In May 2003, 3M rolled out it's Ultrathon insect repellant (originally
developed for the military) to the mass market. I'm trying to find out
how the product has done since then. Has it been a success or failure
compared to the established players like Off! If it has been a
failure, why?

Hello columbiamba2006-ga,

All indications in the articles reviewing Ultrathon and the chatter in
discussion forums seems to indicate that this is a very well received
product that is quite expensive and sometimes in short supply. The
major problem it faces is from people who don?t like any of the
DEET-based insect repellent products. Those who have decided that
they?re OK with using DEET definitely seem to like Ultrathon.

I searched to see if I could locate hard numbers on how Ultrathon is
doing is sales number against other products but could not locate a
market research report that was completed after the introduction of
Ultrathon. Insect repellents are a small segment of the Pest Control
market and it?s hard to find market research on this specific market.
I was able to find one report indicating that because of the West Nile
Virus scare insect repellent sales are growing rapidly.

I haven?t found anything to indicate that Ultrathon has been a failure.

I trust that this information will meet your needs.

All the best.

~ czh ~


==============================
ULTRATHON PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS
==============================

http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/ultrathon/index.jhtml
3M? Ultrathon? Insect Repellent is unlike any other DEET-based
product. With its unique patented technology, it provides longer
lasting protection than many brands containing more DEET.

***** This is the corporate page for the Ultrathon product and offers
the official company product description and FAQs.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.pesticideinfo.org/List_Products.jsp?Rec_Id=PC33407&Chem_Name=DEET&PC_Code=080301
Pesticide Action Network, North America 
PAN Pesticides Database - Pesticide Products

3m ultrathon insect repellent -- 3m ultrathon insect repellent
3m ultrathon insect repellent -- Hour guard insect repellent 12
3m ultrathon insect repellent 12 -- 3m ultrathon insect repellent 12
3m ultrathon insect repellent 12 -- Hourguard insect repellent spray 8
3m ultrathon spray insect repellent (9.55%) -- 3m ultrathon spray
insect repellent (9.55%)
3m ultrathon spray insect repellent. -- 3m ultrathon spray insect repellent.
3m ultrathon spray insect repellent. -- Hourguard insect repellent 8

***** This site offers detailed information about EPA ratings and
warnings and other information about this product.



======================================
RATING AND COMPARING INSECT REPELLENTS
======================================

http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/pest/Articles/InsectRepelEffective.htm
http://lancaster.unl.edu/nebline/2004/aug04/page03.pdf
August 5, 2004
How effective are DEET Repellents?
by Barb Ogg, PhD, Extension Educator

Repellent products containing DEET (diethyl toluamide) are highly
effective against mosquitoes, biting flies, ticks and chiggers. Recent
research suggests that DEET does not actually repel the insects.
Instead, the DEET jams the blood-seeking insects? antennae which is
the organ these insects use to locate you.

How effective are they? Using medical entomologists to test
repellents, Consumer Reports reported results of a study in their May
2003 issue.

Product Mosquito Protection 
 -- 3M Ultrathon - 13 hours of Protection 
 -- Off! Deep Woods for Sportsmen - 13 hours of Protection 
 -- Muskol Ultra 6 hours - 8 hours of Protection 
 -- BugOut - 7 hours of Protection 
 -- Sawyer Controlled Release - 6 hours of Protection 
 -- Cutter Unscented - 5 hours of Protection 
 -- Off! Skintastic with Sunscreen SPF 30 - 4 hours of Protection 
 -- Cutter Skinsations - 2 hours of Protection 
 -- Avon Skin So-Soft Bug Guard/Sunblock - 1 hour of Protection (contains no DEET) 

Ultrathon is the same product the US military uses. Ultrathon and Off!
Deep Woods for Sportsmen had the same level of protection, but Off!
Deep Woods has three times as much DEET (100 percent) than Ultrathon.
Developed by 3M, Ultrathon contains a polymer, a molecule that keeps
the repellent on the skin rather than being absorbed into the body or
evaporated into the air.
In this study, repellents using plant oils (citronella, soybean,
coconut and geranium) provided little protection.

-------------------------------------------------


http://medicalletter.org/downloads/InsectRepellent.pdf
Understanding Insect Repellents

http://medicalletter.org/html/who.htm
The Medical Letter is a nonprofit organization founded in 1958 ? Its
newsletters, The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics and
Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter, publish critical
appraisals of new drugs and comparative reviews of older drugs. The
editorial process used for both publications relies on a consensus of
experts to develop prescribing recommendations that are completely
independent of the pharmaceutical industry. The Medical Letter and
Treatment Guidelines are, therefore, crucial resources for members of
the health care community to consult when confronted by the
advertisements and sales representatives of the industry.

