# 042: All-Natural Insect Repellant & Reusing Failed Products, Stacy Marking with Lemongrass Trading Co

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2017-02-28
- Length: 34m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-28-042-all-natural-insect-repellant-reusing-failed-products-stacy-marking-with-lemo
- Listen: https://theproductstartup.com/042-stacy-marking-lemongrass-trading-co/

## Summary

Stacy Marking, founder of Lemongrass Trading Co, explains how she developed an all-natural insect repellent using essential oils imported from India, navigating strict European regulations by labeling products as 'deterrents' rather than 'insecticides' to avoid million-euro testing costs. She details the failure of a complex, labor-intensive coaster product due to material incompatibility with the oil, which she successfully repurposed by giving to beekeepers to protect hives from mites. Marking also discusses her direct-to-consumer sales strategy, leveraging local press features and platforms like SourceBottle to drive organic growth without retail distribution.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-28-042-all-natural-insect-repellant-reusing-failed-products-stacy-marking-with-lemo#t=0) Introduction and Pricing Advice for Listener Question
- [3:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-28-042-all-natural-insect-repellant-reusing-failed-products-stacy-marking-with-lemo#t=213) Stacy Marking and the Origin of Lemongrass Trading Co
- [9:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-28-042-all-natural-insect-repellant-reusing-failed-products-stacy-marking-with-lemo#t=555) Navigating Regulatory Constraints and Labeling Loopholes
- [14:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-28-042-all-natural-insect-repellant-reusing-failed-products-stacy-marking-with-lemo#t=860) The Failure and Repurposing of the Lemongrass Coasters
- [18:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-28-042-all-natural-insect-repellant-reusing-failed-products-stacy-marking-with-lemo#t=1120) Handling Returns and Using Products as Marketing Samples
- [22:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-28-042-all-natural-insect-repellant-reusing-failed-products-stacy-marking-with-lemo#t=1361) Marketing Strategy: Press Features and SourceBottle
- [26:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-02-28-042-all-natural-insect-repellant-reusing-failed-products-stacy-marking-with-lemo#t=1581) Sales Channels, International Shipping, and Future Products

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Lemongrass Trading Co (company)
- University of Bristol (other)
- SourceBottle (other)
- HARO (other)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- Charliecat.rocks (product)

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## Citing this page

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