John Smith is doing well selling products that offer hurricane protection for homes.
Now, he’s hoping to do equally well raising money for The Salvation Army.
Smith, president and inventor of Storm Stoppers Window &Door Protection, will have his products at the Salvation Army Lihue headquarters on Hardy Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Storm Stoppers will also be donating about 300 hot lunches to those who need them and will be offering free hot lunches for a donation to the nonprofit.
He’s sending two of his management team to Kauai for Saturday’s product show and the free lunch that will be professionally prepared by a local chef.
“We plan to raise thousands for the Salvation Army, while also feeding hundreds of Kauai families that the Salvation Army already helps every week,” Smith said.
Last year on Kauai, Smith sponsored a trade show at the Kauai Veterans Center with proceeds going to the Kauai Humane Society and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
He said he’s glad to support the good work of The Salvation Army this year.
“It’s not about Storm Stoppers doing this. It’s just the right thing to do,”Smith said.
Smith and his Storm Stoppers were featured on the 100th episode of “Shark Tank” in 2014. That helped give the business a boost nationwide. That show, Smith said, remains the most watched in Shark Tank history.
Storm Stoppers has been in business 16 years. It’s been selling its product on Kauai four years and has about 150 customers here. Nationwide, business is strong, Smith said, thanks to the hard work of his staff and being creative with marketing.
The company sells covers for windows and doors that are billed as being attractive, durable and relatively simple to put on and take off.
Smith said he’s seen an uptick in business in Hawaii with the weather activity in the past year.
“We’ve achieved said growth in part to our innovative window protection, but also because of our commitment to give back to the community,” Smith said.
The Contractors Association of Kauai’s big trade show will also be going on across the street at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall Friday and Saturday.
