterprise. His spouse was the VP of Gross sales and Advertising and marketing. Vern Smith, Steve’s brother, nonetheless works in Product Growth.

“I used to be employed 24 years in the past,” says Muller, “recent out of faculty with an Associates Diploma and a two-year previous son, who now works in Manufacturing. Over time, I’ve labored as an government gross sales assistant, advertising and marketing, and now advertising and marketing analysis.

“I did get to know Dr. Smith,” she provides. “He cared about everybody and was an inventor till the day he died.”

Everybody on the staff solutions the cellphone

As the corporate grew, Steve Smith found the largest workman’s comp declare when it comes to numbers was poison ivy / oak rash. Individuals who labored outdoor – utility employees, forest employees, landscapers, even hearth fighters – have been submitting claims.

Tec Labs started contacting corporations and public works departments and over time, Tecnu grew to become a regular merchandise in employees’ kits.

As a consequence of taking folks’s calls, Tec Labs discovered that many individuals who had the rash “under the knees” contacted it from their canine with out realizing it.

“Farmers get the rash, too,” says Muller. “One farmer known as us and after some sleuthing, we discovered he was getting it from his tractor. As soon as the oil contaminates one thing, reminiscent of a tractor seat or steering wheel, it stays there till you clear it off.”

My neighbor, who owns his personal tree service firm, mentioned, “Sure, it’s true. I get it all around the truck bumper and wooden chipper, my garments, and the automotive seat.”

The man who put in my fence mentioned the identical: “Oh, all of us encounter poison ivy and oak, on a regular basis. It’s in every single place. We preserve the Detox wipes and scrub in our truck. By the way in which, do you know you’ve got a poison sumac tree-shrub within the nook of your yard?” (Me: No! ACK!!)

The corporate builds word-of-mouth by offering free samples to medical doctors and pharmacists at tradeshows and conferences. In addition they sponsor massive occasions, such because the Go Professional Mountain Video games, and can ship samples to smaller native occasions, reminiscent of disc golf tournaments and bike races.

Muller’s favourite story comes from when the corporate sponsored an journey racing staff; the staff needed to cross an enormous patch of poison ivy.

“They both needed to go round it or by way of it, so that they crawled by way of it,” she says. “Instantly after, they washed with Tecnu Scrub and accomplished the race. Afterward, a staff member mentioned, ‘We belief your product – that’s why we have been prepared to crawl by way of the poison ivy.’ Nobody on the staff contacted the rash.”

Bought by Quest in February 2024

After I purchased my first tube of Tecnu Scrub, I did so for 2 causes: I had tried all the pieces else and needed one thing that labored. The packaging entrance boldly claimed “100% Assured” – with the assure written out and an 800 quantity and bodily handle on the again. Wow!

Second, it was made within the USA. Muller says just a few folks ask about the place the product is made, and is stunned extra folks don’t.

After posting about my expertise with Tecnu Scrub on LinkedIn, Muller reached out and despatched me 4 Detox Wipe samples and mentioned to make use of them to wipe down Rocky. She assured me they have been non-toxic and wouldn’t hurt him.

The foil-wrapped wipes are simple to tuck right into a pocket or fanny pack. I now preserve just a few within the automotive in order that I can wipe Rocky down proper after a path stroll versus ready till we get dwelling.

After I discovered the corporate had been bought, I instantly reached out to Muller to see if the merchandise would nonetheless be made right here.

“Sure, Tecnu will nonetheless be made at our Oregon facility,” she mentioned. “Our manufacturing facility was designed to be constructed out three extra instances, so Quest now has the assets wanted to increase. For instance, we’re now within the strategy of shifting Alocane® manufacturing to our facility.”

(Alocane® is Quest’s emergency burn gel and burn pad product line, so you possibly can see that Tecnu is an effective match for them.)

Tec Labs has been a high 100 Oregon employer for 15 years, was inducted into Oregon Enterprise Journal’s Corridor of Fame for small companies, and was licensed as a “Nice Place to Work” in 2018. Oregon Enterprise Journal additionally chosen the corporate as a High 100 Greatest Inexperienced Firm.

You may order any Tecnu product, or the Full Ivy Equipment, from the corporate web site or buy out of your favourite retailer.

The corporate additionally has a weblog with nice details about the vegetation inflicting all the difficulty, in addition to images and movies. Very useful!

The one factor I discovered: “Leaves three, go away them be,” is an effective factor to know. Nonetheless! Poison sumac is the exception as its leaves are much like fronds. Right here it’s, within the wild nook of my yard. As a result of it’s larger than I’m tall, I didn’t discover it till the fence man pointed it out. It was rising alongside the bottom as nicely.

Hyperlinks

Tecnu firm web site — https://tecnu.com

Tecnu on LinkedIn — www.linkedin.com/company/tec-laboratories-inc.

Full Disclosure

I did obtain 4 pattern Detox Wipes in 2023 (to make use of on Rocky!) from Lisa Muller after posting about my expertise with Tecnu Scrub on LinkedIn. I used to be not paid nor requested to write down this submit. All hyperlinks are FREE — which means, they’re not sponsored or paid for.

My mission is to maintain manufacturing jobs stateside and this weblog is my approach of giving again. 

We wish to suppose a “small” selection, reminiscent of buying one thing made within the U.S. by American employees, received’t make a distinction. It does.