What gave you the idea to create Bobbex?
Actually I am “Bobbex” Jr. My father Robert Ecsedy developed the idea for a deer repellent product between 1985 and 1987. At that time, the deer population exploded in our home state of Connecticut. Prior to this period of time, it was rare to see deer in your own backyard.
My father Bob was 65 years old at the time and had already retired from a life in sales. In summertime, he filled his days with tending to his sizable vegetable garden. To enhance his 300 tomato plants he would mix a brew of plant food that included fish emulsion. He found that the plants treated with his home-made, natural brew actually survived the nights when deer visited and dined in his gardens. He then modified the formulation to its near present state and asked neighbors and friends to try the home-brewed liquid.
With positive feedback, he hit the road again with samples of the product in old milk containers and gave them to the local garden centers for testing. Garden Centers sampled the product themselves and offered it to their customers, results were excellent. The product took off from there and was widely viewed as an effective, natural, safe solution to homeowners’ and landscapers’ deer problems.
What was your father’s background?
My father graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a degree in chemistry. He spent years on the road as a specialty oil/solvent sales person, and enjoyed his time within the horticultural industry. His combined experience and education gave him the credentials needed for developing and marketing Bobbex Deer Repellent.
Where does the name “Bobbex” come from?
My father’s name is Robert Ecsedy or Bob Ecsedy (pronounced X-city) if you shorten it, like his high school buddies did, you get BobEx or Bobbex.
What kind of gardening do you do?
I love to tinker in my backyard and I grow a small vegetable garden each year. I prefer a manicured look, with everything in its place while maintaining and a bit of open-space to the landscaping.
What’s involved in developing and marketing a product like Bobbex?
The phrase 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration comes to mind. Although the idea for Bobbex did not originate with me, I have been extremely involved in the marketing and branding of the product in the US and Canada.
Coming up with an original product idea that is proven effective, marketable and profitable is extremely difficult, but this does not compare to the time and energy required to successfully bring the product to market and make a profit.
I have surrounded myself with competent advisors and employees and have found that through the combined efforts and expertise of me and my team, we quickly, efficiently and successfully find solutions and answers to almost any problem.
One of the biggest factors of any success is to recognize opportunities and act on them quickly. It is also important to know the difference between need and want, and to try to operate without debt.
Is there any plant the Bobbex doesn’t work on?
Bobbex is all natural, effective and safe to use on all plants. Inherently, Bobbex is a chemical free-fertilizer. We use a variety of protein based products and a few plant enhancing ingredients that actually make Bobbex good for plants. Even if Bobbex concentrate is used without diluting (which is not recommended), the product will never harm or burn plants. The product is also safe for humans, animals, insects, and aquatic life.
Because we use so many repelling ingredients, our product is the most effective deer and small herbivore deterrent in the marketplace today. Its potency and longevity are best for ornamentals, however because of these attributes, we do not recommend our products on fruits and vegetables. Bobbex is a highly effective repellent, but a terrible salad dressing!
What’s next for your company?
Bobbex was recently approved for use in Canada and we are spending time and energy developing the Canadian marketplace. In addition, we are looking at other countries where our products could assist homeowners and landscapers to safely solve problems with wildlife intrusion.
Additionally, we are in the process of refining the development of a chemical-free product specifically formulated for roses. This innovative product would not only repel deer, but also ward off aphids, Japanese beetles, and other insect pests common to roses, as well as mitigate the damage from black spot and powdery mildew. We are excited about this new product and quite certain homeowners will find it to be extremely effective.
Comments on this entry are closed.