Modern sealants certainly have their place, but car wax is also a very useful product to use in the winter for a number of reasons. It can help protect your car's paint from the harsh elements of winter weather, such as snow, ice, and road salt. This is because car wax forms a sacrificial barrier on the surface of your car's paint, which can help prevent these elements from coming into direct contact with the paint and causing damage.
In addition to protecting your car's paint, car wax can also help improve the appearance of your car. A good wax delivers a rich, glossy, shiny finish that is resistant to water and other substances that may cause your paint to become dull or fade. Wax can help your car look its best, even in the middle of winter.
Car wax can also help make it easier to clean your car during the winter. Because it forms a protective barrier on the surface of your car's paint, it can help prevent dirt, grime, and other substances from sticking to the paint. This can make it easier to remove these substances when you wash your car, and can help prevent them from causing scratches or other damage to the paint.
Overall, using car wax in the winter is a great way to protect your car's paint from the harsh elements of winter weather and to keep it looking its best. It's a simple and affordable way to take care of your car, and can help ensure that it stays in good condition for years to come.
Squid Ink Detailing manufacture all of our waxes in house to our very own tried and tested blends. We only use the highest quality ingredients available and are always researching and testing the latest waxes, polymers, solvents and oils. Our waxes are made with ease of use in mind. When applied properly they are effortless to apply/remove and leave levels of gloss that simply cannot be matched by most modern sealants.
We would love to hear from any car groups or businesses who are looking into creating their own unique blend of wax. This is something we can easily accommodate, such as this beautiful 'Jelly Bean' scented wax that we commissioned for The Motorist recently.
If you've not tried our waxes yet then you are definitely missing out. Ensure your pride and joy stays well protected and looking it's best during the colder months of winter.
Grab a pot of Squid Ink wax online today, starting from just £14.99!
]]>A Record Year in 2021
Despite all of the challenges in 2021 with the pandemic and seemingly never-ending lockdowns, it turned out to be our best year ever by quite some margin. In fact, sales were up an astonishing 800% on the previous year. I would like to personally thank every single Squid Ink customer, you have all helped support the dream and I am genuinely extremely grateful to every person who has bought our products.
Shows and Events
In 2021, Squid Ink attended various events, shows and meets across the UK with the van and gazebo. Our van is always very well received, the loud livery draws people in for a closer look, the perfect tool at events when you need to stand out in a crowd.
In House Wax Blending
One of the highlights for me in 2021 was bringing our wax making in house. I have been researching car wax making processes for many years. I have also made various contacts in the industry who blend top quality waxes for some of the big players in the market. I was fortunate when an acquaintance decided to sell all of their kit, including hot plates, magnetic stirrers, waxes, solvent, oils and various tried and tested wax recipes. Anyone in the industry will understand that wax recipes are like gold dust and are very closely guarded secrets, even amongst peers.
I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and collected the gear the following day. From there, I’ve been blending, testing, and tweaking on an almost daily basis. One recipe in particular showed great promise, but I felt it needed adjusting. After taking advice from a good friend and established wax maker (many thanks buddy), around 5 changes were made which transformed the wax.
The result is a firm wax which oils up nicely to the touch, it loads onto an applicator well, spreads easily, cures nicely and removes without any drama. The water behavior and beading are also exceptional, a single coat protecting paintwork for several months. The most striking thing about this blend though is the incredible glowing effect and glossiness that it leaves on the paintwork.
Everyone who tested the wax said their paint looked like it was ‘glowing’ after application. The name Afterglow therefore seemed like the perfectly apt name for the blend. Labels were designed, the MSDS (safety data sheet) created and the blend has been added to our product insurance, so it is all legit and above board. Several other wax blends are underway, the next in development is a softer paste wax – watch this space.
Squid Ink have also started blending custom wax for car groups, the first wax went live recently for the MX5 North Wales Group. Their 'Cherry Cola' scented wax has been very well received. We are able to design and print custom labels for the lids, offer a range of bespoke scents and colours. Get in touch if this could be of interest for your own car group.
Snow Foam Cannons
In early 2021 Squid Ink Detailing were invited to test a new design of snow foam cannon from a relatively unknown company called MJJC. They were established in America, but hadn’t really entered the UK detailing market at that point. I obliged and received one of their cannons soon afterwards. It was immediately obvious that this type of lance was in a league of its own compared to anything else currently available. The build quality was exceptional, it had a wide fill neck with well-marked fill levels on a very sturdy HDPE bottle. It included a spare orifice for low pressured units, 3 spare mesh filters and a very well-made nozzle that rotated 360 degrees from vertical to horizonal. The cleverest feature in my opinion was the weighted pickup tube. This means that the bottle can be used effectively at any angle and still collect fluid from the bottle.
