Boating: How I got into the bottom paint biz Pt 1
A recent e-mail asked me how I got into the Bottom Paint business? This brought back a lot of memories, good and bad. In 1978 I was prospecting for clients for my Mfg Rep firm at the Tampa Boat show. As I combed the aisles I came upon a sad looking booth that was so 'busy' that it was hard to focus. There were signs everywhere packed so close together that my eyes couldn't make anything out.
In one back corner sat Dodie Jones knitting away and in the other back corner sat her husband Jack Jones eating Sardines out of a can with Saltine crackers. He started to get up when he noticed me and I told him to finish his lunch, which he did. He must be the owner I thought and he must be some kind of mad scientist.
Jack was well into his 70's then but he was clear thinking and very intelligent. Once I got him to speak English, I understood that he had a good product. The brief meeting produced a gallon of red bottom paint for testing which I put on a test boat. Six months later we hauled the boat and the boat yard owner ordered 12 gallons on the spot.
That was when I learned of the production issues. Jack only made paint January through May. Oh well, it was a good idea but I didn't give up. I knew a winner when I saw one. I flew up to Philly to try to work out the issue. I couldn't understand why Jack would exhibit at a southern boat show when he couldn't meet the demand.
Jack relented and opened the factory up. I and his crew made several pallets of paint and shipped them to Fort Myers. It took me a month to sell the 60 gallons but I wasn't in a hurry. My biggest success was 'John Holmes Boat Yard' in Nokomis. Ted Andrews of Compass Rose Marin and Holmes were on board and forcing me to make another pilgrimage to Flourtown and Conchie to make more paint.
At the end of the following May, Jack had enough and he pulled the plug on 'Shipbottom Bottom Paint's' Southern adventure.......
This blog will be a continuing piece.... This is part 1. I will add a little more then start part 2 in another piece.
In one back corner sat Dodie Jones knitting away and in the other back corner sat her husband Jack Jones eating Sardines out of a can with Saltine crackers. He started to get up when he noticed me and I told him to finish his lunch, which he did. He must be the owner I thought and he must be some kind of mad scientist.
Jack was well into his 70's then but he was clear thinking and very intelligent. Once I got him to speak English, I understood that he had a good product. The brief meeting produced a gallon of red bottom paint for testing which I put on a test boat. Six months later we hauled the boat and the boat yard owner ordered 12 gallons on the spot.
That was when I learned of the production issues. Jack only made paint January through May. Oh well, it was a good idea but I didn't give up. I knew a winner when I saw one. I flew up to Philly to try to work out the issue. I couldn't understand why Jack would exhibit at a southern boat show when he couldn't meet the demand.
Jack relented and opened the factory up. I and his crew made several pallets of paint and shipped them to Fort Myers. It took me a month to sell the 60 gallons but I wasn't in a hurry. My biggest success was 'John Holmes Boat Yard' in Nokomis. Ted Andrews of Compass Rose Marin and Holmes were on board and forcing me to make another pilgrimage to Flourtown and Conchie to make more paint.
At the end of the following May, Jack had enough and he pulled the plug on 'Shipbottom Bottom Paint's' Southern adventure.......
This blog will be a continuing piece.... This is part 1. I will add a little more then start part 2 in another piece.
Comments