Local company needs votes to get product on store shelves

There’s a chance, with a little help from voters, that a local company’s products could wind up on Walmart’s shelves.

Oxy Orange, manufactured by Johnson Labs in Troy, has made it to the second round of Walmart’s “Get on the Shelf” contest.

“It’s exciting,” said Louis Johnson, of Johnson Labs. “We made the cut and now they are asking us to participate in a voting campaign.”

To cast a vote, visit getontheshelf.walmart.com and enter “Oxy Orange” in the search box. There will be an orange vote button to the right of the video once it is selected.

“It would be nice for everyone to root for the home team,” Johnson said. “I think it would just be cool to be able to walk in Walmart and see a local product on the shelf. Even if it weren’t mine, it would still be cool.”

Johnson started Johnson Labs in 1998 when he began manufacturing hunting items, including a cover scent.

The company then moved on to industrial cleaners, such as Oxy Orange.

Johnson said he developed Oxy Orange about seven years ago after seeing a certain segment of the population who demanded environmentally-friendly cleaning products.

“We harnessed the power of hydrogen peroxide…and we also harnessed the power of oranges,” Johnson explains on the video posted at the contest site. “It is truly a green product and it is truly effective.”

Oxy Orange even comes in recycled bottles.

The cleaning product comes in a concentrated state that can be diluted with different amounts of water for different cleaning products. Johnson believes that saves consumers anywhere from 50 to 70 percent more than purchasing already-diluted products.

Johnson Labs employs about six people, currently, and the company’s products are manufactured in Troy.

“We have had Oxy Orange for a while, got it patented and have had some success with it,” Johnson said. “Now we want to see if we can get it to the big time.”

People can cast their vote for Oxy Orange once a day until Sept. 2.