***** This article gives a good explanation of how the various types
of insect repellents work and gives a good introduction to why DEET
products are the most effective.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.consumersunion.org/products/nilepr403.htm
CONSUMER REPORTS MAY ISSUE WARNS OF WEST NILE DISEASE AND TELLS HOW TO
BE PREPARED AS OUTDOOR RECREATION SEASON APPROACHES
- Product Ratings Reveal Most Effective Bug Repellents - 
April 7, 2003

BEST PRODUCTS TO KEEP BUGS AT BAY

CR enlisted medical entomologists at an outside lab to see which
products best keep bugs at bay. The verdict: Deet remains the best
deterrent. Deet is generally acknowledged to be the most effective
insect mosquito repellent there is. It has been used by many millions
of people worldwide for decades, and it's considered safe when used
according to directions. Of the nine repellents CR tested, the two
most effective at deterring both mosquitoes and ticks were 3M
Ultrathon (33% deet) and Off! Deep Woods for Sportsmen (100% deet).
Both kept mosquitoes from biting for about 13 hours. Ultrathon
protected from ticks for 10 hours, Off! for 7 hours. Don't expect much
from nondeet repellents. CR is skeptical of products using plant oils
such as citronella, soybean, coconut, and geranium as they provide
little if any protection.

-------------------------------------------------


http://rconline.ca/disc/index.php?action=showthread&threadid=223
R/C Discussion Group > General discussions / Discussions générales 
West Nile Virus

Thu, 03-Apr-10 09:31 
By/Par 
Ronald Longtin 
West Island Model Aeronautics Club 

***** This posting includes the complete Consumer Reports article quoted above.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.health.state.nm.us/pdf/WNV-NEJM%20repellent%20comparisons.pdf
Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents Against Mosquito Bites

***** This is a 6-page report that reports on research conducted on
comparisons of all types of insect repellents. It was conducted prior
to the appearance of Ultrathon but the findings comparing DEET
products to other classes of products are still valid.



==========================================
CONSUMER ORIENTED ARTICLES ABOUT ULTRATHON
==========================================

http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/illness/insect_repellents.html
Insect repellents 

***** This is a long article with lots of links that advises consumers
on the use of insect repellents.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.travmed.com/trip_prep/insect_repellents.htm
I've heard recently about "controlled-release" DEET repellents. Do
these products have any advantages over the other DEET repellents?

Nearly all DEET-based repellents on the market contain the DEET
chemical simply mixed in a base of lotion, or alcohol. Extended or
controlled-released products, in contrast, package the DEET in a
special base that allows it to be released more slowly on to the skin
surface. There are several advantages to this technology: These
products will give longer-lasting protection, without requiring the
use of high concentrations of DEET. They also reduce the number of
times that re-application of the product may be necessary, and
potentially lower percutaneous absorbtion. Only two products are
presently available that use slow-release technology: 1) Ultrathon and
2) Sawyer's Controlled Release. Ultrathon contains 33% DEET in a
polymer base; it is identical to the repellent used by the U.S.
military.

-------------------------------------------------


http://outdoors.mainetoday.com/trailhead/001840.shtml
June 08, 2005 
A kinder, gentler DEET

Enter "micro-encapsulated DEET," a new twist on the bug repellent scene.
This new generation of bug juice is marketed as Ultrathon by 3M and
Sawyer Controlled Release DEET Lotion.

***** This is a short article that discusses the consumer perspective
on the pros and cons of using DEET insect repellent products and
reviews the claims made for the Ultrathon product.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.epinions.com/well-Supplies-First_Aid-Repellent-All/show_~recent_content/sec_~recent_content_list/pp_~1/pa_~1
New Regular Reviews in Insect Repellent
Showing 1-37 of 37 regular reviews

***** This page includes several enthusiastic reviews of Ultrathon products.

-------------------------------------------------


http://gbgm-umc.org/vim/hcv/knock_summer03.htm
Summer, 2004
THE  KNOCK
A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF OPPORTUNITY
PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS AND ALLIED HEALTH PERSONNEL
A SERVICE OF THE UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION
UNITED METHODIST FELLOWSHIP OF HEALTH CARE VOLUNTEERS

Shoo Fly - Don?t Bother Me
Judicious use of mosquito repellant containing DEET, as well as
protective clothing is key to prevention. A long acting polymer/ DEET
formulation, Ultrathon ®, prevents absorption and evaporation of
repellant from skin. Spraying clothes with permethrin (Repel
Permanente ®), a contact insecticide, offers effective protection
against mosquitoes and ticks.



=======================
INSECT REPELLENT MARKET
=======================

http://www.klinegroup.com/6_20040923a.htm
CROWDED MARKET LEADS TO STIFF COMPETITION FOR CONSUMER PESTICIDE AND
FERTILIZER MARKETERS

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, September 23, 2004
Opportunities also exist for marketers of products that address
serious health or safety hazards such as Lyme disease, West Nile
virus, and fire ants. In fact, one segment of the market that showed
substantial growth in 2003 was insect repellants, most likely due to
these types of threats.
"We saw a large boost in the sales of insect repellents last year, and
the main reason could be attributed to consumers' increased vigilance
with West Nile virus," says Fugate.

-------------------------------------------------


http://reports.mintel.com/sinatra/reports/index/letter=16/display/id=1265&anchor=a1265
http://reports.mintel.com/sinatra/reports/index/letter=16/display/id=1265&anchor=a1265&cover/display/id=54231
Pest Control - US - September 2003

The U.S. pest control industry consists of both product manufacturers
and service providers. This report examines both the product segment,
where consumers purchase products for home use, and the service
segment, where consumers contract specialized pest control companies
to deal with infestations. Both market segments are fragmented,
characterized by intense competition for market share.

