IDA Founder's Club Member Spotlight: Seth Glauberman

Seth Glauberman is the Executive Vice President of Malco Products, Inc. in Barberton, OH and a member of the IDA Founder's Club.

Left to right: Seth Glauberman, Exec VP; Lauren Osina, Digital Marketing Manager; Bill Fairchild, National Sales Manager; Bill Kleines, Testing and Training Specialist; Brandi Prock, Marketing Specialist; Shawn Roy, Malco of Ohio General Manager.

International Detailing Association (IDA): How did you get into the detailing industry?
Seth Glauberman (SG): Malco was started by my grandfather, Murray Glauberman, in 1953.  While I was in high school and college, I spent my summers detailing cars at the factory, my first introduction into the car care business.

IDA: Tell us about Malco Products, Inc.
SG: In 1953, my grandfather moved his family from Berkeley, California, to Barberton, Ohio, and founded Malco Products, Inc. in a small two-car garage, later welcoming his father and brother into the family business.  Most people do not know that Malco stands for Murray (my grandfather), Abe (my great-grandfather), and Lionel (my great-uncle) Company.  Murray was a chemist by trade and started blending cleaning products in the early 50’s.  The first product he developed was Malco® Leather and Plastic Cleaner, part number 1001.  It is still one of our best-selling products today.  We pride ourselves on producing innovative, high-quality products for the professional detailer.

IDA: In what products or services does your company specialize?
SG: Malco specializes in buffing products, coatings, and specialty cleaners used to completely detail and restore a vehicle.  We are proud of the success we have had with the launch of our Epic line of surface correction and coatings, and the training and knowledge our team provides to support our products. 

IDA: What do you think is the most important factor to being successful in the detailing industry?
SG: Understanding how a detailer works on a vehicle and identifying what their pain points are.  As a detailing chemical manufacturer, it is paramount to understand the needs of the detailer.  We sell through distribution, but our end customer is the detailer, our job is to provide high quality products and training to make detailers successful.

IDA: Are there any awards that you or your business have earned?
SG: 2016 United Way Chairman’s Award for corporate volunteerism and campaign growth,
2015 United Way Chairman’s Award for increasing our united way donations by 47%, SEMA Global Media Awards Winner

IDA: What is the best advice you have ever received?
SG: Knowing that it’s the people that make a company successful.  We have been successful because of our team of employees that support us from the ground up.  I included a picture of me with our team because I think it is so important to see some of the additional people that make Malco successful.

IDA: What tips do you have for the new detailer?  For the experienced detailer?
SG: For the new detailer, I would recommend finding someone you trust and can learn from.  They might be successful now, but I bet they learned a lot of lessons along the way and can share with you what to do and not to do in business.  For the experienced detailer, I would recommend to never stop learning and embrace change, this industry is ever-evolving, and you need to be willing to learn and change with it.

IDA: What has been the funniest business moment?
SG: When I was 8 years old, I came to work with my dad, and he stuck me in the lab so he could get some work done.  Our Chemist at the time had a large trunk deck that he would test products on.  He had me strip all the wax off and put a new coat of wax on.  When I was done, I asked him if I could light it on fire like the commercials you would see on TV.  Unfortunately, he did not let me.  I guess I had detailing in my DNA!!