Once a quarter, we spotlight a client achieving strong retail success. This quarter, we’re excited to feature uHoo, the creator of one of the most advanced indoor air quality sensors on the market.
uHoo’s award-winning device measures nine key air quality factors—including dust, VOCs, carbon monoxide, temperature, and humidity—making it a powerful tool for anyone who suffers from allergies, asthma, or wants a healthier home environment.
Our team at Retailbound has helped uHoo secure placement with major retailers such as Best Buy, Best Buy Canada, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Wayfair. To learn more about their journey, we sat down with Dustin Jefferson Onghanseng, CEO and Co-Founder of uHoo, to talk about building an innovative product and scaling in retail.
For readers who may not be familiar, what is uHoo? How did your entrepreneurial journey begin?
Dustin:
uHoo is the leading global air health company. We help customers monitor, understand, and improve the air they breathe by providing real-time data, alerts, and insights that empower them to create a healthier and safer home.
My co-founder, Brian Lin, and I both have respiratory conditions. While studying in Hong Kong, the environment triggered our symptoms, but we couldn’t convince the school that the indoor air quality was affecting our health. That frustration led us to develop the concept for uHoo. We dropped out of business school and focused full-time on the idea. After three years of rigorous R&D, we officially launched the product in late 2017.
Many startups are hesitant to expand beyond Amazon or their own website. Did you feel the same when planning your retail launch?
Dustin:
Actually, no. After launching on our website, our next immediate step was Amazon. Once we saw traction there, we knew it was time to expand into additional retail channels to reach a broader consumer base. Retail was always part of our strategy—we just needed the right timing and momentum.
What advice would you give to consumer product startups preparing for retail?
Dustin:
Understand your unit economics inside and out. Retail margins can be tight, and wholesale pricing, MAP policies, logistics, and returns can all impact profitability. If your numbers aren’t solid, retail can quickly drain your resources.
What excites you most about the future of uHoo?
Dustin:
The positive impact we’re making on people’s health. As the company grows, more households gain access to tools that help them understand their indoor air quality. Every data point we provide can help prevent an asthma attack, an allergy flare-up, or long-term health issues. Improving people’s well-being is the biggest reward.
How did you build the uHoo team as the company expanded globally? And why choose Retailbound to support your retail growth?
Dustin:
We needed partners with deep knowledge of retail and strong relationships in the space. Doing it alone takes time, and expertise really matters. We met Yohan Jacob from Retailbound at CES 2019, and shortly after, we began working together.
Yohan has been a true partner—dedicated, persistent, and always focused on keeping uHoo top of mind for key retailers. His experience has been invaluable in helping us grow our retail footprint in North America.
Any final advice for product entrepreneurs looking to scale in retail?
Dustin:
Just go for it. Build a strong team, stay adaptable, and keep learning along the way. Retail success doesn’t happen overnight, but persistence and the right partners make all the difference.
