The Intricacies of Detailing in Malta: A Conversation with Romina
In this podcast, we delve into the intricacies of the automotive detailing industry in Malta, as articulated by Romina, a distinguished installer and distributor of System X products. Our discussion illuminates the burgeoning awareness of car detailing among consumers in 2025, underpinned by an emphasis on the necessity of education regarding proper cleaning techniques and the significance of protective coatings. Romina elucidates the unique challenges faced by detailers in Malta, particularly due to the island's climatic conditions and the prevalence of mineral deposits on newly imported vehicles. Furthermore, we explore the collaborative initiatives undertaken through their detailing academy to ensure that practitioners are well-versed in the latest methodologies and products, enhancing the overall quality of service in the region. This episode serves as a critical examination of how a small island like Malta fosters a vibrant detailing community amidst competitive dynamics and environmental challenges.
In an intricate exploration of the automotive detailing industry, the podcast episode presents a dialogue with Romina from Malta, a notable figure in the detailing scene. The hosts emphasize the intriguing backdrop of Malta as a small yet vibrant hub for automotive care, where the high number of vehicles per household necessitates comprehensive detailing services. Romina discusses the prevalent issues faced by car owners due to the island's geographical and climatic conditions, encouraging clients to invest in protective measures such as ceramic coatings. The conversation further highlights the collaborative efforts of Romina and her team to elevate the professionalism of the detailing industry in Malta through educational initiatives aimed at both consumers and fellow detailers. This commitment to knowledge dissemination not only enhances service quality but also fosters a community of informed car owners and skilled technicians, thereby uplifting the entire sector.
Takeaways:
- The podcast highlighted the significance of education in the detailing industry, emphasizing that a strong foundation in understanding chemicals and processes is crucial for success.
- Romina shared insights on the unique challenges faced by detailers in Malta, particularly due to the island's climate and its impact on vehicle maintenance.
- The discussion included the importance of customer service in the detailing business, illustrating how strategic location and added conveniences can enhance client experiences.
- The speakers emphasized the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the detailing field, as advancements in technology and products occur frequently, necessitating ongoing education.
- Romina's experience with System X was discussed, showcasing how partnerships with reliable brands can facilitate growth and professional development in the detailing sector.
- The episode also touched upon the camaraderie built among detailers during training sessions, which fosters a supportive community and encourages sharing of best practices.
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Transcript
Good morning.
Speaker B:Hello.
Speaker A:How are you?
Speaker B:Good, thank you.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So what is it like?
Speaker A:It's like 3:30 there your time?
Speaker B:It's half four in the afternoon.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, it's half four in the afternoon.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So it's Mina, right?
Speaker B:Yes, it's Romina.
Speaker A:Romina.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I, I know on Instagram you are Facebook, you just have Mina or whatever.
Speaker A:So Romina, for everybody listening, we were introduced by Todd Rutledge from System X here in the US because you are a System X installer slash distributor, correct?
Speaker B:Yes, yes.
Speaker A:We are in, in Malta of all places.
Speaker B:Malta.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Which of Europe?
Speaker A:In the heart of Europe.
Speaker A:So as soon as he said Malta I was like, definitely want to have her on because like I, like I told you, I, I've been looking to get more international guests on, especially this year and, and Malta is kind of an interesting place.
Speaker A:It's a tiny little island.
Speaker A:Really.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And it's not big at all, right?
Speaker B:It's not big.
Speaker B:27 kilometers.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I think I looked up, it's like 220 square miles or something like that.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:So I, what I want to ask you is because I'm always curious with people, especially the guys in, in Hawaii, you know, that are small islands and things like that is how is the detailing scene on a.
Speaker A:I mean not even a small city, a small country like that.
Speaker B:You know, first and foremost we have ample cars.
Speaker B:So since it's an island, most of the we use mainly co.
Speaker B:We don't have very effective public transportation.
Speaker B:So every family has like four cars on average.
Speaker B:So there's loads of cars.
Speaker B:Secondly, it's an island.
Speaker B:We're surrounded by sea, by the Mediterranean Sea.
Speaker B:So that causes a lot of issues when it comes to paint.
Speaker B:So definitely we highly recommend having the ceramic coating done to the cars or even PPF and wrapping and the like.
Speaker B: y recommend to clients now in: Speaker B:And we continue doing our best to educate everyone on how to go about properly cleaning a car, what tools to use, even just for a consumer.
Speaker B:So because we also have a detailing academy here in Malta and we do several sessions with car importers to help them out because when new cars are transported we, we find a very frequent issue with the mineral deposits on cars.
Speaker B:So it's a brand new car and you find the whole bonnet covered in minerals.
Speaker B:And therefore we hold several sessions with the PDI teams of the car importers to help them out.
Speaker B:Understand what chemicals to use in order to address such.
Speaker B:So there's a huge awareness.
Speaker B:We try our best to keep teaching consumers and importers what chemicals to use, what are they for and the like.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:No, that's, that's very cool.
Speaker A:I mean, yeah, I mean, you're, you're, you're right.
Speaker A:I mean, I.
Speaker A:Here in Florida, I mean, I'm kind of located in the, in the middle of Florida, so not too close to either the Gulf or the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaker A:But I do know lot of detailers on both sides.
Speaker A:You know, they obviously you get like that salt breeze air, you know, the, you get the, you know, just the contaminants and stuff from, from the water and things like that.
Speaker A:So, so yeah, that's, that's pretty cool.
Speaker A:So how did you get involved with, with System X?
Speaker A:Like, how did that come about?
Speaker B:Okay, originally I, I studied for a marketing degree.
Speaker B:So I have an MBA in a business.
Speaker B:But my partner had once visited USA and he told me, whatever you dream of in usa, they make it happen.
