Let It Bead

Let it Bead

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:51:55 -0600

Theory of Relative Durability

Recently, one of my buddies was asking me about our waxes.

“What makes yours better?” he asked.

“Mainly the durability-how long our waxes last. That’s our staple and it’s why people like it" I answered.

“So if it’s so durable, why isn’t Collinite more popular?”

“Well, we really don’t push it down people’s throats. Plus, it can be tough for some consumers to look past anything but lowest price nowadays. Ironically, if you break it down, the durability ends up saving you money and time in the long-run.”

“Then you should break it down…like, what it actually costs a customer to use Collinite’s most durable car wax, and then show the value.”

Good idea.

Excluding life’s necessities (food, utilities, taxes etc), think of the products and services that might make up your fixed expenses in a given month; dining out, haircuts, cups of coffee, 200” screen televisions. Of course the significance we assign to these products and services is relative based on our different priorities, tastes, values and habits.

Let’s go ahead and take haircuts. A quality trim is fairly inexpensive -depending on your preference and possibly your gender (women spend about 2-5X’s more on haircuts than men do, so let’s use men’s as an example to keep that variable consistent.) With tip, average price for a wash and cut is around $17. (I just got my ears lowered for $9, so it looks like I’m successfully bucking the trend.) Now think about how long-on average-the haircut will last before a return visit is needed. Let’s say once every 3 weeks/17 times a year/once every 21 days.*

Your dome grooming is costing you:

$295 a year

$24.57 a month

80 cents a day

So what’s some Collinite costing you?

One 9oz can of No. 476s retail price: $18.99 USD.

Estimated cost of one coat to cover a mid sized sedan: 1/14^th or 7% of said 9oz can: $1.32

Average longevity of one coat in a moderate climate (rounded down so it doesn’t look like we’re fudging this): 5 months/150 days

So what’s it costing you to shine, protect and preserve the finish of your car with Collinite 476s? It might just blow your hair back.

$3.21 a year

26 cents a month

Less than a penny a day

*Return barber visits depend on different factors; i.e. If you’re active military, if your team is in the playoffs (a trim could prove detrimental during winning streaks), if you play percussion for a Pantera tribute band, or if Locks of Love is your charity of choice.

Let It Bead

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:58:04 -0600

Buy Small. Buy Local. Buy Well.

I just got off the phone with Bob in Clinton, NY. For those unfamiliar with Central New York, Clinton is a quaint village about 10 min outside of Collinite's home in Utica. Bob and I spoke at length about what Collinite marine products might best suit his needs as he’s preparing to take his 24 foot Chaparral out of the water (pretty short boating season here in upstate NY).

We talked shop about the trade offs between using the No. 925 vs. the No. 885 (ease of use/durability etc), the weather this past year, as well as our shared frustration with a certain sports team’s shortcomings. Bob spoke about the great results he’s found from using our waxes, finally concluding with, ”Plus, you’ve always gotta support local products.”

I couldn’t let Bob off the phone until I was completely honest.

“Eh…not always,” I answered. “Only if it’s a good product.”

I think that left Bob momentarily puzzled. “Why was this guy from Collinite shooting down a compliment? “, he must have thought.

“What do you mean?”, he asked.

I tried to elaborate. “I appreciate the fact you like Collinite and that you support what we do here, but if the wax we pour 20 feet from my desk was a less than average product, if it was inconsistent, or if it was of lesser quality, I would never hold it against locals, or anyone, if they didn’t want to use it. Especially in times like this, you can’t just expect people to show up and help you out just because of your proximity. If you’re not providing something valuable, you can’t hide behind the locally-made card.“

Don’t get me wrong-In so many ways, I agree with Bob. Whether it’s from a pumpkin farm, restaurant, or hardware store-buying local is a fiscally healthy consumer trend. As small business owners and workers, no one shares this sentiment more than we do at Collinite. Buying local sustains and creates jobs in our area, makes use of our local taxes, and invests in our community. It also feels good to partake in. You’re contributing to your neighbors’ success stories.

But let’s be honest-buying locally from small businesses, while gratifying, can sometimes prove inconvenient compared to chain retail outlets. It can also be costly. You have to expect as much or more from what you get. Even Bob agreed with this.

Case in point: Saranac is brewed just down the street from the Collinite plant. If its beverages were sub-standard, how could I be expected to buy them-simply because of where they’re made? That just doesn’t cut it. And it shouldn’t. Luckily, Saranac churns out very good products. They may cost a bit more than their nationally known counterparts, but its worth it to some consumers. When I bring Saranac to friends or relatives from out of town, I’m proud to say it’s made in my own backyard. I’m happy to see Saranac at grocery stores in downstate NY. It’s gratifying to see it’s Pale Ale on draft in Maryland. It’s awesome to find its Root Beer on shelves in Alaska.

I think Bob appreciates the standard we hold ourselves to here at Collinite. I’m certain he appreciated the honesty.

Expect more from what you buy-no matter where it’s from.

Let It Bead

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:45:10 -0500

We're Going Streaking

Us waxers are an ambitious, impatient lot. We want to beautify our rides-car or boat... whatever the cost, whatever the weather. The problem is, our detailing desires occasionally get the best of us.

I spoke to a gentleman from Pittsburgh today. He’s been using Collinite’s No.845 Insulator Wax (IW) for over 15 years. He explained a problem he’d encountered this past weekend. After the IW was removed, his black SUV looked great, but he was noticing slight streaks once the vehicle was brought out into the sun.

