Wow, mobile is fun!

T

todd@bsaw

New member
Well, I came home to visit family for the holiday and decided to bring a few crates of detailing gear along to help pay for gas money (I live 5 hours away). This is the first time I've technically gone mobile and I thought it would be a stretch from my comfort zone in the shop, but WOW was it fun! :bounce



I'm seriously considering getting a vehicle and doing a mobile branch out of my shop back home now. I just filled the trunk in my Jetta, threw a few things in the back seat, and I did 4 jobs in the last two days with plenty of chemical for another round. Working outdoors in the sun instead of my dank shop was a nice change, not to mention all the 'walk-up' business. I had a few people that saw me and came up out of curiosity to see what I was doing, then I had to sadly tell them I was 300 miles from home and will only be around for the rest of the week.



Having a stable shop is nice, but I see now why there are so many mobile detailers out there.

Kudos to all of you mobile guys out there. I'm already sunburnt from just two days of work. :bigups



PS: I'm thinking of going door-to-door in my old 'hood tomorrow to sell myself. I know a lot of these guys have nice cars and I used to be their paperboy 10 years ago. Good idea or bad idea?
 
I too have thought about this... My family lives 700 miles away and I figured if I just carried a couple of crates of product and my Cam Spray 1500A I'd at least be able to pay for gas.



Good on ya!



:2thumbs:
 
I don't see how it would be a bad idea. Other then they are going to want you coming back to detail for them now. Have fun with it.
 
Just book a week of appointments and "go home to visit" every 4-6 weeks. Sounds like a win-win situation for all.
 
Almost all of my business has been word of mouth, repeat and people seeing me working. As to the idea of going door to door. I got a favorable response about 10 years ago from my wife going business to business. She would just introduce herself and hand out a flyer or card. Door to door at peoples home though didn't pan out so well. Stranger at door = scared home owner. Scared home owner doesn't open the door or if they do their only objective is to get you off their property.
 
PhaRO said:
Almost all of my business has been word of mouth, repeat and people seeing me working. As to the idea of going door to door. I got a favorable response about 10 years ago from my wife going business to business. She would just introduce herself and hand out a flyer or card. Door to door at peoples home though didn't pan out so well. Stranger at door = scared home owner. Scared home owner doesn't open the door or if they do their only objective is to get you off their property.
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Maybe in another era it worked. The only people that come to my door are ex-con types trying to sell me beef. Their opening line is always, "You like steak, don't ya?"



I think business to business is a good idea. One thought might be to send them a little info packet and then about a week later, do a follow-up with them.
 
My approach would be more like:

"Hey Mr. Smith, it's Todd, I used to live down the street from you. Do you still have that nice Porsche 911? I manage a detail shop in Minneapolis now and I'm home visiting for a few days for the holiday. If you're interested, I'd really like to show you what I can do before I head back."



I'd be more inclined to talk to someone at the door that I know than some random stranger. I still have a problem doing that over the phone with people I haven't met personally.
 
MotorCity said:
Isn't that a given if you are mobile???
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Not always. Joe (SuperiorFine) has a fully equipped van and a canopy. I don't have to carry a lot of water since I wash with ONR...but I can't find a small generator that is powerful enough to run my vacuum so I am not completely self-sufficient and require an electrical outlet within 200'. I can get by polishing by hand and using my 18v rechargable vacuum but I prefer not to.
 
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