News & PR
Press Release Archive
Thetford hosts Brian Brawdy and the GREEN RV in Ann Arbor and at the OWAA Conference in Grand Rapids
June 3, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – National-recognized Green RVer Brian Brawdy will be here June 12 to tour Thetford Corporation’s world headquarters and manufacturing facilities. He will then join Thetford officials at the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) convention in Grand Rapids, June 13-16, to promote both the state of Michigan and a green RV lifestyle to hunters and fisherman.
Brawdy is known as an outdoor adventure expert and environmental pioneer. He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, The New York Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN, Fox, The CW and other media outless across North America.
Thetford Corporation has teamed up with Brian Brawdy through the a new product introduction initiative. Committed to developing high-quality green products, Thetford recently introduced a new line of Design for the Environment (DfE)–recognized RV care products. This eco-friendly line meets the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) DfE program's rigorous criteria without sacrificing performance.
Safe for humans and the environment, the five-product line includes UltraFoam Black Streak Remover, UltraFoam Awning Cleaner, Wash & Wax, Mildew Stain Remover and Hard Water Spot Remover. Non-toxic and biodegradable, they are packaged in bottles made out of recyclable plastic, including 25% post-consumer recycled content.
“Since RV cleaners are used outdoors, they must meet even stricter requirements than household products,” said Mary Burrows, Thetford's manager of chemical development. “We will continue working with the EPA to produce more environmentally-responsible products in the future.”
Thetford will host two press panels at the Outdoor Writers event. The first features representatives from the Michigan Assocation of RV and Campgrounds and focuses on the RV industry, with an emphasis on RVing in Michigan. The second panel, featuring Bawdy and Burrows, centers on going green for RV sport vacations.
To set up an appointment to speak with any of the panel participants, contact Nadine Burns (734-645-0410 or via email at Nburns@thetford.com).
Thetford Debuts TECMA Bathroom Anywhere in US
May 4, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Thetford Corporation will debut the Tecma Bathroom Anywhere in the United States at K/BIS in Atlanta, GA on May 1, 2009. The Tecma Bathroom Anywhere wastewater transfer system has had decades of following in Europe and now Thetford Corporation will bring this unique macerating technology to the USA based upon current demand for a home macerator system that can be placed anywhere. The company has adapted it to meet all US standards.
The Tecma Bathroom Anywhere is ideal for basements and other areas where gravity-reliant plumbing is not fully available. With capability of pumping wastewater up to 18' vertically and 150' horizontally, users can install a bathroom in virtually any room in their home. It is easy to install and ties into the main wastewater line, saving time, money and the hassle of breaking up the floor to install plumbing.
In today’s economic environment, many people are opting to remain in their present home and make the changes needed to adapt to changes in family size or need, including a first level bathroom for an elderly person or an additional bathroom in the basement. The Tecma Bathroom Anywhere by Thetford Corporation makes that additional bathroom a reality.
The Tecma Bathroom Anywhere has a powerful turbine macerator pump that resists clogs, yet operates quietly. The pump has a split feature for easy, trouble free maintenance and comes with a three-year warranty.
To see the Tecma Bathroom Anywhere, please stop by the Thetford Corporation booth at the K/BIS show, B3972 and talk to our knowledgeable product managers.
Environment Friendly Holding Tank Additives Control Odor
April 2, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – While going green seems to be just a trend for some companies, Thetford's commitment to protecting the environment has always been strong. The company's high-quality line of Eco-Smart Holding Tank Deodorants are certified-green by North America's oldest, most-recognized environmental standard organization, EcoLogo.
The organization's stringent criteria require a holding tank additive to control odors and help decrease waste materials, as well as being biologically-based and non-toxic. It must not harm humans, riparian or aquatic species, not accumulate in the environment, have limited surfactants that are biodegradable and be effective and safe to use.
Quickly breaking down and liquefying waste and tissue, Eco-Smart's formaldehyde-free formula helps to prevent messy clogs. Extremely powerful, it provides 70% better odor control than other natural formulas. It also incorporates an additive that keeps tanks clean.
This formula's non-staining green dye washes clean with soap and water. Available in liquid or Toss-In form, they are the ultimate in convenience for any boat owner.
Eco-Smart is also offered in an enzyme formula. Similar to the formaldehyde-free formula, it quickly breaks down and liquefies waste and tissue. This natural, enzymatic deodorizer includes a detergent additive, allowing tanks to stay clean.
Extremely effective, only 4 oz. of the distinctive orange-colored treatment is required per 40-gallon tank. The liquid versions are available in 36 oz. or 64 oz. bottles made from 25% post-consumer content. The Toss-Ins are available in 12-count pouches.
