Good Way to Establish Busines in a new area?

[Labster]

During the peak detailing season in my area (NE Ohio), I'm fairly consistent doing detailing PT. This however does not apply to the fall, except for those with exotics who get their vehicles done for winter storage. Anyway, I've moved for school and I'm trying to establish myself in this new venue and I'm just looking for ideas as to how to get some business going around here as well. Now that I live in a house I have most of my detailing arsenal up here with me. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

Business cards with a professional logo. Hand them out by the grossloads. Put a cheap ad in the paper with that logo and contact number. It's alot of sweat work but you just have to put the time in and make sure people know who you are.

 

[todd@bsaw]

It could be worth your time to give away a few free details. Find a local club or organization raffle and donate a certificate for a free detail. It is a great way to get word of mouth started. Give the people a reason to talk about your services and they will.



Another hint... drive around town and find out who is selling the large and expensive houses. It's easy because they usually have their name and face on a sign in the front yard.

Many real estate agents drive a lot and their vehicle is a part of their professional appearance and are great word-of-mouth spreaders. Offer a free or discounted detail and try to get onto their "Welcome to the Neighborhood" packets.

 

[BradUF]

Business cards with a professional logo. Hand them out by the grossloads. Put a cheap ad in the paper with that logo and contact number. It's alot of sweat work but you just have to put the time in and make sure people know who you are.

I don't know about the news paper.. Wont you end up with a ton of people wanting full details for 50 bucks? About handing them out, do you just hand them to everyone you know? People tend not to take me serious because I am a college student.

 

[fergnation]

Signs, signs, signs. Have twenty or so signs printed up and put them in heavy traffic areas. Pass out flyers in nice neighborhoods. Detail your car and get a magnet printed or get lettering on your car. You are looking for exposure.

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

I don't know about the news paper.. Wont you end up with a ton of people wanting full details for 50 bucks? About handing them out, do you just hand them to everyone you know? People tend not to take me serious because I am a college student.

I guess they would if you sit there and advertise that you would do one for $50. I really don't get peoples total misconceptions on this board about advertising. Is some other member(s) just passing out grossly bogus information and bad facts or has this seriously happened to someone on here before. Just because you advertise in no way shape or form ever means you'll do details for cheap. You get to set your own prices. plain and simple. I tend to drop bulks of cards off at local shopping centers that have boards for such things. Collision shops and other businesses that will compliment your detailing are great locations to ask if you can leave some cards. then of course there's the best form of advertising in freinds and family passing the word out.

 

[baseballlover1]

I don't know about the news paper.. Wont you end up with a ton of people wanting full details for 50 bucks? About handing them out, do you just hand them to everyone you know? People tend not to take me serious because I am a college student.

HAHAHAHA people tend to not take YOU seriously?!?!?!? HAHAHAHA Im 14... i think i have you beet in the non seriousness category. lol. Give a free detail to you favorite professor and tell him to give all the other professors info about you.

 

[imported_mirrorfinishman]

People tend not to take me serious because I am a college student.

The reason why some people tend not to take detailers seriously is usually because many detailers don't take themselves seriously. Just look around, most start up detailers don't understand that it is 80% about becoming a business owner and only 20% about detailing. In the end, most will fail simply because they were only interested in doing the detailing and never really looked at themselves as serious business owners. And yes, you can become a serious business owner at any age.