Lint roller product placement

Flint-made Flint-made Flint-made lint roller in movies Associated Press FLINT It seems Helmac lint rollers are better recognized recognized in Hollywood than in their hometown of Flint. In the movie "Accidental Tourist," William Hurt's character character thought enough of a Helmac lint roller to include one in his suitcase when packing packing for a trip. "We tend to get a lot of exposure exposure from Hollywood," said Helmac President Douglas Taekens. The otherwise low-profile low-profile low-profile Helmac Products Corp. is tucked away in a small industrial industrial park on Flint's east side. For nearly 36 years the company company has gone about its business business of assembling and packaging packaging lint rollers. In the 1960s Helmac expanded expanded nationally. By the middle of the decade, more than 30 copycat competitors had sprung up, but the McKays McKays solidified their place in the market by investing in network TV and radio advertising. In 1971 the company moved to its current manufacturing manufacturing plant in Flint. About the same time, K-Tel K-Tel K-Tel started marketing its Miracle Brush, from Japan, significantly cutting cutting into Helmac's lint roller business. Helmac employs about 75 people at its Flint plant, where employees assemble and package the brushes. Taekens declined to reveal the company's annual sales but said they're "eight-figure." "eight-figure." "eight-figure."