Speaker B:And he said, I want to retire from the office and I want to do what I enjoy most.
Speaker B:And we do, and we both love cars.
Speaker B:And that was five years ago.
Speaker B:And we said, okay, let's see what we can do with, with cars, you know.
Speaker B:Then we started reading for the detailing course through the IDA and through the UK Detailing Academy as well with Rich March.
Speaker B:And slowly, slowly we started learning detailing and the like and we opened up a studio.
Speaker B:Obviously we said we wanted to partner with someone reliable for ceramic coating.
Speaker B:And System X literally gave us this opportunity, which I'm so very grateful towards them because we keep growing and growing, the both of us, and it's been a very nice, healthy relationship.
Speaker A:Oh, that's cool.
Speaker A:Yeah, the guys over there are pretty nice.
Speaker A:I mean, I know Todd, Todd's been super cool to me.
Speaker A:I mean, know I'm kind of with a competing brand.
Speaker A:I know, I know, but, but that's, that's kind of the cool thing with some of the people in the industry.
Speaker A:And I think Todd is definitely one of those guys that, you know, it doesn't matter.
Speaker A:I mean, there's, there's plenty of, you know, food for all of us to eat kind of thing.
Speaker A:And, and you know, Todd's been very helpful and, and even reached out to me and Mike, one of the owners of Aquatech.
Speaker A:When we were at SEMA a couple years ago, he even, you know, pulled us aside and said, hey, look, like if you guys ever have any questions, you know, or if you guys need Anything, feel free to let me know.
Speaker A:And then I've known Steve Persia from my IGL day, so Steve's, Steve's a good dude.
Speaker A:And then, you know, I've known Joey, not personally, but just through social media.
Speaker A:We've met a couple of times at, at SEMA event and everything.
Speaker A:And so, yeah, I mean, the, you know, seems like a good, good group of people, but that's something that I.
Speaker B:Noticed that it's very different, it's very different from Europe, that the Americans are very welcome to all brands and there's no kind of friction, kind of.
Speaker B:So it's been very, very easy to acquaint people and make up and make relations with others.
Speaker B:So it's been, it's quite different.
Speaker A:You know, I'm, I'm glad that you say that because sometimes I feel like it's not that way.
Speaker A:I feel like, you know, I feel like everybody's trashing everybody and whatever.
Speaker A:But it is kind of funny because, you know, one of the things, especially with trying to get more international people on the podcast is, is kind of learning the differences, right?
Speaker A:And I remember a couple years ago we did a joint podcast with the Speed six guys over in the uk and we kind of did, you know, the differences between the UK and the US on, on certain things.
Speaker A:And the joke that I always make with the UK guys is that, you know, they'll spend 15 hours just washing a car, you know, whereas, like, I feel like over here, we're like, okay, we're gonna be paint correcting it, it's gonna get, you know, whatever.
Speaker A:So let's just, let's just get to it.
Speaker A:Like, let's just throw some soap on it, get it washed and, and get going or whatever.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:But yeah, I've noticed that in the, in the uk, some of the people I know that, that it, it's a little Caddy, you know, there's, there's some trash talking or whatever.
Speaker A:So I feel, I feel like it's that way all over.
Speaker A:But I'm glad that you.
Speaker A:I'm glad that you think that the US Is pretty open.
Speaker A:I mean, I feel like, I feel like a lot of us are.
Speaker A:I mean, I, I am, I have, I have plenty of friends and with different, different brands and different companies and, you know, it's, you know, hey, as long as we're all doing well, that's, that's the, the main thing.
Speaker B:I feel like, yes, and I think everyone can find their own niche, their own specialization, so.
Speaker B:And as long as you're creative, how to Go about things.
Speaker B:There will be work for everyone.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Exactly, exactly.
Speaker A:So with it, with Malta being such a, such a small island, such a small country, is there a lot of competition for you?
Speaker A:And you know, how does, how is that?
Speaker B:Yes, there's a lot of competition.
Speaker B:However, that was one of the main objectives, why we opened the Multi Detailing Academy together with the UK Detailing Academy.
Speaker B:Because a lot of detailers just open up, they open up a studio and they start acting as a detailer.
Speaker B:And to be a detailer, you really need to know what chemicals you're using.
Speaker B:What's the difference what situation the car is?
Speaker B:And you need to read and understand what the paint is telling you, what the interior is telling you.
Speaker B:You can't just go and say, oh, yes, let's get vacuum, start brushing, clean it up, you know, put on a pair of gloves and just let go, just go with it.
Speaker B:So there are a lot of detailers and one of our main objective is to ensure that the tailors become certified.
Speaker B:So we are offering several training courses to ensure that the tailors are all certified.
Speaker B:Oh, I'm here, I'm here.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:So yes, there is competition, but still, let's put it this way, a few do close down, down the, down the line, you know, after two years because the tough gets going and, but tangled.
Speaker B:We've been here for five years and we're still growing more, so we must be doing something right.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:No, that's awesome.
Speaker A:And I like that you, that you, the way you talk about the training aspect, because that's one of the things that I've always kind of been a champion of is going out and getting training.
Speaker A:No matter if you're new or you've been doing this for a while.
Speaker A:Because, you know, I, I know some people that have done it, they've kind of learned on their own.
Speaker A:They've been doing it for a number of years.
Speaker A:They're pretty successful.
Speaker A:But at the same time, they've never gone to a formal training to understand things.
Speaker A:And that is one of the things that I didn't understand until I went to a formal, formal training.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker A:And then, and then you realize like, okay, this isn't just to, you know, make you kind of feel like you don't know anything.
Speaker A:This is.
Speaker A:Okay, you know, this, but here's how you can learn a little bit better or, or know a little bit more.
Speaker A:And we actually just did a training at Aaron Knox this past weekend up in Georgia.
