How does your typical day go?
- Thread starter clnfrk
- Start date
brwill2005
New member
I either go and pick up the customer's vehicle or go get my supplies/equipment and go to the customer's house. I pick up customer's vehicles from both their place of employment and their homes. This usually happens around 1000AM, as I am not a morning person and hate the morning rush. If it is a full detail, I spend the next 8 hours or so detailing the vehicle, and then drop the car back to the customer. After that I spend some time cleaning up and washing towels/mitts etc. If it is one of my maintenance details, I spend a couple hours and either move on to the next one or spend time going to the bank and washing towels etc. I started my business full time in August 2005 after doing it part time for 3 years or so. At that time, I quit my other job to concentrate solely on the business. It has been a little rough, but it is all starting to come together.
brwill2005
New member
I forgot to mention the emails, PM's, and phone calls I get throughout the day that have to be answered or returned. In the winter months or when I am slow, I send out marketing materials to current customers, or think up ways to get new customers. I also help my wife with shopping and other duties.
imported_Gumball
New member
When I opened my shop a year and two months ago, I made it a point to work my business and only my business. I dont see how I could have had a full or part time job and done all the marketing I did to get my shop launched.
In order for people to come to you they want to see you there every day all day. I started with a partner and we would both take turns running the shop while the other was away doing marketing and talking to potential new clients. I am now alone with a crew of two.
The first and most critical thing (IMO) that I established was getting a dealer to give me in my case 30 or so cars a month for dealer detail work. When things are slow and they were for quite a while it was really nice to have a constant 3 plus grand coming in per month. At least that way my overhead was covered. At that point I focused on getting my retail business moving and it has all finally started coming together and growing daily. Finally!
I now have three dealer accounts who are willing to work around my retail schedule that is also busier by the day, two full time detailers, and myself to jump in when needed. An owner should always be willing to hop back in the trenches and work 24/7 if needed. If someone does not have that type of work ethic then this probably isnt the business for them.
So after all my babbling my average day consists of...
1. Finish previous days work (As Needed)
2. Pick up and delivery (Wholesale/Retail)
3. Start crew performing needed work on new vehicles and help out where I can throughout the day (Avg. 3 to 7 cars per day)
4. Write invoices for the days work
5. Deal with accounts recievables
6. Make follow up calls (All retail customers are called to ensure satisfaction)
7. Constantly monitor work in process and make sure shop is clean
8. Call or visit accounts as time allows and or visit potential new accounts
9. Meet and greet customers, cashier, sales, order products and accessories for stock as needed.
10. Log onto Autopia as time permits
11. Make any last minute vehicle deliveries or pick ups
12. Send the help home and thank them for the great work they do (Very important if you have employees)
13. Do books for the day and finally go home
These are only some of the things I do daily and for the most part in order but I didnt want to bore you too much so there you have it.
Hope you find it helpful...................................C
In order for people to come to you they want to see you there every day all day. I started with a partner and we would both take turns running the shop while the other was away doing marketing and talking to potential new clients. I am now alone with a crew of two.
The first and most critical thing (IMO) that I established was getting a dealer to give me in my case 30 or so cars a month for dealer detail work. When things are slow and they were for quite a while it was really nice to have a constant 3 plus grand coming in per month. At least that way my overhead was covered. At that point I focused on getting my retail business moving and it has all finally started coming together and growing daily. Finally!
I now have three dealer accounts who are willing to work around my retail schedule that is also busier by the day, two full time detailers, and myself to jump in when needed. An owner should always be willing to hop back in the trenches and work 24/7 if needed. If someone does not have that type of work ethic then this probably isnt the business for them.
So after all my babbling my average day consists of...
1. Finish previous days work (As Needed)
2. Pick up and delivery (Wholesale/Retail)
3. Start crew performing needed work on new vehicles and help out where I can throughout the day (Avg. 3 to 7 cars per day)
4. Write invoices for the days work
5. Deal with accounts recievables
6. Make follow up calls (All retail customers are called to ensure satisfaction)
7. Constantly monitor work in process and make sure shop is clean
8. Call or visit accounts as time allows and or visit potential new accounts
9. Meet and greet customers, cashier, sales, order products and accessories for stock as needed.
10. Log onto Autopia as time permits
11. Make any last minute vehicle deliveries or pick ups
12. Send the help home and thank them for the great work they do (Very important if you have employees)
13. Do books for the day and finally go home
These are only some of the things I do daily and for the most part in order but I didnt want to bore you too much so there you have it.
Hope you find it helpful...................................C
I appreciate the time you took to type that all up, Gumball! You are obviously a very good businessman. Who and/or where did you market and seek out potential new clients like you mentioned? This is something that I really need to start doing in order to grow, but am unsure of how to go about it. I am a little hesitant to just stop by businesses or go door to door to sell my services, but at the same time realize that if I want to succeed I have to go out and get my name and reputation out there. Word of mouth is good also, as I have gained some new clients this way, but if I am going to do this full time, I can't sit around and wait for steady work to come to me. Thanks for your help!
clnfrk said:
Start small...like you said, its pretty hard to walk up into a doctors office and try to sell your service...if you a pharmaceutical sales rep, its much easier, because you are selling them something they need to run their business!