We opened discussions with MJJC and agreed to place a significant order of cannons under the Squid Ink brand. They sold very well, and we soon needed to place a second order. In the meantime, MJJC released their branded units into the UK market. Unsurprisingly, they went viral and were soon the undisputed number one cannon that you could buy. In a bit of a bitter blow, when we came to place our third order, we were advised that the sole distribution rights have been awarded to another UK supplier. This ultimately means we can no longer sell the cannons under our own brand, although we do have the option to stock them under MJJC branding, albeit at a significantly higher cost. We currently have Karcher K-Series and Nilfisk fitments left in stock. They are selling very fast and include a free bottle of Froth snow foam worth £9.99!
Despite the initial disappointment, we decided there was an opportunity to source our very own Squid Ink snow foam cannon. Despite the MJJC units being extremely good, they are on the more expensive side at nearly £40 each. We aim to offer our new unit at a more affordable price point.
First things first, we decided to write an RFP (request for proposal) and opened it up to various factories who manufacture all different types of detailing equipment. We were completely inundated with responses, all different types, styles and price points. We ultimately narrowed it down to 4 manufacturers. Samples were ordered from each factory and we eagerly awaited for them to arrive. A couple of weeks later and testing began. It begs the question, are all snow foam cannons the same? Well actually no, the quality and finishes vary quite considerably.
One unit stood head and shoulders above the others. It has a transparent, well proportioned conical shaped 1.1 litre bottle, a filter on the pickup tube, accurate fill markings, a very well made 360 degree nozzle and exceptional brass and stainless fittings that are easily on par with the MJJC. The factory making this cannon manufactures all of the components themselves to ISO standards and it really shows.
The other units looked a lot more industrial in comparison, the metals were dull and looked like you would find them on plumbing fittings in a DIY store. Surprisingly, the fill markers were also wildly inaccurate on two of the bottles.
For me the transparent cannon was obviously the best design. However, the bottle was a concern as it is made from PET plastic. Although extremely well made, it felt like it could break if dropped when full, or if the lid is over tightened. Some cannons on the market are experiencing this exact issue at the moment due to the PET bottle. Feedback has been provided and the factory has agreed to re-manufacture the same bottle but from a much more durable HDPE plastic. We are awaiting delivery of another sample, but we are hopeful that this will be the unit for Squid Ink.
It just goes to show, although this has been a very expensive way to launch a new cannon, research, development and testing is absolutely essential to achieve the best quality. This has been paramount to the Squid Ink ethos from day one, I will only ever add anything to my range when I am completely satisfied that it’s of the best quality.
Summary
Looking ahead, 2022 has started and we have been off to an absolute flier. We have had our busiest online month ever – in January which is usually the quietest month of the year. Our mystery boxes have proved a huge hit, offering £50 worth of products for £30 is a fantastic and cost effective introduction to our range.
Several new products are also scheduled to be added to the range very soon, we are in the final stages of testing so keep your eyes peeled on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok - follow us if you haven't already.
The diary is already full to the brim with events, shows and car meets. We have every expectation that 2022 will be our best year to date by quite some margin. If you have got this far, I hope you have enjoyed the update and thanks for reading. Lets hope the the pandemic is now behind us and we can return to some kind of normality. Thanks again for all of your support, you are the best. Take care and speak soon, Michael
]]>For background, I started Squid Ink Detailing as a side business back in 2018, selling a modest selection of premium car care products online and at a charity car meet that I helped organise. My full time career in IT Sales had been progressing well, but I'd felt for a long time that I needed to make some big changes in my life. Squid Ink Detailing had been a hobby business, doing something that I was very passionate about in my spare time. I had always dreamed of launching the business full time, but never thought I would have the time or the opportunity.
In March 2021 my personal circumstances suddenly changed and a large investment opportunity arose. It was now or never, I decided to leave my stable job where I had been employed for 6 years and undertake my side business full time. This was by far the most daunting business decision I have ever made, but one that I am confident will pay dividends in the future.
I was fortunate that I already had the foundations of the business in place, the branding, a well designed website, a number of quality products, an active Facebook Page, a fully branded gazebo and an extremely loyal cult-like following of customers who were already using my products. All that was needed was time and a large injection of cash.
The first challenge I faced was filling in the gaps in my modest range. Fortunately, I had already tried, tested and developed many products that I planned to launch one day. I placed large orders with various UK based chemical suppliers. I won't ever use a single chemical manufacturer for all of my products. This diversifies my supply chain and does make it more complex and expensive when ordering stock. However, I know that all of my products are top notch and only the best are used and created from each manufacturer. This also spreads the risk in case there was ever an issue with a single supplier in the future.
The next step was to get the labels designed/printed and the branded Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) created. Again, I already had the process in place for this so it wasn't too difficult to achieve.
I also needed to procure a much larger range of detailing accessories such as quality microfibre cloths, applicators, brushes, drying towels and snow foam cannons. I placed a substantial order and waited. And waited some more, and a bit more. Unfortunately, just as this order was made, the Suez Canal situation unfolded meaning huge shipping delays. Many sleepless nights later, after around 3 months my huge 18 box delivery finally arrived. The quality of the accessories was superb and I have to say the communication from the factory was second to none, it put my mind at ease massively during the entire process.