Speaker A:And, and it was cool because we had, we had a, we had a couple installers that have been, or, you know, know trainees that have been ranging three to five years.
Speaker A:We had one guy that was like 20 something years and then another guy who is a neurosurgeon in his, like late 60s, early 70s, and he's learning it as a hobby.
Speaker A:So it was, it was neat to see, you know, everybody's kind of styles and, and what they, you know, however long they've been in, what they did know, didn't know.
Speaker A:So that's, that's, that's neat that you guys are doing this.
Speaker B:And something else that is really valuable when you attend the training session is that you don't get to practice on somebody's car.
Speaker B:It's a very safe environment.
Speaker B:You get a bonnet, you can smash it.
Speaker B:I mean, the pad can come off and you continue polishing.
Speaker B:It's okay.
Speaker B:Nothing's gonna happen.
Speaker B:No one's gonna sue you.
Speaker B:So it's a really environment and, and it's nice as well to see the tailors getting together and sharing experiences.
Speaker B:And, you know, multo so, so small, the island that's automatically you end up bumping into everyone.
Speaker B:So it's, it's nice to create a bit of that bond.
Speaker B:Even if something happens and you just reach out to one another.
Speaker B:Hey, how did you go about this?
Speaker B:What, how, what did you find?
Speaker B:What can you tell me about, you know, the situation?
Speaker B:So sharing experiences, I think during a training session, that makes it much easier.
Speaker B:And even the relationship going forward, you know, who can tell?
Speaker B:I mean, maybe detailers merge, you know, so it gives new possibilities.
Speaker B:Let's put it this way, so it's not just a professional development, but there are so many other benefits that's are naked to the eye that they're just benefits.
Speaker A:Right, right.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:And there's a lot of camaraderie that's, that's built at those events because you are meeting a lot of times, you're meeting people for the first time.
Speaker A:You know, there's that networking that goes along with it too.
Speaker A:Like, you know, hey, so how do you do that?
Speaker A:Or, you know, can you show me this?
Speaker A:Sometimes that's outside of the actual trainer, you know, is, is what I've noticed, the ones that I've gone to is sometimes when the training's over and we go back to the hotel at night or whatever, and then everybody's sitting around picking each other's brains and everything.
Speaker A:So it's also a good thing for that.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:In fact, in fact, when we hold sessions, we do half days because usually the Students absorb most of the things that you tell them.
Speaker B:And then in the afternoon, they start practicing, for example, and automatically they start thinking.
Speaker B:And then the next day we're like, okay, guys, what did we do yesterday?
Speaker B:You know, and they're like, I have a question, you know, what can you tell me more about this pad?
Speaker B:You know, so it's very interesting.
Speaker B:And technologies keep advancing, so you have to keep up to date with whatever compounds and pads you're using, the heat and the thermal and not thermal.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Everything keeps, Keeps improving, the lines keep getting better.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:So it's a great opportunity to just keep up to date with what's going on in the industry.
Speaker A:Right, right.
Speaker A:And with that, I mean, I know obviously, you know, we met at mte, which I'm guessing you were there to see, you know, all the new things and, and whatever.
Speaker A:How is that seen kind of in Europe?
Speaker A:I mean, I know that there's Wax Stock up in the uk, there's Autumn Auto Mechanica.
Speaker A:I mean, how do those things kind of compare to either like a mobile tech expo or sema?
Speaker B:Okay, there are quite a few others in Europe, yes.
Speaker B:That are on the same level, not as big as sema, but then automaticanica is.
Speaker B:I think the one that I've been in Germany is a bit bigger than the one than the one that I've been in America, the Mobile Tech Expo, to be quite honest.
Speaker B:So it depends exactly what you are after.
Speaker B:Then there are other conferences, specific expos, specific to wrapping, for example.
Speaker B:So it depends exactly what.
Speaker B:What one wants, whatever one is after which, whether that's particular niche within the detailing industry or not.
Speaker B:So you can find different expos and conferences and workshops that go on.
Speaker B:For example, Duro Auto Mechanica in Germany, there were several sessions, educational sessions that were ongoing as well, and one just could pop in.
Speaker B:They were a bit different from the Mobile Tech Expo because at the Mobile Tech Expo, we had a day dedicated to education.
Speaker B:And then the Expo at the Auto Mechanic in Germany, the fair just keeps going on and then there are specific sessions and you go to the boot and join that session.
Speaker B:So it's a bit different, but it works as well.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:But yeah, no, that's.
Speaker A:That's pretty.
Speaker A:That's pretty neat.
Speaker A:You know, mobile tech is the one that I've been to the most, just because it's.
Speaker A:It's here, so it's easy for me to go to.
Speaker A:Like, I can, I can.
Speaker A:It's like 30 minutes away.
Speaker A:So I just drive there, drive home kind of thing or whatever.
Speaker A:SEMA is the one that I've, I've started going to a little bit more now, but I feel like SEMA is just the, the big party, you know, go to Vegas party.
Speaker B:That's what I was told.
Speaker B:I haven't attended yet.
Speaker B:It's on my bucket list.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:I gotta tell Todd to get you out there for, for this year or something.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:So you guys have only been doing this for five years and, and you said you were doing professional stuff before then.
Speaker A:So how was, how was that, how was that change like going from working professional corporate style to instead professional being a car washer?
Speaker B:Yes, but you still, there are still skills that I use from whatever I learned from university, customer experience, process flows, you know, making sure that whatever process we're adapting it is the most efficient, you know, to make a business profitable.
Speaker B:How otherwise it's not going to work out.
Speaker B:You'll be ending up doing this out of, as a, as a hobby kind of thing.
Speaker B:So if you're doing this out of the, as a business, definitely lots of skills came into play.
Speaker B:So it was very, very helpful.
