Possibly Opening Detailing Supply Store ??

[Beemerboy]

well this is gonna suck then lol ...

Ryan

no is stopping you from going after your dream but giving you the...direction that you need to look at before you start.

I think that if you can find a good car care supplier and rep them selling to detailers, auto dealership, large car washes place...you can work in the industry, get experience and make some $$ at the same time

[Autogeek]

Being a tech guy here at the Geek and seeing how operations work, I will tell you first hand that I would definitely not attempt to open a detail supply store. Starting out is tough enough as it is, and with bigger competitors, ridiculous shipping prices due to gas, and smaller profit margins with the way the economy is going, I`d definitely look elsewhere. You`ll probably be way better off building a good client base and doing high-end details.

[RyansAutoDetail]

thanks everyone for the input !
so i guess i would be better off still doing details on the side then

[sal329]

Find something you like, cars, computers what ever it is. Get a degree and a career in that, detail on the side for a paying hobby. Unless you just love to detail Im sure there are many people that make money as a detailer full time.

[Bunky]

The ones I know about do not have a traditional shop (brick and mortar). They run an internet sales operation and also do the car show circuit. The three I know seem to focus on one brand. I think most do show detailing as part of the business. I had placed an internet order with one (home based in NC) but they were in Ga. at a show and shipped the products to me from there!

There is a lot of sellers but sales seem to be based upon convenience and customer service not price on the non-store brands (like Poor Boys, Adam`s, etc.). If you sold the PB line you can be somewhat sure that no one is really undercutting anyone else except through special promotions. If you carried brands like Meg`s, etc. you may have to compete on price more since there are more wholesalers.

There are many sellers on the internet but many sales are still direct like at shows where people like to see demo`s and get the personal education. Some think the internet is the only way but there is still a lot of biz done through personal direct sale.

From what I see here at DC and elsewhere, it seems like a lot of hard work and constant promotion. Like in restuarants, you are after repeat business unless you have a large market.

[RyansAutoDetail]

so far i have no return clients from the last 8 cars ive done in 2.5 months so im thinking about promotion ad in the newspaper to expand horizons and see what that gets me

[Bunky]

Have you contacted them to ask why? The best way to improve in this case is to get feedback.

[GearHead_1]

thanks everyone for the input !
so i guess i would be better off still doing details on the side then

Ryan, if you wouldn`t consider it rude of me, may I ask your age? Making a business decision like this sometimes looks bad at one point in your life and terrific at another point. Reading this thread I`m trying to get a feel for where you are.

[RyansAutoDetail]

i am 23

[GearHead_1]

i am 23

You mentioned you are doing this part time, what are you doing for your regular job/school?

[RyansAutoDetail]

You mentioned you are doing this part time, what are you doing for your regular job/school?

2 year college apprentice mechanic schooling didnt work out all dealers i applied to and not one call so im gonna look at something different right now i referee minor hockey and i had been working a warehousing job but recenlty got let go so im back on the job hunt