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
Phil Allen 2