Speaker B:Let's put it this way because nowadays on the digital platforms, email marketing, customer databases, reaching out to customers, customer retention, it's very useful if you want to be successful, you know, so.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:I think I was very lucky that I kind of married the two because I have the academic background and the detailing which is kind of a passion.
Speaker B:It's something that we love doing.
Speaker B:Love, talking about love.
Speaker B:You know, it's, it's something that it feels good to be in, in the studio and working on cars.
Speaker B:So I, I must say I've been very, very, very, very lucky in this regard.
Speaker A:No, that's awesome.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Because it seems like, and I don't know in Europe right now, in the US it seems like a lot of people, a lot of detailers are, you know, I don't want to say compl concerned of it's kind of slow and I know it's like winter time, it's usually a slower season for us and things like that, but it seems like people aren't as busy now as they were year ago, two years ago, three years ago, myself included.
Speaker A:Thankfully I have very low overhead, so I don't need to do crazy money.
Speaker A:I saw Tick Tock yesterday of.
Speaker A:I forget the detailer, but he has like a five million dollar facility that he was going through like his monthly expenses, his monthly expenses were like almost 200k just, just to, just to open the doors and run, run the place kind of Thing.
Speaker A:So, you know, thankfully I don't have that, that thing.
Speaker A:But, but yeah, I mean I think that's, it's good that you have that experience with the academics and being able to bring it into the business side and the social media and the marketing and all that stuff.
Speaker A:Because I think that, you know, is something that a lot of people don't fully understand and could definitely help their, their business.
Speaker B:Yes, it's not easy.
Speaker B:I mean every business, you know, when you start off, everything is, is, is not easy.
Speaker B:You just have to work hard.
Speaker B:But if you're determined, you know, and if you love it, you just keep going at it.
Speaker B:You just keep trying.
Speaker B:And sometimes what I find is that when you have these troughs, you know, it's actually the right time to become more creative and come up with new ideas, how to go about things or come up like silly thing, for example, a second hand car package deal.
Speaker B:So if you're second hand selling your car, a second hand car, you know, you can have an actual detailing package to help you sell the car.
Speaker B:For example, anyone who wants to sell their, their car, we offer a package, a detailing package including polishing and we also do reels for them.
Speaker B:So we take the car, you know, by the sea, we go for a drive.
Speaker B:Obviously, obviously with the client's permission, it's me and another, another person from my team and they film while he's driving the car.
Speaker B:We put it together, you know, through a reel, a story and then we pass everything to the client so they get a nice car which is presentable to anyone who would like to purchase the car.
Speaker B:So automatically when you are negotiating for the price for the car, they get a better deal and we help them as well with the marketing.
Speaker B:So we give our own clients reels and stories and ideas and we tell them now you can go on Facebook, you know, put these up and it will help you sell.
Speaker B:So usually when it's a bit of a trough, you kind of get your creative thinking in and say, okay, let me think of something, I have to do something.
Speaker B:I can't stay quiet.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker A:And that's, and that's interesting because I, I always have some of my clients that'll, you know, when they're selling their cars or something, then they' you know, ask me, hey, do you know, somebody interested?
Speaker A:The unfortunate thing is like it's always a, you know, six figure plus car.
Speaker A:And I go, you're the guy that I would reach out for that you know, kind of thing.
Speaker A:Like I, you know, like I have limited, you Know, clients, I can afford those cars, you know.
Speaker A:Now if you're selling your, your daily driver, I said I could probably help you sell that a lot more than, than your, your exotic or whatever.
Speaker A:But that's, that's kind unique idea of, of offering to do videos and, and things like that that they could use as reels or promotional, you know, materials.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:Yeah, no, that's, that's interesting.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I have to tell them next time they need to sell one of the cars, let me have it for a day.
Speaker B:Yes, exactly.
Speaker B:Especially the exotic one.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Exactly.
Speaker A:I'd be so scared to drive it.
Speaker A:You know, the few times I've driven.
Speaker A:Driven some of my, my clients cars with exotics.
Speaker A:Not, not me per se, but I'm just, you know, everybody else, I'm worried about somebody else not paying attention because they're looking at the car and then.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So yeah, so I, I tried the.
Speaker B:First, it's the first thing we did.
Speaker B:We, we have a special insurance as well at the detailing studio and for us to drive cars if only asked by for clients, and we always get the client's permission in writing that we can drive and make sure that definitely we have insurance.
Speaker B:And also we don't just go for it, you know, we have to make sure that certain things are there in place.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's, that's what I had to do with a few of mine because they would want me to come and pick the cars up and then bring them to the shop to detail.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Because it's, it's easier for them that way, you know, than for them to schedule everything.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker A:So, yeah, so we had, we had to bump our insurance up for me to be able to do that.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:But I still try to like, you know, keep it to a small radius so I'm not driving very far or, um, you know, I could, I can take um, like not back roads, but not highway roads or, or interstate roads, you know, that, that there's higher speeds, more traffic.
Speaker A:I can do more kind of streets, city streets or whatever.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Yeah, I try.
Speaker B:One thing that impressed me most when I was in America.
Speaker A:Oh yeah.
Speaker B:Because from a tiny island, you know.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Connecticut, and, and to Orlando, I was like, oh, wow, okay.
Speaker B:The, the, you know, Range Rovers, this actually looks small on the road.
Speaker B:Whilst the Malta were like, hey, watch out.
Speaker B:Bumper to bumper.
Speaker A:Right, Right, exactly.
Speaker B:It was, it was a very funny feeling.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:That's the one thing I, you know, whenever I see either videos of Europe or, or watch movies or things like that or, or Even the, The, the time that my wife and I went to Italy for our honeymoon is the streets are way smaller over there.
Speaker B:So narrow.
