Bad experience leads to finding the right business venture

MANILA, Philippines - A bad experience and a frustration over a sloppy car wash has led entrepreneur Von Capulong to find his ideal business venture and a good advocacy as well.

Capulong said he was dismayed when he discovered lots of swirl-like scratches on his beloved car when he had it cleaned somewhere in Quezon City.

“It was always been that way when I have my car cleaned through regular car washing, but this time, there were a lot of scratches. So I really felt bad,” he said.

Frustrated, he told his partner about his wish to find an efficient alternative to car cleaning, one that won’t leave scratches or damage your car.

“My partner immediately searched the Internet about an alternative car cleaning and there she found out about No Wet, an environmentally friendly car wash and polish made in  Australia,” Capulong said.

No Wet is an all-in-one waterless car cleaner that cleans, polishes, waxes, seals and UV protects in one application, without using water. The company that manufactures the special wax is based in Australia.

After a thorough research, Capulong expressed his intention to franchise and bring the waterless car clean technology in Manila.

“I liked the idea and I was pleased with the technology. I also like that it has the environmental aspect to it. You don’t have to use water in cleaning your car because your car will be hand-cleaned through a special car wax,” Capulong said.

Lucky for Capulong, the company said yes to him and some of No Wet’s executives even went to the Philippines to study the market.

“The company gave me a license and I even went to  Australia to train and know more about the tricks of the trade,” he added.

In January of 2011, Capulong finally opened GreenRides which he touted the first and only waterless car wash in the country.

A year after opening, he was able to open four outlets in Shopwise Commonwealth, Libis, Cubao and Sucat.

“They share my bad experience on water car cleaning. They feel bad about seeing scratches on their cars and wish there was a more efficient way. They feel thankful that there is already a best alternative to water car cleaning,” he said.

“At GreenRides, we really give importance on taking care of your car, not just cleaning it,” he said.

But how does it actually work?

“Applied as a mist, the No Wet special wax softens, emulsifies, and encapsulates dirt and other contaminants. The liquid is then gently removed with a soft terry towel. A fine film of polish and wax is left behind which is buffed with a micro-fibre cloth,” explained Capulong.

The special wax will not scratch the paint as its unique formula lifts the dirt off the surface, forming a protective barrier between the dirt and the paintwork.

“It works for a lot of vehicles, including Ferraris, Mercedes and even V8 supercars,” he said.

The special wax is made of ingredients like Carnauba, a high quality wax and sealant which forms a very hard film over the vehicle’s surface to protect against UV rays, pollution, bird droppings and more.

“Plus, it has no silicone and is 100 percent environment friendly,” he added.

For P400 ( for compact cars),  Capulong said the shine and protection is guaranteed to last for four weeks, Capulong said.

“Really mas makakatipid ka. You will be able to save more because you don’t have to make frequent trips to the regular car wash cleaner. Vehicles become easier to clean and less product is used after the first few treatments. We also offer free follow ups” he said.

“Everything is hand-cleaned. We know here in our country, our water resources are dwindling. For me, keeping this venture is also  my advocacy, my way of helping contribute to the preservation of our environment,” Capulong said.

Capulong admits that he has not yet recoup his investments yet but remains positive that people will notice his unique car cleaning services.

For now, he counts on word of mouth and is also using social networking sites to promote his business venture. GreenRides is on Facebook.