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Richard Ferree, CareFRESH® Sales Executive, Retires

November 24, 2008

FERNDALE, WA — Richard Ferree, a sales executive instrumental in the launching of the revolutionary CareFRESH pet bedding line at Absorption Corp, has retired. Ferree joined Absorption Corp in 1994 as regional sales manager, responsible for developing a customer base for CareFRESH east of the Mississippi. At that time CareFRESH was a brand new innovation — an alternative cellulose product competing against wood shavings and other traditional materials— with no significant distributor or retailer base. But through his efforts, Ferree helped establish CareFRESH as the premier product in the pet bedding category.

"It was a challenge," said Ferree. "CareFRESH was far better than traditional bedding, but we had to convey to prospects that the product actually did work. I had good rapport with distributors who gave me a shot. But the main reason we succeeded was that the product did what we said it would do. After trial, it was easy to put it in more markets." In 1997, Ferree started his own rep firm — Richard Ferree & Associates— which has represented CareFRESH along with several other key vendors for the last 12 years. Ferree started his career at Purina Mills Inc. in 1967 as a district manger. In his 25 years there, he held various field sales, product management and division sales management positions. While at Purina, he helped launch Pro Plan Dog Food for the pet specialty channel.

Absorption Corp develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary, cost-effective absorbent products derived from reclaimed wood fiber (cellulose). The company is best known for its CareFRESH brand of small animal bedding, the number-one selling brand of premium small animal bedding in North America. The company also manufactures products for oil and hazardous spill cleanup and control, oil/water filtration, hydro-mulch and packaging.

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