Speaker B:Yeah, so narrow as well, so.
Speaker B:Yes, definitely.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And over here, our.
Speaker A:Our lanes are like nine feet wide, you know, which obviously because our semis are so big, you know, so sometimes it doesn't feel like they're that wide when you're sitting in the car.
Speaker A:The perspective view.
Speaker A:But you definitely have plenty of room.
Speaker B:Oh, for.
Speaker B:For me, even seeing a wild truck on the road, I was like, oh, my gosh, it really looks small.
Speaker B:And it has, you know, all the arches and everything.
Speaker B:And I'm like, it really looks small.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Was that, was, Was that your first time coming to the States?
Speaker B:Yes, it was indeed.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:Yes, it was.
Speaker B:It was.
Speaker A:So what was the inspiration for coming to the States?
Speaker A:Were you coming just for vacation or were you coming purposely for mobile tech or.
Speaker B:I wanted to meet up with System X in person because we've been working together for five years and I.
Speaker B:It's always like Google Meets and WhatsApp video calls.
Speaker B:So we wanted to actually meet the team in person.
Speaker B:So first we went to Connecticut, and then after Connecticut, we came to the Mobile Tech Expo.
Speaker B:We said we hit two birds with one stone, and we took the opportunity to come to the Mobile Tech Expo because we were told it is very, very specific to detailers.
Speaker B:It used to be very much for pdr, and now it's slowly, slowly shifting into.
Speaker B:More into detailing.
Speaker A:So, yeah, it's funny, it was actually started for detailing.
Speaker B:Started for pdr.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Well, well start it.
Speaker A:So the guy who started it was.
Speaker A:Was a detailer, or him and his son were detailers, but it just kind of drew a bigger PDR crowd.
Speaker A:So the first one that I went to was probably almost 10 years ago now, maybe nine years ago now.
Speaker A:And it definitely was way more PDR centric.
Speaker A:I mean, like, I think the, the only detailing companies that I remembered was like, Rag Company, Gion, Rupes, Auto Geek, and then there was a couple, like, really tiny ones, and it was, it was in a super.
Speaker A:I mean, like, you couldn't even walk.
Speaker A:Like, you had to like.
Speaker A:Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me.
Speaker A:It was in such a small space.
Speaker A:It was almost like in a banquet room than.
Speaker A:Than a convention center kind of atmosphere.
Speaker A:But it's been cool to kind of watch it grow over the years to where it's.
Speaker A:It was, you know, predominantly a pdr.
Speaker A:And then the detailing started growing and growing and growing.
Speaker A:And now the.
Speaker A:I have a pretty good relationship with Sheldon who works for the company that puts it on.
Speaker A:And I think last year he told me the detail portion finally took over percentage wise and.
Speaker A:And was a bigger section than the pdr.
Speaker A:So I haven't really had a chance to talk to him about how this year was, how much bigger it was.
Speaker A:But the thing I noticed this year was there was a lot more film coming in now, which is cool too, because for the last, you know, other years there, there weren't a lot of, if any, really, film companies.
Speaker A:I think last year might have been the first year that some film companies showed up and it was like I think maybe two.
Speaker A:And this year, you know, I think there was like five or six, seven.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:You know.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So it's, it's just interesting to kind of, you know, watch it, watch it grow over the years and, and see how it gets bigger and bigger every year.
Speaker A:So I'm excited for next year.
Speaker A:I mean, we just did the paint correction competition this year, which was awesome.
Speaker A:So we're looking forward to growing that next year and on.
Speaker B:So, yes, I was following because even so.
Speaker A:So what were your thoughts on it?
Speaker A:What did you, what did you think of it?
Speaker B:Of the paint competition?
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, I loved it.
Speaker B:I loved it.
Speaker B:And also the preciseness and the readings, you know, and the timing, so it creates a bit of that.
Speaker B:Let me go and check, you know, how.
Speaker B:How well I can fare.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I think it's really cool.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:Awesome.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I've been trying to get everybody.
Speaker A:Everybody that I.
Speaker A:I can that was there or saw it.
Speaker A:I wanted to get their, Their reaction to it because it is one of those things that, you know, I, I don't.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:I know.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:So I did talk to Sasha.
Speaker A:He said they do one over in Germany for like the last eight years.
Speaker A:I know that somebody said they do one down in South America.
Speaker A:Hey, do you mind getting out of the way so I can see?
Speaker A:Can you move?
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:She's.
Speaker A:She's.
Speaker A:She loves coming in here when I'm in here, so she must have just came out of her hiding spot somewhere.
Speaker A:But no, it's just interesting because there's been a few of them done elsewhere.
Speaker A:But, you know, everybody we talked to said that there was never really one here in the States or nothing that came of it.
Speaker A:So we were trying.
Speaker B:So this was the first time.
Speaker A:So this was the first.
Speaker A:Well, the first time at Mobile.
Speaker A:Mobile Tech Expo.
Speaker A:I will say that.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:Apparently years ago, I think they tried to do one at sema.
Speaker A:I don't Know, you know, it was like many, many years ago before I was into detailing.
Speaker A:I was still.
Speaker A:I was still running power washes at that time, apparently.
Speaker A:So I don't know, like, how many other ones there been, but I do know that mobile tech expo, this was the very first one.
Speaker A:And so we were trying to figure it out to where, you know, there would be no complaints.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:Well, this guy, this.
Speaker A:That person, this, my thing that, you know.
Speaker A:So now that we kind of got a nice little foundation, now we can kind of work to maybe tweak it, make it a little bit better, do a little bit more with it.
Speaker B:So I think it's quite fair.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:So you got to see the first one.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:That's awesome.
Speaker A:Are you guys.
Speaker A:Are you guys planning to come back next year or.
Speaker B:I think.
