Author Archives: wanda

Hi Everyone,

We’re headed into the final home run stretch of a fantastic year, and we’re extremely grateful for all of you— including our 65+ new Distributors who’ve played an important role in helping Wanda Automotive Finishes expand into new markets across the US and Canada. Thank you, we couldn’t have done it without you!

Here a few highlights from my 2012 travels: (Click on my Photo Gallery to see the pix from these fun Wanda events):

At the turn of the New Year and throughout spring, I was busy traversing the US attending the educational  “Evening with Wanda” events hosted by our new and long-time Warehouse Distributors and Jobber Distributors—AB Warehouse in Montreal, Ontario, Canada, Paul’s Paint Center – Weston, WI, Auto Color Industrial Supply – St. Cloud, MN, 66 Auto Color – Joplin, MO, Wholesale Auto Paints – Springfield, MO, LKQ/Keystone Automotive in Largo, Ft. Meyers and Medley, FL, and Industrial Finishes & Systems in Ogden, Salt Lake City and Orem, UT. Each high-energy event was a great opportunity to meet new shop owners and painters, and share with them the many benefits and features of using my Wanda and Wanda Waterbase refinish systems.

In April I headed to Ft. Worth, TX, for the fun two-day “Home Run Celebration” trade show hosted by WM Automotive Warehouse. I signed lots of autographs for event goers, and even got an autograph from the former Dallas Cowboy defensive lineman, Chad Hennings.

The momentum kept building in May as I attended a casino-themed trade show hosted by Warehouse Distributor, PBE Jobbers Warehouse, in Sharonville, OH. Next, I came back to Warren, MI, for the 35^th annual Bearing Burners Auto Club Car Show. Show attendees just couldn’t get enough of the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering LTA concept car painted in Wanda’s custom Orange Mocha finish, and the Camaro proto-type painted in Wanda’s custom Black Matte finish, both on display. I then headed south to Florida, to take part in the North Florida Autobody Association Golf Outing. I gave away lots of Wanda product literature and cool Wanda gear and coolers. The month wrapped up with an “Evening with Wanda” event at Two Guys Autobody Supplies in Florence, AL.

In June I was excited to visit Canada to help celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Camaro Country F-Body Group, by participating in the club’s biggest event of the year, “Show N’ Shine,” in, Ontario. I brought the Lingenfelter concept cars with me to make the bash complete!

Following July 4^th celebrations, I travelled back up to Canada to make an appearance at the Atlantic National Car Show co-sponsored by Wanda Distributor, Hub City in Moncton, NB. The three-day event was well-attended and I was excited to talk about the Wanda Waterbase system to all the car lovers. At the same time, members of our team headed west to Prescott, AZ to represent Wanda brand products at the fun KC Auto Car Show hosted by our distributor, KC Auto. Then, it was my great pleasure to participate in a special Customer Appreciation event sponsored by our LKQ-Keystone Automotive distributors in Loves Park, IL. Customers were treated to an evening of refreshments, prizes and more great information about Wanda and other LKQ supplier partners.

The eventful month wrapped up with the exciting three-day Akzo Nobel Wanda Blue Suede Cruise event held at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH. Set to a vintage 1950’s theme, car enthusiasts gathered to view the beautifully painted Hot Rods, Customs, Classics, Muscle Cars, and Trick Trucks. As the title sponsor of the event two years in a row, the Wanda brand was front and center to many of the fun events that weekend, including the concept and show cars on display that were painted in custom Wanda colors and finishes.  I had the privilege of serving as Grand Marshall over the spectacular “Neon Parade of Lights,” while show-goers enjoyed watching the exciting Wanda Challenge Run down Summit Motorsports Park’s famed quarter-mile drag strip. The Wanda Diner served up my delicious, hand-crafted Wanda burgers, and attendees learned about proper vehicle repair and care through an interactive and educational car clinic sponsored by Wanda and Presta Products. Kids loved the special Wanda Coloring Land area, and the whole family enjoyed the fireworks display and live 50’s music and entertainment. Hope you all can join me for the fun next year!

Whew, what a busy summer schedule! In August, I participated in the 18^th annual Woodward Dream Cruise event in Detroit, MI. An estimated 1.35 million classic car owners and enthusiasts flocked to the event. Roughly 40,000 gleaming classic cars participated in the daylong cruise up and down Woodward’s main street, while everyone else just had fun cheering them on or hanging out with friends and enjoying the beautiful weather. What a blast!