FUTURE TRENDS
 -- Service providers are optimistic about future growth
 -- Manufacturer-retailer relationships
 -- A note of caution
 -- Eco-friendly future?

NEW PRODUCT BRIEFS
 -- Spectrum: Cutter All Family Insect Repellent Towelettes
 -- SC Johnson: Off! Fresh Scent Insect Repellent II
 -- 3M Health Care: Ultrathon Insect Repellent 8
 -- Wellmark International: Pre-Strike Mosquito Repellent
 -- Natrapel: Natrapel Plus Insect Repellent
 -- Walgreens: Insect Repellent

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2002-08-07-west-nile_x.htm
8/7/02 -- Retailers see surge in insect repellent sales

Major retailers report rising sales of insecticides and insect
repellents that can protect against the mosquitoes that carry the
deadly West Nile virus, but they are refraining from promotions.

SC Johnson markets the No. 1 brand, Off!, but it has stuck to its
regular May-July advertising schedule to avoid commercializing a
public-health issue.

"We are not going to market to someone's misfortunes or fears," says
SC Johnson spokeswoman Cynthia Georgeson.

Mosquito-fighting products are a $200 million-a-year market that
includes sprays for the skin and biodegradable insecticides.

Most repellents that can be applied directly to the skin, such as Off!
and Cutter sprays made by United Industries division Spectrum, use
DEET.



===============
SEARCH STRATEGY
===============

Ultrathon
Ultrathon insect repellent
Ultrathon sales
Ultrathon market share

---

Request for Answer Clarification by columbiamba2006-ga on 13 Jul 2005 05:54 PDT

Actually, this doesn't really answer my question at all. The "chatter"
you find regarding postive consumer reviews is readily available but
does not answer my question. There are plenty of products that are
highly rated but commercial failures. This does not answer the key
question which is how has the product done specifically since 2003
compared to the established players.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by columbiamba2006-ga on 13 Jul 2005 05:55 PDT

To be clear, the only answer that I am looking for (especially for
$150) will contain hard numbers of Ultrathon vs other players in
conjunction with some market share percentages. If no such numbers are
available, I will consider this question un-answerable.

---

Clarification of Answer by czh-ga on 13 Jul 2005 07:14 PDT

Hello columbiamba2006-ga<

It is unfortunate that you have closed and rated my answer instead of
asking for clarification.

I'm sorry that you didn't make clear that you were asking for hard
numbers. In your question you said: "I'm trying to find out how the
product has done since then." I clearly answered this by describing
that it has achieved #1 rating with Consumer Reports and has gained
wide acceptance with consumers. I described the market and what makes
this product attractive and how it's being adopted by those who are
willing to accept products in its class.

The next point you raised was: "Has it been a success or failure
compared to the established players like Off!" Again, I've clearly
shown that it is a success. You didn't ask for degree of success or
market share. I also showed you that there haven't been any recent
marketing report on insect repellents so othe circumstantial evidence
has to be used to support the determination of success or failure.

Again, if you had asked for clarification, I would have been happy to
pursue your question further. I believe in providing excellent
customer service, but I'm not a mind reader.

Wishing you well.

~ czh ~

---

Request for Answer Clarification by columbiamba2006-ga on 13 Jul 2005 08:41 PDT

I disagree with your logic. A high rating from consumer reports does
not signal either wide consumer acceptance nor success compared to
Off. I'm sorry this interaction has went badly for both of us. I see
your point that I could have been more explicit but I hope you see
mine that the depth of your research was not in sync with the
price.Furthermore, in all of my other experiences with Google answers,
the researcher posted a comment as an indication of direction before
posting an official response which I think has been very helpful.
Instead of continuing this argument in a public forum, I just assume
we put this issue to bed and process my refund.

---

Clarification of Answer by czh-ga on 13 Jul 2005 08:59 PDT

Hello again columbiamba2006-ga,

I'm sorry my answer didn't meet your expectations. Here are the
instructions for requesting a refund.

http://answers.google.com/answers/refundrequest

All the best.

~ czh ~

The answer did not address the question - please see the long string
of comments on the answer page.

This did not answer my question at all. Just because consumers like it
(which is extremely easy information to find) does not mean it was a
commercial success. The key question of how Ultrathon has done
compared to other products was ignored and I never asked for any
information on the drivers of general industry growth or understanding
how insecticides work. Although all of my previous Google answers have
been great, I am requesting a refund for this one.

It is very difficult to find specific market shares of any product, be
it an insect repellent or a sandwich brand.
I manufacture a 100% natural mosquito repellent called MozzyOff
Cocktail (www.mozzyoff.com) and have done some research into market
shares of products etc. The best way to find out this information is
(unfortunately) to pay a marketing company that specialises in your
specific field (ie; for insect repellents, it's health/pharmacy).
Alternatively, you can ask a major distribution company for relevant
information but this kind of information is tricky to get hold of.