Here in the states, cold weather is beginning to set in; especially where we are in the northeast (nights are beginning to drop into the 40’s). We all know how this goes; that inevitable urgency we can’t shake to get an extra coat of winter wax on our car or boat to protect against Mother Nature’s future wrath. And herein lies the predicament. Cold nights lead to cold surfaces. Cold surfaces lead to wax drying harder and faster during hurried wax jobs the following morning. And this can lead to wax steaks-unsightly, frustrating, awful wax streaks. Streaks lead to customers asking, “What did I do wrong?”

Some things to remember when using Collinite last step waxes this fall:

1. Following a wash, ensure the finish is free of imperfections; water spots, pre-existing wax, residues, swirls, stains, discoloration etc.

2. Air temperature does not = surface temperature. Just because it’s 11:30AM and 72 degrees F, doesn’t mean your car or boat’s surface is suitable for wax application-paste wax or gel wax. The finish is still warming up from a possibly cooler night. You’re running the risk of streaking the surface if a coat is put down too soon. Optimal conditions are as follows:

• Surface is lukewarm-room temperature to the touch

• Surface is out of direct sunlight

• There is little to no wind factor

3. Thin layers, means THIN layers. Sometimes, when detailing we start applying in thin coats, but subconsciously add more wax as we go on, thinking it's going to improve Collinite’s signature durability or shine. It won’t. It will create streaks. Apply as thin and as evenly as you can.

4. Watch your set up times. Don’t go with an arbitrary time framework (i.e. 3 minutes, 5 minutes or 30 minutes). Different conditions will invariably affect how long it takes the wax to dry. Use your eyes-look to see when the wax changes pigment and begins to cloud or haze as this is your most important visual cue for removal. It will go from clear to a white cloudiness. When that begins to happen, remove immediately.

5. Skill and familiarity with Collinite is easily one of the biggest variables we come across. Some detailers have different preferences when it comes to set up/drying times, sometimes allowing Collinite waxes (gel or paste) to harden even further past the hazing/pigment changing phase. This is where detailing proficiency/skill, equipment, prep work, finesse, and a comprehensive knowledge of paint and products really come into play. One detailer’s preference could be a novice’s nightmare when it comes to removal. If you’re a newbie with Collinite, always work in small sections at a time (2X2 ft).

6. If streaks result because one of the aforementioned tips was not considered, try misting the surface with cold water or quick detailer product, and then remove with microfiber towel. An initial wash may also make the streaks disappear.

What tricks or tips made you rethink your Collinite application and removal process? Email brand@collinite.com or tell us on Facebook. You could win a Collinite t-shirt ….always a great way to cover up after some streaking.

Let It Bead

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:27:53 -0500

All Dressed Up

Sometimes it’s tough to trust people who are always dressed up. It’s almost as if certain motives or empty promises might be lying underneath a polished look or spiffy threads. Maybe that’s why politicians aren’t always looked upon with the highest regard. (Our apologies if you currently hold office.)

We’re not fancy dressers here at Collinite. Our friends know it. Our families know it. Casual is comfortable to us. There’s rarely any smoke and mirrors with our presentation-what you see is what you get, and we typically dress things down whenever possible. Putting more stock in someone’s character than their cardigan has always been our compass.

However, we take a softer line when it comes to weddings, celebrations or other special events of the like. Once in awhile it’s OK to clean up. Case in point, I for one wasn’t thrilled to don a wedding day tuxedo, but I knew the occasion called for it. My family, my friends and my wife deserved a little better than Dickies work shorts and a hand-me-down t-shirt.

And I suppose that kind of underscores the philosophy behind the new website. If you’re reading this, then you can already see the look (and more importantly-the function) of collinite.com has been dressed up. But 2011 is one of those special events for us. It’s our 75th year of making Collinite. And there’s a product line, a legacy of tradition, and a slew of loyal customers that deserved a little better.

Whether you’ve bought Collinite, used it, sold it, or continue to spread the word about it (regardless of its dressed-down approach) we’d like to take the opportunity to sincerely thank you for helping support our small family business for the past 75 years.

Here’s to keeping up appearances…on our vehicles that is.

Let It Bead

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:50:42 -0500

Authenticity? Shouldn’t be a problem.

“What you guys do at Collinite is authentic; family business, blue collar, small focus, quality products. People like to hear about that kind of stuff nowadays. Don’t be afraid to include that in your message to customers. “

This was the advice (and probably the most coveted advice) we were given when initiating the new collinite.com project. The best part is, we never had to fake the authenticity card in our messaging. We keep things small at the Collinite plant, so everyone here helps out and pitches in-whenever possible, with everything. Just ask anyone who's stopped by and been around us.

Yesterday was the first day the site went live. I came in at 7:45 AM and envisioned putting some finishing touches on the product pages and getting prepared. But our all-hands-on-deck operating procedure means day-to-day tasks aren't just passed off to someone else. You do your best to take care of them yourself and pitch in.

Among other things-cleaner-wax cases needed to be stacked, customer phone calls needed to be answered, production schedules had to be determined, and a quick personnel line change was required for hand-pouring No. 885 Fleetwax Paste (literally 15 feet from my desk).

Maybe now you can see why the site took us so long to finish. You may even notice a few typos and minor discrepancies littered throughout the site that we still have to address (or for that matter-this entry, as I had to pick up the phone 4 times). Don't worry-between pouring, shipping and landscaping today-we'll get it straight. But for now it’ll just have to be chalked up as us being ourselves-authentic to a fault.