Bug Bite Thing - Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Consumer Products

Company: Bug Bite Thing, Port St. Lucie, FL
Company Description: As Seen on Shark Tank, Bug Bite Thing effectively alleviates the stinging, itching, and swelling caused by insect bites and stings. Amazon’s #1 best-selling product for insect bite relief with over 34,000 positive reviews, Bug Bite Thing is chemical-free, reusable, and safe to use on children of all ages, as well as adults.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Consumer Products –11 to 2,500 Employees

Nomination Title: Kelley Higney

For over 15 years, Kelley Higney worked for her family’s international export and distribution business, A.C. Kerman, run by her mother and fellow entrepreneur, Ellen McAlister.

In 2013, Higney and her family relocated to South Florida. Her six-month-old daughter constantly suffered from mosquito bites. After every cream and home remedy failed to alleviate her discomfort, Higney discovered a little-known tool that uses suction to remove insect saliva/venom from under the skin. She was amazed to find that the product not only worked, it also offered instant relief. Higney became a “Mom on a Mission” to offer the world the same relief that her daughter experienced.

Higney secured the international distribution rights for the product in the U.S. and sold her home to fund the business. In 2018, Higney was selling Bug Bite Thing at local farmers markets, bake sales and online on Amazon and BugBiteThing.com. Then one day, there was a conversation about Bug Bite Thing in a local Mom Group on social media. The local news picked up on that conversation and interviewed Higney. That interview was then syndicated and 10,000 units of Kelley’s inventory sold out in a week.

Outline the nominee's achievements

In October 2019, Higney and her mother appeared on ABC's hit show 'Shark Tank.'
All the Sharks wanted to invest in the business, but self-proclaimed "mosquito-magnet" Lori Greiner's Golden Ticket offer secured the investment.
Following the ‘Shark Tank’ episode airing, total sales exceeded $11 million!
In September 2020, Higney joined the Forbes Business Council, an invitation-only organization for successful small and mid-sized business owners.
In November 2020, Higney was a judge of the 2020 Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition by the 2020 Women|Future Conference.
In January 2021, Bug Bite Thing donated $10,000 to Treasure Coast Food Bank, a member of Feeding America and held a company-wide volunteer day at the food bank.
In April 2021, Higney joined the Fast Company Executive Board, an invitation-only community of company founders, executives, and industry experts.
On April 23, 2021, Higney and her mother appeared again on 'Shark Tank' and shared an update on the company's success.
Since July 2019, Higney has been featured multiple times on local television stations and appeared twice on national television on the show, ‘Shark Tank.’
Higney contributes regularly to Fast Company and Forbes. She has been featured multiple times on Thrive Global, TC Palm (part of the USA Today Network). She has also been interviewed on eleven podcasts including Female Startup Club, Meant for It (formerly called I Want Her Job), Shopify Masters and The Entrepreneurial Way.

Higney and her mother appeared on ‘Shark Tank’ not only once, but twice, and secured an investment in the business. How difficult is it to secure a television appearance on the show? On average, the show receives up to 40,000 applicants each season, around 1,000 advance to the second round and less than 100 will air.

In 2019, Bug Bite Thing was sold in 7,000 stores. Two years later, it’s sold at 25,000 major retail locations.

The majority of products available on the market contain chemicals and product warning labels. In addition, many of the products are sold in aerosol cans which are hazardous to the environment.

Bite Bite Thing is unlike any other product available on the market, completely chemical-free, reusable and safe to use on children of all ages, as well as adults.

With Higney at the helm, Bug Bite Thing has also shown its commitment to the community. In 2021, the company began making in-kind donations to hospitals and nonprofit organizations that support pediatric cancer patients and their families, including Nicklaus Children's Hospital and Children’s Cancer Center. The company also donated $10,000 to support Treasure Coast Food Bank’s (a member of Feeding America) hunger-relief efforts in the local community and holds company-wide volunteer days at the organizations.

Reference any attachments of supporting materials

A “Mom on a Mom,” Higney’s passion to offer the revolutionary product Bug Bite Thing worldwide has garnered the attention of media both in her community of South Florida, as well as the country. Notable media coverage of Higney is included below.

2019 Press Features:

WPBF 25 West Palm Beach: