Barrington's OMI tackles Chicago Bears
OMI Industries, a growing odor-eliminating company headquartered in Barrington, scored a sponsorship with the Chicago Bears.
The company announced Monday that it has signed on as a sponsor for the football season that kicked off over the weekend. As part of the agreement, the Barrington company will supply its eco-friendly Fresh Wave odor eliminating solution in all luxury skybox suites and bathrooms on those floors.
In addition, all Chicago Bears players and trainers were also given the odor-eliminating product during training camp. Advertisement for the product is running in the Game Day publication available at home games.
"This is the beginning of our launch into the sports market," said OMI co-founder Philip M. Coffey. "This is a key market we wanted to tackle," said Coffey, a Kildeer resident. He would not say how much his company paid for the sponsorship.
He explained that the product found at Soldier Field is similar to a jelly that vaporizes into the air. "It attracts and absorbs odor molecules," he said.
Fresh Wave, part of a 10-product line including sprays, candles and laundry items, is currently sold in more than 8,000 retailers including Bed Bath & Beyond stores.
The Chicago Bears agreement serves as a way for OMI to promote its consumer product, Coffey said. The 16-ounce containers that will keep portions of Soldier Field smelling sweet sell for $14.99 at retailers, Coffey said.
The company is also providing a minor-league baseball team in Cleveland with Pearl Packs that remove sweat and odor from gym bags and shoes.
Unlike products that contain fragrances to mask odors, Coffey said their lines are nontoxic, nonhazardous and non-aerosol.
The company started in the industrial arena 20 years ago and has seen significant growth, Coffey said. The consumer division was introduced in 2003 followed by the commercial division in 2009. The company works with companies including Medline in Mundelein to keep hotels and nursing homes smelling fresh and with Hertz to refresh rental cars.
"In a poor market, we're a high-end product that's doing well," Coffey said adding, "last year was our best year ever. We saw 65 percent growth last year."
OMI has manufacturing, warehousing and a research and development facility in LaPorte, Texas; Rising Sun, Ind. and Ventura, Calif., respectively. The Indiana warehouse facilities are in the process of expending.