gaining new clients

I

imported_usmcski

New member
Any one have any suggestions on how to gain new clients? I am detailing part time right now but looking to get into it full time but getting new customers is a B!7(H.

<<<<<would it help to get rid of him?
 
Well, there are a few easy ways to try and gain new customers.



There is the whole fliers approach which works moderately well provided you design them well. (Do a search, fliers have been discussed here before)



You can also try and see if the local pizza/coffee/etc. shop will let you leave fliers in their establishment. (Maybe detail the manager's car, show him your skills)



These are just a couple, I'm sure others will chime in. Ya just gotta get out there and spread your name around! Best of luck to ya!
 
We found a pretty good way - go round the local bog businesses and offer to do them a 'day' where you turn up and detail whoever wants their car done.

You'll do alot of simple wash n vacs, but youll certainly get more trade too.



Businesses like the idea of their employees not buggering off to Supersonic at lunchtime, plus the higher-ups there get their nice cars looked after better.



We on average do 6-7 wash n Vacs plus a detail every Wednesday at this one business.



Its certainly a money spinner once they see the quality of your work.
 
I am not a professional guy at all. I just have a passion for detailing and do it on the weekend for extra cash. I developed a really, really nice descriptive three page flier. I used a nice font, one neat little graphic and had a professional copy editor (my best friend's wife!) review and edit it for content. I had the senior designer at my job look it over for cosmetic layout purposes. I bought really nice quality stationery at Staples (on sale) and had them laser printed on it with matching envelopes. I had adresses printed on labels and put on the envelopes. I created a nice vehicle inspection report as well.



I mailed it to 50 of my parent's friends who live near by. I mailed to all my neighbors on my block. I mailed to all my personal friends and some of their friends that I know.



As a result, I have a whole bunch of cars lined up to do. When neighbors see the cars, when friends of my friends and my parent's friends see the car, the word spreads. They also see my flier and they are impressed further.



That's how I do it. Direct marketing to people I know with a professional looking product. This leads to word of mouth. I don't advertise on billboards or pass fliers under people's winshield etc...



In fact, my neighbor (whose white Acura I did) has a close friend who has a warehouse of 12 cars he wants me to look at! That'll keep me busy (if I get it) for many summer weekends!
 
Oh, and to expand on the mailing Spilchy does!



I don't know if its available to you, but your county's tax records are usually available on their sites if you look. In my county's site you can type in an address and get all kinds of information. (gotta love the net) You can also find houses in the immediate area around the address you typed in.



Addresses found, you can send out nice stationary printed fliers or whatever to people direct through the mail. It adds a pro touch, they think they are special :), or that it's junk mail... :(
 
What Gonzo said. Word of mouth will be the key in the long run...



Well then, maybe patience is the key...



But wait, maybe just good, hard work...
 
I had one guy see the sign on the back window of a Celica I used to have and his partner called me to clean his cars. He had a Rolls and a Benz at the time. Neighbors would see me cleaning his high dollar cars and figured I could handle their cars also and that is when my business really took off. Just doing quality work will spread your name. May take a little while, but when you are dealing with referrals, pretty much their only questions are about when you can do their cars. Very little conversation about pricing, methods, etc....your customer who referred them already made the sale for you!



If you are not in the yellow pages, that is a good start. Offer a detail as a door prize for the PTA at your local school.
 
"I developed a really, really nice descriptive three page flier. I used a nice font, one neat little graphic and had a professional copy editor (my best friend's wife!) review and edit it for content. I had the senior designer at my job look it over for cosmetic layout purposes. I bought really nice quality stationery at Staples (on sale) and had them laser printed on it with matching envelopes. I had adresses printed on labels and put on the envelopes. I created a nice vehicle inspection report as well. "

Spilchy,

I wish I could see your flier, it sounds like exactly what I have been wanting to do, including the vehicle inspection report. I've been detailing for cash for a few years now, in the summer. Doing the finer cars from the corporate places was a great place to start and have my name spread around.

You wouldn't email me a copy of that inspection report would you?



:cool:

ShinyHonda
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top