Starting my own shop tommorow any pointers?

Color_Concepts · 07-19-09, 12:34

Well i got all my products and everything ready to start but this week i'll be gearing my shop to all the advertising i can. my ? is what do you guys do out there to really bring in customers? i have some guy coming in this week for a full detail at 175 which i think is fair for the location i'm at.

WCD · 07-19-09, 03:57

One of my buddies that has a shop will tell the customer that he needs the car for x amount of hours...usually 3-4 more than needed. As he finishes cars, he parks them out front for all to see- this creates two things...1. The shop is busy and has lots of work and 2. Image of quality since customers driving by can see the the cars.

One company uses car covers for each car and takes it off when customer picks up- someone even went as far to silkscreen the car covers with the company colors and logo.

Signage- put the largest sign or lettering possible for passing motorists- make it simple and to the point.

As a mobile person, we get the most work when we are busy- people see what we are doing- takes away the "think" factor + we put a sign near the office entrance that has a menu on it and THEN we attach a "$10 off special if booked by noon" type ad- we build it in, but it really worked last Friday as 4 more washes were booked within about 1 hr. of putting it up.

Rob

Auto Concierge · 07-19-09, 06:26

Focus on quality and integrity first profit second, however without profit there will be no longevity. A fixed location allows you to keep vehicles overnight or longer and you can set the shop up for better working conditions than mobile jobs will allow but your costs will be at least double a mobile unit.

Just get a good as you can be at your job, look and speak in a professional manner and market yourself without being pushy or overly aggressive and things will take care of it's self.

Wish you all the best(as you are not in my area lol).

Color_Concepts · 07-19-09, 07:34

thanks guys. yes i def. want to get a big signage? i'm actually located right inside a automotive shop so they are going to help me out as well. i'm really going to try and focus to get a few accounts with some big dealerships around my area. For now it will just be me working but i can handle doing 4 cars a day really busting myself. any good places to get some signage? thanks

DeanMachine · 07-19-09, 08:03

4 cars a day? Holy details batman! Thats awesome. (no advice here) , but could you break down your process in time increments?
Good Luck! and Congrats!

Color_Concepts · 07-19-09, 08:35

i'm not breaking it down into time increments but its def all in the wash. if you have a bad wash then don't think about getting the outside down fast. also i don't really work on cars older then 05 so i can get things done a lil faster.

DeanMachine · 07-19-09, 08:39

yeah, I could imagine 1 nasty car could set you back.

Got_Leather · 07-19-09, 09:17

just a heads up, your signature is going to be removed since it contains an address and number.

Be professional, market accordingly, and develop relationships.

Also remember, word of mouth is the best advertising.

Color_Concepts · 07-20-09, 02:21

my signature will be removed? i'm in some other forums and i talked to the administrators and they said thats alright, maybe autopia is different? I've been spreading the word as much as i can, i think once i start getting a few details its going to be alright. where do you guys get business cards, stickers, etc from or do you just go local?

Jakerooni · 07-20-09, 02:31

Autopia is very different, it's clearly stated in the rules (pretty sure it's in bold print even) you are not allowed to solicite for business on here. So a sig removal will be the very least of it if they do catch you. Good luck with the biz venture though. Sounds like it'll be alot of fun.

odgaard · 07-23-09, 06:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auto Concierge

Focus on quality and integrity first profit second, however without profit there will be no longevity. A fixed location allows you to keep vehicles overnight or longer and you can set the shop up for better working conditions than mobile jobs will allow but your costs will be at least double a mobile unit.

Just get a good as you can be at your job, look and speak in a professional manner and market yourself without being pushy or overly aggressive and things will take care of it's self.

Wish you all the best(as you are not in my area lol).

good advice

Setec Astronomy · 07-23-09, 06:50

This is the single best marketing trick I've heard here: Everybody wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Turbomangt is a genius at this kind of stuff (I guess it was pretty successful, he already sold his business); search for some of his other threads.