Detailing for a bit now (for family) and having accumulated enough products to start up, I got all things in check recently- Business Cards, Website, and forum activity. I never could have realized how difficult it would be to get those first few clients. My only clients so far have been from my dad talking to some of his (he does custom cabinets) and the response has been good, but obviously there is a limit to what he can do for me. So I have been going out to some recent forum meets to get myself noticed but I never had the opportunity to tell them about my business. Lately though forum interaction has paid off by getting some interest from people but as soon as I tell them pricing (which is low compared to other well known detailers in the area) but a very common response I am getting is: "I will let you know when I am ready" So is this a typical response you guys get? Or is this simply their way of telling me in the nicest way "thanks, but no thanks." Am I doing something wrong here?
It takes a while to buid up a customer base. You just have to walk the beat, knock on doors and keep hanging out with me. Hahahahaha Its not easy to get the first customers, as a lot of people who frequent forums have "seen the light" and are very cautious where they spend their money. You may want to try and do some work for a decent shop, that will give you more experience and industry contacts
Any idea in how to get my foot through the door into decent shops? The dealerships around this area are some higher end cars but I can't just walk in and say "hey do you need a detailer!?" I do have some work to show people but again it seems like its not going far enough for people to say "Yes! Let's schedule something soon!" And yes Bryan anytime!
Often times the deciding factor in business deals is reaching the right person; this goes beyond just detailing. After working at a luxury auto dealership's detailing dept...I can tell you my service manager was the guy to talk to as he was in charge of the detailing department. What you will want to do is go in dressed professionally (to the manager's equal - so probably slacks and button shirt), ask to arrange a quick meeting (or you could give the receptionist a call to connect you to the service manager), talk to the service advisor and arrange a meeting if possible, if he prefers getting an email - send him some write ups to look at. If you do get a chance to meet with him dress professionally again. Bring in some write ups, maybe take him out to your car (assuming it is just detailed). Make an impression. If you find he the service mgr is not interested, perhaps you could try the sales manager.
Actually great advice! I will keep that in mind. The thing is I have school in September so can't do this full time.
I had a guy about a year ago, he was skeptical as they always are........ he was used to the 99.00 special. Anyway, he had his car "detailed" three weeks before and was not happy since there was still some "swirls". My wife overheard him whining about it at the nurses station at her work and said I could probably help him, anyway..... long story short after some conversation I said I would do his drivers front fender for free, and he could watch. Anyway by the time I was done he asked when can I pick it up...... " I want the entire car done". Sometimes doing something free really seals the deal, also letting them see "what you are doing" as well. I've gotten some solid referrals from that whole episode.
I've noticed it seems to build up slowly at first, but then just takes off. Basically you start with one person, they tell someone else, that person tells someone, and you can see how quickly it can spread. Also, tell people in your neighborhood. I did one detail, two cars, a couple weeks ago, then one a couple days ago, and now I have one tomorrow, one this weekend, one Monday, and one Wednesday. I think it goes a long way when people see how great their car looks and want to brag about you to other people. I've received lots of work just from my first client alone.
What would you say about detailings someones fender at a meet? Lol of course the issue comes with where to plug it in, but no doubt I feel that this type of marketing method can work well.
Maybe you could set something up detailing your own car at the meet. Then you don't have to worry about finding someone to agree, and it should draw a crowd. The issue of power is a big one though.
Actually my neighbor might want his Civic detailed, but I feel he's expecting too much... He thinks I can remove a huge scrape going beyond primer on his front bumper. My area is actually pretty bad. Almost everyone on my street knows and sees me detail but they don't seem to care. Where I live people are extremely cheap and don't care about cars. The main work I did was about 30min away. There's also the issue of me not having time in a few months, so that might put detailing on hold til next year. But I do look forward to seeing a new area and who knows, maybe I could detail on some weekends in University.
Yeah I'm also just doing it during the summer. I'll almost for sure stop once I go back to school, especially since I won't have my usual customers around.
