Products

Safety has always been a fundamental concern for humanity and is constantly evolving. Comparing your childhood to today, you can see the progress. Our family started wearing seatbelts when I was 12, and I remember flying in the smoking section of airplanes. Safety evolution does not stop there but also extends to the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the chemicals we apply to our skin, if any. The last one might have caught you off guard, but your skin is the body’s single largest organ and is absorbent, also known as dermal absorption.

While spring may bring longer nights, baseball games, and other outdoor activities, it’s also the beginning of mosquito season. Seeking relief from biting insects, we reach for bug spray with little to no thought about which chemicals we apply to our body’s largest organ. The chemical that raises concern is DEET—the active ingredient in many repellent products. Some have started to question whether there are any effects of long-term exposure from daily use. While many companies offer non-DEET repellents, they generally don’t perform as well. At least, that was before Shübug.

Shübug offers two DEET-free alternatives: Shübug Active and Shübug Natural. The Natural formula is a 100-percent-natural, oil-based blend of coconut MCT and walnut oils. The Active version utilizes picaridin, a compound found in plants used to produce black pepper. The Active version offers 12 hours of protection while the Natural version provides 10 hours of protection.

The company shipped us both versions—Active and Natural—for testing. Living in south Florida means mosquito season is year-round, which gives us plenty of opportunities to test bug repellents. We supplied our samples to a wide range of testers, including soccer moms and their children, landscapers, and backpackers. All the testers reported similar results to those expected with products containing DEET but without any of the chemicals. The children preferred the Natural version, because it “felt like lotion” and was not “sticky.” One tester said the product “felt light, too, almost non-existent on the skin.”

When planning your spring product assortments, consider adding these DEET-free products from Shübug, which perform just as well as synthetic products. If it can work in south Florida, it can work in your local market.

Built-in lithium-iron phosphate battery with 24 kWh of power.

Eight-hour run time potential enables pro landscapers to mow up to 21 acres on a single charge.

Choose from 48-inch, 52-inch, or 60-inch mowing decks.

High-visibility, color touch-screen displays control settings such as driving and blade speed and remaining battery power.

Speeds can reach up to 16 mph, making for less down time between nearby jobs.

Reduced noise, zero exhaust emissions, and fuel cost savings of battery power.

Weather-resistant construction has been designed and tested for splash water protection.

Includes two ETO (Electric Take Off) powered ports.

STIHL
stihlusa.com
800-467-8445

Recycles excess cold water, making the machine efficient at dispensing ice and water.

Utilizes remote management software for ease of maintenance along with free support from service team.

On-demand ice dispensing means less waste, eliminates delivery process and need to stock inventory.

Built-in credit card reader and protective locked, steel cabinet allows for machines placed outside to be accessible even when store is closed.

Filtration system and UV sterilizer removes chemicals such as chlorine along with any other tastes and odors that may be present in local water supply.

Easy for customers to use because ice can be dispensed directly into coolers.

Small, 20-square-foot footprint.

Everest Ice and Water Systems
everesticeandwater.com
407-930-4437

Real, whole-muscle proteins with no powered meat, byproducts, fillers, additives, or scraps used in production.

Ingredients include lean protein, flaxseed, blueberries, apples, eggs, carrots, and green beans.

Minimal processing to preserve nutrient content.

Available in eight flavors, including bison, salmon, elk, venison, rabbit, peanut butter, ham, and quail.

Ingredients are sourced within the United States and manufactured in Lancaster County, Pa.

Other product lines include jerky and chicken cutlets.

The Wild Bone Company
717-354-4593
thewildbonecompany.com

Veterinary experts estimate there are about 232,000 cases of pet poisoning annually in the United States, mostly due to accidental exposure to pesticides and insecticides. In some cases, pets ingest these chemicals indirectly, often by consuming the remains of targeted pests.