Speaker B:I think we're.
Speaker B:Wait.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:That'll be cool to see you guys there.
Speaker A:So what other kind of things do you guys do?
Speaker A:I mean, with the.
Speaker A:With the shop and the training and, you know, is there anything, like, different or unique that you do that, you know, maybe some other people aren't.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Not.
Speaker B:Not nothing that I can actually think of.
Speaker B:I think the.
Speaker B:What people tell me is the customer experience, definitely.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Because we are also strategically located next to the airport, so before people go abroad, they can drop the car and when they come back, they find us ready.
Speaker A:Oh, that's nice.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So we offer courtesy service as well.
Speaker B:We give a courtesy card, so if people leave their car over for ceramic coating, they get a cortex car for two days.
Speaker B:So if they are going abroad, we also provide transport services from our detailing studio to the airport.
Speaker B:So I think what sets us apart are these small details.
Speaker B:And the customer service.
Speaker B:Definitely the customer service.
Speaker A:You kind of have like that full concierge type service of pick cars, all that stuff.
Speaker A:That's interesting.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:That's cool.
Speaker A:So any boats?
Speaker A:I mean, you're out in the middle.
Speaker A:Few boats.
Speaker B:There are ample boats.
Speaker B:Ample boats.
Speaker B:There are here in Malta, we've got, I think about three or four marinas.
Speaker B:And the beaches, the scene, the beaches and summer, they're covered with boats.
Speaker B:But when it comes to ceramic coating of boats, a lot of boat owners, they tell us, we prefer to polish the boat ourselves.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:And as you know, the ceramic coating is the last thing that is put on the boat.
Speaker B:So if the prep work isn't properly done, you will not get the full benefits of the ceramic.
Speaker B:So it is not something that we saw is profitable enough to go into considering the Hard work, that is, when you're polishing a boat, it's not.
Speaker B:It's not a joke.
Speaker B:Secondly, it's extremely hot outside, so the works usually start now in March, because by May, everyone has their boat down already at sea.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:So it's.
Speaker B:It's quite hot, and it's very tedious.
Speaker B:It's a tough job, let's put it this way.
Speaker B:The owners maybe are not that appreciative of the amount of work that goes behind it, so they might even find it a bit expensive.
Speaker B:So to strike a bit of a balance there, it gets a bit tricky.
Speaker B:So there's loads of boats, definitely.
Speaker B:But let's say the ceramic coating hasn't picked that much yet in that area.
Speaker A:So with.
Speaker A:With the.
Speaker A:Being in the Mediterranean, I mean, I.
Speaker A:I'm guessing that your weather is probably gorgeous all year round for the most part.
Speaker A:How does the heat and humidity kind of play with coatings?
Speaker A:Because obviously here, you know, we're very tropical climate in Florida.
Speaker A:So high heat, high humidity, sometimes in the thick of summertime, it can be kind of a pain in the ass.
Speaker B:Yes, it is very much the same.
Speaker B:It's very much the same.
Speaker B:So as, you know, with the heat, the paint expands and.
Speaker B:And shrinks and expansion.
Speaker B:So we definitely tell our clients that proper maintenance has to be done to the car.
Speaker B:But strictly speaking, it's like everything.
Speaker B:You know, even when you have a house, it doesn't just, you know, clean itself, clean by itself.
Speaker B:You know, you have to take care of anything that you.
Speaker B:That you purchase.
Speaker B:So if it's an asset, you need to.
Speaker B:So you need to take care of it.
Speaker B:So it's very much the same like Florida.
Speaker B:So it's very humid, especially in September.
Speaker B:It's crazy humid.
Speaker B:You can barely breathe, and it's extremely hot.
Speaker B:But definitely the car would thank you when doing ceramic coating, because with this increase in high temperatures and high uv, it's an extra layer of protection, let's face it.
Speaker B:So it definitely helps.
Speaker B:It helps the vehicle, it helps the paint.
Speaker B:And with the new range that we are using for ceramic coating, it has a 30% increase in resin, and we found that it's helping a real lot to decrease the water spotting.
Speaker A:Okay, so that was.
Speaker A:That was going to be the next thing I was going to ask you is how bad are the water spots there?
Speaker A:Again, just being in the middle of.
Speaker B:Terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible.
Speaker B:And sometimes it rains.
Speaker B:It rains like soil, you know, from this Sahara desert.
Speaker B:So it's terrible.
Speaker B:And that's where we insist with clients to ensure first and foremost, we ask them to always use a ph neutral shampoo.
Speaker B:Even though it's acidic rain or the like we say, guys, just always play it safe and go.
Speaker B:If you are washing it, go for a ph neutral shampoo.
Speaker B:And if need be, just wash it twice, you know, so.
Speaker B:But with the new line of ceramic coating, we're finding that it's better and better.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:And have you found a water spot remover that works?
Speaker A:Because I feel like, I don't know, here in Florida.
Speaker A:I mean, we get some pretty bad, you know, water spotting from well water or, you know, just the contaminations and waters and things like that.
Speaker A:But sometimes I feel like water spot removers just, they're too watered down, you know, and they don't work as well.
Speaker B:We do have a way how to address it.
Speaker B:Extra dilution of acid.
Speaker B:And we see what works best.
Speaker B:Depending on the situation of the car.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So depending on the car, we, we, we address accordingly.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:But it's definitely, it's a high risk job.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:So you just go straight acid water down.
Speaker B:It depends.
Speaker B:It depends as well on the car.
Speaker B:Recently we had one with a lot of salt marks.
Speaker B:So we use a specific solution for, to address salts.
Speaker B:But then we had another specific car, it was matte, not polished.
Speaker B:In that case, yes, we had to go for acid.
Speaker B:But obviously you have to know what you're doing when it comes to the dilution.
