First responders. Fishermen. Farmers. These workers need to shower after a day’s work, not before (like most of us 9-to-5ers do). And Zep has added a new product just for them: Blue Energy Shower Gel.
 
Best known for industrial hand hygiene products sold under the Zep banner as well as car care SKUs like Blue Coral and Rain-X, Zep Inc. traces its heritage chemical business back to 1937. Personal care is a more recent endeavor, so to speak, for this venerable firm.
 
“Zep has been in business for over 75 years and we have been making skin care products for the past 30 years, with an emphasis on industrial hand care. We have offered a variety of hair and body wash products and are finding it’s a growing market for us,” said Greg Hill, manager, communications and social media, Zep Sales & Service.
 
To continue to grow its presence, the Zep team recognized the need shift into a higher gear when it came to scent development.
 
“Our goal with Blue Energy shower gel was to leverage the latest fragrance trends from the retail marketplace in the industrial and institutional marketplace, which typically lags behind,” Hill said.
  
In addition, Zep wanted to go more gender specific.  
 
Before the launch, Zep tested the product with its toughest industrial customers. Samples were sent to firefighters, tugboat operators on the Mississippi and oil rig customers in the Florida Gulf.
 
“We asked them how much lather they wanted when showering with the soap, how strong they wanted the fragrance to be and other details like color and texture,” noted Hill.
 
Feedback helped Zep develop a phosphate-free formula that addressed concerns unique to this hard-working customer base.
 
“Blue Energy shower gel is unique because it is specifically formulated to prevent dryness, which can be an issue for people who may take multiple showers a day,” noted Hill. “Blue Energy is strong enough to get the dirt out—including the smoke smell that firefighters often complain about—without irritating the skin.”
 
Zep is supporting the launch with a chance to win one of 20 free samples daily on Facebook by sharing stories about their dirty job.