Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/130253
5/12/13 9:53 AM Page 1 IN PROFILE BY GORD MONTGOMERY Alberta's Negative Ions Shining In A Positive Light Right now, the buzz about negative ions is, well, positive. That was the word coming out of the Alberta PGA Golf Show in Edmonton, from Sue Cleary, who suggested that Fusion IONZ Advanced Negative Ion Technology can help fix what ails you -- to a degree of course. Cleary, the president and CEO of the Sherwood Park-based business, who has some rather large-sized sporting names backing her product said while her company started small, it has since grown by leaps and bounds despite, forgive the pun here, negative connotations. One of the sport figures supporting her endeavour is ex-Edmonton Oiler Georges Laraque. The pair met when Cleary was purchasing his book on Christmas Eve in Edmonton and she noticed he was wearing a competitor's wristband. That resulted in the two having a conversation about her product. Laraque wasn't easily convinced to change brands, she said, but he took one of her Fusion IONZ bracelets and tried it out. "Georges has a $2,000 machine in his home which emits negative ions, which basically does the same thing as our bands. Positive ions are bad for us; computers, cell phones, WiFi, iPads are draining on the body. Negative ions are good," explained Cleary. "So I gave Georges some samples. I texted him a week later and never heard back from him; texted him another week later, never heard back from him. He put these to the test," and they 24 passed, as he has since allowed his name to be attached to the product. "He's a health nut, a vegan. He's very vocal and he believes in the product," emphasized Sue Clearly. "He is now our brand ambassador." Besides using the ex-hockey player's name and a 30-day money back guarantee as purchasing lures, Cleary noted, "We're out there. We're transparent. If it works, it works and if it doesn't, it doesn't. We have a proprietary mixture that's actually in the band and we just got approved by Health Canada, so I actually have a license to sell in Canada. That's the difference between us and the other guys." Tying the product into the golfing world, Cleary teed up another big name -- at least in Alberta club pro circles. Mike Belbin, from the Royal Mayfair in Edmonton, put one of the bands on last year to help him deal with an arm injury, The Ionz CEO explained, and after doing so he went on to do some amazing things. "He's been wearing the product. He was a good golfer before wearing the product and then went and shot three course records (in competition) last year and his shoulder was better." Coincidence? Maybe, but when you're selling something and you can use names, and results to emphasize its capabilities, you grab hold while you can. "Every testimonial you see is from a legit, genuine person. For us, the difference really is the mixture and the science behind it and honestly, it speaks for itself." As well, golfer Mike Weir and pro hockey player Martin Brodeur, a goalie who recently recorded his third career goal, wear the bracelets. As this interview was conducted, p e o p l e continually wandered by the booth and stopped, sometimes of their own volition and sometimes with the help of a SUE CLEARY OF FUSION IONZ CANADA, HAS TAKEN salesperson, to see HER COMPANY TO GREAT HEIGHTS WITH THE ENDORSEMENT OF what the fuss over LARAQUE (PICTURED SUCH ATHLETES AS GEORGES BEHIND HER), MIKE WEIR AND these particular OTHERS negative ion bands was all about. When you come right Before I bought the company, I bought down to it, says Cleary, what makes 100 bracelets, gave them to 100 people, them work is a mixture of things. to everyone from people who run marathons, to people with arthritis, sleep "People say it's the placebo effect. What apnea. I would say 85 per cent of the works with us is we have a proprietary people came back to me." mixture with black tourmaline from the earth, titanium, germanium and surgical As a small business, Cleary thinks there grade silicone. We mix that together is no limit to how far this company can go. and it makes negative ions." What those negative ions do, Cleary "We were at the PGA Golf Show in pointed out, promotes and helps with Orlando. We're working with different "better blood circulation, aches and tournaments, different things. It helps pains, problems sleeping, and we have everybody from little kids to seniors. testimonials from people with restless We're not just a wristband company; we have bed sheets and are working on leg syndrome." other products. We know our product Since getting this company off the is working because guys like Laraque ground, and proving to many that these and Belbin aren't going to put their bands do work, the word is spreading, name behind something they don't the owner continued. She explained believe in, right? I'm not paying them. that golf courses are contacting her to I don't pay for any endorsements," and bring the product into their pro shops. given the positive buzz about this And, she continued, she has some strong product at the Edmonton Golf Show, it backing from some major golf would appear she won't have to either. organizations. For more on the Fusion IONZ Advanced "I think the difference between us and Negative Ion Technology, visit their the other ones is we're a featured vendor website at www.FusionIonz.ca. at the LPGA, we were there last year, and we'll also be at the LPGA this year About the Writer: Gord Montgomery is the sports editor of two weekly and at the Champions Tour." newspapers in the Edmonton area and In closing, Cleary said she herself uses is a member of the Golf Journalists the product and that's why she's such Association of Canada. He has written a vocal advocate. for Inside Golf for the past five years with "I myself don't believe in the placebo the majority of his coverage in north and effect. When I used to get up in the central Alberta. He can be reached at morning, it was, 'Give me another 10 noraltagolf@gmail.com. He is also on minutes.' Now I wake up feeling better. Twitter at @iGgolfwriter. PHOTO CREDIT - GORD MONTGOMERY iG1304--rev