Speaker B:You can't just.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:Matt's, Matt's the one that.
Speaker A:I mean, I, I love ceramic coating matte cars because I feel like I make a lot of money for doing nothing, you know, because all you have to do is kind of wash it.
Speaker B:Two weeks ago, I did an xm, a BMW xm.
Speaker B:The ceramic coating on the mat, the color was midnight blue.
Speaker B:Oh, beautiful.
Speaker B:Beautiful.
Speaker B:But in my case, if you don't ensure that you are watching the, how the ceramic coating is curing.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:You can get a high spot on a matte car.
Speaker B:So it's like, ah.
Speaker B:So you have to be alert.
Speaker B:You have to, you know, not, you can't be tired on the job.
Speaker B:You have to keep your eyes on, on the body all the time.
Speaker B:Like, what am I doing?
Speaker B:You know, and make sure that you're, you're watching what you're doing.
Speaker B:So you can't just, it's not like just spreading ceramic coating.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, I didn't mean like that.
Speaker A:I, I meant more along the lines of I don't need to spend like 6 to 12 hours paint correcting it.
Speaker A:Yes, it's true, it's throw wash it, wash it and then start coating it.
Speaker A:But yes, you do have to pay attention to it and especially with Matt, because Matt is, excuse me, such an absorbent material or such an absorbent paint that you have to even make sure you're putting on the correct amount because a lot of times what you would normally put on a clear coated paint is not going to do the same size panel on a, on a matte paint or satin finish or whatever.
Speaker A:So I feel like you have to, you know, make sure that you're putting a little bit more on, making sure you're fully covering it, things of that nature.
Speaker B:But thank, thankfully the product is, is very easy to use and it's a single application as well, so it helps.
Speaker A:I don't, I don't know how any, any coding companies anymore are doing two layers.
Speaker A:I feel like the technology has moved, moved on to single layer application.
Speaker A:There is still, there is, and there's still plenty of detailers using them.
Speaker A:But I don't know, I look at it as, hey, time is money and I'd rather, exactly, I'd rather lay down a single layer and be done versus having to come back and do it again or wait a certain amount of hours before doing it again or whatever.
Speaker A:So yeah, that's why, that's, you know, I went from a two layer to a single layer and then I was like, you know, why was I, why wasn't I doing this all along?
Speaker B:Totally feel you.
Speaker B:Totally feel you.
Speaker A:Easy.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:We get that reaction very often from when we're teaching and we tell them like this is a single post and they're like, okay.
Speaker B:And I don't have to go, you know, from left to right or up and down or, or, you know, there isn't a specific method.
Speaker B:I would say like you still go left, right.
Speaker B:But you know, you, you segment it into chunks and that's it.
Speaker B:And they're like, oh, wow, this is perfect.
Speaker B:So yes, like, I understand totally the relief.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, it's, it's such an easy thing when you guys do classes.
Speaker A:Are they, do you keep them small so that you get a little bit more one on one or do they get kind of big?
Speaker B:Well, it depends because we have a ratio of one instructor is to four or five.
Speaker B:It depends whether it's an A beginner's class or an intermediary class.
Speaker B:It depends on the knowledge as well of the detailers and as well on the number of machines.
Speaker B:So if you have 10, 10 people at one go, you know, you have to have the machines available and the space and the area.
Speaker B:So it depends.
Speaker B:It all depends.
Speaker B:But we make sure that we have one instructor.
Speaker B:One is to four.
Speaker B:The ratio is one is to four.
Speaker A:Okay?
Speaker B:So we're all the time watching what's.
Speaker B:What's happening.
Speaker B:Usually the instructor is in the middle and the panel is round, so the students around, and we make sure that we're watching and following.
Speaker B:We also found really useful all Rich March also does this during the sessions.
Speaker B:We film them, and then at the end of the day, we send them WhatsApp with the videos, and automatically they.
Speaker B:The student can see how better positioned they are when they are holding the buffer, whether there's a particular brand of buffet that they feel more comfortable using.
Speaker B:So automatically, instead of us telling them, no, not like this, you know, lift it up, right?
Speaker B:Press more in the edges, rather than saying.
Speaker B:And we send it over and we let them sleep on it.
Speaker B:And usually they would come back and they would tell us, over here, look what I've done.
Speaker A:You know, like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:So it works.
Speaker B:It works.
Speaker A:That's interesting that you guys do that, because I know the.
Speaker A:The training we just did with Noxy.
Speaker A:What he.
Speaker A:What he does is he tells people, like, when you go home, film yourself so that you can kind of critique how your positioning is.
Speaker A:You know, do you have the right movement?
Speaker A:Because, again, like, you learn it.
Speaker A:It's so much.
Speaker A:It's so much information in a training, and you.
Speaker A:And you learn it in a training, and you get the.
Speaker A:You know, the sway down.
Speaker A:You know, you get the body position.
Speaker A:You know, you got your elbow tucked in like you're supposed to, and it's not way out here or whatever.
Speaker A:But then you go home and you get.
Speaker A:You know, you fall back into those.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:But that's.
Speaker A:That's interesting.
Speaker A:I like the.
Speaker A:That you guys film.
Speaker A:Actually film the trainings to.
Speaker A:So that they can kind of see it when they do go home.
Speaker A:Like, okay, I was doing it like this, so I need to make sure.
Speaker A:Because that's.
Speaker A:That's always my thing too.
Speaker A:Like, I'll try something.
Speaker A:It works for me.
Speaker A:And then, you know, four panels later, I'm back to my old technique.
Speaker A:You know, halfway around the car and I gotta stop myself and be like, hang on a second.
Speaker A:Let's go back to how we started this, you know, kind of thing.
Speaker A:Do you have.
Speaker A:Do you have people come to you from, like, different areas in Europe, too?
