The CEO of R.B. Premium Products, which makes the well-known bug spray product Bug Strike, is Robiar Smith, a Southside Chicago native. She created the first and only pest control product available at Home Depot.
Smith’s parents instilled in her the value of knowledge and perseverance. She took their advice and climbed the corporate ladder, getting numerous business and information technology degrees. But in 2015, she sensed that she needed more.
After receiving encouragement from her father, Michael Benton, a long-time pest control specialist in Chicago, she decided to work in the pest control sector in 2016. She attempted the extermination exam and eventually passed it. She subsequently established R.B. Pest Solutions, igniting her love for pest management.
She told the Chicago Defender that people were shocked to see her doing the work when we first launched the business.
R.B. Pest Solutions has won contracts from the government, cities, businesses, restaurants, and institutions over the past seven years to become the Midwest’s pest management firm with the fastest growth. They have plans to open a third facility in the city and are growing outside of Chicago into Indiana.
Additionally, she established R.B. Premium Products, which now has a “Bug Strike” product available at Home Depot. She became the sole black woman-owned product at Home Depot because of this accomplishment, which was honored at the BET Awards.
This collaboration between Smith and Home Depot is about more than simply making money for Smith; it’s also about leaving a legacy and motivating young Black ladies in urban areas. She is also imparting her skills to ensure that her daughters can continue to grow the company.
Despite obstacles in a male-dominated sector, Smith’s desire to get a seat at the table has motivated others. By working with neighborhood vendors and companies, she creates possibilities for them to flourish and is glad to support her community.
“The support motivates me, and as a result of these compliments, I know I’m carrying out God’s will. They reassure me that I’m acting morally, she remarked.
