Meetings of Creditors - ZYMOL

20 years ago, Zymol was the poster child for "over hyped-over priced-cost a fortune so it must be good" marketing followed today by many boutique car care marketing companies.

They did sell the license for one so-so product that was marketed here in the normal channel mass market stores. I think it was Turtle Wax that marketed that product.

Think of Paul Dalton. Now, sure he does good work, but at that price??

Do people really think his wax is actually that much different? Do people actually believe that he "makes the product", oh what a sham.

There are those in this world that believe if the package is attactive, which they are paying an inflated price, that makes them "better" than others.

Grumpy
 
Ron Ketcham said:
20 years ago, Zymol was the poster child for "over hyped-over priced-cost a fortune so it must be good" marketing followed today by many boutique car care marketing companies.

They did sell the license for one so-so product that was marketed here in the normal channel mass market stores. I think it was Turtle Wax that marketed that product.

Think of Paul Dalton. Now, sure he does good work, but at that price??

Do people really think his wax is actually that much different? Do people actually believe that he "makes the product", oh what a sham.

There are those in this world that believe if the package is attactive, which they are paying an inflated price, that makes them "better" than others.

Grumpy
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Not this cat. Not to take anything away from Paul as I'm sure his work is excellent, but I refuse to buy into the over priced wax BS.
 
I refuse to buy into the over priced wax BS.
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This was my whole original reasoning for joining Autopia. I try to keep a blind eye to over hyped marketing,and so I canvass the opinions of many other enthusiasts about the car care products they use. Sometimes Ill try something purely on a whim, but most of the time, I go for the products that receive the highest amount of satisfaction across the board.
 
I'm not sure its fair to say say their products are hyped. There are certainly a ton of products that ARE hyped, but are Zymols? IMO their products were in the area of diminishing returns. Sort of Ferrari/Lambo land of LSPs. I can say the only product I did not like of theirs was HD cleanse, all the other products were above average. If you really want to blast people for spending a few bucks on an LSP, then you might just want to stick with the stuff in the orange bottle as I assure you its more durable and has better protection than just about anything besides Opticoat.
 
Dan said:
I'm not sure its fair to say say their products are hyped. There are certainly a ton of products that ARE hyped, but are Zymols? IMO their products were in the area of diminishing returns. Sort of Ferrari/Lambo land of LSPs. I can say the only product I did not like of theirs was HD cleanse, all the other products were above average. If you really want to blast people for spending a few bucks on an LSP, then you might just want to stick with the stuff in the orange bottle as I assure you its more durable and has better protection than just about anything besides Opticoat.
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For me it's not about hype or their performance, I'm sure they are all very good. It's the fact that the raw ingredients don't justify the outrageous cost, nor does the look, which few can discern, if any at all when subject to a blind test based on look alone.



Actually, I think I'll come out with a wax and say it's derived from the excrement of beetles which eat only the rarest and most exotic carnauba leaves....I bet that $hit (pun intended) would sell for sure! :eyebrows:



Just my $.02
 
The products that carried the label, I didn't say they were not good or bad, just the marketing of the products was "price/appeal marketed".

If one wishes to spend that kind of money, that is their decision.

I own a Rolex, which comes out of it's box twice a year.

However, I have three "wally world" $10 watches that keep as good of time as I need for each day and don't have to worry about some one wishing to cut my arm off to steal them.

So, since both watches do the basics, I wear the cheap ones most of the time.

Although, have to say I am wearing my 40 year old, 17 jewel, swiss movement, Mickey Mouse watch today for some reason.

Might be because during chat last night I think I over served myself and was a bit groggy when arising this morning.

Grumpy
 
I'm a watch guy---that can be whole other sickness..umm...passion. When quartz battery powered watches threatened to make mechanicals and automatics obsolete, the Swiss watch industry exclaimed battery watches "have no soul". Today both kinds sell very well. Automatics are so much more "cool" though.
 
Got a Bulova Astronot stashed away from the 60's, some old winder Hamilton's, etc.

One time had a Mondovo, the classic, broke so sold it to a guy like you for a song.

Was going to get a Tag at one time, always thought they were cool, but "why", I wouldn't wear it.

