How important is my IMAGE?

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A.P.D.

New member
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I am a mobile detailer and I'm woundering how important is my image? My work is good but "Am I in the kind of business where my image will get me further". First impressions last and lately my van has turned into a pos . Will that hurt my image?



I belive image is important because no one wants to follow someone that is unsucessful, they want to follow some big shot. Then again I'm just detailing some cars , most people I asked said they dont care what I drive
 
A.P.D. said:
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I am a mobile detailer and I'm woundering how important is my image? My work is good but "Am I in the kind of business where my image will get me further". First impressions last and lately my van has turned into a pos . Will that hurt my image?



I belive image is important because no one wants to follow someone that is unsucessful, they want to follow some big shot. Then again I'm just detailing some cars , most people I asked said they dont care what I drive
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This answer is two part, pay attention!!!!



In my opinion, your image has very little to do with your skill rep!!!! Sure a collard shirt might land you a job or two based on presentation, but its really the work that will spread faster!!!! Think about it, everyone in business has the same "professional look" mindset...well, everyone but me, lol. I roll up in sandals, a company T-shirt and shorts to work on a car for 10-12 hours! Why, because that is what I am comfortable in! I am not worried about my look considering I will be sweaty, grungy, dirty at the end of the job....think of construction workers, same deal, same with all manual labor jobs. The polos and business look are for meetings and that type! As for the work van, keep it washed and you are good to go for the driver-by traffic to your business. Remember, 99% of people will call you from the logo on your van because your car is clean, not because its swirlfree and showcar ready! After all, its a work van!!! - trim and tires dressed, paint shiney = good for most (if that is who you are catering towards.) If you are in the show car end of detailing and only doing paint correction work, then consider keeping your van as a demo to SHOW people the difference...I.E. split the hood and leave one side done, and one side not! Someone tried it and told me it seems to be working (i use a binder with pictures to explain to people). My car is constantly filthy...why, because I dont have the time to clean it or take care of it. I detail 6-7 days a week and if I have a day off, I sure dont want to spend it on my own car! I want a personal life as well! Some people will call me out on it while I roll up to their house, but when I am done with their car, my response is something like "see, I told you not to look at my car"...I usually get a laugh because the clients car looks 100 times better than it did, and 1000 times better than mine!!!!



As for the "im just detailing cars" attitude, drop it! You can easily make 50-75K in this industry doing washes, and wash/wax/interior type work! Heck, I am starting up an express business doing just those services and am projecting $100K net for myself in 4-5 years without working that business. Remember, you are not detailing cars, you are running a business (albeit owner operated) and that is something not a lot of people can do! There is a lot to be said to owning a business, never put yourself down no matter what it is! I know of a girl, 21 years old, who owns a business where she sets up mexican food stands on the streets (kinda like hot dog vendors)...she is going to make over 60K in her first year and is expanding with a new stand every 3 months! In 3 years, she will be making over 120K at this rate "just selling mexican food"....not too shaby IMO!!!!
 
I think presentation is important if your clients are the type that think it's important. Look at Barry, for example. He always looks very presentable and professional, in part because his clients tend to be very high end. I think it can go a long way, but it doesn't have to cost a lot. A few comfortable sport/golf polos with an embroidered or printed logo are comfortable, wash up easily and are not very expensive. Some nice cargo shorts and decent painters pants or similar from an inexpensive place like Old Navy can hold up, be functional and look professional. Getting professional business cards printed online is cheap and easy.



If you look like a gruff homeless guy and drive a beat up rust bucket, that's not good, but like toyotaguy said, people will understand that it's a work vehicle. Keep it clean and shiny and presentable. It's not a show car.



As they say, dress for the job you want, not the one you have. If you want to up your client base, upping your presentation isn't difficult or expensive and I've found that people expect your prices to be higher the more professional you appear.



My 2c
 
Presentation is VERY important. The first thing we did when we opened our new location was build a sweet front office, hardwood floors, 50" flat screen, granite counters. This I believe makes people more comfortable when dropping off their $300k Ferrari for extensive work. I also get all my employees full uniforms, pants, button down shirts with name tags. Distinguish yourself from the competition, make yourself look more like a "business" than just some guy who cleans cars. I hope this helps.





John
 
JohnKleven said:
Distinguish yourself from the competition, make yourself look more like a "business" than just some guy who cleans cars.





John
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You could not have said it better, thanks
 
I see it from both sides...I should say that as well...



professionalism comes from more than just the uniform though....I know of a couple guys who are super "uniformed" and professional, but are putting out really crappy work! holograms and instilling their own scratches and calling it good!!!! its really sad!
 
Yes, your image is important. It gives people confidence in you and your business; which is the main reason why people people choose to purchase your services. This industry has a reputation of being unprofessional, and that is the reason why it is so important. You can stand out from the rest by having a superior image. Of course, quality is important. If you do not put out a quality product, no amount of professionalism will make you successful.
 
I can only approach this from the perspective of a customer.



While I would try to be open minded about the whole thing, I gotta admit that I'd still be prejudiced against somebody who looked slovenly and/or rolled up in a POS. Yeah, I know....that's lousy on my part, and I'd try to give the benefit of the doubt, but I'd still wonder. And if something didn't go 100% perfect I'd be thinking "oh man, I *knew* he was a flake!".



Unless you're dealing with people who already know you, or have some well-informed connection to the detailing profession, IMO your vehicle's appearance oughta represent what you're selling. It's as simple as "he can't even keep his own van looking nice!?!", even if that's unfair and beside the point.



As for what you wear, you can show up looking decent no matter what. I know guys at the bottom of the economic ladder, working in really grungy professions, who always arrive looking squared away, even if they don't always *stay* that way throughout the course of the work.



