With a “BHAG” or “big hairy audacious goal” to double the business every year, Ann Ruozzi, co-founder and CEO of Therapy Clean in Somersworth, is not afraid to set the bar high. “We know it’s a very audacious and lofty goal, but goals are supposed to be that way. As the saying goes, ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.’”
Sales of their line of plant-based specialty cleaning products, made in Somersworth, are going strong. They include Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish, Granite and Stone, Wood & Cabinet, Glass Cooktop and Tub & Tile.
Ruozzi launched Therapy Clean (therapyclean.com) in 2017 with her husband James Dudra, CFO and formulator, and expected to sell 1,000 units per month through Amazon. In March of this year, the company sold 16,000 units of their stainless-steel kits, outpacing national brands, Ruozzi says. “We realize we have something consumers are really interested in. We are now exploring retail, looking at stores like Target and Walmart. The products are already available at Bed, Bath and Beyond.”
Dudra says they all contain essential oils, such as lavender, lemon and grapefruit. “We want to make products that work; they must perform and also be plant based.”
“General purpose cleaners are great for many surfaces,” Ruozzi says. “But for specialty surfaces, which are often something you have invested in, why not have a product that will enhance and keep them looking new longer, protecting your investment?”
Dudra says they are proud of their certifications, including being a woman-owned and minority-owned business, certified cruelty free by Leaping Bunny and certified through the USDA.
“Many manufacturers will promote plant-based and eco-friendly methods,” says Dudra. “But it is not enough to promote it. We are USDA Certified Biobased. These certifications go a long way to help us gain consumer trust.”
Pictured: Ann Ruozzi, co-founder and CEO, and James Dudra, CFO and formulator