Some where around in one of the boxes are a couple of Swiss Army watches I used to wear all the time when working, they need some work on them now, though.

The Mickey is the one that everyone who see's it, wants, it's a Bradley,all swiss movement, etc, have a friend who is president of Iowa Jewelers, who cleans it and such for me every few years.

Grumpy
 
I've never understood super high priced waxes, there is no way the ingredients, production and packaging costs come even remotely close to what they charge. And I can't see paying an extra $1000 over a bottle of Carnauba Moose or even a jar of Souveran to maybe get 5% better look. And I refuse to buy a watch when I have a cellphone that tells me the time. :p
 
This is sad to see for our industry. Zymol pioneered the high end boutique waxes, and in my opinion are still some of the best out there.
 
Zymol, just like Swissvax, represent the best example of how much value marketing truly has on garnering consumer appeal. Not to say that the products aren't good, but the ability to sell at the margins these companies do takes real business talent.
 
How much do you typically pay for a jar of car wax, 50 or $100? How does $30,000 sound? No, that's not a typo, but it is what automotive wax producer Zymöl is charging for its Solaris Glaze car wax. It comes in a pyramid-shaped solar-activated container, I’m not entirely sure if its purpose, although it looks good and maybe that’s it. Only 25 containers of Solaris Glaze will be produced and each includes a gold mixing spoon and is refillable for life. Even at this price it very quickly sold out, which speaks volumes for the marketing of a product



With organic waxes you reach a certain price point, usually over $200, when you are not just paying for the basic ingredients anymore. Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.



Bringing a new product to market can cost upwards of $45,000. The set price point of a high dollar wax has to recuperate:

- R&D costs, the so called speciality waxes or a glaze usually sells in small numbers

- Product packaging, usually eye catching and expensive

- Marketing cost are high as the product needs to appeal to an exclusive market segment

- Vendor mark-up, due to low volume sales this is usually much higher than for other products

- A higher than average price tends to add to the elitist or exclusivity factor

- Carnauba % content is a very inaccurate method to assess overall performance or value



Then there is the luxury effect and products uniqueness. Mr Royce said this about the price charged for RR automobiles [The price charged is whatever the market will stand]
 
JohnKleven said:
This is sad to see for our industry. Zymol pioneered the high end boutique waxes, and in my opinion are still some of the best out there.
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Yeah, same here :( While Zymol threads always seem to bring out the haters, I'll be sorry if they do go under.



Zymol, just like Swissvax, represent the best example of how much value marketing truly has on garnering consumer appeal...the ability to sell at the margins these companies do takes real business talent.
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Heh heh, by the look of it, that might take more talent than they were able to come up with! Interesting that they're hurting now, as opposed to maybe a few years ago...maybe it just caught up with them :think:



With organic waxes you reach a certain price point, usually over $200, when you are not just paying for the basic ingredients anymore. Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder....Then there is the luxury effect and products uniqueness...
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Analogies that come to mind- the cost of grapes/value of certain wines; rocks dug out out of the ground/value of jewels.
 
Accumulator said:
Heh heh, by the look of it, that might take more talent than they were able to come up with! Interesting that they're hurting now, as opposed to maybe a few years ago...maybe it just caught up with them :think:
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Well, I don't think the marketing necessarily failed them; the trouble is other boutique brands came along and took the Zymol formula to the next level. Failure to adapt and evolve along with the times and the market is what put them in trouble -- like you said, the talent seems to have run out.
 
Or? The owners did what so many of these type of marketers have done.

Take out tons of profits, move it off shore, basically retire but leave the company to slowly fade away.

Makes it tough for the staff that is left during this time, as they are the ones that come under the "judical spot light".
 
Needless to say, Zymol isn't for everyone but there is a certain clientele that enjoys the prestige of obtaining status products that are unobtainable to the average consumer. With added "value" in the form of exotic ingredients, custom packaging and lifetime refills, they certainly carved out a niche of their own in an already niche market.



I don't know the relationship between Zymol UK and USA or who is in charge these days. I do know that when I previously reached out to them to possibly become a distributor that it was a slow, painful process full of red tape that seamed like a long road leading to nowhere. Perhaps they should have acted faster but then again, it may have already been too late.
 
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