"Look sharp, be sharp."
 
Accumulator said:
"Look sharp, be sharp."
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Indeed, goes for any profession. Heck, I work on my own, and I still always mind my appearance. I admit, I always fancy a nice haberdashery. But really, case in point: the crew who painted my neighbor's house, dressed well in slacks and polo shirts, actually probably too well for painting a house, but they sure made a favorable impression.
 
Bill D said:
Indeed, goes for any profession...case in point: the crew who painted my neighbor's house, ..
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Consider that "painters and plasterers wear white", and whole general "blue collar" thing too for that matter, started because people in "messy" professions wanted to look presentable.
 
These painter dressed closer to office-corporate casual than painter white though. They didn't appear to get much paint on their clothes, :yo: which seemed kinda like the painter equivalent of Autopian.
 
Image is everything, just to put it into perspective. Who would you take your car to?



This Guy,:think:





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Or this guy?:think:



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Kinda funny its the same guy. :madgrin:





You provide a service, play the role. Don't forget though always stay true to yourself. Look at one of Bob Willis's thread's ( Auto Concerige ). His professionalisom is something we can all learn from. Bob isn't wearing Gucci or Armani. He is wearing $20 dollars Dickies. The way he present's them is dialed in and on point. Shirt is always tucked in, Clothes are clean, hair combed. Its not a lot, but just like detailing. Its the little things that make the big picture. Bob presents himself very well. When was the last time you seen Bob posting a 90's minivan? Autopia is an open source of knowledge with out the words. The pictures tell you more here then anything. Just keep those eyes open......
 
I'm not in detailing, but I am in a service-oriented business, and I would say DEFINITELY that image is important. Perception is reality from the customer's point of view. If you don't want to be seen as 'some dude washing cars' but rather as a professional, you need to look the part.



When Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis go to New York, Dean insisted that they buy tuxedos. Jerry asked why and Dean said "So when we asking them for $5,000 a week, we look like we are worth it" or something to that effect.



As stated, some nice khaki shorts and a logo polo shirt, as well as a decent van, will go a long way to helping your image and your revenue over the long term.
 
Image can mean alot. If you wanted any service completed, would you go to the guys that were clean or look like bums first. Now I nice clean look i feel it the best, A plain simple shirt with you logo, and a pair a darker colored kakies or cargo shorts. Keep it simple simon.
 
I think image is important. When meeting a customer I dress nice, not a suit and tie but in cool months I will wear kahki pants and a button down or polo, hotter months I will wear kahki shorts and polo. If I detail at my place I meet the customer in nice dress and then change into something more comfortable, if I go mobile I wear a nice plain T Shirt and presentable shorts or pants.
 
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Thank you Barry for the "Kudos", the first thing you have to ask is what clientale to you want and what do you need to get and keep them?. When I first started I did everything and anything as I needed money.................and quick since I left the Livery business I was a small partner in(Long story....).



As I had been around "Monied up" vehicles @ Blackhawk Collection I knew I wanted to get those level of clientele and people in that station of life make key judgements on various factors, such as of course skill level reputation, being insured/business established, and over all presentation. Military experience also helped as I worked for the Admiral staff and CO of a ship directly with no direct supervision, and was a private and livery Chauffuer and I made sure I was dressed well, well spoken and respectful and groomed properly.



As a Chauffuer I even went to a short wine course to understand wine and even how to open a bottle of wine or champagne properly and pour it for clients with "Panache" and my tips reflected this. It is not enough to even get the inquiring call from a affluent client in the first place as this is only the beginning if the client is new to your service and that first call only comes when someone is interested because of "Image" as this person has maybe heard of your service and has not experienced anything as far as the work goes.



Short story.......when I worked for this one gentlman(Doyle RIP) one time I drove him to Spanish Bay resort in Monterey CA, and dropped him off and parked, then proceeded to wipe down the car and police the interior for dirty glasses and restock the beverages/ice...........well a gentlemen was watching me from the lobby and came out to ask how much my Limo service charged for a tour and I replied "I am sorry this is a private car" and the guy said "I figured that" and went inside again and happened to sit next to the gentleman I worked for and Doyle overheard him say" Honey the limo is not available as he works for just one guy" and his wife said" I know...did you see how clean the car is and he is wearing a custom made suit" which they knew because the guy was a tailor from Scotland there on holiday as his occupation came up in the conversation he had with his wife.



Doyle the guy I drove never let on he was the owner of the car........and it made him feel good that I was doing what I always do(Work hard) and my "Image" represented him well in the fashion he was accustomed to.
 
WOW! Bob, there just aren't enough guys out there any more with that level of professionalism, courtesy, and pride in their work. A super :yo: to you, sir!
 
yeah but look at BOB in the first picture...he is looking at his palm pilot....LOL



Bob, I have noticed that you are always dressed pretty well in all your pictures! Kudos to you!



I'll give it a go and see what happens with a sharper image in the future to go along with the higher end services and clientel soon to come! One can never stop learning and thing he knows it all, at that point, he losing valuable information and opportunity to grow!
 
toyotaguy said:
yeah but look at BOB in the first picture...he is looking at his palm pilot....LOL



Bob, I have noticed that you are always dressed pretty well in all your pictures! Kudos to you!



I'll give it a go and see what happens with a sharper image in the future to go along with the higher end services and clientel soon to come! One can never stop learning and thing he knows it all, at that point, he losing valuable information and opportunity to grow!
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Just got the "New palm pilot/paint depth gage" from DeFelsko what a deal for $2,750.00 bucks lovin it..........
 
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