Happy Birthday Nikwax

It's hard to believe, but Nikwax celebrates its 30th birthday in June 2008 and to mark the occasion, you can expect to see a range of celebratory activities, promotions and events over the summer.

The company's first products went on sale on 28, June, 1977 when founder Nick Brown - right - then aged just 22, decided that none of the boot proofing products on sale were up to scratch.

His first product - a non-softening wax for leather boots - was created at home in a North London flat:

"I mixed my first order in a discarded tea urn, a primus stove, a jug and materials I bought from a local hardware store. I then poured the wax into tins which I had silk screened by hand and sold them to the outdoor trade, driving door-to- door in an old second hand Morris 1000 van."

"I later bought Inter Rail cards to introduce my products into Europe and before I knew it, I was selling the product into eight countries."

Clothes care products arrived in 1983 with Nick replacing potentially harmful and flammable solvents with water to produce the Nikwax Water-Based Range, the first water-based products for restoring the proofing on waterproof outdoor clothing.

And since then Nikwax hasn't looked back with products designed to proof and clean anything from shell jackets through to climbing ropes. Plus this year it released its new Travel Solutions range including DEET-free treatments for fabrics and skincare products.

Celebrate And Save The Rainforests

To mark the anniversary, one of the things Nikwax is doing is offering a share of 30 acres of rain forest to randomly selected entrants taking their online quiz each month. Five entrants will receive a certificate confirming that they helped to save, protect and preserve the environment and wildlife habitat for future generations with Nikwax.

The idea is designed to increase awareness of environmental issues which have always been close to the company's heart.

More information at www.nikwax.co.uk