I had already made the decision that I didn't want a static retail shop with fixed overheads. My business strategy was centered around a fully stocked retail van that could drive out to visit customers. This would allow me to sell my products at car meets/shows, I could drive to businesses who use or sell car care products themselves and I could restock professional valeters and detailers. It would also enable me to visit retail car enthusiasts at home who are usually limited if they need specialist products the same day.
The obvious next step was purchasing a suitable van. I had a vision in my mind of exactly what I wanted; good head space in the back to allow customers to stand up and view my products, fully kitted out with lightweight but strong metal racking, a high payload rating, it needed to be visually eye catching and ideally have a Euro 6 compliant engine due to the upcoming low emissions regulations in most major cities.
I viewed several vans and nothing really fit the bill. Most were clapped out, high mileage 'beaters' that had been used as highways maintenance vehicles. Frustratingly, the price of vans has sky rocketed in recent months. There is a global chip shortage which means the average waiting time for a new van is over a year. Plus the pandemic has seen a surge in delivery drivers and there has also been a boom in people wanting to convert vans into camper vans due to global travel restrictions. I have to admit, I was feeling a little defeated. It felt like I had searched for every van in the country and nothing was suitable.
Then, out of the blue a listing was published in Huddersfield. It was a rare high rooftop Ford Transit Custom van, fully kitted out with very expensive System Edstrom metal racking, it had a Euro 6 engine and striking 'Aqua Green' paintwork which seemed to match my branding perfectly. It even had a power inverter, an inbuilt safe, LED interior lighting and an ideal space in the back for my gazebo. I quickly arranged a viewing and immediately knew this was the one. It was a little understated in it's standard form, but I could see the huge potential. It was priced at the top end of my budget, but I purchased it there and then.
To spruce it up a bit, some new 18" alloy wheels were ordered and I quickly contacted a local company to make a start on designing the sign writing. Things were starting to get very real now and it was getting daunting how much money was being spent on the business. It took around 6 weeks to get booked in for the sign writing, but the results were absolutely outstanding. The van certainly makes a statement and I'm extremely pleased with the results. It undeniably turns heads everywhere it goes.
There is still a huge amount of work to be done and the journey has really only just begun. So far, things are looking very positive and I am enjoying every single day.
If you would like to organise a visit in the van, it covers the East Midlands areas, namely around Sheffield, Chesterfield, Mansfield and Nottingham. Please email info@squidinkdetailing.co.uk for more information.
Hope you have enjoyed reading my little business update. Thanks to every single person who has purchased Squid Ink products so far, this means the world to us as a small business. I will try my best to get another blog written soon.
Michael Wheatley
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I'm 32 years old and have been been fascinated by cars from a very young age. I spend most of my spare time at car shows or helping organise events and regular car meets for Manchester MX5s, who I help co-run with a great group of friends.
I was introduced to cars by my Dad, who has built, fixed or fettled with cars all of his life. When I passed my driving test at the age of 17, I soon realised how much my car meant to me. Although I could only afford a modest Mk3 Ford Fiesta at the time, I realised that having a gleaming car made it look so much better, so much newer and fresher.
Since then, I have tried and tested countless car detailing products on the market, some good, some bad, and some truly awful. Having tried various 'quick detailing' products, I was always left somewhat disappointed. The premium products were seriously expensive, and the lower end of the market products didn't work very well.
I came across Squid Ink Ultimate QD a couple of years ago now. I was lucky enough to be introduced to the manufacturer by a close friend in the car trade. The product is environmentally friendly, made in the UK and I was assured their products are absolutely top notch. They supply their products to Lamborghini amongst other prestige dealerships, although they don't have a direct retail channel to the general public.
The first time I used the QD, I instantly knew that that it was something pretty special. It's so simple to use, but extremely effective. After a quick spray and buff, my relatively neglected black BMW 1 series coupe was gleaming. It looked like I had spent all day waxing it, in reality I had blitzed over the entire car in about half an hour.
As it usually does in Manchester, the next day the heavens opened. When I went out to my car, I couldn't believe the perfectly formed water beads left by this stuff. It's a seriously impressive product and a cut above anything else I have ever tried.
I always have a bottle of the QD in my car now, it's awesome stuff to take to meets or shows, very handy when the usually quite spirited drive there has dirtied the car. It's also brilliant as a lubricant for clay barring, and perfect as an LSP (Last Step Product) after waxing.
The idea of bringing this seriously impressive product to market has recently become a reality and I am in a position to launch Squid Ink Detailing. My ambition is to add various other affordable premium products to the range in the near future. The quick detailer is the first product to go on sale now. Next in line will be an alloy wheel cleaner and a fantastic tyre shine spray. I intend to sell Squid Ink Ultimate QD at events around the country, on my Facebook page and on my new website. I'm also in talks with a good friend about having a stand at JAE in the summer.
Like my Facebook page for updates, competitions and the occasional discount code. Thanks for visiting my website, I know you'll love this stuff as much as I do.
Until next time, keep them clean.
Michael
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