First created in 1989, Whip-It was green before being green was cool. "It actually began as a cleaning product for boats since nearly all marine cleaners were made from toxic acids, ammonia and alcohol," said company CEO John Alessi. "We knew we couldn't save the environment from these toxins, but we could at least do our part."
According to the company, it contains no acids, alcohol, ammonia, bleaches or harsh chemicals. It was the first all-natural cleaning product that was not only extremely effective, but also does not harm the ocean or environment.Boaters fell for it hook, line and sinker. They used it on every surface from fiberglass to plastic, canvas, metal and teak. Whip-It worked so well that customers started taking the cleaner into their homes for everyday use. It was an "ah-ha" moment for the Florida-based company, which then shifted its focus to selling directly to commercial businesses across the country.
"Everyone wants a green cleaner, but unfortunately the biggest dilemma is that many of them just don't work. We wanted one that is powerful enough to beat the traditional chemical-based products on pure performance, and yet safe enough to use around your family and pets," Alessi explained. He knew that in order to build a greater customer awareness, the company needed to be showcased on a national level.
Whip-It is now enjoying a successful three-year run on the Home Shopping Network (HSN) as an "As Seen on TV" brand. It has quickly become one of the top-selling cleaning products on the channel and continues to sell out regularly.
"Our goal was to create the most powerful eco-friendly products in the market and we feel that we have succeeded," said Alessi, who added that the fast-growing company is aggressively working on expanding the brand into kitchen, bathroom, baby and specialty products,