Attention: Pro & Aspiring Mobile Detailers!!!

I

imported_ajbarnes

New member
If you haven't done so already....GO....TO....BUSINESS....CAMPUSES to promote your business!!!:eek: I got a contract with the public relations director back in December of last year for a large business campus to do auto care work for all tenants and employees of the entire business campus.



I only did about 3 vehicles from the campus (which were out the property management office) all the way up until last week.



Out of the blue, she (pr director) called me last Friday and asked if I can detail 5 vehicles from her office! Since I was so over joyed, and also since I knew she would be promoting my business to the other companies in the campus, I told her I would be detailing her vehicle for free....boy was she happy!



Then....here comes this past Monday. She started to finally promote my service to the several companies in the campus, and I now.....this fast.....have the ENTIRE month of May booked!!!!!!!:bounce



It's only Thursday 5/6/04 and the whole month is booked, I had 6 more people get scheduled today.....and get this....she isn't even done promoting!!!:eek:



Talk about a fast transition. I was used to being somewhat of a "private/personal" detailer with a couple customer's a day, and now I had to put my kids in day care, bring my wife along with me (she can lay the law down on interior detailing!!), hire my cousin part time, got about 13 hours of sleep since Monday, purchase double of everything I normally buy, in the process of getting a bigger vehicle, and much more in only 4 days!!



By all means, if you are little guy like myself trying to make things happen for your mobile detailing business, offer a good deal to a business campus and you won't be sorry!:cool:
 
Great news! It always great to hear success stories from the group of competent professional detailers here on Autopia. I think detailing is a great old-fashioned profession and I am glad that people can make a decent living doing it. Detailers definitely fill a void created by all the people that neglect their cars.



Bucky
 
Nice work man! My girl is also rockin at interiors. I've been hinting towards taking her with me on details if I get busy enough :D



I may use your idea and promote to some industrial parkways around here.
 
You are a crazy man ajbarnes. :)



I'm glad this is paying off for you. I have noticed how attentively you have cruised these sites and it seems to show now. Good Luck with the business.



I'm definately going to check out some business parks.
 
GREAT JOB - Congrats!!

Take care not to get too big too fast and put out less than satifactory work.



Hire some help and get your kids back home.
 
Superior Shine said:
GREAT JOB - Congrats!!

Take care not to get too big too fast and put out less than satifactory work.



Hire some help and get your kids back home.
Click to expand...





Yeah, I want the kids home, but this happened out of no where and I needed the fastest action taking plan possible.:( I haven't even had the time to hire anyone except my cousin. I will be hiring a couple of guys though.....I just hope they are as passionate about detailing as I am....which is one of the reasons I neglected hiring people before.



On the brighter side, at least I can afford daycare now!:D



One of my slogans for my business is that I never sacrifice quality for speed. My wife and I took care of 4 details our selves and they all tipped $10-$20....that should hint at the quality of work that was done.
 
Wow, I am really glad for you. I admire people who insist in quality instead of speed. At the end the word of mouth will work. And I have noticed when people recommend to others, they never talk about price, only the quality.



A hint: Do not grow to quickly!. In my experience, when more employees are joining in your team, the have to learn your techniques and business phylosophy, etc..... To avoid a mess, is better to go step by step, day by day. At the end quality will keep you in business.
 
Yeah, I think the best way to hire someone is to consider it initially an apprenticeship. When people first think about cleaning cars or detail they don't really understand the quality of work needed to provide a great service.
 
~One man’s opinion / observations ~



Congratulations good work will eventually gain recognition (sometimes even a free is good business marketing)



A detailing service will thrive in any area of the country if it is based on one, simple rule.



Give your customers more than they expect.



Repeat Customers are the Secret to Success! Give your customers more than just a clean car. Make a real impression.

Give them Quality, Value, and Piece of Mind.



Quality: there is simply no substitute. Insist on the highest-quality service, equipment, and products. Your competition doesn't.



Value: give your customers value for their dollar. Never cut corners to save cost.



Peace of Mind: instil confidence in your customers. Proudly advertise your commitment to excellence.



