"We wanted the high-impact esthetic value of aluminum," says owner Wayne Zink of Elementals LLC, the Scottsdale, AZ, firm that markets the Zirh line. But two other motives guided Zink's choice of packaging material. For one thing, the aluminum tubes won't rust, which makes them perfect for use in the shower or bathroom. And second, aluminum is perceived to be "green." "Statistics have shown that consumers are more likely to recycle aluminum than plastic," says Zink. The tubes, supplied by Victor Tube (Pittsburgh, PA), are offset printed in a brilliant blue to give them a dramatic and masculine presence on shelf. Sizes range from 1/2-oz samples to 4-oz, with selling prices from as low as $12.50 to as high as $32.50.
