Help me out successful pro's...

Let me give you the most valuable advice you will get about owning and running a successful detail business. First of all, research the prices of all the detail shops in your city very carefully and what services they offer. Next evaluate what kind of reputation and the quality of the work that each shop does. How does your experience and work stack up to theirs? Now you can worry about pricing and packages. The BIGGEST mistake all detailers make is to try to compete with other detailers on price. All you are going to accomplish is to drive everyones prices lower. I have found that offering six basic packages works best for me and I charge according what I need to charge to make a decent buck. If you aren't charging approx. $40 p/hr for your services you will not make money. As for advertising, yellow pages is the best but word of mouth is extremely important as well. Try to imagine your ideal customer. What do they do for a living? What kind of car do they drive? How much money do they earn? Where do they live? Answer these questions and you will have a good start on who to market to. Obviously your target market is not a college student driving a beater and little cash to spend right? Look for the person who has DISPOSABLE INCOME and is willing to spend it to keep their cars looking great. My website is www.shineshop.ca and you are welcome to look at what we have done and use it as an example for what you can do. Good luck!
 
ShineShop is exactly right. Do not make any attempt to compete on price. I tried that when I first started out and the only ones who called were car lot dealers (who normally have crappy auction cars that are trashed inside and out) and cheapskates who want super cheap prices then nitpick every little thing. My business actually picked up when I raised my prices. Most people thought they were too low for me to do quality work.



You also should try to find a unique angle for your business, whether it be going mobile, using high end products, higher quality work than your competitors, whatever. The point is to make yourself indispensible to your customers, to have them think that no one else but yourself can properly meet their detailing expectations.



The main thing, though, is to do outstanding work. Double and triple check vehicles before you have the customer make their final inspection. You want yourself finding anything that may have been missed, not the customer.
 
The only "real" (using the term lightly) competition in my area is a drive thru wash and detail center. They employ HS/college kids and pay them dirt. They do good business from what Ive seen, but the "softcloth" makes me cringe. Then you have your mobile guys, not enough of them that a name comes to mind. Scott, my angle is like you said a higher quality product, mobile, and IMO better quality work. I am doing this because I love autos. Shine, love the site, prices are good to. Thanks again! Thats about it!
 
Hey Scotttwax I could not agree with you more. We are a small Mom and Pop run business. We compete with one of the biggest car wash/detail shops in the nation. They are a multi-million dollar business. I have so set myself apart from them that they are more interested in what we do than us worring what they do. Just do what you love and love what you do, then do it better than anyone else. When you always give the customer more than they ask for, your customer will never look elsewhere.
 
ShineShop said:
Let me give you the most valuable advice you will get about owning and running a successful detail business. First of all, research the prices of all the detail shops in your city very carefully and what services they offer. Next evaluate what kind of reputation and the quality of the work that each shop does. How does your experience and work stack up to theirs? Now you can worry about pricing and packages. The BIGGEST mistake all detailers make is to try to compete with other detailers on price. All you are going to accomplish is to drive everyones prices lower. I have found that offering six basic packages works best for me and I charge according what I need to charge to make a decent buck. If you aren't charging approx. $40 p/hr for your services you will not make money. As for advertising, yellow pages is the best but word of mouth is extremely important as well. Try to imagine your ideal customer. What do they do for a living? What kind of car do they drive? How much money do they earn? Where do they live? Answer these questions and you will have a good start on who to market to. Obviously your target market is not a college student driving a beater and little cash to spend right? Look for the person who has DISPOSABLE INCOME and is willing to spend it to keep their cars looking great. My website is www.shineshop.ca and you are welcome to look at what we have done and use it as an example for what you can do. Good luck!
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That is truly a classy professional operation you have built for yourself. I am interested in doing the same thing in my area. How big is your shop and what kind of equipment do you own. If possible, could you send me some pictures of your shop?
 
Nagchampa said:
That is truly a classy professional operation you have built for yourself. I am interested in doing the same thing in my area. How big is your shop and what kind of equipment do you own. If possible, could you send me some pictures of your shop?
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Thank you for your kind words. My shop is approx. 2000 sq/ft and will hold 8 cars comfortably at a time. As for equipment, we use Dewalt and Makita high speed polishers, Porter Cable dual action polishers for wax application/removal, Numatic wet/dry vacuums (and a Ridgid), I have 2 hot water extractors and 2 1200 psi pressure washers (never needed more power yet). If you want more info. e-mail me at shineshop@bellnet.ca and I will try to send you some pics and answer any questions you have.
 
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