Automechanika Shanghai

Automechanika Shanghai starts from 9 – 11 December 2009 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, China. The show is bringing together a record breaking number of 2,400 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions. As a result, the exhibition space has expanded to the largest ever: Nine halls with more than 100,000 square-meters. Visitor numbers are also expected to exceed 35,000, coming from more than 100 countries and regions.

We participated at the show under the Singapore Pavilion to exhibit our brand – CS-II. Below are the pictures that we took at the Shanghai Automechanika.

More distributors eyeing used car business

The used car market in Singapore has rebounded from an all-time low three years ago

By SAMUEL EE (The Business Times, Wednesday, October 28, 2009)

More authorized car distributors are going into used car business, and they are going it mainly to tap growing demands for used cars and supplement the drop in new car sales.

Distributors have long been looking at used cars and trade-ins, but 2009 could be the first time that many will decide to take the plunge and formally establish such operations.

One example is Kah Motor. Earlier this year, the authorized Honda distributor set up its own in-house used cars section and began buying from customers trading in their vehicles.

Previously, it farmed out this service to independent dealers. “We used to allow dealers to buy them because there was no market for used cars, which were usually scrapped or exported,” says Kah Motor’s product manager Vincent Ng.

Now, however, the company has formally established a pre-owned business as an important tool to retain customers.

“To maintain customer loyalty, we only buy back Hondas imported by Kah Motor and we make sure the used car price we offer is the best in the industry,” says Mr Ng.

The used car market has rebounded from an all-time low three years ago. According to the Land Transport Authority, only 20,809 cars were transferred in 2006.

The umber has since risen – last year, 29,459 cars changed hands. And with 24,703 cars transferred in the first nine months of this year, it looks like 2009 will surpass 2008.

Mr Ng says the shrinking COE quota has contributed to the revival of the used car trade. “If a distributor is selling fewer new cars it has to find new revenue sources,” he says. “And because the smaller quota causes COE premiums to rise, there is increased demand for used Hondas.”

A new Honda Civic 1.8 currently costs $85,800. But a used 2006 model can be bought for between $55.000 and $60,000.

“A used Civic, Jazz or Odyssey is still in demand and good alternative to a cheaper Korean car,” says Mr Ng.

Another marque that recently set up a pre-owned division is Audi. On average, about 60-65 per cent of new car sales involve a trade-in, and the Audi Used Car Division accepts everything from Continental to Japanese brands.

“it is a two-prong approach to increased the resale value of Audi used cars for customers who trade in their used Audi for a new one, as well their used for a new one, as well as to offer competitive trade-in value, especially for first-time buyer of premium cars,” says Audi Singapore spokeswoman. These shopping for a Mercedes-Benz can also seek and in-house quote for trade-in. Republic Auto is the pre-owned face of exclusive Merc dealer Carriage (C&C).

Although Republic auto is said to be able to put a price on any trade-in vehicle and this aids new car sales.

One company still looking at the possibility of setting up a used car business is Tan Chong Motor Sales. The authorized Nissan distributor now depends on panel of 10 used car dealers.

One of them, Car Times, also has a “back-end tie up” to get used Nissans evaluated by Tan Chong’s workshop for warranty purpose. The company is based at Tan Chong’s Ubi premises but remains “an external party”.

“Through this tie-up, Tan Chong is studying the used car business,” says Ron Lim, general manager of Tan Chong Motor Sales.

This is because it is “not a simple business – we need to understand the nature of the business model”.

“we will see how it goes and may be in the future we may take in the vehicles ourselves. That is one possibility,” Mr Lim sys.

MONTHLY CONTEST FOR OCTOBER 2009

Please print out your answer and bring it to our headquarters at Blk 3016A #01-09 Ubi Road 1 Singapore 408707 or branch at Blk 3031A #01-113, Ubi Road 3 Singapore 408659. Terms & Conditions Apply.
Winners will be decided by drawing lots. Please note that prizes are on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Terms and conditions:
- Only one carplate number per person.
- The same carplate number cannot be used twice.
- Contest ends on the 25th of October.
- The names of winners will also be published on our blog.

(Answer can be found at our website www.paintprotection.sg.


Click here to print out our answer form.

Our CS-II Team

Recently, we gathered all our employees together to take a staff photo. Therefore, we are proud to present a picture of our entire CS-II team!