Here's what I've done, and continue to do...I go the gym everyday, there are quite a bit of people at the gym. I think I meet atleast someone new every week. Right there is your door to communication. "Oh, so what do you do?" "really?" Thats great, "Well I run my own business offering High End Automotive Reconditioning Services" They might look at you like, what is that?! Put a big smile on you face and say, I detail cars! Boom! Let them know you detail vehicles and be passionate when you explain to them what you do. When that person sees you at the gym, they will be reminded that you detail! Dont forget to say Hello to them when you see them too!!
Next thing, everyone goes to the doctors, dentist, or whatever! Personally, I quite talkative and I make small talk all the time! My dentists' kids play soccer, I play soccer! We talk about soccer everytime Im there! He drives a Mercedes, I detail cars! Again, making small talk! So i offered him a complimentary detail, even though hes making a fortune off my teeth! He took me up on it, and I got two more dentists just because of him! Thats how the whole word of mouth thing starts!
Be creative...think of how many people you come in contact with each day! How many can you talk cars about?? Not all, but I'm sure some!
Hope it helps!!
imported_Gumball
New member
clnfrk said:
Didnt take any time at all man, no worries. Glad you found it informative.
Twista makes alot of very good points and he markets himself the way I do.
Dont think of marketing as going door to door selling vacuums. When I go knocking on doors it is only with other businesses for the most part. I have however stopped by and talked to someone that has a nice car parked in front of their house and use the approach of "I saw your car outside and have thought about buying one myself, and thought Id stop by to talk to you about yours" then as the conversation proceeds ask them what they do and tell them what you do! That simple!
You do however need to be comfortable approaching a perfect stranger. Outside of that if you at least try, the worst thing your gonna get is a door slammed in your face. LOL! I look at all the "NO"s I get and tell my self "well with that no Im just that much closer to a YES!" I love the challenge of selling someone on something and look forward to them saying no at first and showing them why they should say yes. It takes years and years to develope a technique and be comfortable with it but it will happen.
I am with Twista on this and agree with his strategy fully. I think bottom line it is a numbers game. The more people you talk to the more "Yes"s youre gonna get!
Last, I will give you a little motivational thing I do in the morning before I leave the house. After I get out of the shower and Im standing in front of my mirror I look at myself and say, "You are the best at anything you do and nobody can stop hold you back from success!" That may sound corny to many, but there is something about that that sticks with me through my day and I feel like it makes me an unstoppable force! Positive reinforcement is critical in every aspect of life.
Again, Im not trying to babble too much but I hope you find this helpful.
....................................................................Chris
cougar2588
New member
this is all great to read. while im only 19 (going on 20) i've recently been giving thought to opening up a high end detail shop of my own one day. i love cars, and there is something about detailing a car and turning it into a masterpiece that i just love. im sure all of you know that feeling im talking about.
at the moment im enrolled in a masters program focusing on business management, and im on track to be done right around the time i turn 23. until then, i am thinking about getting myself a part time detailing job somewhere and getting a few years worth of experience under my belt.
its inspiring to read about those of you who have built up your own detail shops from scratch.
at the moment im enrolled in a masters program focusing on business management, and im on track to be done right around the time i turn 23. until then, i am thinking about getting myself a part time detailing job somewhere and getting a few years worth of experience under my belt.
its inspiring to read about those of you who have built up your own detail shops from scratch.
imported_Gumball
New member
Dont want to stray too far off topic but I wanted to show you WHERE I spend my days. I am finishing the deal I am working out for my Race Deck flooring for the shop tomorrow. It will cover the entire 3K sq. ft. of shop space and will be red and silver 12"X12" tiles to match my logo color on my roll up door. Im very excited. The place is starting to look more like a business.
My front bay door.
The lane through to the back of the shop. Looks tighter than it really is.
Back shop area with Escalade ESV in wash bay.
More shop space
New office computer
Display case for my diecast and some retail product
More display cases, my Piaa wiper inventory and some art
Customer waiting area, wheel and tire with glass top for magazine table, and a water cooler (a must for the summer time)
Near future plans are to glass in my office and waiting area then add air conditioning.
I posted this to continue my above post and mention that I feel presentation of your business is as important as how you run it.
Whew, ok Im done for a few now! LOL!
.............................................................Chris
My front bay door.
The lane through to the back of the shop. Looks tighter than it really is.
Back shop area with Escalade ESV in wash bay.
More shop space
New office computer
Display case for my diecast and some retail product
More display cases, my Piaa wiper inventory and some art
Customer waiting area, wheel and tire with glass top for magazine table, and a water cooler (a must for the summer time)
Near future plans are to glass in my office and waiting area then add air conditioning.
I posted this to continue my above post and mention that I feel presentation of your business is as important as how you run it.
Whew, ok Im done for a few now! LOL!
.............................................................Chris
cougar2588
New member
wow that looks awesome. your basically just fueling my dreams right now. haha and yes, air conditioning should be your next move!!!
DaGonz
Autopia fire/rescue.
Very nice, Gumball! :xyxthumbs
imported_Gumball
New member
Thanks guys, its not much but its starting to feel alot more like a real business. This time next year should be an entirely different story!
............................................................Chris
............................................................Chris