Luke093 -- I commend you for being in school and staying there. It sounds like you have your priorities set correctly - this is the most important thing you need to do for your long-term future happiness. When you have time, and can actively Detail, like even next year, since its almost time to start school again I presume, you might do a little research and find all the BEST German Independent Shops around, and go to each one, talk to the guys behind the counter, win them over, get a tour of their shop, and as you walk by all the nice Bimmers, Mercedes, Audi's Porsche's, point out the defects, and tell the guy/s, something like " see those scratches? I can remove them completely and leave the paint perfect", etc... Do this in a Professional manner, not kidding, not sarcastic, not demeaning; show them that you know what you are talking about. Then, ask them if you can leave some business cards for your business, ask them if you can show them your work by Detailing the "shop vehicle" whatever it is. Might be an M5 Wagon !! I had a BMW shop call me awhile back at the last minute, to come over do an Interior job for a Client at their shop. The 5Series Touring (Wagon) was trashed inside, I worked my can off, but did not stop, did not look up and around, did not take a break or answer my phone, I flat out worked, brought all my interior tools, cleaned the Interior out perfectly and they were so stunned. They also complimented me on my work ethic and were now very confident after seeing me work and the result, in referring me their best Clients, who have kept me busy for going on 3 years now at least... Win them over, see if they can help refer you their Clients who frequently ask for advice from a "trusted" business", who should they call to get their car Detailed?? Follow up with them frequently, bring them a couple boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts in the morning, get to know them, find things you have in common. Be yourself but keep it professional. Do this at as many places as you can and If you can show them your work either from your website pics, or on their own vehicles, this will get you leads which will turn into Clients. Then, after awhile, they will tell you about the high end body shop they use for their Clients, and you will start doing work for them too. Its almost never ending.. You would want to stay on the high end cars, because these owners have the $$$ to afford the repairs which is always more than domestic vehicles. They also know less than the guy with the Camaro who polishes his own car every week, and you will be able to educate them on which products are best and why they are best compared to others. As you build up your Client list, you will need to get the serious tools - Extractor, Steamer, a few different machines, tons of pads, tons of product, then, you will be set up to go as far as you want to take it. I did the above starting with an Indy BMW Shop, an Audi/Porsche Shop and I'm going to go see another Indy Porsche Shop in the near future because one of my Clients, was getting his Porsche worked on, and thought to ask them if they had a Detailer who took care of their Clients and they said no. He is already a great reference for me, and my experience, website, my work vehicle, etc., will take care of the rest. Last year alone I Detailed over 65 vehicles by myself not counting the 4 I own, worked all winter, and never caught up the list of people that were waiting. I'm still working off the waiting list and getting new Clients and more new referrals from those Shops and my Website. I am also very lucky to live in an affluent neighborhood where Lambo, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, BMW, and many many more nice vehicles drive by every day, and a lot of those people stop and get on my waiting list. So, get a plan to see some shops, walk in "like you own the place" with confidence, bring everything you can, pics, your laptop with pics, business cards, see if they will talk to you, study the audience, read the audience, know how to work the audience, so that you can get a foot in the door, keep improving your mad skills, and the rest will come ! Good Luck, Luke093 !! Dan F
Luke093 -- Regarding the guy with the Civic - always set the Client's expectations as soon as possible. Tell them, show them the things you see that you know will or will not be improved, or to what degree the improvement will be, if any.. Once that is done, there is no room for error - he/she heard you, saw you point it out, or you sent them a JPG, and told them about it, they cannot ever come back and say "I didnt know that was there, and/or, why didnt that scratch, etc., come out?" Good luck with this. Dan F