In September I returned to Ohio to attend the inaugural Lingenfelter Performance Nationals, held at Summit Motorsports Park. The unique three-day event was an opportunity to level the playing field between professional and amateur drivers via a myriad of drag and autocross races, and included an “Outlaw ProMod Quick 8 Shootout,” and Show N’ Shine car show. I was especially proud that Wanda helped sponsor the inaugural event, and I even got to serve as the official starter for the OPTIMA® Ultimate Street Car Invitational qualifying event—too cool!

My event schedule came to a close as I headed west to attend the automotive industry’s biggest event of the year—but not before hosting one of our final Evening with Wanda events of the year with Big Pete Tools in Phoenix, AZ. Then, of course, there was SEMA 2012 in Las Vegas, NV, October 30 – November 2. What a show it was! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting thousands of show-goers and signing autographs. More than 60,000 industry professionals attended the show and for the third straight year, Wanda Refinish received rave reviews for its continued promise to deliver simplicity, color, and value to the collision repair industry!

My Wanda Waterbase system was on display, along with two gorgeous retro concept cars upgraded with modern-day improvements.  The vehicles showcased both Wanda Waterbase and solvent basecoat finishes and styling effects. The Lingenfelter Performance Engineering’s retro-style C6 LZ06 Karl’s Kustoms-Corvette painted in Wanda’s Retro Red with Black accents and the 1947 Street Rodder Chevy Pickup painted two-tone, with the main cab painted in Wanda’s Vanilla under Low-Gloss Performance Clear, and fenders in Apple Red.

Be sure to get regular updates on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Wanda Waterbase and the full range of Wanda products and color tools, visit our website.

Until next time,

Wanda

Hi Everyone,

It’s hard to believe that 2011 has flown by so fast and nearly at its close; what a wonderful, whirlwind year it was! Here are some of the highlights:

As you know, we introduced our new Wanda Waterbase basecoat system into the Canadian collision repair market in January, with a formal unveiling at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Ontario in February. The waterborne system was met with great enthusiasm and to date we have several Canadian distributors working with us to install Wanda Waterbase into small-to-medium-sized body shops throughout the region.

The Canadian launch definitely provided a great spring board for much more excitement to come. The Wanda team hit the road again in March to expand brand awareness about our VOC-compliant products at AASP/NJ’s Northeast Automotive Services Show in Secaucus, NJ. Next, we headed to St. Charles, IL to participate in the Bodyshop Business Conference and Expo in May, followed by another trek to Toronto in June to attend the CCFBG 9th Annual F-body spring event. In July, the Wanda brand was proud to host the 10th Annual Summit Motorpark’s “Blue Suede Cruise” car show in Norwalk, OH, where I got to preside as Grand Marshall over the “Neon Parade of Lights” and other weekend show events. Then in August, the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Michigan invited me to participate in their annual charity golf tournament event. Finally, the Wanda team headed to Las Vegas, NV in November to attend the exciting SEMA Show. I hosted a press conference at SEMA announcing the successful launch of our Wanda Waterbase products into the US collision repair market.

We displayed a stunning Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Supercharged Camaro painted in Wanda Black with Fire Red Stripes under Stealth Clear. It was named one of Motor Trend magazine’s “Top 6 Chevy’s” at the SEMA Show for its “stand-out paint job” and called one of the show’s best executions of matte paint schemes. Whew, that’s a lot of shows!

But that’s not all—Wanda distributors across the US scheduled a record 22 “Evening with Wanda” events, where I emceed the fun-filled, educational evenings that put a spotlight on the many features and benefits of using Wanda brand products. The Wanda team met hundreds of body shop owners and painters at these events and helped them learn how Wanda’s simplicity, color and value proposition offers exceptional ease-of-use, color match accuracy and a “right-the-first-time” finish—all at affordable pricing. Check out some of the great photos we captured at the events.www.wandarefinish.photogallery.

Whether it was welcoming 52 new distributors to the Wand team, expanding distribution into new regions across the US, or meeting lots of new Wanda fans and collision repair professionals during our yearlong shows and events, one thing is for sure—we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for your ongoing, enthusiastic support of Wanda brand products and for making this our best year ever!

The Wanda team and I would like to wish you a wonderful Christmas season with family and friends, and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

And while you’re busy celebrating the holidays, we’ll be busy cooking up lots more great new events and activities for 2012, so be sure to get updates on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Wanda Waterbase and all of the Wanda brand products, visit www.wandarefinish.com.

Until next time!

Wanda