Simoniz USA was formed as a result of a purchase by Syndet Products, Inc. of the Simoniz brand name in 1997 from First Brands Corp. Syndet, at the time, was a 25-year old manufacturer of hard surface detergents, cleaners, and waxes, serving the automotive, institutional, and industrial marketplace. Simoniz was already a part of consumer-product and advertising history and lore. It was in 1910, when the motor car was still somewhat of an oddity affordable only by the wealthy, that the Simoniz Company came into being. Its formation was made possible by George Simons, who developed a cleaner and a carnauba wax product for car finishes. The firm's products were named Simons Cleaner and Simons Paste Wax.
In 1912, Mr. Rich and his brother, R.J. Rich, acquired full ownership. They changed the name of the firm to Simoniz Company and located the first office and backroom factory in Chicago. It was during 1957 that Vista One-Step Cleaner/Wax entered the market. Combining a cleaner and wax in one product, Vista made it possible for car owners to get in a single step both Simoniz Kleener and Simoniz Wax. Virtually overnight, Vista exploded to the top among all car-care products.
Subject ID: 8307
MoreSimoniz USA was formed as a result of a purchase by Syndet Products, Inc. of the Simoniz brand name in 1997 from First Brands Corp. Syndet, at the time, was a 25-year old manufacturer of hard surface detergents, cleaners, and waxes, serving the automotive, institutional, and industrial marketplace. Simoniz was already a part of consumer-product and advertising history and lore. It was in 1910, when the motor car was still somewhat of an oddity affordable only by the wealthy, that the Simoniz Company came into being. Its formation was made possible by George Simons, who developed a cleaner and a carnauba wax product for car finishes. The firm's products were named Simons Cleaner and Simons Paste Wax.
In 1912, Mr. Rich and his brother, R.J. Rich, acquired full ownership. They changed the name of the firm to Simoniz Company and located the first office and backroom factory in Chicago. It was during 1957 that Vista One-Step Cleaner/Wax entered the market. Combining a cleaner and wax in one product, Vista made it possible for car owners to get in a single step both Simoniz Kleener and Simoniz Wax. Virtually overnight, Vista exploded to the top among all car-care products.
During the war, Simoniz recognized the potential market in household products and entered into the floor wax field in 1942. The year 1959 marked the introduction of Tone, the aerosol spray wax that helped triple sales of furniture polishes in a period of just three years. Additional products were added through the years such as Plumite Drain Cleaner, the Sta-Soft Sponge (the only synthetic non-hardening sponge), and Reddi Starch spray starch.
In 1965, Morton International purchased the controlling interest in Simoniz Company adding Master Wax-Detergent Proof and Smooth-Pre Softened products to the line. In 1969, the now parent company of Simoniz, Morton International merged with the Norwich Pharmaceutical Company and became known as MorNor. In 1976, Simoniz was acquired by Union Carbide. In 1986, as part of the divestiture of Union Carbide, a management lead LBO called First Brands Corp. was formed and Simoniz was among the brands purchased. In 1988, First Brands entered into a license agreement with Syndet Products, Inc. to manufacture and distribute on-line Simoniz brand products nationally to the car wash industry, which eventually expanded to include detail shop and janitorial/sanitation cleaning products. In 1997, Syndet Products purchased the Simoniz brand from First Brands Corp., and renamed the company Simoniz USA, Inc. Shortly after the purchase; Simoniz USA launched its first "direct response" marketing product called Simoniz Scratch Remover for furniture.
Subject ID: 8307
Subject ID: 8307