A small question, turned into a realization

Dan doing a section of a car different than another is a bad ..no really bad idea...

Let's go back to the beginning here....you want to build a customer base...you being young and people not giving you credit for abilities you know you have is your first problem.

You need to start by offering just hand car washing...$20 and that's it...do a quick vacuum and wipe the dash and windows in and out. After they see what a nice job you do you hand them a brochure explaining all the different services you can provide and an Approx. amount it will cost..as Fuzz said set yourself a hourly rate in your mind and work from there.

You want to go from kid to 20 year veteran in a moment..even the best college baseball player goes directly to the Rookie league not the majors...the ones who are the exceptions are really exceptions...

I think you can grow a nice side biz, but you have to give it time and let people get use to you and then refer you more biz..

I hope this helps and yes.it went out Tuesday..but if you livd where awd330 does you could have just met me:D
 
People wont even pay that around here. I want to detail cars, not just wash them. There are plenty of people around that do fine, but I just cant seem to figure out where they are getting there people from!
 
Tass,

Well, I agree, and disagree with Poorboy on this one a bit.

First, I would agree that you should NOT do different panels of a customers vehicle with different products. To test on your own vehicle.............. that fine. You want a nice consistent shine on a customers vehicle. Besides, you already have a good eye for what products look good, and are easy to work with................ stick with them.

Now, while I agree that one can't go from "rookie" to "all star" overnight, one can become very, very good at this stuff in a short period of time. After all, it's not rocket science! :D Once you develop an eye for what a paint finish needs, and you've acquired good tools, products, and have learned the correct processes and procedures to use them................. you're on your way. Yes, it takes a little time, but you'll be surprised at what you can do provided you put you mind into doing it right!

I do agree that you shouldn't rush into it............ if you want it bad enough........... it will come!

Good luck.
 
Man, I admire your spunk and enthusiasm but you must remember grasshopper you must crawl before you can walk. You need to build a base of customers with trust and service.
If you walk up to some Joe and say, "Hey that detail shop is screwing you by doing a sorry job on your car. I'll do it right for the same price (or more)" you'll get a lot of 'yeah right' responses. People do not know that silly-cones on the dash is not a good thing. People don't know what the hell glaze, polish, and carnuba are. You could put Nu-Finish on their car and they'd be tickled. Gary Kouba has a great idea, he does detailing seminars to educate people. A few DIY'er will go home and detail their own cars but many think, 'dude that's way too hard' and be happy to shell out the dough to let a pro do it. Again you face the age issue here, but play a different crowd. Anybody at school have nice cars? I know they don't have a lotta money but most of them have parents right? Selectively offer some details at cost. You get to perfect your skills while someone else foots the bill for supplies. Also target certain populations with Steve's idea of hand car washes. Doctors, Lawyers, PHARMACISTS (these folks are often young, have nice cars, and have disposable cash) are great examples. Approach them with an attitude of 'hey, I know you're a very busy person (plays to their ego) and I'd like to help out. I'd like to offer my services.' If they're not interested give them a card and say, 'If you change your mind, here's my card'. You can get card stock at any office depot for cheap and put your web address on it. Hit them with a cheap service like the handwash. $20 is a small risk for someone and they are more likely to try it. BUST YOUR A$$ and do a bang up job. Give 'em a little something extra and leave your brochure in their car. It's less pushy. A dealership did this for me and I liked it (I hate salespeople!!!). Make sure it includes the $20 hand wash you did so they keep coming back. I think it was OnTheSpot that was going to office buildings and offering the building manager or office manager a free detail (great bribe to be allowed to work in the parking lot!). You do it in the parking, put signs up, and hand out brochures to anyone who asks what you're doing. Never be afraid to mention that you're working your way through school and be humble!
OKAY THAT'S TOO LONG. SORRY!
 
Tassadar said:
People wont even pay that around here. I want to detail cars, not just wash them. There are plenty of people around that do fine, but I just cant seem to figure out where they are getting there people from!
Click to expand...

Dan how many of these detailers are 17?

I disagree a little with the Boss. only that yes working on your own vehicle and getting a great result is not always transferable to a customers car. Problems arise from vehicle to vehicle and experience is what really helps out in this situation.

There is no disgrace in washing cars...I was partners in a body shop and part of my job, making 100+k a year, was to clean and wash the vehicles, inside and out. Did I feel a little stupid at times, yes...but it was part of my job as well as estimating, taping when the painter needed help and even just answering phones.