SCDF HQ RoadShow - 10th Sep '09

Unique CS-II was honored to be invited to the SCDF roadshow held at the Singapore Civil Defence Force HQ on 10th September. The show was exclusively for members of the force only. The show was only for 3 hours but it was successful for Unique as we gained a number of customers in that short amount of time. We will try to participate in more of these type of roadshows in the future.

NEW CS-II Maintenance Package

Starting today (7 September 2009), we will be offering our special maintenance package at a promotion period as the economy has been bad recently and we are offering our maintenance at an affordable rate. We have received useful feedback from customers and would like to introduce the two types of Maintenance. Please also note that the maintenance is optional. Here are some information about the two new types of maintenance : ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (1) Basic Maintenance which includes : -Exterior Wash -Door Edges Cleaning -Interior Vacuum -Tire Dressing -Rim Cleaning -Glass Cleaning -Stage II Layer Reapplication at the promtion cost of : -Saloon/Small SUV - $40 (Usual Price -$50) -SUV/MPV/Large MPV - $60 (Usual Price -$70) (2) Comprehensive Maintenance which includes : -Exterior Wash -Dewaxing -Door Edges Cleaning -Interior Vacuum -Tire Dressing -Glass Cleaning -Removal of scratches, stubborn stains and watermarks (up to 90% removed) -Stage I Layer Reapplication -Stage II Layer Reapplication at the prmotion cost of : -Small - $80 (Usual Price -$112) -Medium - $90 (Usual Price -$130) -Large - $100 (Usual Price -$150) -SUV - $110 (Usual Price -$165) -MPV - $120 (Usual Price -$180) -Large MPV - $130 (Usual Price -$200) Please note that these are the latest promotional prices and are subject to change. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is the difference between the CS-II Basic and Comprehensive Maintenance Package? A: The key difference between both packages is the amount of preparation work done on the surface of the car and the layers applied. The Comprehensive package further entails the removal of scratches, stubborn stains and scratch marks accumulated on the surface of the vehicle before applying a layer of sealant to bond with the pores of the paintwork (Stage 1). This is then completed with a ‘hard shell protective skin’ layer (Stage 2) to create a high lustre finish. Q: Is the $50 maintenance still available? A: No. It has been replaced by the Basic Maintenance Package which comprises of similar steps and processes compared to the old maintenance package. Q: Which package should I choose if I want to do Maintenance? A: This is best advised by our on-site technicians and advisors who would do an assessment on the condition of your vehicle to make the appropriate recommendation. As a rule of thumb, you would likely need a Comprehensive Maintenance Package if you did not have the time to give your car a wipe from time to time, and especially if you work or reside near an industrial area, resulting in a rough surface with stubborn stains from tree sap or animal discharge. Q: My car is new (less than 1-1.5 years) and I have done the CS-II Application before, would the Basic Maintenance Package suffice? A: It is better for our on-site technicians for advisors to make the recommendation. However, if you had given your car a wipe from time to time and removed stains within 24 hours, a Basic Maintenance package alone may suffice. Q: I noticed that the Comprehensive Maintenance Package indicates a promotional price, how long does it last for? A: It is for a period of not more than 6 months subject to changes at the discretion of CS-II. At CS-II, we are sensitive to market conditions and understand that valued customers like yourself need a balance between financial prudence and keeping your good car looking at its best. Therefore, we are absorbing part of the costs and offering these promotional prices for a limited period. Customers may use this period to experience for themselves the difference the new Comprehensive Maintenance Package brings about. Q: If I go for the Basic Maintenance and/or Comprehensive Maintenance Package regularly, do i still need to maintain the car myself? A: The application of CS-II and its subsequent maintenance will help to keep your car looking good longer in weather conditions like Singapore. It is still highly advisable for you to use clean water to give your car a wipe from time to time. More importantly, tree sap and animal discharge stains should be removed as soon as possible. This is to ensure that the integrity of the application would not be affected beyond the sacrificial layer. For any further enquiries, do not hesitate to contact us at 64631311 or visit our centre at Blk 3016 #01-09 Ubi Road 1 Singapore 408707.

Before CS-II & After CS-II on your paintwork

Selling tactics difficult times (Promote yourself)

Scanning though viral e-mail and the advertisements and articles in newspapers over the past month, I have noticed that some hotels and restaurants are polishing up their act and coming up with their rather ingenious promotional ideas.

