Home Smart 100 2010 Bed Bug Barrier (SMART 100)

Bed Bug Barrier (SMART 100)

Jul 20, 2010

The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

This innovation initially came to life when…

The Bed Bug Barrier helps hotels around the world prevent, monitor and control bed bug infestations before they occur. The product is simple, eco friendly and discrete – and has won an ABC New Inventor award, been featured in hotel industry magazines and blogs globally.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Help hotels, hostels and home owners protect, monitor and control bed bug infestations before they occur.

It does this by…

Using a glue trap combined with a simple, patented design that enables the barrier to be “screwed-in” between the bed leg and the bed or “cast” under the wheel of a standard bed.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Bed bugs are usually treated with harsh chemical sprays but have built up a natural resistance to bed bugs in recent years. Barrier’s are recommended by the WHO as a frontline defence mechanism but are often custom solutions, leaving the gap for a specialised product like the Bed Bug Barrier.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Helping hotels around the world prevent, monitor and control the highly damaging, common and expensive problems caused by bed bug infestations. These include room closure, loss of occupancy rates, treatment costs and even law suits from affected guests!

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Previous barriers were often made on a bespoke or adhoc basis. There has not been a specialised, branded and easy to find solution in this market until the Bed Bug Barrier.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Only two things precluded the barrier; the first, doing nothing, and the second, hotels creating their own ineffective barriers using basic materials such as lids, plastics and materials.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

The hotel and hostel industry in Australia and abroad. Our primary decision maker is the “executive housekeepers” of 3-5 star hotels, the lead housekeeper who’s primary role is to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of their hotel. In Australia there are approximately 4000 “executive housekeepers”

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

Channel partners in key regions such as the UK, US, SA, NZ and online via BedBarrier.com.au

Our marketing strategy is to…

Engage and inform housekeepers within targeted hotels, through niche ATL channels such as hotel industry magazines, attending relevant conferences and events, and BTL channels such brochures, website, video’s, consultation and seminars to inform them of the benefits of avoiding this nasty problem.

SUPPORTING IMAGES AND/OR VIDEO

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS INNOVATION

While the judging is now officially over, you can still show your support for this innovation in one of the following three ways:

Hit the VOTE UP button: Top left of each page (Not available for IE users)
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To check out the Anthill SMART 100 Readers’ Choice winner for 2010, click here.