ExplicitDetails said:
I'm not sure about everyone else but when I need info about business management and marketing, I will go to a site dedicated to the subject, or contact my attorney or accountant or someone else who can help me. Ocassionally if I want another detailer's input, I will post here. Maybe alot of others do the same. Just a thought.
Excellent point, as well a businessman should do, is find business information from a variety of professional and specific sources.
That said, there are a number of excellent posts on "how other detailers" market their business; hire people, etc which you cannot get from an advertising agency; lawyer or accountant.
As well, there are good posts on small items relating to good business practices, that many on the detail forums do not even view which, to me reflects they are not interested.
As a person who has been in this business before you were born I can tell you that some of the best advise you will ever get is from another successful person in your own industry.
I marvel at how car wash operators network with each other to gain new knowledge and business practices.
Just yesterday my good friend who owns 16 car washes was telling me that he was called by another very successful operator who wanted him and two other owners of very successful car wash chains in the US, to go to SoCal to see a couple of new car washes built by new-bees to see what they were doing that was new and different.
This is a very common occurence in business that successful businessmen network with other successful businessmen in their industry to learn.
That is what the 20 Groups among auto dealers is all about. Groups of 20 dealers from different parts of the country are brought together by a neutral party who organizes them into quarterly think sessions, sharing of their best practices, etc. etc.
This is what this industry needs and this is what the INTERNATIONAL DETAILING ASSOCIATION is attempting to do, bring detailers from all over the country together to exchange both technical and business ideas.
The forums do a good job, to a degree with technical information, but then you really do not know if the person giving the information is really qualified to offer that information or not.
However, the business side of the business is sorely neglected here on the forums.
Just a thought
Bud A