User:Murphssurfwax

When high-school senior Erin Murphy began surfing New Jersey beaches with her dad seven years ago, she became disgusted with the melted wads of sand-covered surf wax that she inevitably had to throw away after just one use. The sticky surf wax was "sort-of gross," she said. "You buy some wax to put on your board, go out and surf with some friends, then when you come back it's all covered with sand and melted into your bag or towel." When she complained about the problem to her family in land-locked Springfield, Pennsylvania, she didn't get much support. However, when Erin accompanied her travel-agent mom on family beach trips to Hawaii, Tahiti, and Costa Rico, her new surf friends thought her idea to put the temperature sensitive wax into a recyclable plastic container was a great idea. "Wherever I surfed, I talked about my surf wax stick idea, and the boarders all said 'Go for it!" she said. Erin laughs as she recalls the first time she attempted to melt ordinary surf wax in her mom's kitchen and tried to pour it into one of her dad's deodorant "sticks". "My mom is pretty fussy about her kitchen, so I had to clean up all the wax I got all over the pots and stove," she said. "And my dad was running around looking for his deodorant for a few days, so, eventually, I had to tell him," Erin chuckled. "They've been great," she said. Now after testing out her own brand of wax and applicator on the numerous surf trips, Erin has a dedicated shop in her parents' basement where she can melt her surf wax into the recyclable and easy-to-use plastic dispensers. "It goes on really smooth," she said, "and you don't get it all over everything." " It also is good for the environment, other companies wax comes in paper or cellophane which always ends up blowing down the beach. My surf wax comes in a plastic deodorant stick that can be recycled". "Meanwhile, Erin is currently attending to details like trying to get a "Women Owned Business Loan". "It sort of puts all of the things you learn in high school into perspective", she said.  "Just when I think I've got everything nailed down, one more thing pops up. Finding companies to sell me the materials I needed was very difficult. No plastic company would sell me deodorant sticks because my first order was so small. Then when they did offer to sell them they cost too much to make the business work. However, after numerous tries I was able to find a lady in Canada who wanted to help me out. Right now we're also, contacting reps, so we can get Murph's out into the shops. I am even going to be putting out a snowboard stick too. Otherwise, we're ready to go." While she's not expecting to get rich on her new venture, Erin says she's learning a lot, and she loves meeting and sharing her ideas with new people-almost as much as she loves surfing.

Why did she call her new product "Murph's Surf Wax"? "Well, everyone in my family is a "Murph", so it just seemed natural," she said. . Does she ever get discouraged? "I just think girls should be able to do whatever they want," she said. "I'd like to encourage others to do what they know and love best. It's fun." What's next for the young entrepreneur? "I'm going to Florida to get certified as a dive instructor," she replied matter-of-factly. "Then I can dive and surf on my days off." Of course! With an attitude like that, young Erin "Murph" is sure to succeed. You might even see her "going for it" on wave near you. In the meantime, look for Murph's Surf Wax at your local board shop.

Erin and her father have had recent marketing successes selling her product throughout South Jersey and numerous spots in Florida, Virginia, South Carolina, California, even Oregon. Erin admits that she can't compete with the dollar block of wax because of the cost associated with the applicator and the process of filling it. However, she confesses that she wants her surf wax stick to be seen as the premium surf wax on the market. "We believe there is plenty of room for everyone in the surf wax industry". Erin said. As a matter of fact, there really isn't a surf wax company on the East Coast that she knows of. "Therefore, we should have no problem breaking into the East Coast market, I hope." She giggles.

________________________________________________________________________ Contact information:

Patrick Murphy 128 Grandview Road Springfield, PA. 19064 (610) 304-8946 murphssurfwax@aol.com