PROJECT F - CAR COSMETICS

With passion to be unique...

Hello! My name is Jakub Furda, and I am the founder of the Slovak car care brand PROJECT-F. Below, I will describe how it all began, what led me to create the brand, why I decided to produce in Slovakia, and last but not least, the problems we have been addressing and continue to address. During the development of our products, I encountered numerous challenges that could not fit on just a few A4 pages; it could be a feature-length documentary with multiple parts. Therefore, I will provide a brief overview of the history and the present.

JAKUB FURDA - CEO - PROJECT-F s.r.o.

JURAJ FORRÓ - TYRCHEM spol. s.r.o.

Installation of car hi-fi under the JFAUDIO brand

Year 2012 – Installations

Many regular customers know me from the time when I was mainly engaged in sound editing, sound improvements in vehicles. I installed car radios and speakers in Košice. Over time, special adjustments in the soundproofing of vehicles, or their thermal insulation, also came into play. At this time, I also founded an e-shop with tuning parts www.jfauto.sk and a blog about installations www.jfaudio.sk.

Year 2015 – Opening of a store in Košice

I have always been close not only to car hi-fi, but also to tuning and atypical modifications, so opening a store in Košice was a logical step. Customers could buy damping materials, car hi-fi, special car-moto assortment, car foils or sports chassis directly at the store. I also had home HI-FI, AV receivers, speakers on display at the store, because this assortment is another hobby of mine. Lovers of car cosmetics also got their money's worth. They could purchase premium brands that were not available in brick-and-mortar stores. Shortly after the opening of the store, we already installed the car hi-fi together with an employee. The offer in the e-shop was expanded and customers could choose from more than 10,000 products. We regularly attended various auto-tuning events, such as Tuning Show Bardejov.

Tuning shop JFAUDIO Košice

Tuning events together with the JFAUDIO stand

Tuning shop JFAUDIO Košice

Year 2017 – Moving the store to a new address

At the beginning of 2017, we moved to a new address in Košice due to the need for larger premises. At the store, you could listen to the car hifi stand, choose the speakers you are interested in. The store had changed opening hours and I again did the installations myself.

Year 2018 – First ideas for the brand

After important years of selling car cosmetics and thanks to regular customers at the store and e-shop, I received many reviews and suggestions for the products they bought. In Slovakia at that time there was a large influx of different brands of auto chemicals. These were mainly Polish and German brands. As they say, every brand has something good and something bad, and that was true in reality. Big and premium brands with a lot of products in their range also had products that were not functional. Many of them were largely unscented or with a high retail price. I also had a problem with sales, because premium brands started to be sold in non-specialized stores, without advice at lower prices.

Not only these factors, but also other stimuli led me to the idea of creating my own brand with its own business network and selective distribution. At this time, negotiations began with several factories specializing in the production of chemicals. My priority was and still is that everything that can be produced in Slovakia. Because I firmly believe that we are a smart nation that can produce world-class top products.

Prototype of packaging

Prototype of closures

Wax packaging design - box

Design of wax packaging - jar

Label prototype

Prototypes of the first products

Label prototype

Samples of accessories

Year 2018-2019 – Beginning of cooperation with the manufacturer TYRCHEM, spol. Ltd.

The first two years of cooperation were the most difficult. At the beginning, we wanted to produce three basic products together, such as car shampoo, universal cleaner and wheel cleaner. Most of the samples I received from the manufacturer were unusable. I don't want to say that they were bad, but they were not according to my requirements. Here we come to the fact that in the production of our products, not only tables and fixed rules or basics of what and how it should work are important. Thanks to my knowledge in sales, the application of autochemistry and thanks to the unprecedented approach of the manufacturer Tyrchem and the chemist Juraj, we created several prototypes, which were subsequently tested. Promising prototypes were tested and their functionality was discussed with selected detailing studies within Slovakia. I can say that in the course of product development, several prototypes were often created, the number of which exceeded over 20 samples. It was important, and of course we still care, to create top products that are intended not only for fanatics and professionals, but also for ordinary people who want to take care of their vehicle with quality and, above all, with pleasure. From the three products that were supposed to be released at the beginning of the launch of our brand, seven products became available during the year.

