Difference Makers: Murphy’s Mosquito Sticks

Philip Freeman is inspired by people like TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie. For every pair of shoes bought, the company donates a pair to someone in need.

Freeman has adopted a similar philosophy for his company, M-DOG LLC, which stands for “Murphy Doing Others Good” and was named after his beloved dog, who passed last September.

His latest product, Murphy’s Mosquito Sticks, are bamboo incense sticks infused with the plant based repellent oils citronella, lemongrass and rosemary. Freeman started developing the product six years ago, and wanted to make a mosquito repellent that was effective and had a pleasant fragrance.

“What most people complain about with citronella products is that they don’t smell very nice,” he says, explaining why he chose to blend citronella with the other natural repellents. “And, we use 10 percent natural repellents to make it more effective.”

Because Freeman has a 23-year background helping companies develop their branding and packaging, he made certain his brand was as green and efficiently packaged as possible.

The mosquito sticks come packaged in recycled paper tubes, and the box the tubes are shipped in can be used as a table top display, which includes perforated “shout out” signs that can be used as marketing and POP material.

Prior to launching his product in the summer of 2013, Freeman was searching for a related organization or cause he could align his brand with. He saw a poster at the airport for World Malaria Day, a disease primarily spread by mosquitos, a perfect tie to his product.

“I did research and found information about Nothing But Net, which distributes mosquito nets and education about preventing malaria,” he says. “For every case of Murphy’s Mosquito Sticks we sell, we donate one mosquito net.” There are 24 tubes in a case, and in 2013, the company donated 700 mosquito nets.

“Business isn’t just about raising money, but actually doing things that give back to the community,” he says. “Everything we do, we want to make a difference and to do others good.”