Marketing at car shows

Yes and yes. ;) In fact I am going to a local "cruise-in" tomorrow to hand some cards out.



It helps to have a car to showcase your work and to be knowledgeable about all different types of cars. Knowing cars inside and out and being able to notice mods the owner has made is very important with the typical car show folk.



Lola is my business card...



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I've done cars for a few individuals for car shows but for stuff like the new car shows-you know, the guys who walk around with filthy towels and some unknown liquid cleaning fingerprints off the cars-they want low bidder only.
 
I have set up a booth in a local car show. We were unable to have a car on the grass with the booth (too bad because I had a Supercharged viper I was going to display). So all I had a a little photobook of the process with all my products and cards on display. It cost me $100 to enter in. I handed out a couple hundred cards and had what seemed like many very interested people. I have recieved one call from the show and it was a young kid who I doubt is really going to pay me to detail his beretta.



This was only about 3 weeks ago though so I cant say yet how beneficial it really was. Quite a few people said they were going to call me in the future so im guessing when they decide to finally get the detail done, they may call me. I would not expect to just be swarmed with calls right after the show though. Or maybe it was just me. hehe.
 
I buffed a car at a show. I set up to the side and did a complete rub out on a newer Cobra. I must have showed a million people how I remove scratches and the before and after from the polished side to the scratched side.



I bought space on thier web-site, http://www.calrods.com/sponsors.htm , and I put together four "gift buckets" (bucket filled with detail supllies) for their raffle.



I even donated four $100 gift certificates.



All that work got me SQWAT! :sadpace:
 
I'm going to hot import nights here in seattle and also to dunlop days. I plan on taking my cards and passing them out. I've thought of buying space, but meh.. I think the issue is talking to the vehicle owners not the viewers.
 
What my model was going to be was that I was handing out tri-fold brochures and will also have my daily schedule with me. I wont just try to convince them to call... but to schedule an appointment right there at the show! That way a commitment is made and I will give them an appointment reciept with the date and time. Rather than just show my "miracle" detail work, I will offer "show winning" details which will start at 500 dollars for at least a 5 hour job. Possibly extendable to 2 days of work. And also will offer to work with the customer as a 'partner' to help him win trophies. If this works, i might have an internal referral system. If not, I will have only wasted time and about 200 bucks.



I also rentedt a booth at the local swapmeet and my friend is letting me use his Skion for demonstrative purposes. Again, I will schedule appointments when speaking to potential clients and try to get the locals used to my name. All of this to try and make a client base of 100 customers by next spring.



Theres a 67 Camaro that ive been eyeing so any helpful input would help... this would be a 15k investment for personal and business use.
 
So far, this marketing approach has worked just about every time.



You go to a car show or cruise night and take along your digital camera. You get started talking with one of the car owners about their car and offer to take a few pictures of their ride. You let them know that if they give you their email address you will be happy to email them the pictures.



At this point you don't mention anything about the fact that you are in the car detailing business. Actually, during the whole conversation, you never mention anything about detailing.



You proceed to take a few pictures and write down their name and email address. You wrap up the conversation and move on to talk to someone else about their car. You repeat the process a couple of times, making sure that you make the offer to take pictures of their car and most importantly that you get their email address, so you can send them the pictures. The key to this is to be personable and never ever mention anything about detailing. It is not going to be easy, but no talking about detailing.



During the next few days you edit the pictures and email them out to the people you talked to at the show. You can now include information about your detailing services by attaching a link to your detailing site. You should not go into a big sales pitch, just make sure there is a link to your site.



The chances are in your favor that the person receiving the email will visit your site. It is that simple. You just gave them a good way to discover everything they need to know about your detailing business. And all it took was a brief conversation, a few pictures and a little time. Not that difficult.
 
Grouse said:
Good idea MFM. I'm not a huge sales pitch man.
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Rather than selling, it is always much better to come up with ideas that help to give prospective clients the opportunity to discover your business. That is what really works out there in the marketplace. It is the basic difference between advertising(selling) and marketing.
 
Oh i agree, I tend to aproach my clients on a one on one basis. I tailor to them directly. I was looking for a way to aproach them with out the stigma of a sales pitch. It's mostly been in club meets so far, ect.
 
only problem i have found with setting up and advertising at a car show is, most people at car shows are enthusiasts and experts on their own cars...they take the pride in detailing/washing their own ride even if they are ruining they high dollar paint job....most i have found dont wanna pay someone to detail there couple year long project car that they think they are experts on already...
 
I.A.S. said:
only problem i have found with setting up and advertising at a car show is, most people at car shows are enthusiasts and experts on their own cars...they take the pride in detailing/washing their own ride even if they are ruining they high dollar paint job....most i have found dont wanna pay someone to detail there couple year long project car that they think they are experts on already...
Click to expand...





I couldn't have said it better! :woot2:
 
I.A.S. said:
only problem i have found with setting up and advertising at a car show is, most people at car shows are enthusiasts and experts on their own cars...they take the pride in detailing/washing their own ride even if they are ruining they high dollar paint job....most i have found dont wanna pay someone to detail there couple year long project car that they think they are experts on already...
Click to expand...



Actually...you'd be very surprised how many folks at shows have no clue how to properly care for paint. Believe it or not it is in the majority.



Case in point...check out this picture that was burned into my brain from a thread on this forum...



carshow1.jpg
 
About as bad as some guy I saw at the car wash next to my bank's drive-thru. He seemed so proud to bust out a brand new package of paper towels to dry off his black car. :nervous2:
 
1 Clean WS6 said:
Actually...you'd be very surprised how many folks at shows have no clue how to properly care for paint. Believe it or not it is in the majority.



Case in point...check out this picture that was burned into my brain from a thread on this forum...



carshow1.jpg
Click to expand...



yeah thats why i said most THINK they are experts on their own vehicles.....i know when i go to shows i am more their to try and educate people as much as i can, basically whoever is willing to listen to a 21 year old guy, rather than trying to get actual business outta them....god knows they arent gonna pay me the $500+ dollars for a show prep when they can go home and do it themselves...
 
I.A.S. said:
only problem i have found with setting up and advertising at a car show is, most people at car shows are enthusiasts and experts on their own cars...they take the pride in detailing/washing their own ride even if they are ruining they high dollar paint job....most i have found dont wanna pay someone to detail there couple year long project car that they think they are experts on already...
Click to expand...



That is the truth. I had my name on a couple cars I had in a car show and didnt get anything at all from it. It was a waste of time haha.



Greg
 
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