The first prototypes of car cosmetics

Various logo and logotype designs

Year 2019 – launch and exhibition at AMTS Hungary

The first introduction of the products to the eyes of customers was at the European tuning exhibition AMTS Hungary.

Here we have introduced our core portfolio for customers, along with accessories such as microfibre cloths, applicators and buckets. All products were available at the store and on the official project-f.sk e-shop since the exhibition. At that time, our ambassador was Ján STRAKA - MAGPIE AUTOMOTIVE with his modified Lexus.

Exhibition of car cosmetics at AMTS 2019

Stand with car cosmetics PROJECT-F

Exhibition of car cosmetics at AMTS 2019

Detailer Vaľko a SYN

Detailer Fero Monka

Year 2020 – COVID and expansion abroad, wholesale cooperation

Difficult times for all traders. This year, we approached wholesale detailing studios in Slovakia together with my friend who worked for me as a sales representative. PROJECT-F car cosmetics are gradually reaching people. In Slovakia, we acquire partners for the application as well as for the sale of chemicals and accessories. The products are gradually sold abroad as exclusive distribution for Hungary, the Czech Republic or Belgium. We continue with the development of new products together with the chemical company TYRCHEM spol. Ltd.

Year 2021 – Closing of the store in Košice

The global pandemic changed shopping behavior and I decided to close the store and focus on customers in the online sphere and at the same time in personal visits to partners. This year we are also working on the development of new products that are being launched on the market. We regularly supply wholesale partners for the sale of consumer packages. Larger 5-liter packages have also gained favor in detailing studios, thanks to their high functionality and great smell. Due to pandemic measures, it is difficult to participate in tuning meetings and target offline advertising for us.

Autoslovakia LEVICE

Tuning event NERESKA MEETING, at that time sales representative Miro Štunda

Year 2022 – Youtube channel, packaging change, external warehouse

Through the PROJECT-F YouTube channel, I wanted to show people how it works in the field of car washes and detailing studios. We discuss various topics such as polishing prices, vehicle washing techniques, together with Vlad Šefčík (Vladová garáž) we give out tips for the application of our products. We are working on new auto chemistry packages and at the same time developing new products. There are also changes in caps and labels. As part of car-hifi installations, I already cooperate with external installers. I continue to distribute and deliver car hifi products in Slovakia. We use a fullfillment warehouse for sending goods to customers.

Youtube videos together with the detailer - Vlado Šefčík

New product packaging for 2023

Year 2023 – Czech Republic expansion and new products, new strategy

This year we are focusing on expansion for foreign markets. We produced the first finished products with new packaging and caps. Juraj and I are preparing new product prototypes. I am moving stock from the old warehouse and preparing and implementing a technologically new fullfilment warehouse for storing and shipping goods. The priority is fast and high-quality whitewashed shipments for retail customers. During the year, I offer special discounts and promotions so that undecided customers can try our products in a discounted form. I am implementing a loyalty program for the official e-shop because I value customers who shop regularly. The reward is percentage discounts.

Each year has been exceptional and at the same time difficult for product development, handling legislative obligations, label design, up to testing packaging, atomizers. I would like to thank all the customers, friends and acquaintances who have tried PROJECT-F car cosmetics, because the money is mostly returned to our country and thus supports the Slovak and European markets.

From the beginning, we have been fighting with people who do not believe that development and production takes place in Slovakia. I believe that after reading this, all doubts and misleading information will disappear. Because it was my initial idea to produce Slovak autochemistry. Support the Slovak and European markets. If you are interested in how production works, the history of the brand or the background of car washes and detailing studios, do not hesitate to subscribe to the PROJECT-F YouTube channel. Together with my partners, I will try to add relevant information and quality content.