Newbie Advice: Marketing, Products, etc?

AWDTurboSy · 06-02-02, 12:56

Hello All.
I am new to the board and have been reading through many posts over the past few days. Lots of great information here from you all! I do, however, have a few specific questions:

I am a college student starting up a mobile detailing business for the summer here in Minnesota. I have worked for a professional detailing company and am a car enthusiast as I am sure many of you are as well so I have a few cars under my belt. I have a pretty nice flyer made up with the two detail packages that I have decided to offer. The first package is basically a wash, cleaner wax, interior vacuum and wipe down, wheel/tire cleaning&dressing, window cleaning. $59 cars $69 for SUVs. The next package I have includes all this except a 2 step polish&wax, carpet&upohlstery shampoo, crevice cleaning,etc. $89 for cars and $99 for SUVs. I checked around w/ other local detail shops and set my prices lower, especially on the 2 step package. I will be doing my services either at the customer's home or business, or pick up the vehicle and drive it to my house to do the work. Now to my questions....

What advice would you give for obtaining new customers? I have been handing out flyers in mailboxes. (Not actually "in" the mailbox though) Also I have talked to people if they are out i there yard/driveway. Any tips/ideas/marketing "secrets" you can give would be great!

How do you all deal with the issue of soliciting? Where can I and can't I hand my flyers out?

I don't have enough money to purchase products such as Zaino/Klasse right now so I am sticking w/ Meguiars/Mothers/Eagle 1. What are some "must have" products that can be purchased @ Auto Stores/WalMart, etc?

What products are better for dark cars and what products are better for light cars?

What extra supplies are a good idea to have that may not immediately come to mind?

Any other advice that any of you extremely knowledgable people can offer that will help me get my small business off the ground and running smoothly would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot!!

Adam

thevolvoguy · 06-19-02, 07:58

This will be a long one so be prepared.

I started my mobile detailing business last summer. I began by putting out flyers in my own neighborhood (upper middle class... not rich but still, lots of nice cars) Expect a return rate of about 1 in 300 people(or flyers handed out) that will give you a call back. When you move up a level, to the million dollar neighborhoods, expect aobut a 5 in 100 return. I got lucky, when I was putting out flyers on peoples doors who stepped outside and called me over???? Maurice Taylor, of the Houston Rockets. He wanted me to detail all four of his cars, (3 step clay, polish and wax) once a week every week. He told me to do what I needed to do to keep his cars looking their best and he will give me $100 for each car, no questions asked. That was October. He is still calling me every week and in fact I am going over there tommorow.

As far as soliciting goes, MOST neighborhoods that are worth advertising in, it is illeagal to do so. Gated, or not gated they can still fine you for doing it. But hey, no one will stop you. Just dont look suspicious. Hold your head up and hide your flyers

To find new customers I reccomed somthing my friends mother reccomended to me and her friend reccomended to her. What county are you in? There should be a website where you can look up tax reccords. Type in a subdivision or street name and it gives you a list of people that live there. Make them a personalized letter thats computer typed and include your flyer then mail it. Its much more direct, the letter is almost guaranteed to see the customers eyes. Ask yourself a question... How many flyers do you take off your door and throw away... See?? Thats why you have such a low marketing rate. Try it. It will work and its worth the extra pennies.

As far as Wal-Mart products go, there is nothing better than Meguiars Gold Class, liquid if youre going to apply it with a buffer, and paste if youre going to apply it by hand. GC shine is quite comparable to Souveran on blacks and reds. For lighter colors, I reccomend synthetics. Give Liquid Glass a try, its expensive but its great for a store bought synthetic. You can pick that up at the hardware store. Before you apply any wax or polish, if the paint is neglected or over a year old than it should be clayed or cleaned to provide optimal results. (Don't clay a customers car unless he/she specifically asks for it and is willing to pay for it.) I also highly reccomend you buy yourself a little battery powered boom box. It shortens time.... a lot. Dont forget plenty of bottled water.

Any more questions? Email me- volvoguy2001@hotmail.com Good Luck and welcome to the forum. You will find very useful information here.

Aurorav8 · 06-19-02, 08:22

How would you go about finding a site with tax information for a certain county. I have searched for something like that in the past and came up totally blank. It would be great to type in a subdivision name or street name and get a list of addresses with names for it, but I don't think it exists around here.

I live in Allen County Indiana, if you come across something it would be greatly appreciated.

Scottwax · 06-19-02, 11:13

Flyers are a great idea. Like the volvoguy, I picked up a semi-famous person as a customer when I was handing out flyers in a high end neighborhood--Mike Lalor of the Dallas Stars (well, formerly now, he's retired). I was putting one on his door when his extremely attractive wife opened the door. I handed it to her and she said it was exactly what they needed. I detailed their cars until he retired and move to Wisconsin. He referred me to Craig Ludwig (also a Dallas Star) and I did Craig's cars until he also retired.

I also put out flyers at DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field until I was told I was not allowed-but when I was putting them out their in the parking garages, I could put out 300-400 in an hour since the cars were lined up and waiting.

Every single day I didn't have cars to detail, I was putting out flyers. You really have to look at it as a 2nd job and be motivated to get them out.

You can also set up a maintenance plan to ensure repeat business. After you detail a car, recommend a plan along the following lines: You will return every two weeks to wash/vac/dress tires and wax a section of the car, spot clean the interior and dress a portion of the interior. That way, their car is continually detailed, the wax job is always no more than 6-8 weeks old, and you have some regular business. I have one customer who has been on this type of plan for 7 years now. Charge about $40-50 for cars and $50-70 for vans, trucks and SUVs. Once you get the routine down, you shouldn't be spending more than 1.5 hours on cars and 2-2.5 on vans and SUVs, and probably less in most cases.

