Jerry Biller, President
Can you give me a bit of your company history?
EcoProProducts is a revolutionary protection company that is leveraging high performance, eco-friendly products that are substantiated through science and testing.
How did you become involved in the Eco Product category?
Eco-friendly products are the corner stone of our company. We’ve developed products that redefine protection for customers and their vehicles in an environmentally responsible manner. Our eco-friendly family of products include CleanStart (a dealer lot program that sanitizes each vehicle interior, cargo area and a/c ventilation system), MicrobeRepel (an active anti-microbial interior protection with stain and odor protection in the interior cabin, cargo area and a/c ventilation system), ExteriorShield (high performance exterior protection) and Windshield+ (the first windshield chip protection with laboratory proof the product stops rock chip damage).
What are your top reasons behind offering Eco Products?
We won’t offer products that are not environmentally responsible. Being eco-friendly isn’t a trend, it’s our contribution to a consumers’ choice for products that perform at the highest level without a negative environmental impact.
What are the top three differences between a product marketed as an Eco Product and a more traditional offering?
EcoProProducts bridges the gap between the desire to protect the environment and the need for protection that works. We leverage several points of distinction. First, we define eco-friendliness as VOC free, not VOC compliant. Second, we redefine eco-friendly protection by offering more relevant benefits including active antimicrobial interior protection with stain and odor resistance, where others offer stain protection consistent with off a discount retailer shelf protection. Third, our eco-friendly products have long lasting protection that is sustainable on the surfaces they’re applied to for the duration of the warranty given.
Do you also offer the more traditional equivalent products or is the Eco Product the only one in that category?
We won’t offer products that are not environmentally responsible. Water-based, VOC free with high performance strength is the benchmark we’ve set.
Are Eco Products for everyone, or is pricing such that the customer must be prepared to pay a premium for it?
If performance isn’t diminished or priced isn’t increased to achieve eco-friendliness, then there is no reason not to purchase eco products.
How do you advise the F&I Manager to identify likely Eco customers, and how should they present the Eco product?
F&I managers do not have to decipher these tendencies if the eco-friendly products they are promoting are ultra high performance. For example, our Windshield+ product has third party laboratory proof it stops rock chips. All customers will benefit from the product’s performance and appreciate its eco-friendliness. Also, our products open new sales doors in the pre-owned market. Our CleanStart and MicrobeRepel products feature anti-microbial technology that’s super relevant to new and pre-owned customer.
What is your primary sales channel? How do you market to that channel?
EcoProProducts distribution is exclusively through automotive and RV dealerships. EcoProProducts provides the proof of performance, not propaganda. It’s easy to market when you know the products perform at the highest level of the industry.
Do the regulations differ at all for Eco Products versus other traditional offerings?
Product regulations are defined at both the federal and state level based on where they are sold, and do not differ from “traditional” products. Additionally, EcoProProducts perform beyond industry expectations of VOC compliance.
In your opinion, where is the greatest growth potential for the Eco Product category?
EcoProProducts has made significant advancements in opening several growth categories:
Pre-owned vehicles market with anti-microbial technology that provides protection well beyond just stain protection. Appearance protection programs are primarily offered only to new vehicle customers. Clean Start and MicrobeRepel extend that powerful relevance to pre-owned customers.
A huge segment of people (even in our industry) don’t believe appearance protection products really work, and many believe these long standing products are “snake oil”. EcoProProducts breaks through that barrier with high performance, eco-friendly products that are substantiated by 3rd party laboratory testing.
Overcoming the cultural belief that eco-friendly products don’t perform as well as “traditional” products is a tremendous growth opportunity. EcoProProducts shatters that cultural belief with eco-friendly products that have unmatched performance.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
EcoProProducts has a mission to redefine the industry’s expectation of protection. Our products are truly eco-friendly with uncompromising relevant performance.
