Mario James, Gleaner Writer
Photo by Mario James
Tropical Battery launches its car care line and has acquired sole distributorship rights to the Armor-All/STP line of car care products.
Tropical Battery, after bold forays into the auto maintenance sector, has acquired sole Jamaican distributorship rights to the Armor-All/STP line of car care products. The transition was on the books from the acquisition of Cari-Brake Ltd., the previous licensed distributor, in June 2006. The licence was granted in January of this year, and Tropical Battery is now distributing product. This is in addition to Castrol oils and lubricants, Hankook tyres, and the Tropical Battery line of automotive power sources.
The new line encompasses Armor-All Protective Wipes, Original Formula, Ultra-Shine and Leather Protectants, Tyre Foam and Carpet Cleaner as well as the Car Wash Concentrate. They also carry the STP line of engine specific products; STP Gas Treatment, Octane Booster, Fuel System Cleaner, Diesel Fuel Treatment, Fuel Injector Cleaner, Fuel Injector and Carburettor Treatment, Oil, Treatment, Engine Stop Leak, Power Steering Fluid and the hydraulic stop leak version, and a DOT 3 brake fluid. These products are all compatible with modern automobiles; their respective manufacturers have been around for quite some time. Tropical Battery's Catherine Collins invites informal importers and folks who have made inroads into business using these products "to come and talk to us. I'm sure we can work something out."
How they began
STP stands for 'Scientifically Treated Petroleum', the firm was started in October 1954 by three businessmen who had US$3,000 to spare. They started making an oil treatment in a garage. Packaging their product at night (they did not leave their day jobs!), they sold the fruit of their labours out the trunk of their cars and on business and pleasure trips. It took the market and the company's incredible initial growth spurt, and word of mouth advertising took the U.S. by storm, allowing the entrepreneurs (Charles Ligget, Jim Hill and Robert DeHart) to start producing the STP Gas Treatment. Andy Granatelli was appointed CEO in 1963 and began to increase the brand's marketing efforts through auto and boat racing. Eventually, STP sponsored its own Indy car racing team, featuring Mario Andretti, the winner of the 1969 Indianapolis 500. STP also sponsored the Petty family in their efforts at stock car racing, which spawned The King, Richard Petty.
Polymer chemist, Joe Palcher, invented Armor-All protectant in 1962; he discovered a "miracle formula" that protected rubber, plastic, and vinyl from UV radiation and ozone. So much for the paper clip! He called it Tri-Don (that's No Dirt spelt backwards) but mothballed it 'till '66, when a local auto shop owner encouraged him to sell his product. It wasn't until enthusiast and savvy marketing guru Alan Rypinski bought Palcher's fledgling company in 1972 that the name Armor-All was coined, and Rypinski left no stone unturned in making his newly-branded product a household name.
Today the two brands have been bought by one company. Clorox competed its acquisition of First Brands Incorporated, owner of both STP and Armor-All. From humble beginnings, mighty companies can rise! STP and its sister products are now worldwide names; all from a backyard garage!
