The year was 1987. Gas was 89 cents per gallon, Dirty Dancing was simultaneously invigorating young people and disturbing older people across the USA, and consumers were more likely to name their newborn Gorbachev than to buy “responsibly made products”. Amidst this cultural drama, chemical salesman Don Stewart stumbled across a recipe for a carpet cleaner that was more successful at removing stains and odors than the commonplace, traditional cleaners that contained laundry lists of nasty chemicals. At the time, he had no idea how this discovery would affect his life and the lives of his customers.
Believing his new formula was something really unique, he set off in his used 28-foot RV to spread the word to independent retailers nationwide of his new, remarkable product. Don was 60 years young when he first set his rambling wheels to pavement (who needs retirement!); people thought it was crazy that a man his age would take off for 8-10 months at a time in order to personally introduce stores across the country to his Pet Odor and Stain Eliminator. But his audacity paid off; people loved his product as much as he did! Within five years he had gone from coast to coast several times and had several hundred retailers selling his stain remover.
As time went on, he continued to grow his line using the same foundational premise: cost effective products that are (most importantly!) effective. He expanded his line of non-traditional cleaning products to include grease removers, drain cleaners, wine stain removers, boat and RV holding tank cleaners and carpet shampoos. Don knew that consumers increasingly wanted products that actually work! Don's boldness and positive outlook, supported by a fantastic product line, paved the way for the amazing growth Unique Manufacturing & Marketing has accomplished. Unique now enjoys product placement in over 6,000 domestic stores, international distribution in Canada and Australia, and an ever-growing online presence where our support team is able to connect with customers and provide the same personal attention and care that Don brought to independent retailers over 30 years ago.
After decades on the road, hundreds of thousands of miles, several new RVs, and countless conversations with retail purchasers, Don, now over 90, continues to occasionally visit store owners and regale them with stories that only a salesman of 60 years could possess. Unique Manufacturing & Marketing has grown from humble RV-traveling salesman to national and international online and retail sales, and the future looks brighter than ever. We look forward to continuing our journey of growth and invite you along for the ride!
