COMPANY

Name: Dude Products

Legal Name: Dude Products, Inc

Location: Chicago, IL

Founded: 2011

Founder(s): Sean Riley (CEO), Brian Wilkin, Jeffrey Klimkowski, Ryan Meegan

Website: https://www.dudeproducts.com/

Social Media: 18,509 Likes on Facebook, 5261 Followers on Twitter, 32.9k Followers on Instagram

INDUSTRY – Men’s Hygiene and Grooming Products

Size: Global male grooming products market was valued at $57.7Bn in 2017 (Source: Male Grooming Products Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2018-2023)

Projections: The market is expected to reach $78.6Bn by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2017 and 2023

Introduction

Dude Products, Inc is a Chicago-based company that sells a range of men’s hygiene and grooming products online and through retail stores.

The Product

Dude Wipes is a brand of personal cleansing wipes for men launched by Dude Products in 2011. Dude Wipes are made from plant-sourced fibers, which makes them strong but also biodegradable and easy to dispose of. Additionally, the wipes contain vitamin E and aloe, which makes them hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial and fragrance-free. The 44-square-inch individual, flushable wipes come in packs of 30 or 48 that can be used on the go.

In 2016, Dude Products expanded its product range with the launch of  its full body wipes for men called Dude Shower. This was followed by the launch of Dude Face Wipes the following year. These products are also made from plant-sourced fibers and are hypoallergenic and biodegradable. In 2018, the company launched Dude Powder, a body powder for men available in three variants.

Dude Products’ range of hygiene and grooming products are available at 12,000+ stores across the US with retailers including Kroger, Meijer, Jewel, Target, Safeway, Albertsons, and Walmart. Additionally, its products can also be bought online through the company’s website and Amazon.

Origin and Founding Team

Sean Riley, Brian Wilkin, Jeffrey Klimkowski, and Ryan Meegan were roommates while they were in college, and after. It was when they started using baby wipes one day for their toiletry needs that a business idea began taking shape in their minds. For the four roommates, the baby wipes were already a much better alternative to toilet paper, but they had some drawbacks. One of them was they could not use the wipes in on-the-go situations when they had to use public restrooms. The other was they could not flush them or dispose them easily.

This prompted them to create a product that ticked all the right boxes, and the result was Dude Wipes, a wipe for men available in single travel packets. After finding the right manufacturer, the team spent the next six months testing the product to create the best quality of wipes.

Performance and Trends

In 2013, after a few months since its launch, Dude Products received the Visionary Award at the Vision 2013 Consumer Products Conference, which is given each year to the most innovative product. In 2015, Dude Products featured on the popular television show Shark Tank where it showcased Dude Wipes to the judges. Following the presentation, Dude Products closed a $300,000 deal with Mark Cuban, who holds a 25% stake in the company.

As of August 2018, Dude Wipes has generated $3Mn+ in sales. It has also received positive coverage from various media channels. The company has sponsored sportspersons from across major sporting leagues such as UFC, NASCAR, and NFL, among others.

The global male grooming products market was valued at $57.7Bn in 2017. The market value is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% during the 2017-2023 period to reach $78.6B by 2023.