Another example I can give you is when i moved back to NY after selling out to my partner, I found a gas station with a bay that was not often used and offered to detail the owners cars for detailing space...i put a sign out front ...hand wash $10... it led to many detailing jobs very quickly....imagine 30 years old and doing $10 washes. :rolleyes:
 
Poorboy said:


Dan how many of these detailers are 17?

I disagree a little with the Boss. only that yes working on your own vehicle and getting a great result is not always transferable to a customers car. Problems arise from vehicle to vehicle and experience is what really helps out in this situation.

There is no disgrace in washing cars...I was partners in a body shop and part of my job, making 100+k a year, was to clean and wash the vehicles, inside and out. Did I feel a little stupid at times, yes...but it was part of my job as well as estimating, taping when the painter needed help and even just answering phones.
Click to expand...

Yep, I would agree on that............. the most difficult part is developing an "eye" and a "feel" for a great finish.

As for washing cars............ that's your opportunity to get those detaling jobs!
 
I think first I need to offer a clarification. This person with the Lincoln LS wants me to detail his car, but kinda wants to see what I can do first. So I am going to demonstrate by doing the entire hood (ill S&W the whole car, but only lay down the elbow grease on the hood). I guestimate 30-45 minutes for the entire thing, and I will be getting questions the whole time (lots of people will be around where I am doing it). I can talk to them while I work and condition the paint. It jsut needs some contamination removed, and I think that claying and SSR2 will do the job.

Plus I am REALLY anxious to start using this stuff. I might be calling Steve asking for a few 55 gallons drums of S&W and Natural Look (that stuff smells so good, I really wanna drink it).
 
Full scale is impossible. I am still in high school, this next year I have:

1. Science Seminar where I will be designing a rocketless way to launch vehicles into space. And im doing it all from scratch.

AND

2. AP Calculus BC, need a really say more?

So I will be dedicating a large portion of time to my school work, plus I have a job on Saturdays. Mainly I want to get a customer base that I can work on from time to time, but right now, I cannot get anyone. I was hoping to detail all summer long, but that only results in ONE solitary car.
 
I know how it is with school around and Detailing in the winter isnt very fun. Summer is almost over but you can still get some good details in thru the fall and get some customers over that time also.
 
Tass, I am in the same boat as you. I consider myself a *mobile* detailer but Im not truly *mobile*. I go to businesses and houses that can supply me with water and elec. outside. This didn't go over as well as I planned since not a lot of business buildings have that, but it has gone ok. I would really prefer to go to people's houses and work there in their driveway. No this doesn't give me HUGE exposure but their neighbors will see it and the client's will give referrals. I usually do a basic wash, quick spray wax, wheels, vacuum, dash and windows on a vehicle for people. $30 cars/ $35 trucks/ 45 small SUV's/ $60 large SUV's. Thats cheap for some people but I'm not in a very prosperous college town. Most people are very pleased with these prices and my work and usually throw in some extra$$ as a tip. When they're pleased they give referrals. I leave a brochure in their car with a personalized note. The brochure explains what I did to their car and what I can also do in the future. I like to explain that when I can but sometimes they just dont have time to go out and see their car. They usually pass this brochure or my original one along to someone else. I've never seen my brochure back in the car the next time, so I hope they're giving it out and not chuckin it.
Granted for most people the basic is fine. They want no more than that. I do feel under appreciated when I do that because anyone can WASH a car. But the money is there, fast and simple. $45 for doing an Xterra in an hour and 40 minutes isn't bad.
I think I'm rambling a bit so sorry. I'm trying to kill time inbetween my classes. I'm like you, Im trying to balance work and school together. Even though my course load isn't heavy Acct. and other classes take a lotta outside work.
Try and present yourself really well. You have to find the line between explaining what you can do and arrogance. You sound really knowledgeable about products so just use that. Try and ASK people what they want done while explaining it. I tell them what my basic includes but then I say I can apply a better longer lasting wax for $15 more. Or I can also clean up your engine abit for $10 more. Since your paint is black it easily shows swirls, I can fix those for... Just try and find your niche at advertising YOUR skills. Of course Im a marketing major so this comes semi easy to me.
One thing I did that has really helped me on getting some business at homes is a press release. I put one out in my local paper explaining what I do and where I can work. I try and make it explanatory and sell myself at the same time, without sounding like an advertisement. PM me and I'll show you the article the paper ran. They edited it slightly from my submission but it turned out good.
Sorry the post was so long. Just realize that it can be done even at a young age but you have to find what works for YOU. Then you can branch out later if you need to. Im considering going *truly mobile* but can't just yet b/c of $$.
Hope this helped some.

-Josh
 
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