Make sure on your flyers that you include the following concerning pricing: Our prices are intended as a guideline. Actual condition of the vehicle will determine the final price, which we will let you know prior to beginning the work.

That way, if some soccer mom calls you out to clean a Suburban at the end of a 3 year lease that has not seen a vacuum or a drop of car wash soap in that time, you don't get screwed by detailing it for a set price.

AWDTurboSy · 06-20-02, 02:03

Hey guys thanks for the advice...It has been very helpful.

The tax record idea is something I am going to try next. So far I have had success with the flyers (3 cars) and also just word of mouth...(friends parents, parents friends, ect.)

Another good idea that I have used is talking to a couple of auto repair shops near me. I know the owner pretty well and he has my flyer and business card sitting on his checkout counter. I have had a few jobs lined up from that.

So the biz is starting to get rolling, but now I have a few more questions...

What is a good polish/sealant to use before topping with Gold Class wax? Or should I be using some sort of paint cleaner instead of a sealant before I wax? I kinda want to stick with a 2 step b/c my price is $99 for a full detail.

I have used The TW Finish 2001 polish/sealant and I must say this **** SUCKS! Streaky as hell when it comes off. How is Nu Finish compared to this? Streaky too? How does it apply in the sunlight?

If there is nothing good that is readily available I am thinking about either the bulk Hi-Temp Polish+Cleaner or the Meguiars Mirror Glaze Polish&Cleaner. Anyone ever used either of these?

Any other advice would be great...

Thanks,

Adam

Chris A · 06-20-02, 12:16

I am not sure if any of you had tried this or not.

I am a production manager at where I work and work closely with the HR manager. A few times a year we get contacted by other companies mostly health clubs and such. They bring in their fliers that are personalized to our company or in the form of a coupon that fits in a envelope. You can get three on one sheet of paper.

Most HR managers just love giving out free or discounted things to the employees. Most Amusement parks have been doing this for years. Just make up a bunch of $5.00 off coupons and let the company do all the work of stuffing them in there pay envelopes. The HR manager will be able to tell you how many people they have working for them.

Also if you know people that work at big places have them hang a flyer up at their work.

I am not sure how well this will work for you as I have never tried it myself but I have seen it done several times.

Good luck.
Chris

Intel486 · 06-20-02, 05:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris A
I am not sure if any of you had tried this or not.

I am a production manager at where I work and work closely with the HR manager. A few times a year we get contacted by other companies mostly health clubs and such. They bring in their fliers that are personalized to our company or in the form of a coupon that fits in a envelope. You can get three on one sheet of paper.

Most HR managers just love giving out free or discounted things to the employees. Most Amusement parks have been doing this for years. Just make up a bunch of $5.00 off coupons and let the company do all the work of stuffing them in there pay envelopes. The HR manager will be able to tell you how many people they have working for them.

Also if you know people that work at big places have them hang a flyer up at their work.

I am not sure how well this will work for you as I have never tried it myself but I have seen it done several times.

Good luck.
Chris

Thank is actually a friggin' great idea!

Bumpers Plus · 06-20-02, 06:13

You could give the HR manager a discount on their car for their help, do their car first, it can be a advertisement to other people at the company, so do an extremely good job. Have a foam mat to put your knees on when scrubbing interiors, or very dirty rocker panels, a wood small step ladder (aluminum is slippery when wet) a couple extra shirts , cause you will get dirty, thank you cards, always do more than a customer expects the first time, and point out the extras you have done, and you will build a clientle for life.

leyland · 06-20-02, 06:13

That is the american spirit .....hard work and you will be on your way ......i've been very lucky with the chamber of commerence web site ...in my town they list all the companies in my town ..plus all the members of the chamber ....so hook uo some nice envelopes...gold color something somebody wont trash at first glance...money is tight for you ....do a bulk buy at hi-temp inc ....i like the products... cherry soap.. grape tire dressings ....
ALWAYS BE PROFESSIONAL ....WEAR NICE POLO SHIRT AND SHORTS...ALWAYS DELIVER MORE THEN YOU PROMISE ....
BEST OF RUCK!!!!!!
PS...TELL JESSIE THE BODY VENTURA ....ADIOS....

Intel486 · 06-20-02, 06:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Bumpers Plus
a couple extra shirts , cause you will get dirty, thank you cards

I usually carry a few extra shirts too but I also cary shorts, socks, and shoes. Reason be is I usually end up hosing myself off while I'm working

Get an apron for when you use your buffer! No sense in ruining a shirt with polish.

NY detailer · 06-20-02, 09:11

Be very careful if you are going to do pick up and drop off. If you get into an accident you are screwed unless you have insurance for that.
I own a detail business in NY and i am fully insured for something like that to happen. You must also be prepared for the worse, what happens if you are using the PC and drop it on the car and cause damage, or you burn the paint with a rotary.
these are just some things to keep in the back of your head.
---
word of mouth is the best, try to do all mobile work, when you are doing it all the neighboors will come out to watch and then give them your card, it works everytime
NYD

Scottwax · 06-20-02, 11:27

Try the local golf course. Most of them have access to power and water if you need it, shade trees to work under and the average golfer takes 3-4 hours to play 18 holes, so you should have enough time to finish everything but the nastiest cars. Work a deal with the owner/manager-maybe wash his car for free each week or something like that.