Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

[David Fermani]

Out of the many 100's of Body Shops I've visited over the last few decades I've yet to see much Meg's being used. I tend to gravitate to the paint area in these places but rarely do I see any Meg's products there. I know they have a very strong presence in the enthusiast/retail market, but quite the opposite in the Body Shop market. I see the partnership w/3M accentuating the polar opposites of each target market, but is there anything being done to grow the market share for Meg's in the Body Shop segment? I think it could really benefit from your products across the board.

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

IMO has a lot to do with marketing. Go to a pro supply shop for body shops, not much megs on the shelf. I never really saw Meguiars marketing to the body shop crowd.

Also, friends I have in the business shy away from any product that can be easily obtained by the average consumer. They don't want anything sitting "on the shelf" their customers will associate with Wal-Mart. Not saying they don't like Meguiars, just a perception thing.

Distribution is also part of it. Does Meguiars offer their product wholesale to body shops? If not, that's a big reason right there.

[David Fermani]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

IMO has a lot to do with marketing. Go to a pro supply shop for body shops, not much megs on the shelf. I never really saw Meguiars marketing to the body shop crowd.

Also, friends I have in the business shy away from any product that can be easily obtained by the average consumer. They don't want anything sitting "on the shelf" their customers will associate with Wal-Mart. Not saying they don't like Meguiars, just a perception thing.

Distribution is also part of it. Does Meguiars offer their product wholesale to body shops? If not, that's a big reason right there.

http://www.meguiars.com/solo/announcement.cfm

[Mike Pennington]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

Out of the many 100's of Body Shops I've visited over the last few decades I've yet to see much Meg's being used. I tend to gravitate to the paint area in these places but rarely do I see any Meg's products there. I know they have a very strong presence in the enthusiast/retail market, but quite the opposite in the Body Shop market. I see the partnership w/3M accentuating the polar opposites of each target market, but is there anything being done to grow the market share for Meg's in the Body Shop segment? I think it could really benefit from your products across the board.

As you know, the Mirror Glaze / "Pro" division is where our roots our. We did not not have a "consumer" product untill 1973.

That said, we have a seperate Marketing and Sales Staff dedicated to the PBE and Detailer Industry. This is still a very important division to us, and it will continue to grow like it has done

In fact, if you think about... 105, 205, So1o, Soft Buff 2.0 pads and DA Sanding Discs are just a few examples of some recent product launches into our "Pro" Channels across the globe.

IMO has a lot to do with marketing. Go to a pro supply shop for body shops, not much megs on the shelf. I never really saw Meguiars marketing to the body shop crowd.

Keep in mind, most Body Shop supply stores do most of their business through delivery, so just because you may not see it on the "walk in" shelf doesn't mean they don't have it on the "back shelves" for delivery

Also, friends I have in the business shy away from any product that can be easily obtained by the average consumer. They don't want anything sitting "on the shelf" their customers will associate with Wal-Mart. Not saying they don't like Meguiars, just a perception thing.

Most if not all of the Mirror Glaze line and all of the Detailer line of products are not sold through OTC places like you mentioned.

Distribution is also part of it. Does Meguiars offer their product wholesale to body shops? If not, that's a big reason right there.

We do not sell directly to body shops. There is a distribution channel that caters to the PBE (Paint, Body and Equipment) industry that we sell our products through.

[David Fermani]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

Thanks for the reply Mike. What % of the market share in the US does Meg's hold as far as the Body Shop side of things go?

[Mike Pennington]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

Unfortunately, that is confidential business information, so we are not able to share that.

[sontakke]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

I am not sure if OP knows that as of last year 3M literally owns Meguiar's.

[David Fermani]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

Unfortunately, that is confidential business information, so we are not able to share that.

I totally gotcha. I'm pulling for you and mention your products regularly in the field. Unfortunately, they aren't that accessable(and in your face) like other brands shops are currently working with. The shops I've been able to convince to switch are just buying their product from on-line vendors for now instead of through the standard channels they get serviced from. (if you know what I mean?)

I am not sure if OP knows that as of last year 3M literally owns Meguiar's.

I'm crystal clear on the entire deal. LOL.

[Mike Pennington]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

I totally gotcha. I'm pulling for you and mention your products regularly in the field.

Thanks for understanding and your support !

[RaskyR1]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

I'd have to agree with David. Granted he has been in more shops than me but of the ones I've been through it is almost always 3M.


David I did convert the shop where my father is at over to Meguiar's. He likes how well the M105 finishes down but I think he's used to how fast the 3M extra cut works.


Rasky

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

Keep in mind, most Body Shop supply stores do most of their business through delivery, so just because you may not see it on the "walk in" shelf doesn't mean they don't have it on the "back shelves" for delivery

Hold that thought.....

Most if not all of the Mirror Glaze line and all of the Detailer line of products are not sold through OTC places like you mentioned.

Using your previous comment explains my point better. Shops that may be using Meg's do not use a labeled bottle.

They may not be using an OTC product, but to your average consumer just seeing a "Meguiars" bottle is the kind of association with OTC products some pro's like to stay away from.

I had a friend stop by while I was detailing a friends Porsche. He saw my supply and actually said: "Oh, your just using Meguiars?" and went on to say if that's "all it takes" to get the finish I was working on, he could do it himself. Never-mind the rotary buffer I was holding......

[Mike Pennington]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

Our studies tell us, many "Professional" shops like to let their customers know they use Meguiar's since the name Meguiar's is such a trusted name in the DIY market.

If at a shop and a consumer asks the Owner / Manager / Technician "Is that the same Meguiar's product I could buy and use", that would be the best time to discuss how much goes into a detail as far as the technique , experience etc...

That could be the best time to really set yourself apart from other shops

Just a thought...

[DetailFreak517]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

Our studies tell us, many "Professional" shops like to let their customers know they use Meguiar's since the name Meguiar's is such a trusted name in the DIY market.

If at a shop and a consumer asks the Owner / Manager / Technician "Is that the same Meguiar's product I could buy and use", that would be the best time to discuss how much goes into a detail as far as the technique , experience etc...

That could be the best time to really set yourself apart from other shops

Just a thought...

How readily available are Meguiar's marketing materials to assist in that endeavor? And what type of requirements must be met by a detailer to obtain such materials? I know you guys used to have fliers, mirror hang tags, etc. that could be obtained through a "Professional Detailer Program" or something of that sort, but I haven't seen any such things mentioned in a while nor do I remember what was involved with the program.

I would love to further promote the Meguiar's brand with my customers and have some branded materials to help explain what exactly a professional detailer does, but as I don't have a traditional retail shop location I can't really rely on putting a couple posters on the wall or a mat on the counter.

[Woodie6250]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

Down here on our side of the world the opposite seems to be true. Meguiars is well represented and used in body shops, but the retail line seems to lag behind.

[zeegs]

Re: Why don't you see much Meg's being used in Body Shops?

I first started using Megs right out of high school in the body shop I worked in. No.7 was a regular part of finishing a car to return to the owner. Our shelves were full of Meguire's, and mine hasn't changed in almost 40 years!