Honestly, car shows are some of the best places to show off "correction" the last car show my car was it, it was disgusting that a good 80% of the entries the paint looked like shit, literally looked like it was detailed in a car dealership, guys were wiping down their cars with diapers, t-shirts and Costco MF towels with Megs instant detailer.... find out the local shows, talk to the organizers, see if you can be a sponsor, maybe have a booth and show off your skills...... have a raffle for a free detail, where people fill out interest cards with the understanding you may be contacting them. The opertunities are there, some are pricey, some are lower cost, etc. One thing I did was make some stickers, I get the owners permission and slap one on the car when I am done, it creates "interest" I have one on my car with no phone number, and I cannot tell you how many times at the store people have come up to me and asked for my card. You will get the people who blow you off, but its all about creating interest.... go to the fire station, pass out your cards, firemen love their toys, and they like to spend money on them, same with cops. Walk office complexes, make up simple color brochures with some information to create interest..... and be consistent and persistent without being a "used car-salesman" One thing I have learned is detailing of a car falls fairly low on most peoples lists of priorities, plus they forget. Call people back and say something like "hey, I have some appointments that just opened up next week, are you still interested"? it works, it reminds people without being pushy......... Since I target professionals, I act the part as well, I wear a nice shirt and have a note pad and I take notes, and I also meet at a place like Starbucks to do the meeting, why, its not intimidating, and its very relaxing, it ends up being a conversation versus a sales pitch, it allows the client to ask questions and get information while sitting down. I've been in sales for 5 years, and I treat my meetings like I did when I was doing B2B meetings for the the company I worked for. Casual, yet professional, I also never talk down to them and try to not "geek speak" them, I always ask to this question to. "have you ever had your car professionally detailed" They will usually tell you yes or no, and if they say yes, they will tell you what they did or did not like, as well as reveal allot of information about what they want, and expect.......also their tolerance for price. hope that helps......
I think I may have a few clients for you Luke, I know a couple of car circles in 'sauga plus a friend who I did a paint correction for but I'm pretty sure he needs a enhancement in a month of two for winter and some used car lots (lot's where you live). I think your problem is your too young "honestly" I think if people see you they don't trust you,I know you have skills but people have this thing for people who are too young and they have a problem paying young adults big bucks for the same work as some one older would do. I just started detailing about 5 months but I look older then I am when I grow out my beard, I work a CS at canadian tire and give advice to people buying anything car care related, I've gotten many clients because of that, also word of mouth from my friends tell family and friends that need services. My first couple of details I did dirt cheap, but I made a fictitious invoice(w/o GST # or business license #, but I also told them they can't use this for tax reclamation) and wrote on it 50% discount for first 20 customers and I literally removed it after those customers. I now have two maintenance contracts and customers on hold till next summer ( August is a bust because I have Ramadan, so I can't detail) Also post your work up on Facebook, you might not have a lot of friends that have cars right now but you will soon and they will know the person to go to get the best detailing done...BTW I am a weekend detailer, so I can only do one client a weekend and I am doing summer school so my time is seriously constricted
Thanks a ton, I appreciate that. Yeah I see what your saying. All the advice is great, I just hope that while I'm in school I can still have time to focus on this once a while. After all its a cool hobby that leads into a solid business. And I doubt that many people at my age can say they have there own thing running- it helps when I apply for co-op positions in school (I hope).
Thanks a ton, I appreciate that. Yeah I see what your saying. All the advice is great, I just hope that while I'm in school I can still have time to focus on this once a while. After all its a cool hobby that leads into a solid business. And I doubt that many people at my age can say they have there own thing running- it helps when I apply for co-op positions in school (I hope).
A good way to get some customers is belonging to some online car club, that has a local chapter. For example? I used to own a Honda S2000. I have been on an online car club for owners for years (even though I no longer own the car). I have posted some of my work, and got a couple of people from the forum who asked for work. I posted the work I did for them, and had a few more people ask me for work. It's been slow for me this year, but it is one way to try and get customers. Sometimes word of mouth can be a good thing as well. I have done work for a couple of people at work, and they had mentioned it to others. I have one guy who has been plugging my business for me, and gave him some cards to distribute. Another option is to offer something to a regular client. Tell them that if they get X amount of people to get work done (paid and job done), you'll offer them a free wash and wax, or maybe an express detail. Incentives can be persuading. It takes money to make money. Good luck and keep us updated.
