Brand Loyalty = Less Overhead?

[ahheck01]

In the quest of setting up a fixed-location Detailing Studio, I've had some suggestions and offers of steep (50%) discounts from certain brands to become a distributor/dealer of their product lines. Naturally, saving half off list would help quite a bit minimize overhead, but I'm still a bit torn on whether I need to find the best of the best products to use for each process, or whether a (reputable) product line can meet my needs. Is the trade-off worth it?



Other pro detailers out there - do you primarily stick with one brand in order to buy their products in bulk at a discount?



Any tips on minimizing overhead while having all the products I need to do the job right are welcomed!

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Personally I wouldn't want to lock myself into one brand/line of products since in my experience there's no such thing as a single line with the best product in every category.



What I would do in your situation is look at what products you're going through the most of by volume (probably car wash soap, APC, wheel cleaner, tire dressing) and work to get those as cost effective as possible FIRST (hint: don't just look at the price, also look at dilution ratios, and get samples so you can compare actual performance -- a product that costs a bit more up front might actually be better if you can use less of it to get a job done).

 

[maxepr1]

Like Charlie said, there are certain things you will find works the best (i.e. APC, Dressing, Soap,Wheel cleaner). APCs mixed down to there recomended levels will make a 1 gallon jug make 5 gallons or more! APC has many uses inside and outside the car and is not expensive when mixed no matter what brand you buy. Wheel cleaner, I have 1 go to for bad wheels and most can be cleaned with APC. Tire dressing also I have just 1. But here is the kicker and most expensive part, Compounds and Polishes. If your going to be doing this as a business, your going to need more than just 1 compound and polish. Different types of clears and different brands of cars requires a varieties of different products. Saying 1 company has it all is BS! There are companies that carry stuff that will get most of the clears you face on a daily basis, but you will run into those that you will have to grab brand X because brand Y doesn't work. Also the same holds true for pads, the new Micro-Fibers will tackle most clears but there comes times when regular foam and wool will be needed. As for machines DAs can do most everything, but I still grab my rotary from time to time. I wouldn't fall for a discounts from a distributor because you might be committed to using there products that you may find you don't like! And also you may be forced to buy lots more product than you need more often, to "Get the good deal"!