Trade Products

Trade products are formulated for the trade and may be harsh, aggressive or difficult to use without the correct equipment or techniques.

However, the majority of trade  car care products are identical to the ones sold to the public, although they may be available to the trade in larger quantities, as a concentrate and at a cheaper price.

As there is such a large enthusiast market, most trade products are available to sale to the public, even though they might not be offered such good prices. The exception would be products which are dangerous, either to the user or to the car, because they require training to use. 

What it means

Trade products are car care and refinishing products made for professional use rather than for the general public. They include compounds, polishes, waxes, sealants, coatings, cleaners and dressings that are sold through trade outlets and distributors, often in larger containers. These products are usually part of a system with matching pads, machines and processes, and assume the user has some training and experience.

Why it matters

• Different strength and behaviour: Trade products are often more concentrated, less padded with fillers and more honest about what they do, so they can correct faster or clean deeper in the right hands.
• System-based approach: Many trade ranges are designed to be used together – compounds, pads, polishes and protection products that work as a package and are backed by datasheets and training.
• Better suited to heavy work: Professional detailers and bodyshops deal with severe defects, fresh paint and demanding deadlines, so they need products that cut, clean and protect efficiently and predictably.
• Helps explain results and pricing: Using dedicated trade products is one of the reasons a professional machine polish or coating service can achieve results that are very difficult to reproduce with basic retail products at home.

Where you’ll see it

You will see the term trade products in detailing write-ups, bodyshop literature and comparisons such as we use trade products, not retail shelf products. It is often used when explaining why a professional service uses specific brands, systems and dilutions rather than whatever happens to be on the supermarket shelf.

Context

Trade products sit alongside retail products in the car care world. Retail products are aimed at DIY users and prioritise ease of use, nice packaging and mild behaviour. Trade products assume controlled environments, proper tools and some training. They may be stronger, more specialised or less forgiving if used incorrectly. Professional detailers and bodyshops choose trade systems for consistency, efficiency and the ability to tackle more serious defects, then sometimes finish with simpler products on lighter work or maintenance jobs.

Common mistakes

• Assuming that using the same trade products as a professional will automatically give the same results, without the machines, environment or experience to match.
• Using strong trade chemicals at full strength on sensitive surfaces or in poor conditions, because they look similar to mild retail versions.
• Mixing products from different trade systems at random without checking compatibility, which can lead to odd behaviour, poor bonding or inconsistent results.
• Comparing a quick DIY job done with a retail product directly with professional work done using trade systems and then assuming there is little difference beyond the label.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 21/11/2025 16:38