Business relationships with other Automotive businesses

C

C.carryon

New member
I run a Detailing business like most of the Autopians in the detailing sections.

I have been trying to expand my business by creating relationships with other Automotive type businesses like auto body shops, dealerships ETC.

However I have a very limited grasp on how to form these relationships, some of the questions that come to mind are:

1. How do I approach the businesses?
2. What are good numbers/percentages are good to offer them?
3. Should I try White labeling? Where I detail with my company being an extension of their brand?

I know there a lot of very experience detailers and business owners in this site so please take the time to help me out!
 
Dealerships and Body Shops will normally, not want to pay you anything and make you do Production type work..
Good luck with that..

I took my incredibly perfectly Detailed Black Grand Cherokee to the best German car repair shop in the area and talked to them about being their In-House Detailer..

Having had many Bimmers in the past and at that time, I already knew the marque, was a member of the BMWCCA, and conversed intelligently on any subject of Bimmers..

When they said "show us your work", we just walked out to my Black Jeep and there it was - perfectly spotless, outside, inside, the engine compartment, everything perfect..

I offered to Detail their 2003 540iT Shop Wagon and that sealed the deal when they got it back..

After 1 year, I had more Bimmers, Audi, and some Porsche cars to do for the entire year, with no breaks...

You will need to be able to sell yourself and your work, can you do that ?

People with nice cars and extra money will want to take care of their car/s which they see as an investment, so they will find a good, independent, repair shop, to get away from the Dealer-gouging craziness, etc...

They will want to have their Baby Detailed while it's in the Shop for maintenance, repairs, etc...

I would talk to them sometimes and tell them that they just got their car back all new again, as new or better than when they purchased it; and it's like starting all over again with a new looking car..

Some of these people will also have many, many, nicer cars in warehouses, etc., and this is a way to get into that network... They will also know others and refer you all the time...

This is 1 way to do it - good luck !
Dan F
 
I agree to bring a vehicle that you have done to the shops. I don't give any of the dealers or repair shops any cut. We refer to them if they do quality work. We ask that hey have the client contact us directly as to avoid problems with schedule or expectations. This also allows my wife to discuss the options we offer. I have done dealership owners personal cars which has gotten referral business for they're best clients
 
Thanks for this answer! It is really helpful knowing that at least this option works depending on how it is handled.
 
Thanks for this answer! It is really helpful knowing that at least this option works depending on how it is handled.​





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If you can get the "Detailer for our Shop" job, you will have to negotiate an agreement with them for the use of a space, etc.,...

If you choose to do the work for their Clients at your place, that will always be better, as long its not way the heck far away...

You will need to be business dressed for the initial visit, and always present the best look when you are there - after all, they are going to take a chance and entrust you to represent them now...

If you find a German Car Shop like this one, their Clients are going to be older, established, very successful business people, who know about their cars, money and value, and can calculate it very fast in their heads, so you need to be able to do this also when called upon..

You need to be totally upfront and honest, make eye contact, and be able to show them that you are in charge of your business with total confidence in yourself and your abilities..

You will need to have good References, that have very nice vehicles (that match theirs if possible) you Detailed, with their names and numbers already on your phone, etc..

No showing up late, excuses, whining, etc.., you come to work, put your head down and do your job..
No distractions, it's a business - their business - and they dont want to change that...

How many years have you been Detailing ?
Dan F
 
Stokdgs said:
If you can get the "Detailer for our Shop" job, you will have to negotiate an agreement with them for the use of a space, etc.,...

If you choose to do the work for their Clients at your place, that will always be better, as long its not way the heck far away...

You will need to be business dressed for the initial visit, and always present the best look when you are there - after all, they are going to take a chance and entrust you to represent them now...

If you find a German Car Shop like this one, their Clients are going to be older, established, very successful business people, who know about their cars, money and value, and can calculate it very fast in their heads, so you need to be able to do this also when called upon..

You need to be totally upfront and honest, make eye contact, and be able to show them that you are in charge of your business with total confidence in yourself and your abilities..

You will need to have good References, that have very nice vehicles (that match theirs if possible) you Detailed, with their names and numbers already on your phone, etc..

No showing up late, excuses, whining, etc.., you come to work, put your head down and do your job..
No distractions, it's a business - their business - and they dont want to change that...

How many years have you been Detailing ?
Dan F
Click to expand...


Perfect !
 
77% of luxury brand cars are leased...that doesnt scream "successful business people, who know about their cars, money and value, and can calculate it very fast in their heads" to me.

A lease is the least intelligent way to spend money on a vehicle. Why do you think the dealers push it so much? Its like the extended warranty... or for that matter like a dealer installed "coating/undercoating"
 
Dcjredline -

Quote - Re: Business relationships with other Automotive businesses
77% of luxury brand cars are leased...that doesnt scream "successful business people, who know about their cars, money and value, and can calculate it very fast in their heads" to me. End Quote

All the Clients I met there whose vehicles I Detailed, owned them, loved them, took great care of them, and yes, valued them; and they really did know how to calculate anything financial in their heads, so sorry, in this particular example, you have this wrong... :)
Dan F
 
My shop is surrounded by about a dozen other automotive businesses and I do work for a lot of them...either on their own cars or their customers cars. In most cases they don't get any special pricing, but they do require that I get the job done in a timely manner. A lot of the time they are getting a customers car detailed after a repair of some kind, and they need it done right away. I will refer customers to these other businesses and they refer people to me. Once they know you are there and do good work at a fair price the work just seems to come.
 
I would approach smaller, more generic shops and corporate shops as well. I work in a corporate shop and we have to have cars detailed every so often for different reasons, and while its not very often its one that can help fill a slow week. And a good few shops can be somewhat steady.
 
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