This article was originally published Apr. 12, 2021. The CBJ is revisiting some of the biggest stories from the last 20 years, in celebration of our anniversary.
Cedar Rapids-based organic lip care manufacturer Eco Lips is acquiring Simply Soothing, a fellow Iowa-based personal care company responsible for bringing Bug Soother insect repellent to the market, Eco Lips announced in a news release.
Founded in 2003, Simply Soothing started small, but after the introduction of their handcrafted, DEET-free Bug Soother in 2008, sales accelerated rapidly after the Iowa floods that brought swarms of bugs in their wake.
Similar to Eco Lips, Simply Soothing’s brand values are centered on using natural ingredients, company representatives said.
“I know it’s a cliché to say, ‘the two companies complement each other well.’ But in this case, it really is incredibly true,” Eco Lips founder and CEO Steve Shriver said. “We’ve been soothing lips for years, especially in the fall and winter. Now we can soothe the whole body all year-round. Eco Lips is perfectly poised to service Simply Soothing’s existing customer base while, at the same time, adding distribution. I’ve always had so much respect for (Simply Soothing CEO) Freda (Sojka) and her products. The entire Eco Lips team is honored and excited to carry the Bug Soother brand forward.”
The eighth largest bug repellent brand in the United States, the Bug Soother brand of natural products includes the specialty natural bug repellent in the green bottle, as well as a bite soother and outdoor candles. The company’s products are carried in 10,000 retail locations nationwide with growing distribution internationally, including the UK, Europe, Central America, Grand Cayman and Scandinavia.
Eco Lips is known for creating the original organic lip balm in 2003, promoting the manufacture of high-quality, certified organic, fair trade and non-GMO lip care products. The company offers private label and contracting manufacturing services, with a range of products including lip balms, scrubs, tints, a vegan lip care line and body oil.
