Nosebleed. I think that you were in the same shoes I was just about a month ago or so. I can sense you are very worried, and I guess you have the right to be. Jumping into a business is not the easiest thing in the world by far. I believe, if you set a guide right in front of you to act like a stepping stone of the steps you have to complete in order for you to prosper.
I think you are worried to much about your competition in general from what i just discovered. First you have to believe in yourself that you can provide a excellent service that no one else can touch, and you will do it.
Second, take one step at a time. I have all these questions running through my head as well, thinking about what if I fail. I will have lost money, need to sell the equipment etc. I will not fail and therfore you should not fail. I have though about everything I ever REALLY WANTED TO DO OR GET. I got it or I did it and was sucessful everytime. Why? Becuase, I believe I could do it and wouldnt stop until I did it, you do the same.
I have noticed that all the detailers seem to be busy around here. I have looked at there work and noticed the detail in there work. It wasnt the best at all! Why? They were so busy with car detailing, car washing services etc, that they couldnt afford the time to complete each vehicle correctly. You know what, customers were still happy cause they didnt realize what there vehicle can really look like. Shiny leather seats that you slipped out of, wax in the crack, cheap products used, swirls still left etc. Only a professional detail or a Enthusiast would take notice of this. Why? MOST and I say most customers, do not realize the true potential of the results that can be achieved through the experience and dedication of a detailer. It is my goal and I hope it is yours as well, to provide each detail as it is your first detail and your very own vehicle. This will make you stay on top of your game and word will spread. I have always said to myself, I dont mind paying more for something if it much superior to anyone elses work. This will go for the same for almost every customer.
I think you dont have to worry about much of your competition. Again, maybe it is just me and the shops I have ran into, but they coiuldnt achieve the results that were possible no matter how much man power they utilized, just because there were just to many cars to do and not enough time in a day. When you have alot of cars and alot of man power, you run into the problem of enough space,enough equipment for each car, enough of this and so on. I used to work at a BMW/Chevy detail shop in New Jersey. They made excellent money doing details, but it was quick pace and cover work. Customers were happy, but then again, you do not realize what something can be, if it has never been there before. I look at the car and say it looks good, they think it is perfect. Why? I know it can be much better and they are fouled by the cover up of swirls, and other minor details not noticed right away. I had to follow what they wanted since they were the owners. I felt as if the customer was not getting what he or she paid for.
Next, do the little things or go that extra mile for your customers to show that you are a true professional. For instance, one of the little things I like to do when I detail, is to inflate the spare tire and let the customer know this. Why? Half the time customers have a bunch of crap on top of the compartment and it never moves. When you detail that is taken out and the spare is now free. When the customer has a flat sooner or later, the spare is most likley ready to be used. This little touch, just saved the customer the hassle or remebering to do it, a possible towing bill and time. How many detail shops I have found to do this? NONE!!
Next. Presentation of yourself. IT has been always said if you wanted to be treated with respect, you have to command respect. In this day in age we are move heavily influenced on sight rather then what is image behind what we see. When you go and hand out flyer, say in your jeans, tennis shoes and a t shirt. People are first going to look at you, your haircut, you shoes, your clothing etc. Then you will start saying what you do. They will already have taken in a image of you,whether you like it or not. Most likley the wrong image, even if you are not that kind of person. For example. I have 3 earings, and my true passion is x games flatland riding, and i dress in a "skater" style. If I told someone I was opening my own business, and I want you to be my customer. They would take the flyer, say thanks, close the door and then throw it away. Does my apperacne change my work etchic? Of coarse it does not, but people first reply on sight. Now say, I go to there house with a pair of say dickies work pants, nice pair of boots, a tucked in shirt with a collar stating my business name on it, with a clean haircut and no earings. They are going to see something totally different ,the image I want them to see. He is a true professional and I trust him working on my car,and he doesnt look like a punk.
Flyers are one of the most important things I believe on a new business startup if people do not know your work already. Why? Most people look at price to begin with. Every detail shop I have ever been do, has bascially given a price with what you get for that price. They never spent the time or bothered to invest in the extra printing of a sheet alluring the cusomter to there detail location.
I would persoanlly persuade your customers by also including a short few paragraphs on why to choose your service. After they read this, they were precieve what you are about and not just look at the price. Dont get to technical at all!!! This is very important!! Why? Ever have someone at a store try to sell you a new computer or something? They are saying if has 200 mb of ram, runs at this speed with this processor. What if you knew you wanted a computer, but didnt know what he was talking about. How would you feel? YOu would feel upset you do not have a clue what he is talking about, questions would be running through your mind of why do i need this?, what does this do for me?, is it worth the extra money? I better go home or research some more etc. you do not want your customers to feel this way about detailing. They are calling you cause they do not feel the need to clean there call themsleves, they are not interested in learning the ways of detailing or they would figure a way to do it themselves, so therefore they do not want this information.
