Ihab Salloum[ad_1]
Meguiar’s, the renowned wax brand in the industry, has solidified its position as a trusted name over time. However, there has been some criticism from competitors and industry professionals who claim that Meguiar’s has shifted their focus from the professional market to the consumer market by partnering with retail giant Wal-Mart. The loyal professional users who have paid a premium price for quality products now see their beloved Meguiar’s brand on the shelves of Wal-Mart.
We decided to test Meguiar’s RV and Boat product lines and were pleased with the step-by-step guide they provided for different levels of oxidation, surfaces, and paints. Their Flagship soap (Number 65) and Gel Wash (Number 54) for gel coat surfaces were particularly impressive. However, we did find these products to be overpriced for a professional boat cleaning business, especially considering the small bottle size. The local marinas and boat stores charge exorbitant prices for these products, making it difficult for small businesses to afford them.
We observed that the products left a sheeting action on the surfaces after use, providing a satisfactory result. However, using inline injection from a bucket of soapy water didn’t yield great results. The products appeared harmless, so we didn’t think using them would cause any issues if a little soap got into the water around the marina. When it comes to cleaners and polishes for the marine industry, we found Meguiar’s to be satisfactory, although slightly overpriced. Star Brite, a competing brand, also tends to have high price points, assuming that boat owners are willing to pay more. We didn’t notice much difference between Meguiar’s products for the marine industry and their products for the auto industry, aside from a few minor ingredient changes and fancy packaging.
Meguiar’s Color Restorer worked well in removing small marks and scuffs, but we found that a solvent wax, like Auto Magic’s Sealer Wax or Diamond Shine Products, achieved similar results. The Color Restorer didn’t seem necessary for professional use, unless you want to maintain brand consistency. Other waxes with solvents didn’t cause any damage and actually worked better than Meguiar’s Color Restorer and Oxidation Remover. Meguiar’s One Step Compound (Number 67) wasn’t very impressive, as we generally aren’t fond of compounds. The product was thick and underwhelming, but it did the job as expected. One notable property of the compound was its ability to restore properties to fiberglass that most industry products lacked.
Many people ask us about the best wax to use on RVs and fiberglass surfaces. The answer depends on factors such as decals, surface type, paint, and level of oxidation. We were somewhat impressed with Meguiar’s wax line, which says a lot as we have high standards. The premium flagship wax was adequate, scoring a 5 out of 10 on ease of use. It is said to last a long time, but it’s unclear how it performs on salt-water boats. Meguiar’s Pure Boat Wax (Number 56) worked well, but we noticed it contained silicone, which isn’t ideal for polyurethane surfaces, and carnauba waxes, which pose issues for Imron surfaces. So, it may not be suitable for our team to use on trucks, but it should be good enough for the average boat owner. Washing an RV poses definite challenges, so make sure to read this article.
For touch-ups on Boat Show accounts, we liked Meguiar’s Quick Wax Marine (Number 59), which comes in a trigger spray or aerosol can. It was clever of Meguiar’s to customize their car care products for their boat line, similar to Zep Chemicals’ label changes to make their products suitable for various cleaning uses. We found Meguiar’s specialty cleaners for the marine industry, such as the non-skid deck and hull cleaner, to be effective. The Hard Water Spot remover was also satisfactory, with applications beyond just the marine industry. Meguiar’s Gold Teak Oil was of excellent quality, and our test spot made us want to use it on the entire boat deck.
The all-metal polish for bright work surpassed Never Dull and Mother’s Aluminum Polish in terms of shine and ease of use. Meguiar’s Bilge Cleaner seemed like overkill, considering that Simple Green can achieve the same results for a lower cost. You can order the most popular marine products from Meguiar’s on their website. Private boat owners can also use their website to access a custom guide on which products to buy for proper boat cleaning and waxing. This value-added service is a great strategy for their online B2C business, but it begs the question as to why one would pay high prices for products available at Wal-Mart.
We always find it interesting to see marketing strategies and tactics employed by vendors and suppliers. Meguiar’s clearly understands the importance of interactivity in their web strategy and has invested significant resources into their website. At the 2004 SEMA Show, we noticed their truck display, resembling our Blitz Mobile with a glossy black color and the distinctive Meguiar’s paint scheme. The show featured beautiful displays showcasing their new wipe products and reintroducing their marine line.
Overall, Meguiar’s Marine Line is comprehensive and establishing itself in the market. They are competing with StarBrite products, which are slightly more popular but were essentially the sole player in the past. Meguiar’s should be able to leverage their strong brand recognition in the auto care industry, which faces significant competition, to maintain a strong position in the marine industry.
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