Bamboo charcoal Eco Packs for when there's something in the air

Rob Murrie and Diane Trouchet of Perth, WA, have weathered the seas - literally - of business Kingpin for about 20 years, specialising in products for boats, caravans, cars and households.

Their main products have been ranges of heavy-duty pegs, particularly designed for rails measuring 35mm diameter or greater and able to cop a battering from wind, salt and sun exposure.

It's been a labour of love - travelling across the country to meet customers at boating events and developing a network of retailers, plus engaging with suppliers internationally to ensure consistent quality and availability.

The business started in 2004, and they thought they had their product range settled. However, a chance discussion about a decade later led them to air purification - a whole new market.

In 2016, they asked a colleague what was new out of China. The answer was bamboo charcoal, a material that could be used for filtering air.

It led to the launch of Kingpin's Eco Pack air purifying bags. Air passes through the linen cover to the bag's bamboo charcoal inside, which absorbs odours, allergens and moisture from the air. The natural filtering helps prevent mould, mildew and bacteria from forming.

All a user has to do is place the bags in the spaces they want to filter and let them do the work.

The bags can be put out in the sun occasionally so the UV light can disperse the moisture and odours and attack the proteins of viruses. This also restores the pores of the bag's contents so the packs can be reused for two years or more.

They're particularly ideal for boats or caravans, lockers, gym bags, pet areas and around the home.

"Researching the two words 'bamboo charcoal' on the internet, it was amazing what information was offered. And then I fell upon the photos of the boat designs," Diane said.

"Without doing any market survey - admittedly a bit naive - I ordered on my phone 300 pieces of the boat design.

"I was amazed that the factory accepted the order, and voila, it arrived without issue to Perth."

The next step for Rob and Diane was to meet the manufacturers face-to-face. They flew to Hong Kong for a trade fair, where they met with the factory managers and staff.

"A very amiable association was formed and has endured now for six years," she said.

Kingpin has just released a twin pack with a 20cm (500g charcoal) and 16cm (200g charcoal) set, retailing for $69.50 plus $12 postage and handling.

For more information, click here or call 0417 913 869.