2009... Great Year for Pro Detailers

DavidB · 01-06-09, 08:43

Happy New Year Pros!

It's been a few months since I posted over here. I took on a BIG project that consumed me for a while. That's all done and now I have time for forum business again.

A few weeks ago it really hit me that the poor economy and near collapse of the US auto industry is going to make 2009 a boom year for professional detailers. I think this for a couple of reasons:

1. People can't finance or afford a new car; and

2. People who lost their job need to sell their car for as much as they can get.

I think both of these situations mean good business for professional detailers. What are your thoughts?

If this is true, what plans do you have to go after this business? How do you plan to reach this audience?

A few weeks ago I had a wild arse thought and ran with it. On my Thanksgiving break I created a bit-o-code that finds people selling cars and collects their information:

- Seller's name and email address
- Make, model and year car they are selling
- City they live in
- Asking price for the vehicle

My system works amazingly well. In the period of a month I collected 9,000+ names, then shut the system off. Stunned by the results, I have pondered what to do with the data... if anything.

While any unsolicited email is considered spam, I think that if you're offering someone a service they need, it's not unrelated. In this case, it's easier to sell a car if it has been professionally detailed and the vehicle is likely to fetch a higher price.

What are your thoughts on this idea? On my end I'm selling nothing; I'm just bringing car seller and car detailer together.

db

DiPsAuCe · 01-06-09, 08:54

i would think the opposite. Bad economy means people would rather spend $$$ on food rather than caring for their car. But maybe thats just me.

sixty7mustang22 · 01-06-09, 09:40

I feel that both sides are true. There will be more people wanting to keep their cars, so they want to get them looking like new again and then there will be the people that wanted to get their cars done but don't have the money now.

I think it will come close to evening out.

salty · 01-06-09, 11:18

David any tools help and the idea sounds great. I did something similar last spring.

My area has an online newspaper with car sales. I copied and pasted a small message about "clean cars sell faster" and messaged only the car owners that i wanted. I sent about 30 messages and received 1 reply. It was an easy way to reach customers and get my business name out there.

Danase · 01-06-09, 11:28

I can tell you from the way the economy has been most businesses are down right now and not up. From my experiences people look at washing and cleaning their cars as a luxury and not as something they need to do. I've been saying for years that you need to educate people on why washing their car is just as important as oil changes. Like the fact that most body shops won't touch rust and if they do it cost a fortune to have it done right. A proper paint job will cost as much if not more than a new engine.

Twista616 · 01-06-09, 11:39

I'm going to have to go with the negative on this one. Quick story: At Barns & Noble looking for some good reading material. Over heard a couple of women talking about how they plan on retiring this year...and now they cant since their 401Ks took a dump...now they have to work another 5 years or so. So, most people will not spend the extra cash to get their car clean.

David, you say any unsolicited email is considered spam...i get that stuff every day...even with my name on it. It may work if you title the email to "Interested in your car you have for sale..." they are going to open in no matter what.

TH0001 · 01-06-09, 11:48

Its kind of to soon for me to know one way or another. I had a 'slow (realitive to last year) summer' but the fall has been far busier then last year. Jumping into the big show (for me) at the end of this month, I can say that January is among my best months to date work wise and probably the best in terms of profit. I am expecting a down turn but already booking in Feb... We will see.

DavidB · 01-06-09, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danase

From my experiences people look at washing and cleaning their cars as a luxury and not as something they need to do. I've been saying for years that you need to educate people on why washing their car is just as important as oil changes.

Bob, I agree with you on this point 100%. That is the purpose of the forums.

People selling their cars are motivated by money. When they learn that a properly detailed car will fetch a higher price and sell faster, well, you know the old saying that "You have to spend money to make money."

My goal here is to use the Autopia.org community to help all involved: product sellers, detailers and car owners/sellers. If I can do that then I have done my part to make a difference in a crappy economy.

I'm trying to find the positive in the situation, not the negative.

DavidB · 01-06-09, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twista616

David, you say any unsolicited email is considered spam...i get that stuff every day...even with my name on it. It may work if you title the email to "Interested in your car you have for sale..." they are going to open in no matter what.

The way I get the car seller information is by sending them an email to begin with... I have better than a 50% email open/respond rate.

weekendwarrior · 01-06-09, 12:18

I seem to be doing mainly high end stuff these days. It seems like high end owners can "laugh off" the losses they are taking, and still continue to spend money on things like detailing. I am staying about as busy as I want to be at the moment, since we are moving out of our current home, and building a new home...and doing a good bit of the work ourselves.

I am hoping 2009 is better than 2008 for the economy in general. It would be nice if there was a drastic improvement in 2010. As soon as the economy turns around, I think in my area, I'll be getting more calls from middle of the road cars (not high end) for detailing services.

JohnKleven · 01-06-09, 04:18

So far we've been booming this year. We finished last year really slow, as Seattle had a 2 week snowstorm. I think things are turning for the better quickly.

John

Richie Carbone · 01-06-09, 04:42

As mentioned before, the service we offer is a luxury to most and only those well off enough to weather the storm can sustain their usual lifestyles.

The economy will turn around and get better as things level out.

I hope everyone does better in 09.