As hotels are reeling from falling tourist arrivals and felling the impact of this wide spread recession, this development is encouraging, as it makes more sense to introduce refreshing promotional activities to draw in patrons rather than to forgo revenue by leaving hotels rooms unoccupied and food and beverage outlets barely filled. Cutting prices is easy enough, but the problem is that almost every other business is doing the same thing, and you could cut yourself right out of business! The challenge in getting customers to go to you, and not your competitors, is in how cleverly you conceptualize your promotion deals to satisfy consumers’ desire for added value, and the ways in which you get those special offers to become the take of the town.

What’s also important is that whatever you offer, it should be genuine and pot purely a sakes poly. And once you’ve tempted potential patrons and buyer in, do not disappoint them in any way.

If you succeed in delighting your customers, many more will surely follow, because not only will they come back for more, they will also spread the news to their friends, colleagues and family members! The days, the power of viral advertising can be highly impactful, be it in bring your business positive or negative results.

Written by Sheila Lim, Extract from The Straits Times (June 06, 2009)

10 things to note to start a business right

1. Don't constantly change your business model

As new business owners, you can't afford to spend time reinventing every process in your business.

You resources are probably limited and your focus should be on revenue generation. Stick to the standard business processes and improve on them along the way. Avoid experimenting with process if they are already working for you.

2. Being on the job rather than taking care to business

Many entrepreneurs get too bogged down with the operation, rather than in the management of the whole business. It is only natural that you would want to work in areas of your business that you understand.

Yet as an entrepreneur, your job is not to specialize in any one aspect of your business but to mange your company, while it is important to get involved operationally, your ultimate goal is to grow your business.

3. Don't leave the running of your business to others.

It is common for business owners to delegate key areas of their businesses to experienced partners or employee. However, key decisions must still be made by owner.

The responsibility of running the business is still yours. You are accountable for the success or failures of your business. You can pass on work, but not leave it to others to make important decisions of you.

4. If you think small, you remain small

If you model your company to sustain only your income, you will never grow big and expand your business. Many entrepreneurs start a business with the sole purpose of creating that dream job for themselves.

True entrepreneurs always have big visions that go beyond their limit. They imagine how they can make the world a better place with their product or service – and work towards it every day.

5. A cheaper price doesn't mean more customers

Competing on price will not garner more sales. Offering a lower price does not mean that customers will switch from your competitors to you; it's product of service quality that people look for.

By offering lower prices will have smaller profit margins, translating into a smaller profit budget for product research and development.

Fighting over low prices will never benefit to you in the long run. Solely banking on price adjustments as competitive edge can be your faster route to bankruptcy.

6. You get what you pay for

Cost-cutting on ever aspect of your business, especially for staff, can be detrimental to your business.

Hiring employee on the cheap may appear to save your cost now. But you will be paying more in the long rum by losing the opportunities you could have obtained with the right people supporting you.

Talent and capable staff would not want to be paid less than their market value. Don't compromise on the quality of your staff.

7. Cost-cutting damper efficiency

The key is not about cost saving, but to balance out a cost-benefit ration on everything you do.

Instead of paying people to help you, you choose to do it all by yourself. You avoid using new technology that is deemed to expensive and prefer to keep that old machine, not counting that it actually cost more than buying a new one due to high maintenance cost.

Being efficient is a must for every start-up company where resources are limited, but you should not focus on cost-cutting as a business growth strategy. Instead, you should focus on bringing in more revenue that will cover your cost.

8. Don't focus on just one aspect of your business

Every business needs three legs for it to run: marketing and sales; administration and finance; and operation.

Entrepreneurs who are born salesmen will believe that sales is the most important aspect of their business. Entrepreneurs with experience in operation may believe that a solid business process is the key success factor for companies.

Every business requires marketing and sales, finance and administration and operations. All of these areas are equally important and it is up to you, the entrepreneur, to balance them, regardless of your field of expertise.

9. Have a proper yardstick in place.

Without proper reviewing processes, a business will not have a clear view of its current strength and weaknesses.

Many business owners rely solely on their instinct to make business decisions. The true entrepreneur takes advantage of data available to help him set appropriate goals, measure the company's performance and implement necessary measures to bring the business to the next level.

10. Work toward a long-term relationship with customers.

Relationship management is essential to the survival of any business. Entrepreneurs of ten make the mistake of chasing after new customers, seeing potential only in new, untapped markets.

Previous customers can often bring in repeat or referral sales which are just as important. Building a good customer relationship management system in your business can help generate additional sales form exiting customers. Having a good business relations framework is also important as it upholds the image of your company for long-term success.