Promoting: "First Class, We Care" image, develops loyal and lasting customer relations.



Groundwork: tailor your business to meet the needs of the local customer base, study your community, each hour spent on research, can equal a year of success.





~Hope this helps~



Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



justadumbarchitect *so I question everything*
 
a similar thing happened to me, i was detailing a clients car during lunchtime when people were walking around..i ran out of cards :D
 
CONGRATULATIONS AJ!!!!!!!:xyxthumbs :xyxthumbs :xyxthumbs



I wish you all the best and many more months of "solid bookings"!:D





I got this fortune in a chinese cookie once...



"Admire those who succeed and learn from their success".
 
My plan is similar. I have friends who work for commercial property companies. These companies rent out the business office parks and many of them own the buildings which include the lots. I am about to be the only mobile unit with a vacuuboom system in town. I plan on using that as my marketing tool. The companies that rent these spaces are realty offices, title companies, law offices, etc. My plan is to have one lot per day of the week. Consistency is a common complaint with local people. "He is good, but we never know when he's coming." My time and days will be set in stone. Thus, customers can plan for the wash/detail. Also, local companies are giving back to schools. I'll be giving back to the schools in the companies' name at a preset amount/%. Just some more thoughts.



R Regan
 
hmmm, well heres my personal plan... im a student, so im not free on weekdays, but weekends i can probably do 4 cars, if i grinded my body. anyways, my plan is...



my aunty is an elementary school teacher, and ive kept her paint in really good condition, and ive already attracted some attention from a couple of other teachers. unfortunately, my schdule is already "booked" beceause of driving lessons (yes, i dont drive yet, im 16...) and tennis. however, in the next two weeks im gonna be freeee, because summer school starts, and i get my lisense. then i can get right to work. my plan is, while the teachers are in school, i work on their cars. when they finish school, they have their car returned in the school parking lot, with the reflection of the blue hawaiian sky on the hood. good idea?
 
zesty-man said:
my plan is, while the teachers are in school, i work on their cars. when they finish school, they have their car returned in the school parking lot, with the reflection of the blue hawaiian sky on the hood. good idea?
Click to expand...





That's not a bad idea. You should offer a "Teacher" discount or something to make it more attractive. I always thought about approaching schools, but I know public philly schools won't allow it so I'm going to try suburban schools - they are more privately owned.:xyxthumbs
 
AJ,



Great news and very deserving:xyxthumbs



The bad news is the hiring of employees. Detailing is one of those jobs, one of those very few jobs, where you must have a helper/helpers that share your passion. That are willing to work with the mindset that this is more than a job and a paycheck.



Sadly many detailers are kept from growing because so many people have the attitude that it's "just a job, as long as I get my money!" You may find yourself going through alot of help at first so be prepared for that.



..........and women generally do fantastic interior details:up



Anthony
 
Anthony Orosco said:
AJ,



Great news and very deserving:xyxthumbs



The bad news is the hiring of employees. Detailing is one of those jobs, one of those very few jobs, where you must have a helper/helpers that share your passion. That are willing to work with the mindset that this is more than a job and a paycheck.



Sadly many detailers are kept from growing because so many people have the attitude that it's "just a job, as long as I get my money!" You may find yourself going through alot of help at first so be prepared for that.



..........and women generally do fantastic interior details:up



Anthony
Click to expand...



:wavey Mike hired me. I like my work, much better then other jobs I could have at 17. It's fun, and I would do it for less pay then what he pays me. Otherwise I would probably have issues waking up early on saturdays.



I think it's more important to find somebody that is responsiblie. You can teach somebody how to detail, but you can't necessarily teach somebody to take pride in their work. Of course, having some experience to start is helpful. As you all probably know, they really have to be respectful. Especially with these contracts, because even though you're there, they are still going to talk to customers. I've noticed this. I had to bite my tongue last weekend with a sour potential customer.



If any of you need advice with hiring my dad has worked for over 20 years in human resources/safey. I'm sure he wouldn't mind putting something together for you all. He likes that type of stuff, he hates laying people off (oh and union negotiations...). His friend has his own Safety Compliance company. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top