WWWWF:You Guys Made Me Ink
Local lather lets little learners washup up right
Add another notch to the board for another idea I should have had.
So, your kiddo isn't doing so great in the handwashing department (from what I've seen, the tyke's not alone. Heck, even my boss has admitted thinking suds are duds) and you're fretting about how to get the little dirt magnet to clean up properly or understand the harm that can come from poor handwashing.
Try ink.
These guys are freakin' geniuses because they've overcome the thing kids forget by letting them do what they love: washing up by getting dirty.
SquidSoap is the creation of Ron Mallonee, John Lynn and Greg Deisher.
"John had the original inspiration concerning hand washing. He was trekking in Nepal with his father. At base camp the Sherpa’s required everyone to immerse their hands in a liquid solution before going into the tent to eat. Now they did this out of necessity since it was very expensive to helicopter any one out who was sick plus they could get others sick," said Deisher, 43, in an e-mail. "John’s thought was if the Sherpa’s in Nepal could keep people from getting sick why couldn’t we do it better in America. In fact the original name of his company was hand police and he has several inventions that force you to wash your hands after opening a door or flushing the commode."
Former Texas Tech University roommates, Mallonee and Deisher both have Wichita Falls ties.
Deisher's father was offered the band director job at Ryder High School in 1979 but didn't take it. That same year, a tornado knocked over the house his mom had picked for the family had they stayed. Now Deiser, his wife and their four kids live in Austin, though a turbine company and SquidSoap bring him to Wichita Falls often.
Mallonee, 41-year-old father of two, was born and raised in Wichita Falls, a 1983 Old High graduate who now has a special place in my heart and blog.
"I actually live next door to Darrell Coleman" Times Record News publisher, he said in an e-mail.
The Squid has brought in a few clams.
"In December of 2005 we started from scratch a new company, developed its initial product and placed it successfully on the shelves of many retailers by Spring of 07," Deisher said. "We expect to grow sales to over 5 million in the next 12 months and have a goal of 45 million by 2012. I am hesitant to outline them at this stage due to the competitiveness of the industry but we do plan on being the #1 Personal Care Brand for 4 to 7 year olds."