Global Neighbor finds success in green items

NatureZap weed killer uses heat, not chemicals. Online, catalog sales are about to pass 1,000.

Jon Jackson, president of Global Neighbor, with his NatureZap weed killer that uses a heating element to destroy the roots of undesirable plants such as dandelions. Staff photo by Ty Greenlees

Ty Greenlees/Staff Photographer Jon Jackson, president of Global Neighbor, with his NatureZap weed killer that uses a heating element to destroy the roots of undesirable plants such as dandelions. Staff photo by Ty Greenlees

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By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer 9:33 PM Tuesday, May 4, 2010

KETTERING — Weed-zapping has been good to Jon Jackson.

The owner of lawn-care products designer Global Neighbor Inc. is seeing slow but steady acceptance of his thermogenic weed killer called “NatureZap.” Lawn-care catalogs and websites carrying the device are drawing customers from across the nation and Canada.

NatureZap uses heat, not chemicals, to kill weeds. Users poke the device — shaped like a walking cane of the future — into the weed, apply the heat element, and tap-rooted weeds are history.

The idea is to avoid chemicals and potentially harmful runoff, particularly on properties that rely on wells or are near creeks. Users also need not worry about buying or wasting weed-killing chemicals.

“You’re wasting it at the least, and you’re polluting it at the most,” Jackson said.

In 2007, the device’s first year, Jackson sold 80 NatureZaps. This June, he expects to sell his 1,000th.

John Fisher is a Lake Oswego, Ore.-based independent sales representative working for Jackson to get NatureZap placed with catalogs and online sellers.

“The sales are starting to pick up,” Fisher said. “The majority of the sales are on the Web because it’s a speciality item that makes it difficult for retailers to embrace. They don’t like to sell things in small quantity.”

In the Sporty’s Preferred Living catalog, 124 NatureZaps sold last year, Jackson said. By late April, 60 had already sold from that outlet, he said. The Whatever Works catalog quickly sold an initial order of 36 NatureZaps and ordered 96 more two weeks later, he said.

You can also find the device — priced from $89.99 to more than $100 on CleanAirGardening.com, Yardiac.com and elsewhere.

“With the new model coming, I think that will help it even more,” Fisher said.

The new model — expected to be ready in June — will be battery-powered, listed for about $199. The current model requires an extension cord.

Jackson moved from Central State University to the National Composite Center in Kettering to take advantage of the center’s docks for shipping NatureZap units.

Global Neighbor isn’t Jackson’s only iron in the fire. He also runs BladePro, a mower equipment maintenance service that makes house calls.

“I kind of view (BladePro) as a cash-flow operation,” Jackson said.

A dependable cash-flow operation. Four years ago, the service — which concentrates on the south suburbs — had zero customers. Today, BladePro has 1,200.

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