07.07.09
White Plains, NY
800.873.7400
www.combe.com
Sales: $350 million
Sales: $350 million (estimated).
Key Personnel: Christopher B. Combe, chairman and president; Jerome S. Darby Sr., senior vice president, operations; Douglas M. McGraime, executive vice president and chief executive officer.
Major Products: Hair care and personal grooming products. Brands include Odor Eaters, Just Five, Aqua Velva, Lanane, Grecian 5, PowerHold, Cepacol, Scalpicin, LiceMD, Johnson’s Foot Soap, Sea-Bond, Just for Men, Grecian Formula, Vagisil, Lectric Shave, Lanacort, Brylcreem, Williams.
New Products: Aqua Velva Ice Balm, Odor-Eaters Cat Litter Neturalizer, Scalpicin Anti-Itch Wipes, Vagisil Satin.
Comments: Happi estimates that sales rose 6% at privately-held Combe, which offers a wide array of products to solve some very common (but still troublesome) personal care problems such as gray hair, itching and lice.
For example, according to the company, at least one out of five Americans suffer from scalp itch. Combe already offers Scalpicin, but its newest addition is Scalpicin Anti-Itch Medicated Wipes with skin-soothing aloe and vitamins E, A and D. The wipes, perfect for people on-the-go, help relieve itching on the scalp, neck and around the ears. The wipes are fragrance free, portable and individually wrapped for added convenience.
Now Combe is taking its personal care solutions to India. In May, it formed a strategic alliance with Elder Health Care to launch Just For Men hair color.
“Hair color is one of the biggest personal grooming categories but most of the products are women-centric. The launch of Just for Men will create a revolution in the male grooming category,” Elder Health Care managing director Anuj Sexena told reporters in India.