Speaker A:Or.
Speaker A:Or do you guys.
Speaker B:We're planning the.
Speaker A:That.
Speaker B:We're planning that.
Speaker B:We're Planning that for September.
Speaker B:We're planning a training session for September.
Speaker B:Polishing and polishing and ceramic coating and we're trying to package it all as the Malta experience as well.
Speaker B:So we're getting some maybe scooters and go around the capital city and the next day we'll have the training.
Speaker B:Then in the evening we'll have a really nice lunch.
Speaker B:Maltese style Maltese food, like rabbit and things like that.
Speaker B:You know, typical Maltese food.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:And at the end we're trying to see whether we can do a boat party or something of the sort.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker B:Oh, wow, that's.
Speaker B:Yeah, we're trying.
Speaker B:We're trying.
Speaker B:I'm working on it at the moment.
Speaker B:No, so I'm planning that out.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Because it's summer.
Speaker B:It will be summer in September, so it will be hot.
Speaker B:And whilst they're here, I might as well, you know, spend three days and enjoy it at the same time as well.
Speaker B:So we're gonna do a bit of a mix.
Speaker A:Yeah, no, I think that's cool because, you know, sometimes like you want to see some of the sites.
Speaker A:Yeah, you know, I, I went to a couple years ago, Jason Otterness invited me to come up to Chicago Auto Pros to do some podcasting.
Speaker A:He was doing a content creator event and, and it was nice because we did our event stuff during the day.
Speaker A:But then one of the nights we, a bunch of us actually went into downtown Chicago, the city and did some of the, did some of the sites in Chicago and, and you know, had Chicago style pizza, you know, deep dish pizza and you know, that typ stuff.
Speaker A:So things like that are, are kind of cool.
Speaker A:Some of the other trainings I've gone to, the thing that I like is usually they'll kind of do like a, a meet and greet on Friday.
Speaker A:So everybody kind of, you know, flies in on Friday.
Speaker A:You meet up in the afternoon, hang out, go to dinner, get to know each other.
Speaker A:So that's.
Speaker A:That sounds.
Speaker A:The Malta experience sounds a lot more fun than just going to a restaurant and getting to know everybody.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's kind of cool that.
Speaker B:In fact we're planning it between Thursday and the Friday.
Speaker B:So anyone who wants to then stay over the weekend, they can with the family maybe.
Speaker B:So we'll have a meet and greet on Wednesday and then Thursday and Friday the training.
Speaker B:But as I said, in the evenings it will be open for excursions and well, we're trying to make a bit of the most of it, you know, and also automatically, even when you meet at, at these informal places, you just feel A bit more comfortable, more at ease.
Speaker B:So automatically people start networking more and sharing experiences more.
Speaker B:And I think everyone learns as well.
Speaker B:Although it's not a training session, but, you know, you get to learn just the same.
Speaker B:So still an opportunity.
Speaker A:No, no, that's, that's cool.
Speaker A:So, yeah, if anybody's in Europe and wants to go to Malta.
Speaker A:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:Any.
Speaker A:Any other plans for you guys traveling?
Speaker A:You know, like you said, you haven't been to sema.
Speaker A:Are you planning to come this.
Speaker B:This year in June?
Speaker B:We're going to do.
Speaker B:There's Auto Mechanica, I'm not mistaken.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:But so far my plans stop there because then I have the big event in September.
Speaker B:So so far that's, that's how far my calendar goes.
Speaker A:Yeah, you're kind of like me.
Speaker A:You're kind of like me.
Speaker A:I'm.
Speaker A:I'm like, I don't even know what I'm doing tomorrow, like, let alone six months from now or.
Speaker B:I have up to September.
Speaker B:I have up to September planned.
Speaker B:That's good enough.
Speaker A:Yeah, you're a little bit further ahead.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:But, yeah, I, I always, you know, I always tell people, like, look, I don't know, just plan it.
Speaker A:We'll figure it out, you know, when it gets there kind of thing.
Speaker B:Exactly.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Well, listen, I appreciate you coming on and doing this.
Speaker A:It was, it was a pleasure meeting you.
Speaker A:I know we didn't have a lot of time to, to talk at, at mte, but, you know, I was looking for somebody to come on this week and, and didn't have anything scheduled, so I was like, be perfect time because I, I've got some mornings available to, to be able to talk to you and not have to, you know, you be up super late or, or maybe up super early.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Thank you so much, Alex.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's, it's.
Speaker A:It was exciting to learn, you know, about, about you and, and what, you know, you guys are doing over there in Malta.
Speaker A:And I'll have to keep an eye out a little bit more and see how it goes.
Speaker A:And maybe what we could do is, is get back maybe after September and find out how your.
Speaker A:For sure, your experience went with everything.
Speaker A:For sure.
Speaker B:I can call you as well.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, I'll call you in the afternoon.
Speaker B:I'll tell you, like, hi, Alex.
Speaker A:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:We could do that.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And then, and then hopefully I'll get to see you and Mobile Tech next year.
Speaker B:Definitely.
Speaker B:Definitely.
Speaker B:I look forward to that.
Speaker B:Fantastic.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Listen, you enjoy the rest of your day.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker B:The same.
Speaker A:And it was great talking to you.
Speaker A:If anybody would want to meet or reach out to you to talk to you, like, how do they get in touch with you?
Speaker B:They just send us an email on Info systemx MT for molta and.
Speaker B:Or else.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:I don't know if you can put my.
Speaker B:Handle my Instagram.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, if you want.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:If you want to tell me your Instagram handle or your Facebook, that's up to you.
Speaker B:Just put it there.
Speaker A:Yep.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Perfect.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker A:All right, Fantastic.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker A:We'll talk soon.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Hey, don't go anywhere yet.
