Packing and selling dry laundry starch was the company's only business
until 1960, when, working with Arthur D. Little, Inc., the company
developed a unique, high quality aerosol starch. A high-speed aerosol
line was purchased and the company thrived as a result of its aerosol
starch and fabric finish sales. That year, Faultless Spray-On Starch was
added to the line, followed by Faultless Fabric Finish in 1964, Faultless
Hot Iron Cleaner in 1965 and Faultless Spray Pre-Wash in 1968.
The total aerosol starch category was among the top ten fastest
growing categories in U.S. supermarkets for three years in the 1960's,
due in part to the company's pioneering of the 22-ounce size aerosol
starch can.
However, with the introduction of permanent press and synthetic
fabrics, the starch and fabric finish market declined sharply between
1970 and 1976. Then the decline ceased and the category sales grew again
because of the increased use of cotton in clothing, the increased cost of
synthetic, petroleum-derived fabrics and the return to more conservative
and stylish fashions.
In 1968, the company acquired the Kleen King Company and its line of
metal cleaning products. The Kleen King® line is one of the leaders of
the consumer metal cleaning products category.
Since the purchase of the Bon Ami® line of products in 1971, the
company has had over 20 years of experience developing, improving,
testing and marketing cleaning product formulas. Practical emphasis has
been on cleaning glass, porcelain and other hard surfaces without
damaging them. During this time, the company has worked with Midwest
Research Institute of Kansas City, Missouri on formula testing and
development.
Faultless continues to be active in new fabric care product
introductions. During the late 1980's, the company launched Faultless
Lemon Starch, Lite Starch, Heavy Starch and Wrinkle Remover. In 1997,
Faultless acquired the Magic® line of Sizing, Extra Crisp Sizing and
Starch. |
