The Scoop: Those in relationships with partners who snore may think they have to give up getting a good night’s rest. But Mack’s Earplugs have comfortably blocked out the noise from loud neighbors, snoring spouses, and rock concerts for nearly 60 years. The company, which is credited with having saved many marriages, has lasted longer than other earplug purveyors because of its comfortable silicone-blend products. Mack’s Earplugs mold to the ear to ensure couples can have their own quiet space.
Symphonic musicians Raymond and Cecilia Benner know how important it is to protect their hearing. That’s why the married couple launched Mack’s Earplugs back in 1962.
The Benners’ musical professions also helped their company’s reputation grow. As a touring bassist with the Cleveland and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, Raymond would visit pharmacies and drugstores promoting Mack’s Pillow Soft Moldable Silicone Putty Earplugs.
The Benners continued to expand the business as the products became more successful. Eventually, their son Pete became its National Sales Manager. He and his team have kept that same atmosphere that his parents cultivated nearly 60 years ago.
Mack’s Earplugs can help those with snoring partners get a better night’s sleep.
“We pride ourselves on maintaining that small, family business feel. We aim to treat our customers as we’d like to be treated,” Pete said.
Over the years, the Benners also became keenly aware of how their products can help people beyond music. That’s because Mack’s Earplugs are also good for blocking out other unpleasant noises, including a neighbor’s loud music or a partner’s snoring, when someone needs some quiet time.
Mack’s Earplugs can also be a great gift for a loved one who suffers from noise or ear-related problems. Many customers find Mack’s products work better than other earplugs because they’re made of soft silicone putty. That means they can be perfectly molded to fit each individual’s ear for a better, more comfortable fit and seal.
Those who live in apartment buildings with noisy neighbors can buy a set of Mack’s earplugs for themselves and their partner to sleep more soundly through the night, and people who suffer from earaches when flying can prevent the effects of ear pressure by wearing a pair.
“It might sound odd to give earplugs as gifts, but for someone who’s suffering from poor quality sleep due to snoring or other noise, the gift of earplugs can truly improve that person’s quality of life,” Pete said.
Mack’s Earplugs Help Partners Sleep Better Together
Sleeping with a snoring partner can not only affect sleep but also quality of life. That is a real problem for many couples, as 40% of men and 24% of women regularly snore.
The company has received so many letters from grateful spouses that it created an ad campaign called “Mack’s Earplugs Saved Our Marriage.”
On its website, Mack’s offers a variety of earplugs that are particularly good at blocking out snoring. Measured in decibels, snoring usually falls between 60 and 80 or 90 decibels. Compare that to the sound level of talking, which is about 60 decibels, a vacuum cleaner, which is about 70 decibels, and a chainsaw, which is about 100 decibels. In addition to the Silicone Putty Earplugs, customers can select from a wide range of earplug options to suit their unique needs and preferences.
Mack’s has received feedback from married couples who praise its earplugs.
Someone with a partner who snores loudly can try the Snore Blockers, which help reduce noise by up to 32 decibels. These earplugs are designed for rest and have a unique hollow end to allow greater comfort for side sleepers. Doctors also recommended them for people with snoring spouses.
Mack’s Pillow Soft Earplugs are another great option. These silicone putty earplugs muffle noise by as much as 22 decibels and are more comfortable than other types of earplugs. Mack’s original silicone formula provides a customized fit that molds to the unique contours of the user’s ear. Users simply shape the earplug into a ball and place it over the ear canal opening. Once applied, they simply flatten the silicone over the ear canal to form an airtight, waterproof seal.
“Our customers run the gamut, but a healthy portion of our business comes from younger and middle-aged women who use them for sleeping, often to lower snoring noise,” said Pete.
Snoring is one of many areas where Mack’s Earplugs help customers, although it meets a variety of needs beyond that.
Mack’s: Allowing Customers to Savor Adventure
Couples who love the water may experience problems with swimmer’s ear infections (otitis externa) or surfer’s ear (exostosis). But that discomfort doesn’t have to stop them from kayaking, surfing, or snorkeling. That’s because Mack’s has expanded its product line to include waterproof earplugs.
“If someone suffers from chronic ear infections due to water exposure from bathing or their love of water sports, Mack’s Earplugs can help prevent those infections,” Pete said
Mack’s Aqua Block Earplugs can help prevent swimmer’s ear.
Mack’s Pillow Soft Moldable Silicone Putty Earplugs not only help reduce noise, but are also great for keeping out water and include a smaller, fun, hot-orange version for kids. For those who prefer pre-molded flanged style earplugs, Mack’s Ear Seals Dual Purpose Earplugs help prevent water from entering the ear while also offering great noise-blocking capabilities. These plugs are washable and reusable, and they come with a detachable cord that allows users to hang them around their neck. Alternatively, those who are strictly in search of a flanged style earplug for water protection can purchase Mack’s Aqua Block Earplugs.
Mack’s regularly receives feedback from customers who’ve had to give up surfing or other water sports because of chronic ear infections. But after discovering Mack’s, they were able to return to the activities they loved.
“Some people think earplugs are trivial little items, but our products are true life-changers for many,” Pete said.
The earplugs for sleeping and snoring have remained the company’s most in-demand products in its more than 55 years in business. And while the company is committed to keeping its eye on product quality and customer feedback, it has learned that newer doesn’t always mean better.
“Our most popular items are still the ones we’ve been selling the longest. If you try to churn out new items just for the sake of having new items, you can lose focus,” Pete said.
Saving Ears From Loud Live Music
For younger couples, the noise from a rock concert can feel exhilarating. But as people get older, those live music shows may get too loud — and damage their hearing over the long term. And Mack’s HearPlugs High Fidelity Concert Earplugs are discreet enough not to draw attention while also helping musicians and concert-goers protect their ears.
“If someone you know is often exposed (or will be exposed) to dangerously high noise levels, the gift of earplugs can save their hearing,” Pete said.
Jamie Lauren Keiles of The New York Times wrote “Letter of Recommendation: Mack’s Earplugs,” in which she describes how she came to love them.
“I first came to earplugs as a poseur in a punk scene in suburban Pennsylvania,” she wrote. “I didn’t care for live music even then, but I’ve always appreciated a cultivated tough-guy facade, and so I aspired to be like the bad boy in the mosh pit with the earplugs. To wear earplugs at the Y.M.C.A. teen center in Doylestown, Pa., was to suggest you went so hard, at so many shows, that your reckless lifestyle demanded some small nod to caution, lest you flame out too soon from tinnitus.”
Fans of Mack’s Earplugs have also written to the company to let them know how they use the products.
“I’ve been involved in the family business since I can remember, but I never tire of calls from customers who want to tell us how much our products have improved their lives or the lives of their loved ones,” Pete said.
For instance, several customers who have tinnitus or hyperacusis — both ear disorders — have shared that they couldn’t function normally without Mack’s Earplugs.
Whether it’s relief from a snorer, a loud concert, or ear infections, Mack’s Earplugs can help customers get the peace, quiet, and protection they need.
