how's business

xtahoex · 03-01-09, 07:22

Hey guys, don't want to pry into your personal lives too much, but how is business right now? I know for me it is horrible (home builder) so I wanted to see how it is for you all considering most people consider washing and detailing a luxury item that they can go without.
How bad of an idea is it to start into your business right now?

toyotaguy · 03-01-09, 07:43

i am actually picking up with more correction work being done rather than just wash and waxes...pretty cool I think!

The thing with the recession is that people need to spend money if we want to get out of it! If you have a job then work, save a little, and spend what you can instead of saving it all! stimulate the economy!

Showroom Shine · 03-01-09, 08:53

Slow for me in Ohio. Still very cold here,and I do not have a building. I have done 4 vehicles this year. I have customers booked into June, as soon as it warms up here,I'll be busy. It was 19 here todayand 6 with the chill factor. Brrrrl!

eyezack87 · 03-01-09, 09:55

I've gotten 4 more clients for this month who contacted me by email or phone. Not bad for just word of mouth

(HIN showcar next Saturday too

)

Showroom Shine · 03-02-09, 03:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyotaguy

i am actually picking up with more correction work being done rather than just wash and waxes...pretty cool I think!

The thing with the recession is that people need to spend money if we want to get out of it! If you have a job then work, save a little, and spend what you can instead of saving it all! stimulate the economy!

I agree with this,but you have to get the very wealthy to do the same thing. Not just people like US!

Luster · 03-02-09, 04:51

In my area (Kansas City)... the detailing business usually comes to a dead standstill in January and February. Not only in a poor economic environment, but EVERY year.

Jan-Feb in KC is usually pretty miserable. People hybernate until about mid-March.

April through November I'll have more work than I can handle. December, there will be a few stragglers who didn't get it done in the summer, then back to "the Black Hole"!!!

jdoria · 03-02-09, 04:57

Same levels as 2008 thus far.

It's all correction work, I still cant find a local detailer to take the general clean-up work that I get called for.

I'm part-time and 30 minutes North of NYC.

brwill2005 · 03-02-09, 05:32

This February was 42% better than last February. This is despite missing a week for vacation. I attribute this to signing up more bi-weekly/monthly maintenance clients. I have only had a few new customers in the last several months though.

Jakerooni · 03-02-09, 05:40

Just dead so far. Alot of inquiries about when it warms back up but no actual bookings just yet.

MotorCity · 03-02-09, 09:14

I open shop in March, not much detailing to be done around here at this level when the snow is on the ground..

So far I am booked March, April, 1/2 of May & June - all correction.

d00t · 03-02-09, 09:32

I've been consistently booked for all of february, and all of march. Nothing out for April on though. Even though it's been raining a lot, still getting details in

.

In fact, I have a concourse detail starting tomorrow

bryansbestwax · 03-02-09, 12:12

My first year going full time is going fairly well, booking 2-3 a week, and its middle of winter here still.