If you’ve ever looked at your shoes and thought, “What these need is a no-name wax from a mystery” then BIVI shoe polish may be exactly what your life was missing.
Purchased from a Thai hardware store on the side of the road for, this 50ml wonder-tin arrives with no website, no contact details, and no discernible manufacturer. It’s marked only by a barcode (6944977122126) that leads nowhere, and the vague promise that it will “nourish, protect & shine.”
And shine it does. Sort of.
Packaging
Our Bivi shoe polish was purchased as part of a retail pack of 2 tins and a brush. On the back of the retail packaging, a Thai-language sticker identifies the importer when translated to English as A. Petchkasem Hard Chrome Co., Ltd. While it’s not a name typically associated with shoe care products, it’s always interesting to see the range of items companies bring into the local market. The cardboard packaging includes two tins of polish, along with a lightweight but perfectly functional plastic shoe brush.
The tin is a compact 50ml metal container, opened with a traditional lever-style tab that pries off the lid with a firm twist. Below the bold BIVI logo and the “Quality Shoe Polish” banner, the slogan “Nourishes, Protects & Shines” is printed with quiet confidence. The overall design feels heavily inspired by the classic Kiwi brand, from the choice of colours and typography to the familiar layout of the slogan, which subtly reorders Kiwi’s original “Shines, Nourishes & Protects.”
Product Origins
BIVI shoe polish appears to be sold across parts of Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. Sold in 50ml tins and sometimes paired with a basic brush. The polish is targeted at everyday users looking for simple, practical shoe care rather than high-end leather maintenance.
While the tin provides minimal detail, a marking on the back indicates it originates from Ningbo, a major industrial and export hub on China’s east coast. Known for its large-scale manufacturing and shipping infrastructure, Ningbo is a common point of origin for unbranded or custom-labelled consumer goods.
Despite extensive searches across Alibaba, Taobao, 1688, and barcode directories, the original manufacturer remained unclear. Eventually, a strong lead appeared on Yiwugo in the form of Avatar Glue Factory, a long-established supplier specialising in adhesives, sealants, and other chemical products.
Among their listings is a shoe polish tin that closely resembles the BIVI brand indicating it is available in multiple colours, including options for brown leather. Given the brands and products limited information and export history, it’s likely that BIVI is an OEM white-label item, produced by Avatar Glue Factory (or a similar supplier) to meet the specifications of various importers or distributors. In such arrangements, the manufacturer provides the base product and packaging, while the branding is customised to suit the client’s requirements for an additional price or minimum order quantity (MOQ).
We have reached out to ‘Avatar Glue Factory’, however the exact production remains unconfirmed.
Performance
As far as actual performance goes, it’s… well, shoe polish. It’s black. It’s waxy and it smells just like shoe polish. Apply it to scuffed leather and it’ll do the job. Shine? Yes. Nourishment? Questionable. Protection? Maybe
The polish applies easily and is a liquidity paste compared to a solid wax like Kiwi, buffs to a decent sheen covering up minor imperfections, and didn’t instantly dissolve the test shoes. For the price (which is somewhere between “cheap” and “suspiciously affordable”), it’s hard to complain. It’s no military parade shine but that’s not what was promised.
Verdict
Overall the BIVI shoe polish is a straightforward, no-frills product that does what is advertised. It performs well enough for everyday use on work or school shoes, providing a decent shine and protection at a very affordable price.
That said, for more expensive shoes or when a high-gloss finish is important, we’d recommend spending a little more on a trusted brand like Kiwi. While BIVI gets the job done, it lacks the reputation and consistency of premium products.
Would I use it again or recommend it? Yes, I would. It works as expected and fills the role of a reliable, budget-friendly shoe polish.
Price: USD $0.75 (25 baht) for 2 tins and a brush
Date of Review: June 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐(4 stars)
