When people ask you "what do you do?"...

I

imported_hockeyplaya13

New member
What do you say? I'm currently reading a book on networking, and it just brought up a good point and something I have been struggling with. When people ask you about what your business is or ask you what you do, what do you say? I've been saying that I detail cars a lot, but to some (most) people, detailing is just waxing the car, dressing the wheels, and cleaning out the interior. I'm not sure how to effectively convey that I'm a high quality professional, not some high school kid down the street (hard to do because I'm only 20). A lot of people don't know about this business yet since I just started it and have just gone public with it (had to get some more ducks in a row first), so I'm frequently encountering it in conversation and having people ask about it.



Just curious what you all say and how you effectively convey what it is that we do/why we're better than your typical wash/wax "detailers", and how you do it in a sentence or two.



Thanks!



Scott
 
You could say you own the premier auto salon in the xxx area. This should get the person to ask "premier auto salon huh? What makes you different than the shop down the street?". Now you've got their interest and can educate them. My slogan at my shop is Seattle's Premier Auto Salon which helps to distinguish and reinforce what I just told my potential client when they get my business card. I hope this helps, and best of luck!



John
 
I have ran into the same situation many times and figured the best responce is "An Automotive, Marine or Motorcycle detailer!" It begs them the question of asking more indepth phrase of what do you do...which is promptly followed with... "I do everything from wash/wax up to full paint correction, etc etc etc." Then you just give them the general sales pitch or run down of your business while answering any questions they may have. Basically if you have any sales exp or have ever hired people or been a possible hired employee yourself...you want to sale yourself.
 
I normally just say “I specialize in high end- automotive detailing and paint reconditioning.” That’s normally enough to get people to ask about my services/the company.
 
hockeyplaya13 said:
What do you say? I'm currently reading a book on networking, and it just brought up a good point and something I have been struggling with. When people ask you about what your business is or ask you what you do, what do you say? I've been saying that I detail cars a lot, but to some (most) people, detailing is just waxing the car, dressing the wheels, and cleaning out the interior. I'm not sure how to effectively convey that I'm a high quality professional, not some high school kid down the street (hard to do because I'm only 20). A lot of people don't know about this business yet since I just started it and have just gone public with it (had to get some more ducks in a row first), so I'm frequently encountering it in conversation and having people ask about it.



Just curious what you all say and how you effectively convey what it is that we do/why we're better than your typical wash/wax "detailers", and how you do it in a sentence or two.



Thanks!



Scott
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Scott, Let me tell you one thing, Age has nothing to do with your dilema here. You may be only 20, I know of someone a few years younger then you and has worked on some serious stuff. Its your experiance level. Remember anyone these days can by a buffer, some chemicals and say I'm the best detailer in my area. You need the credentials to back it up. You need real life experiance with what you are doing. If people ask just tell them the truth. IWhen people ask me what I do. I tell them " I'm the best damn compound slinger this side of the Mississippi." They usally laugh and say what's that. Thats when I tell them exactly what I do. I use that line as an ice breaker. Think of something and it will fall into place.
 
Thanks Barry. I really like the idea of coming up with a line like that to spark interest and lead to more conversation. It's a great idea. As far as the age thing, I wasn't quoting it so much as a disadvantage, as I was just saying that my one-liner that tells what I do needs to be that much more effective because it's almost easier for them to picture me as the high-school wash/waxer due to my age. So I need to come up with something really effective that immediately puts an entirely different picture into their minds.
 
Barry Theal said:
IWhen people ask me what I do. I tell them " I'm the best damn compound slinger this side of the Mississippi."
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lol ! That's actually a really good one Barry !
 
Barry has it right on the money in my opinion. After all the cars I've fixed that have just came from a body shop or dealer, etc, etc,; I do sometimes just tell them I offer what only a handful of people in the nearest 500 miles offer, and that no one can make there car(which is usually the thing they love the most next to God and Family.) I'm always chasing perfection, and while this may set me back on the schedule sometimes, it almost always brings in higher end clients by referral. It just depends on who's asking also sometimes for me. I consider what I do as a high skill, so a technician would also be a good way to describe it. If you truly have developed to a high skill level your a technician, artist, reconditioning specialist, the list go's on. If you haven't been in business long, you're not going to be the best(Some do claim that) but just keep at it. Thousands and thousands of hours later you'll be astonished at what you can achieve. Sooner or later you'll get there, and will be picking and choosing which jobs you take on, but this can also be the point where things get so hectic you lose the focus and zeal you once had. I hit this when the phone calls became never ending(sort of like a writer losing his/her creativity). When I went through this point I turned to some mentors and a book called "The E-Myth". It talks about a business person having three personalities. "The Technician", "The Manager", and the "Entrepreneur". Their always in a fight with each other and in the other's way even though it's just one person. I know when I was coming up and experiencing success; trying to balance everything was difficult. I'm sure even in the beginning of your business you never stop moving. If you're not on a car, your on the computer, or your brainstorming about ideas for success and bringing in more clients; it never stops. I could go on forever, but I will say that once I learned to make all these things work, and once I left work at work rather than taking it all home with me, the stress wasn't as bad. Maybe I got off track a little, but to reiterate, there's nothing wrong with having a little EGO in the business world, if we didn't we wouldn't have ventured out on our own in the first place or wanted to be recognized with our own work; not to mention getting rid of the boss and only being limited to what we can dream up.
 
Barry Theal said:
Scott, Let me tell you one thing, Age has nothing to do with your dilema here. You may be only 20, I know of someone a few years younger then you and has worked on some serious stuff. Its your experiance level. Remember anyone these days can by a buffer, some chemicals and say I'm the best detailer in my area. You need the credentials to back it up. You need real life experiance with what you are doing. If people ask just tell them the truth. IWhen people ask me what I do. I tell them " I'm the best damn compound slinger this side of the Mississippi." They usally laugh and say what's that. Thats when I tell them exactly what I do. I use that line as an ice breaker. Think of something and it will fall into place.
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yeah. the best way is to show them your car ;) that will back it up.
 
I do PDR and detailing so I tell people I am an Auto Appearance Specialist. Then when they ask me for details I tell them all the different services I offer.
 
Haha I got buddies that say that to me and I flip it back on them and say "how is it working for $12 an hour for somebody else. Washing cars is great thanks"
 
Know that most folks aren't going to think less of a car washer as opposed to a car detailer. To them it's the same thing. Buddies....they can be a bit different tho. :D
 
I put a little simple slogan in my, "Not Just A Carwash", i hope thats enought to bring up a ? mark to people.



I had 2 co-workers, laugh at me while checking the fourms, "Look at this guy watching videos on how to wash a car"



I brushed it off, so he kept seeing me check forums. then he realized, and asked more about it. At that point, i gave him examples of what i did, and he was kind of surprised at the different levels of detailing.



But for the most part i say i focus more on paint reconditioning, they people are like, ***?
 
Back in the day it never bothered me to say I detail cars to people when they asked. Now that I'm older and my friends and other people my age have successful careers it's a little harder to say I do this, oh and I have a side detailing business. Unfortunately detailers are looked upon like pizza delivery boys, and there is that stereotype we will never get past.



At the end of the day though I could care less what people think, anyone who thinks less of me for doing what I love can kiss my a$$! :D





To address the question though, I usually say I have a side business where I specialize in high end paint correction and auto detailing.





Rasky
 
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