R-e-s-p-e-c-t

Fishpimp said:
Fact! A detailer cannot generate business BUT a salesman can. We need to be salesmen FIRST and Detailers second...

...the guy down the street who is whack makes more cake...

You got to target, market, sale and THEN and only then do you deliver...
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all good advice, I'll add to it though that you have to be ABLE to deliver... that "whack" down the street most likely has a staff who know how to get the job done; they may not do it all so well, but they can BACK ANY and ALL work that "salesman" sells. If you observe detail shops that are sucessfull, in most cases, you will see that the owner is not the one doing the work; they have others who are in the trenches -- he knows his assests, limitations, and is aware of his defects. Quality, and service have their price, so does speed and volume -- there is a fine line between the two if you want to remain profitable it is a juggling act to keep on it. :)

Just my $.02
 
dr_detail said:
all good advice, I'll add to it though that you have to be ABLE to deliver... that "whack" down the street most likely has a staff who know how to get the job done; they may not do it all so well, but they can BACK ANY and ALL work that "salesman" sells. If you observe detail shops that are sucessfull, in most cases, you will see that the owner is not the one doing the work; they have others who are in the trenches -- he knows his assests, limitations, and is aware of his defects. Quality, and service have their price, so does speed and volume -- there is a fine line between the two if you want to remain profitable it is a juggling act to keep on it. :)

Just my $.02
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Extremely true and good advice

that's why 5 minute guy dose so well:D

Sorry:notme:
 
Beemerboy said:
No I can't:D:
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You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
 
I know most detailers want the high end client but there is plenty of money getting the interior of the trashed Honda Odessey cleaned. The average person really cares about the interior. They are less particular about spiderwebbing if the paint has a nice shine. I see many people wanting to write off these potential clients.

I polished my wife's car to remove some swirls but she still wanted to take the car to the car wash once when I could not wash it....

You can struggle for the higher paying types or go after the others. Yes they are more price sensitive but they can deliver the revenue in between the better jobs.
 
Bunky said:
I know most detailers want the high end client but there is plenty of money getting the interior of the trashed Honda Odessey cleaned. The average person really cares about the interior. They are less particular about spiderwebbing if the paint has a nice shine. I see many people wanting to write off these potential clients.

I polished my wife's car to remove some swirls but she still wanted to take the car to the car wash once when I could not wash it....

You can struggle for the higher paying types or go after the others. Yes they are more price sensitive but they can deliver the revenue in between the better jobs.
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Bunky

You are right I do a lot of middle road type cars...I don't seek out the kiddie mini vans that look like a rolling cafeteria...but if that's what there is and they are willing to pay my costs then I will take them...but on cars that someone wants just a quickie wax and clean of the inside sort of an upgraded car wash I don't take them...they are looking for a price that is close to what they get at a local car wash type place...I end up doing a lot more work on the car and never come out in the end...I would rather not do anything that than work for peanuts
 
Beemerboy said:
...I don't seek out the kiddie mini vans that look like a rolling cafeteria...but if that's what there is and they are willing to pay my costs then I will take them...I would rather not do anything that than work for peanuts
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Ditto...

I however have no qualms about being honest with a customer and letting them know that it might behoove them to save their money and take it to _________'s car wash (I even give them the car wash's name, and if they ask phone number).

I know some will say that I am nuts for turning away work, but I would much rather be honest and let them know that I could do what it is they are asking, however my hourly rate is $____.__ per hour and their vehicle will take ___ hours to complete and if they are willing to pay for it, I will do it. I even have monthly customers who now and then ask me to do their work vehicles. The paint is less than & the interiors are about the same; these I take to the tunnel wash. It's just not cost effective for me to spend $__.__ per hour on labor only to receive $_.__.

Somtimes, however, (I think ya'llbe BS'n if ya said ya didn't) I will take on a "less than" job just because I like the customers attitude, I like the exposure, the location, I might be bored, I might want to test out a new product or method, or train a new helper, it might be good for a referal, it might just feel rite, or heck -- I might just like the way she looks in that low cut top & skirt (yes, I am a Pig!!). I've been doing this all too long and know exactly what a vehicle needs and how long it will take. There are times when I will take on a less than job knowing that I might not make full price -- but there are times that my three teenage boys need to eat, and my mortgage needs to be paid, and I know first hand what it is like to apply for public assistance. For me, DETAILING IS MY INCOME it's not a weekend job -- production graphics and webwork is.
 
I know that most people do not realize the damage being done to the cars at these car washes (swirling brushes and then wipe downs using the same rag that was used on the prior cars).

This effect does not happen overnight either so you are not likely going to scare anyone with just a blanket statement about the dangers. A car that is clean will look good without any scrutiny for several years after purchase no matter how it has been washed.

As my original post said, I have seen little direct marketing by detailers and they seem to work by word of mouth or craigslist. For some this may work, but obviously not reaching many potential clients.

In my area, I think the best approach is flyers dropped off in the better subdivisions and giving a web link to get educated on how good detailing can resale value, etc.
 
Bunky said:
As my original post said, I have seen little direct marketing by detailers and they seem to work by word of mouth or craigslist. For some this may work, but obviously not reaching many potential clients.
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I would have to disagree with this statement and claim that the opposite is true. Word of mouth produces more customers than advertisement from a ONE man operation point of view. If you have a full service shop then maybe advertising would help but the shop would also have to have a good reputation by word of mouth.

Now I do think word of mouth clientel builds the business slower but the operation if done correctly will yield far better results because you can grow at a steady CONTROLLED rate.

Growth rate can distroy a business just as fast as no business at all.
 
I was just stating they use word of mouth over direct marketing.

Many detailers moan about the lack of clients.
 
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