Wow maybe I should stop writing I think you got the idea. But just remember, if you really want to do something, there is nothing holding you back except yourself!! Now you know what to do, so go out there and get it done!!
Also I wanted to mention I have more negative influece driving me as well. I think my Dad doesnt think I can prosper at all and thinks it is a waste of time. He says, "HOw many people are going to pay, to get there car detailed"?, Who has 100 dollars or more to spend on cleaning a vehicle? YOu will have the same influence maybe by some friends or family, ignore this and let it drive you harder at the same time. Why? Cause if someone wants it, they will have it and get it.
A close older business man I know, used to own serveral coffee shops. He now is the Eastern Regional manager of Starbucks. He makes almost 6 figures a year as well. He told me that a basic coffee can be 4 dollars or more!! I said, they are going to go out of business. He says that it is not uncommon for most to have more then one cup a day. Say 2 cupsx5 days a week for work. That is 4-8 dollars a day or 80-160 a month, for a drink!! THat is alot of money to me, but that is what that person enjoys.
I know that is totally of the topic of detailing, but as people enjoy that drink, people who have newer cars, enjoy the way they look and perform. They feel good when driving that vehicle and like how it looks.Otherwise they wouldnt be spending 20-100k on that vehicle. If they can afford to spend 500-600 a month and more on a car payment, they really like that vehicle and can afford 150-300 dollars a year to maintain it. Some people dont care, and some do. They are out there it is your job to find them.
As of now my life consists of working a job that is boring for 40 hrs a week and college. I have no time for much of a social life and find myself tired and drawn after a day of work, just to go to colelge and then come home and do more homework. I feel detailing is a great way to make money quicker in less time at your own schedule. If I havent been into such material possessions , i would have been much happier. Finally, this is the year that is going to make it happen. Right now I dont really mind much of my lifestyle,due to it is winter time. I am a summer person and will use detailing to have more time to myself. Whatever you do a word of warning. If you really do this, you may get more then you have ever imagined. It is your decision to do what is best with the income you make, but dont mess up like I did.
I made money and good money. I went out and bough a new vehicle, then invested over 10k on top of that vehicle price in heavy modifications. I had to have a job and could not take the risk of doing detailing on a regualr basic. Finally this year the truck is almost paid off, im in the black zone ofr money, im up alot more then I have ever been, and im secured. Dont ever doubt what detailing may end up for you to be. You say im not looking to get rich off this. Fact: I dont know what you define as rich, but If I made a few hundred thousand dollars I would consider myself rich. I have seen sucess stories where people started a mobile detailing business by themselves. The next few years got another rig and nowq they own a Franchise. DO ever limit yourself to what can come your way, take one day at a time and the sky is the limit for you!!
Im not having any expectations of what may happen cause I have no idea. I may onyl get a few cars a month and have to re evaluate my own way of attracting customers. Or I may have so many ill have to deny them my services. You dont know and you never will till the time comes.
One of the biggest influences in my life is my Aunt even though I dont get to see her much. She lives down the Jersey shore, she has always told me. YOu can do whatever you want , only if you really want to do it. She takes her own words and backs them up. She worked for a company and worked very hard. She was really into her work and she said I will be so good that I will lead the company. Well she then did and earned over 200k a year and was vice preisdent of this small company. She was taken around by limo to shop for clothes and eat at the best resteraunts. She became unhappy because she was in Seattle at this time and missed the Jersey shore. She moved back and said Im going to sell houses this intrests me. Well not only does she sells, she sells more the the people who have been working there longer. Why? It is not luck cause she is dedicated into doing what she likes. She makes only a little over 60 k a year, but she is happier cause she lives at the shore and she is happy with what she is doing. She still drives a nice white Benz, but this is not important to her. She says, do something becuase you love to do it or want to, dont do it for the money, cause you will succeed and the money will follow. You can do anything you want she always says,and she is damn right!!
Damn i talk to much, but im just relaxing a bit since we are getting like a foot of snow and im not working today. I should be doing college stuff right now I guess, but everyone deserves a break!
ps/. Sorry for any misspellings etc. I am very busy with college, work, business stuff etc, that I dont proff read to well. My apologies.