Holding Tank Additives are Smart for the Environment
April 2, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – While some companies claim to be green, Thetford has proof. The company's high-quality line of Eco-Smart Holding Tank Deodorants for RVs are certified-green by North America's oldest, most-recognized environmental standard organization, EcoLogo.
The organization's stringent criteria require a holding tank additive to control odors and help decrease waste materials, as well as being biologically-based and non-toxic. It must not harm humans, riparian or aquatic species, not accumulate in the environment, have limited surfactants that are biodegradable and be effective and safe to use.
Eco-Smart's formaldehyde-free formula quickly breaks down and liquefies waste and tissue to prevent messy clogs. Extremely powerful, tests prove it provides 70% better odor control than other natural formulas. It also incorporates an additive that keeps tanks clean.
This formula's non-staining green dye washes clean with soap and water. Available in liquid or Toss-In form, they are the ultimate in convenience.
Eco-Smart is also offered in an enzyme formula. Similar to the formaldehyde-free formula, it quickly breaks down and liquefies waste and tissue. This natural, enzymatic deodorizer includes a detergent additive, allowing tanks to stay clean.
Extremely effective, only 4 oz. of the treatment is required per 40-gallon tank. Available in a distinctive orange liquid, it won't stain and washes clean with regular soap and water.
Due to their formulation, both formulas are accepted at all campgrounds and are safe for black and grey water tanks. The liquid versions are available in 36 oz. or 64 oz. bottles made from 25% post-consumer content. The Toss-Ins are available in 12-count pouches.
Stainless Steel Doors Add Elegance to any Galley
January 26, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Beautiful and dependable appliances can make any boat feel comfortable and more like home. Thetford Marine introduces its new stainless steel wrapped edge door option for its 0740 and 0751 AC/DC/EV refrigerator models, providing a clean and stylish appearance to any galley.
As an added convenience, the new wrapped doors are also reversible and replaceable. Sleek and streamlined, they are designed to withstand harsh marine conditions without compromising performance. Upgrading to this superior refrigerator's stainless wrapped doors is a simple way to add elegance to a boat's interior.
Featuring an exceptionally quiet, hermetically-sealed compressor, these refrigerators are dependable without disturbing noise, even in close quarters. Each model can be flush or proud mounted and offers exclusive self-venting capabilities. Consuming only a small amount of power, they operate on 12/24V DC each.
Easy on fingers, these models feature a pin action closure for secure opening and closing. The 0740 model measures 15.25" W x 20.5" H x 17.84" D and provides 1.7 cu. ft. of storage space while the 0751 model is 18.5" W x 20.5" H x 21.06" D and offers 2.7 cu. ft. of space for snacks and drinks.
Thetford Launches DfE-Recognized Marine Care Line
January 21, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Not all eco-friendly, or "green," marine care products are created equal or qualified using the same standards. Dedicated to developing environmentally-friendly products, Thetford Marine announces its new line of powerful and Design for the Environment (DfE) –recognized cleaning products. Safer for humans and the environment, Thetford's Marine Care line meets the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) DfE program's rigorous criteria without sacrificing performance.
"Since our products are used outdoors, in direct contact with bodies of water and living creatures, the EPA/DfE holds our cleaning formulations to higher standards of environmental-friendliness than even home cleaning products," said Mary Burrows, Thetford's manager of chemical development. "Years of development have allowed Thetford's products to pass the test when held up against the most stringent measure."
The EPA founded the Design for the Environment program in the early 1990s to champion risk reduction through pollution prevention. All products carrying the EPA/DfE logo do not contain inorganic phosphates, hazardous solvents or environmentally harmful surfactants, and use only the safest possible ingredients while maintaining or improving product performance.
DfE-qualified products include Thetford's Bilge Cleaner, UltraFoam™ Black Streak Remover, UltraFoam™ Deck Cleaner, Mildew Stain Remover and Boat Wash, packaged in bright green, 100% recyclable bottles made with 25% consumer-recycled plastic. All five products are formulated with ingredients that have more positive health and environmental characteristics than conventional cleaners, including a moderate pH.
UltraFoam Black Streak Remover removes black streaks without hard rubbing or scrubbing. Perfect for use on flat or non-skid decks, UltraFoam Deck Cleaner effortlessly cleans algae, grime, oil and other stains. UltraFoam immediately sticks and coats surfaces while breaking up grease, grime and dirt for faster and easier cleaning.
Thetford's Bilge Cleaner helps keep the bilge free from grease, oil, dirt and slime build-up, while the Boat Wash works great on a boat's surface to remove dirt build-up without removing wax. Chlorine-free and color safe on all fabrics and materials, Thetford's Mildew Stain Remover can also be used on carpet/upholstery and as a laundry pre-spot.
