CityLights Business Spotlight DetraPel Founder and CEO David Zamarin
At 15, highschooler David Zamarin sold his cleaning company to invest in a new product idea leading to the founding of Framingham-based DetraPel (in comparison, at age 13, Bose Corporation's Amar Bose began repairing radio sets for pocket money for repair shops in Philadelphia.) DetraPel manufactures non-toxic fabric protectors that are gaining world-wide acclaim. With the onset of Covid-19, the company redirected their manufacturing efforts on producing much-needed hand sanitizers. The following comes from an interview with David.
CityLights: You started your company at the age of 15. What were your long-term goals and visions at that young of an age?
Zamarin: Even at the young age of 15, I became very aware of the toxicity in many household products. At that time, I was running a shoe cleaning company that used a competitor’s product which I discovered was incredibly carcinogenic due to toxic fluorochemicals. The reality was that existing products on the market were filled with these harmful toxins. That’s when I realized the opportunity. I decided if I wasn’t able to buy a safe protective coating, that I’d make one myself. I started DetraPel with a vision: 1) To make DetraPel a global household name so that people could recognize our products to be the safest, yet most effective products on the market. 2) To challenge traditional chemistry by redefining safety standards and eliminating the need for using harmful chemicals in chemical production.
CityLights: What were some of the speedbumps you faced on the way up the entrepreneurial ladder?
Zamarin: In chemical manufacturing, the dominating companies have been around for years. They have countless years of experience and billions of dollars to back up their research. As a young entrepreneur, it's challenging to be taken seriously in the fight against the giants in the industry. As a company though, the truth is, we face speedbumps nearly every day. One of the main ones I recall was trying to keep up with demand during our Shark Tank run and being out of inventory for months.
CityLights: Tell us about your experience on “Shark Tank”.
Zamarin: Being on Shark Tank was the most high-pressure situation that I’ve ever been in. But in the end, it was life changing to put it simply. Our appearance on Shark Tank in many ways legitimized the company. It gave us international exposure and allowed us to onboard real, experienced employees at an accelerated pace.
CityLights: Your bio says that you are a thrill seeker. How so?
Zamarin: To be an entrepreneur you have to be willing to take risks. I love taking risks both professionally and personally. For example, I love skydiving and betting on new business opportunities. Car racing and Jiu Jitsu, extreme sports, you name it, I’ll try it.
CityLights: What went into the decisions on when, where, and how to start up your operations?
Zamarin: I think it’s more about just starting and doing something instead of being methodical and planning everything. As a 15-year-old I didn’t feel the need to be so methodical about things. In some ways that was a blessing because many entrepreneurs are scared to take the first leap and will plan to perfect an idea indefinitely without ever acting on it. Things and expectations always change, you’re never going to have everything figured out before you start your company. When we started, we were filling individual bottles by hand and as you grow and gain traction you slowly start implementing better and more efficient ways of doing things.
CityLights: Why did you choose Framingham?
Zamarin: I attended Babson College at the same time that I was running DetraPel. It was important for me to find a location that was close enough to school so I could juggle both. Framingham was a nearby growing city. I saw an opportunity to come in and create jobs in a historically under-served area. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to grow the business while also supporting the community.
CityLights: What do you feel (have been) are the benefits of operating in Framingham?
Zamarin: Given that it is the fastest growing city in America as well as being in the driving distance of the top schools in America, it gives us a deep and local pool of talent to recruit from. For instance, the top universities of Massachusetts are obvious benefits of Massachusetts, but being close to some of the top Technical Schools, like Keefe Tech, are a huge benefit.
CityLights: Were there any major obstacles you faced starting your manufacturing operations in MetroWest and specifically Framingham?
Zamarin: Initially, logistics were difficult to coordinate in our facility with older infrastructure. However, we’re in the midst of a renovation project which will improve our foundation and we feel confident that we can be significant leaders in bringing Framingham to the top of the list of aspiring manufacturers.
CityLights: If you were Framingham ‘Mayor for the Day”, what things would you do and why?
Zamarin: I can’t begin to imagine what Mayors are having to go through these days. It can be a thankless job no matter how well one does. However, reinforcing and strengthening the sense of community would always be a priority of mine.
CityLights: When Covid-19 hit, what prompted DetraPel to switch gears and develop hand sanitizer products?
Zamarin: At the onset of COVID-19, the demand for our products, like many other companies’ products and services dropped. The pandemic put our business at stake. We essentially had a choice to sink or float. Fortunately, the DetraPel slogan Protect What You Love, is ingrained in our DNA and we realized that the best way to survive the crisis would be to become a part of the solution. Using our existing infrastructure to pivot to sanitizer production made sense for the safety of our community and our business.
CityLights: What were the major obstacles you faced in bringing the sanitizer product to market?
Zamarin: Making sure that our regulatory activities were in compliance and that we did things by the book. We wanted to make sure that we created a safe work environment for our staff, which was extra difficult during the initial lockdowns and pandemic outbreak.
CityLights: Word has it that your working environment is somewhat “Google-esque”. What is it like working at DetraPel?
Zamarin: You’ll have to ask my team, but I think that we have a fun yet challenging environment. We believe in building a family instead of bringing in workers. Everyone is quick to help another team member out, and we genuinely value the input of everyone in the company. We also try to keep things fun. COVID-19 has disrupted things quite a bit. But before the pandemic we enjoyed company outings to movies, restaurants, go-kart racing and more.
CityLights: What is your outlook on the future of responsible and sustainable manufacturing?
Zamarin: It’s a dire necessity. Companies need to start taking the extra step in creating a better workplace, environment, and world. It’s disturbing how many global climate challenges are directly the result of irresponsible manufacturing. Consumers deserve better, our planet deserves better. Many new companies seem to be cognizant of this necessity. The focus should be on improving manufacturing in corporations that have been set doing things a particular way for decades.
CityLights: Where do you see the DetraPel company in ten years?
Zamarin: We aspire to be the leading protective coatings company in the world and look forward to growing our array of other household products. We’ll continue creating essential products that help protect people, pets, and the planet that you love.
CityLights: DetraPel seems very community-focused. You’ve offered discounts on your sanitizer products to Framingham businesses, and you focus your company’s growth on recruiting employees from Framingham first. How does this fit into your corporate philosophy?
Zamarin: Our company is very people focused in general. We care about the wellbeing of our loved ones and the planet we love. The local Framingham community has been very supportive of our business, and it’s essential that we return the favor. It’s important to us to help make positive change in the local area by helping to bring members of the community together. The health of our community has a direct impact on the health of our business as well. At the end of the day, Framingham is our home and if we can help ensure it’s prosperity, we will do what we can.
CityLights: What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs as they venture into post-Covid society?
Zamarin: Every business has its obstacles. Running a business is not supposed to be easy, otherwise everyone would do it. That said, many successful businesses either started during a major crisis or grew during a major crisis and the reason is, that businesses are designed to help solve problems. More than ever, businesses have a unique opportunity to do meaningful work for a population that could use help in some way or another. I recommend that entrepreneurs just get started in helping to build solutions. Be nimble, and listen to the people around you and the feedback from the people you intend to serve.
More info at Detrapel.com Contact: Ania Scott, Senior Marketing Manager, 617.514.7777