The Duurstede® Story

Wednesday July 29, 1998

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Hello fellow dog fanciers! I'm Bill Van Wyck, developer and manufacturer of the Duurstede® line of canine grooming products. People keep asking me how I got involved with dog grooming products - so here's the story for all you 'closet' entrepreneurs! By my late thirties, I found myself owning and operating two very different manufacturing businesses in Ontario, Canada. One was a plant that manufactured high-quality, printed, folding cartons while the other built "lobster yachts" on a semi-custom basis. An hour and a half's drive apart - their management was quickly taking its toll on me and I decided to sell both businesses. As George Carlin said: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." I wanted to experience those "moments." Unfortunately, being a 'Type A' personality, I went crazy from boredom after just a few months. I decided that I could keep myself busy by campaigning my dogs. So, in 1992, I attended 73 dog shows with the help of a long-time friend and handler. My Gordon Setter and my co-owned English Foxhound did exceptionally well, but I was never fully satisfied with their coats. Throughout the show year, I was constantly using different grooming products trying to find the perfect shampoo and conditioner. Nothing really did the trick. In the fall of 1992, I started researching canine skin and hair and eventually engaged a top research and development firm in Milan, Italy (the hair capital of the world) to develop what is now Duurstede® Shampoo and Duurstede® Conditioner. Price-point was not a consideration as originally these were only going to be made in small batches for my own use. They were never intended to be retailed! But that Christmas, I gave samples to my friends who were amazed at their effectiveness and concentration. The rest is history. Duurstede® 'went retail' in 1994 and the products are now sold around the world! To ensure that Duurstede® continues to be the innovative leaders in canine coat care, Duurstede® annually reviews their ingredients and manufacturing methods. If this review indicates a change, thorough testing is undertaken prior to incorporating the change into their production batches. I would personally like to thank you for your interest in Duurstede® Grooming Products. Kindest regards, W. R. (Bill) Van Wyck, BA, UE President The W. R. Van Wyck Group Limited Developers of Duurstede®

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