From car maintenance to 100% nautical maintenance
CosmetiCar is a network specialized in maintenance, cleaning and eco-responsible preparation of motor vehicles. Created 17 years ago, the network now has more than 100 agencies in France, some of which are located in coastal areas, in direct link with ports. Five years ago, some customers asked for the pooling of skills for the cleaning of their boats before and after the season. Indeed, the efficiency of the products used is transposed to the nautical industry.
Florian Benoit, CosmetiCar's director, is aware of the potential of this nautical market.
"Very few companies specialized in boat cleaning and cosmetic maintenance. Some mechanics or general maintenance companies provided this service, but there was no network at the time that specialized in boat maintenance and cleaning."
He then decided to split the business in two and create CosmetiBoat in 2019. A first agency dedicated 100% to the nautical industry was created in Antibes with a dedicated process, specific products and operational training and technicians.
"Our products are effective for cleaning gelcoat, stainless steel, teak... Finally, there are many more materials on a car than on a boat. So we had no compulsion to switch from cars to boats."
After the launch of this pilot agency, the network is expanding in the form of a franchise. In 2021, 4 agencies will open in Noumea (New Caledonia), Saint-Florent (Corsica), on the Vermeil coast near Perpignan and in Royan on the Atlantic coast.
"We have the ambition to open another 5 branches, to reach a total of 10 branches at the end of the year, with a rhythm of opening 10 branches per year to reach a potential of 40 to 50 branches in total." says Florian Benoit.
Cleaning without water
Many cleaning services are done with water, while the brand uses biodegradable products, exclusively created for it by a French laboratory. There is no discharge of products or dirty water into the sea.
Already made aware by CosmetiCar on water saving and polluting discharges, CosmetiBoat saves up to 3,000 L (3 m3 of water saved) of water per boat, without discharging waste water. The company has thus made waterless cleaning its specialty.
"Anything that can be cleaned without water is. On some services, we have no choice. Like cleaning salt on large teak decks. But for everything that is gelcoat, fabrics, we don't use water and use specific products." explains Florian Benoit.
Non-polluting and non-toxic products
The products developed by CosmetiBoat have a marine aggregation, are non-polluting and toxic for all living organisms. Thus, in case of discharge in the environment, the impact is less.
"We have above all an approach of quality, performance and requirement in the quality of our services. But always in harmony with respect for the environment."
Although the detergent, scouring and cleaning products are the same as for the automotive sector, some formulas have had to be adapted to the nautical sector. Out of a range of about 15 products, half of them are compatible with the nautical environment, especially those for leather, carpet or wood.
These specific products are manufactured specifically for the company by a French laboratory and distributed within the franchise network. It is one of the strengths of the network to master all the processes.
For specific materials - such as teak, stainless steel or RIB floats for example - CosmetiBoat works in collaboration with Nautic Clean, whose products quality is well known.
Services in the air of time
CosmetiBoat also offers disinfection services, anti-odour and anti-mould treatments, bactericides, fungicides, antiviruses and antibacterials. This contact or surface treatment is carried out with Ozone machines which allow to disinfect or destroy viruses in the environment.
"These are services we've been offering for a long time, but they have more impact in the Covid-19 era. Because a clean and shiny boat doesn't mean disinfected."
