Poorboys World

Poorboys World is a manufacturer of detailing products that range from polish to shampoos and cleaners. The products are being sold worldwide. Poorboys World focusses on the quality of their products, nothing else. Not even their labels.

Poorboys World is different

Poorboys World has a very different approach then many other manufacturers, and they are proud of it. Although it almost seems like they don’t have a particular style, that alone is their style. Their own homepage explains it clearly:

Don’t expect fancy packaging…it isn’t needed.
Do expect ease of use, fast results and an amazing shine.
Isn’t that what we all want anyway?
Poorboy’s World Detailing Products sell because people simply love them!

Don’t expect elaborate marketing campaigns, expensive TV-commercials or fancy boxes with lots of funky design touches. Just expect properly functioning products that happen to smell great, work good and are easy to work with. They are different in their approach, which has worked for them. People love their products and love the brand.

Poorboys World has a history

Poorboy’s World Inc. was founded in 2002, but Steve started his career in 1990, and is family owned and operated. The founder (Steve) has been detailing for over 35 years, 20+ of them professionally. He has detailed National Show winners as well as everyday vehicles. Poorboy’s World Inc. is headquartered in NY, with distributors around the world and growing. All the products are proudly made in the USA. Steve works with his chemist to develop, produce and distribute products efficiently & quickly. Their product list is very extensive and covers virtually every area of detailing. With Poorboy’s World products you will be able to fully detail the interior, exterior and engine bay with ease. The products create a show car shine every time, but are easy enough for anyone to use. Poorboy’s World has a very simplistic view towards the creation of their products. They must be highly effective, easy to use and affordable. Elaborate packaging and other “fluff” is not their style. These products get right down to business with impressive results at a great value. All of their products can be used in the sun or shade and apply and remove with ease. The overall value of these products is exceptional, which has led to their world wide following.

The Poorboys World website has a great article about their origin:

In 1990, Steve (aka Poorboy) was a traveling salesman of sorts with 15 years experience in detailing, taking his distributorship of detailing products on the road, touring with the street rod and classic car circuit. Each weekend he and his girlfriend Judy (now his wife!) would set out in his ’67 Caddy Convertible with a trunk full of his favorite products to offer to the competitors of the show. They would launch their road trip on a wish and a prayer, hoping to make enough money to cover the trip. Steve steadily built a reputation for his vast knowledge of products, which ones performed best under which situations, and which ones would deliver the results that a particular customer was after. He had fifteen years of professional detailing under his belt and prided himself on being helpful and honest to his customers. As the years went by he became an authority to the guys on the circuits because they knew that Steve would never steer them wrong. Though not very lucrative, Steve continued working the circuit out of his love of the lifestyle and the great people that he developed a relationship with over the years.

The street rod and classic car shows take place mostly in the summer months in a wide open area or field. Throughout the duration of the show the car must be maintained absolutely spotless–ready to be judged at any time. Amazingly, the street rods, classics and antique cars that compete on the circuit range from a $20,000 to $200,000 out- of-pocket investment. Some of the high-end street rods also boast the most advanced paints and most expensive paint jobs anywhere, costing $30,000 to $100,000! Ironically, street rodders and classic car owners are not a wealthy group, but they proudly invest every penny they have into their car. Steve decided to create the perfect product for the guys on the circuit based on their wishes, needs and requests. The bottom line for Steve’s products: Economy, ease of use, and application for direct sunlight. And, of course, show- worthy results!

Finding the right chemist proved to be a challenge. Money was always an issue. Again and again he was offered a ready-made product to slap his own label on. No one seemed to be interested in formulating something new. And, no one seemed to care about environmental safety. Finally, as luck would have it, he crossed paths with a gifted, progressive-thinking chemist who was willing to take the job of designing the products that would meet the standards and guidelines that Steve put forth.

August of 2002, Poorboy’s World™ Inc. was born. Steve debuted it at the Wheels of Time street rod show in Macungie, PA. The product was a sell-out! Because he was well-known and respected on the circuit, the street rodders rushed to buy his product. It was a sell-out and good old Steve was, to say the least, overwhelmed. Word traveled quickly and Poorboy’s World™ Inc. products were an instant hit on the street rod and classic car circuit.

Meanwhile, Steve was agonizing over where to go next with the unexpected initial success. Was this going to be his big break? How would he market it? He enlisted the help of a marketing company who made all kinds of promises about where they could go if he turned the reigns over to them. Their first suggestion: Get rid of the “Poorboy’s” name. It excludes women, therefore not good for sales, they said. Steve pondered on the idea, but eventually stuck to his guns. As he put it, customers would approach him at shows, take a look at the product, smile and say “I’m a poor boy, too.” He then ditched the marketing company.

Winter 2002 was approaching and surely sales would dwindle in the off-season. Good luck struck again as Ford Truck World got a hold of Poorboy’s World™ Inc. products. Competitions were held in the South. A competitor named Bad to the Bone ( a 20 time National Show Winner), gambled on little-known Poorboy’s World™ Inc. products, and came from the underdog position to win–in over 100 degree temperatures! Poorboy’s World™ Inc. products seemed to thrive in the heat and sun.
Suddenly the Poorboy’s World™ Inc. name experienced some great publicity. Soon, on-line car care enthusiasts picked up on it. Steve sent out loads of free samples to the most objective, experienced detailers he could find. The positive feedback was unbelievable!

From there, as they say, it’s history. Steve continues to add to his line with new, unique products made on request of his customers. They say, “I need a product that is like (brand name) but not so sterile, with a finish like (brand name) but easier to apply and longer lasting,” and Steve and his chemist work at it until they get it right. How’s that for customer service!
As for Steve’s take on the early success of Poorboy’s World™ Inc.? He’s cautiously elated and says he never anticipated the welcoming that Poorboy’s World™ Inc. has received. But he’s very positive about Poorboy’s World™ Inc. potential for continued growth. Steve is quick to give credit where credit is due. His great ideas mostly come from needs and requests of street rodders & classic car owners on the circuit and the car care enthusiasts on-line. Steve just helps them solve their problems economically!

Their products

Although Poorboys World has several mainstream products, they do offer a few fairly unique characteristics. The majority of the products are designed to be used in the sun and shade. Most mainstream products are not designed to perform in the hot burning sun. The majority of the Poorboys products don’t suffer from this shortcoming. Which comes in handy in those areas where the sun can get extremely hot.
Poorboys World started out with a fairly small collection of products, but like many other, have grown to become a supplier of almost everything required to do a full detail. The range varies from shampoo, claybar, shampoo, mitts, MF cloths, polish, dressing, APC, machine polishers, air fresheners, accessoires and many more.

Poorboys and the WWW

Poorboys World has a main company website, has its own forum, a Facebook page and a dedicated Facebook page for the UK community. Their products are being sold all around the world, with the majority being sold in America, UK and Europe.