Taking Advantage of Boat Care Opportunities
September 23, 2008
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Dealers have the opportunity to capture Boat Care product sales from almost every customer who enters their store. If they're not taking advantage of these sales opportunities, they are missing out on significant sales and profits. The market is out there – just waiting to be tapped – and increasing boat care sales may not be as difficult as it seems. Here are a few basics to help increase sales.
Boat Care as an Investment
The first thing to remember and convey to customers is to understand that they have made a significant investment in their boat. After all, for most boaters, the dollars invested in their vessels is second only to the amount invested in their home. For customers, maintaining their boats means maintaining and protecting an investment.
Product Merchandising
Merchandising is the "secret weapon" in an ongoing battle to increase sales and profits. It's defined as any form of in-store promotion, other than personal selling, that triggers purchasing behavior. Here are a few tips for good merchandising.
Boat care products should be stocked together and displayed in an easy-to-find, logical location. Placing quart bottles at eye level – the preferred place – and heavier gallons on lower shelves can help generate more sales. Products that sell well should be restocked quickly while slow-movers are replaced with the products customers want. Doubling up the facings of the hottest movers can make those products move even faster.
Point-of-Sale Displays
In addition to building a winning retail area by brightening the store and making it an interesting place to shop, point-of-sale materials are proven to increase sales. There are two sources of POS materials. First, a dealer can ask his distributor and suppliers for any materials.
Second, the simplest and most inexpensive form of POS available is a dealer making his own signs. Homemade signs represent a very effective way to increase sales with limited amounts of costs, time and creativity.
There are three types of signs to produce: product identification, product description and sale signs. All three work to attract attention to the product and increase sales. But, for obvious reasons, sale signs are the most effective. That leads to...
Advertising
Boat care products must be advertised at the start of the season when boaters are prepping their vessels to proudly take out for the first time. Advertising works best when it promotes news or an attractive deal such as: "We now stock high-quality Boat Care products," or "Buy one, get one free!" In fact, with an attractive offer, advertising will actually bring customers into a store that will, in turn, purchase additional products.
Tie-in Selling
Dealers who take advantage of tie-in selling, also known as associated or related selling, can increase their sales and profits. While merchandising involves non-personal tactics, tie-in selling involves personal contact. It's the proven technique of suggesting a product or products for purchase in addition to those a customer planned to buy (or is in the act of buying). Tie-in selling works because the tie-in product makes sense and relates to other products being bought.
Customers appreciate suggestions because they view the dealer as a trusted advisor and respect his opinion. Also, they may be unaware of the product or have a problem that can be readily solved with it. Sometimes, it's as simple as them already making a purchase and being receptive to another.
The key to tie-in selling is product knowledge. A staff educated in the product basics and trained to tie-in sell is extremely beneficial to a dealership.
There are many ways to "tie" a product being bought with a boat care product. When a customer buys a new cover, recommend a bottle of cover cleaner to maintain it. Another way to tie-in sell is to suggest to a customer who is buying cover cleaner that he should pick up black streak and bug remover to take care of those problems, too. In addition, when customers pick up a quart of product, there's the opportunity to sell them up to the gallon size.
Drum Up Additional Sales
Aftermarket manufacturers offer cleaning products in industrial sizes so dealerships can prep their new and used vessels in a cost-effective way. This allows dealers to legitimately recommend the products to customers in a "we use it ourselves" way. This powerful testimonial speaks to the product's effectiveness and the store's confidence in it.
Recommend Top-Down Cleaning
Customers look to dealerships and their staff to provide product knowledge. A way to reaffirm their trust is to recommend the "top-down" method of cleaning, which will save them time and effort.
The "top-down" method means starting with the top of the boat and working down to the hull. This way, a product used "above" can actually help wash down a not-yet cleaned area and a clean area is not rewashed. By showing customers this method, it helps a dealer to introduce specific products that work on other areas of the boat but that they may be unfamiliar with.
Usage Recommendations
Naturally, customers want to know how often to use a product. Both the customer and the dealer are served best when boaters follow a maintenance schedule. Boats should have a major cleaning at the beginning and end of the season. Then, maintenance should take place on an as-needed basis in between those two times.
This might lead to a "How much do I need?" discussion of size or quantity to buy. If a customer understands that he'll need a cleaner three times a year, for example, he might just buy that money-saving gallon, rather than a 32-ounce bottle. In this case, a bigger sale has been captured for the store.
Lastly, many customers have grown accustomed to using a home or automotive product to maintain their boat. A boat is a major investment and it’s important to maintain it with marine-specific products.