Extract from Business Times (May 11, 2009)

We are looking for international distributor.

Unique (Since 1995) Pte Ltd, having established its strong presence and support from customers in Singapore through our core product CSII – PPS (Paint Protection System), is now one of the leaders in the paint preservation industry in Singapore.

CSII – PPS is Singapore-branded even though the product is manufactured in USA. Having ascertained the reliability and popularity of our CSII – PPS through our 50,000 sales records, we are now seeking overseas exclusive distributors for our CSII – PPS. We are confident that this wonderful product will meet with favourable response from the consumers in other countries as well. Please do contact Mr Chang How @ +65 96820001 for a detailed discussion on the advantages and procedures of becoming our exclusive overseas distributor. How does CS-II PTFE Paint Sealants work?
CS-II PTFE Paint Sealant PPS (Paint Protection System) is a multi-step application that produces 5,000 crystalline resin particles over one square inch which locks into the paint surface of a vehicle and seals it. When the car paint coating is done, no waxing would be required for 24 months, neither would it be affected by external causes such as acid rain. Best results however are achieved by following up with the CS-II silicon-free car wash solution, which removes foreign particles effectively while maintaining the shine created by the paint sealant. Think of it as a permanent raincoat for your beloved ride!
The environment is chockfull with chemicals that are detrimental to paintwork. Sealing the holes in the paint using our car paint sealant protects the paintwork and even makes it stronger giving some degree of protection against stone chips and minor scratches. The tough car paint coating also blocks harmful UV radiation which may bleach the color of your car.
The advantage?
- Protects your vehicle’s paint finish and simultaneously adds a brilliant shine which is guaranteed to last for 24 months. Maintenance is low and fuss-free- All you’d require are sponge and water!
- Unlike waxing which only gives a temporary shine and protection, CS-II PPS seals in the brilliance of the paint color, protecting it from the harmful sun rays and other elements.
- This car paint sealant has the added advantage of removing oxidation in your vehicle’s paint, restoring your vehicle to better state.

Guest Rest Area

Car Washing

CS-II Applying

Why CS-II Sealants should only applied by our experienced professionals.
1. The CS-II Paint Sealant is designed to be chemically bonded to paintwork. For this reason they need to be applied directly to bare paintwork. If applied over top of wax they will not bond and will only break down disintegrate as the wax evaporates.
2. CS-II Sealant does polish your car, they do restore fade of dull paintwork, and they certainly do remove fallout, acid, or compounds.

Our CS-II Professional

Main advatages of using CS-II.

(1) Strengthening increase in paint gloss and protection against oxidation, Ultra-violet rays, acidic rain and even insects.

(2) Permanent increase in the ease and effectiveness of cleaning and preservation of your vehicle’s ultimate appearance.

(3) Elimination of the need to wax by sealing in permanently protective shine.

(4) Reduction of paint chipping from road debris.

(5) Strong durability, hardness and paint finish enhancement qualities.

(6) Owners are spared from the frequent cleaning, eliminating the need to wax your vehicle.

(7) The long-lasting value it adds to your vehicle’s appearance while protecting the environment by eliminating the need to use harmful detergents and generate waste water.

Why CS-II Paint Preservation System?

The naturally damp and high humidity environment in Asia is not an ideal environment for any car paintwork. Most vehicle manufacturers deliver their vehicles to the dealers in a storage protection wax to ensure that the vehicle’s paint work remains in showroom condition from the day it leaves the factory.
However, once you take delivery of the car it is only the penetration of rust into the bodywork and actual separation of the paint from the bodywork that are guaranteed. The condition of the paint work and the protection against the environment are down to you as the owner.
Also, when the vehicles are being shipped over from other countries, they are highly exposed to the highly concentrated salt vapor from the sea for a long period of time before they reach the mainland. Thus, the salt content has already been attacking the exterior of your car’s paint for a long exposed period of time. So our PPS (Paint Protection System) will act as a strengthening agent on your car’s exterior to prevent it from suffering further damage.
Unlike other products on the market there is no age or mileage limit on the CS-II 2 years guarantee. In addition, the guarantee is transferable on the sale of the vehicle. The product does not contain silicone, so it can be used in a body shop with no adverse effects.

AutoMobile Megamart Branch

61 Ubi Ave2 #06-08, AutoMobile Megamart, (Level 6 Carpark),

Singapore 408898

CS-II Head Office

Blk 3016A #01-09Ubi Road 1, Singapore 408707