Phyllom BioProducts is committed to providing potent and environmentally safe biological pest control solutions for forestry, tree and shrub care, lawn and garden care, specialty agriculture, and animal health. Their patented strain of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is the first bioinsecticide effective against susceptible beetles, weevils, borers, and grubs upon ingestion. Unlike chemical alternatives, Phyllom’s products pose no risk to non-target beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. Moreover, their Bt strain is compliant with the USDA National Organic Program for use in organic crop production.

The company sent us samples of their beetleGONE!^® and grubGONE!^® products for testing. We provided these samples to a local organic gardening group. During discussions, one of the group’s experts highlighted how 20th-century farmers utilized naturally occurring Bt as a crop protection tool. Lacking scientific expertise, we relied on studies published by independent third parties for our evaluation. Click here to view those results.

With the growing concern for food and environmental health, organic gardening is gaining popularity. Hardware stores with even small lawn and garden sections should offer organic alternatives to meet this expanding market demand.

Nitrile-coated and silicone-free, general-purpose gloves prevent fingerprints to metal sheet and glass.

Ergonomic design ensures comfort and is further enhanced by the gloves’ breathability.

Embossed nitrile palm finish disperses oil away to increase grip and precision in greasy environments.

Durable, lightweight gloves provide a reliable grip while being form-fitting, breathable, and latex-free.

Ideal for use in intricate parts handling in industries including automotive, mechanical, aerospace, airport, and ports.

SHOWA
800-241-0323
showagroup.com

Say the word “plastic,” and you will hear mixed opinions on the topic. Some people mention the impact of litter, with 1.15 million to 2.41 million tons of plastic entering the ocean yearly. Others cite all the benefits of plastic: reduced weight, reduced package, and even construction applications. Plastic is critical in constructing vehicles, machinery, commercial, and residential properties.

Broadfix is a provider of plastic, composite, and wood shims. The company manufactures a comprehensive range of shims for numerous applications, including doors, windows, countertops, kitchen cabinets and more. Plastic shims have multiple advantages over their wooden counterparts. Plastic does not rot, shrink, or swell, is termite-proof, and only compresses under high loads. Click here for a brief company video.

We received various versions of Broadfix’s plastic shims for testing, which we immediately took to the nearest home building job site for feedback. Our testers used the shims for a full day, finalizing a new kitchen installation. Each tester commented that they preferred plastic shims for increased efficiency and ease of use.

If your store carries shims, Broadfix could be your one-stop solution.

Works with the My Leviton App via Wi-Fi, which allows customers to control entire home from load center to lighting to EV charger.

Versatile application and can be installed both indoors and outdoors, featuring a water-resistant enclosure and a cable designed to prevent freezing and cracking in extreme weather.

With an industry-standard SAE J1772™ cable, the Leviton EV Series can charge any EV, including Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Subaru, and Tesla with a Tesla-supplied adapter.

Easy installation with pre-attached input cable and mounting hardware included.

Leviton Manufacturing
630-450-1972
leviton.com

Utilizes parsley, a natural cleaner that removes everyday dirt, grease, and grime from any water-safe, hard surface.

Safer Choice-certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is also certified, vegan, and never tested on animals.

Formula contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

Made with a base of plant-derived ingredients and natural plant molecules.

Eco-conscious manufacturing process, made with 100 percent renewable energy.

ECOS
800-335-ECOS
ecos.com

User and service friendly with front-side service operation.

Low total cost of ownership over lifetime of dispenser.

Maintenance is easy with no leaking cannisters or nozzles. Easy cleaning procedure only requires purge and brush cleaning.

User-friendly, simple operations with intuitive interface that requires only minimal training.

Very compact with low refilling height and steel frame designed to handle any type of applications or conditions.

Ready to use upon unpacking, no assembly required.

Proven, reliable piston pump technology ready for low-VOC paint, and patented canister stirrer reduces colorant build-up.

Manual adjustment with positioning for quart, gallon and 5-gallon containers.

Fluid Management
800-462-2466
fluidman.com