#1 Tip if You Could Start All Over?

jarred767

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Pretty much what the title says.

I'm getting a one-time shot to start this thing all over again (I'm moving my business from Seattle, WA to Bend, OR - 300 miles away in March) so I get to start from scratch, but with nine years of experience. I'm just curious what's the number one thing you'd do if you could start all over with the knowledge and experience you now have.

Thanks guys.
 
keep it simple. once you know what products work best for you stick with them. no need to feel like you have to have every product under the sun at your disposal. good techniques with good products equal happy customers. since you have been at this a while you have the skills and know how to attract customers, so you would need need to create and maintain customers in the new market. may sound like common sense advise but if you have a strong customer base then you have steady income .
 
Spend less than $300 starting

Only keep essential products and tools

Only offer a handful of services

Set a monthly marketing budget and double down on it every quarter

Be a master at Facebook ads and Infusionsoft

Create multiple sales funnels on automation

If it's done twice, it should have a system
 
Stick with the basic products that you know work. Eliminate 80% of your inventory. Buy in bulk and stay away from the boutique crap. Work easier (hydro2 vs conventional wax or sealants) and faster. Be good with interiors and they will come back every time.
 
flatstick, silverfox and thebamboo23 all offer very sound advice. I have narrowed my correcting/polishing/sealant products down to 2 brand types. My drawback is carnauba waxes...I am addicted to a whole bunch of them...PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THAT ADVICE!! I have about 15 to 20 of them....DO NOT be a Beavis like me on that one....LOL

I have 3 machine tools and that is all I will ever need. My Flex 3401, PC7424XP and my Flex PE-8 Kompakt. All have the various backing plates and pads. The 3401would be the workhorse, the PC would be for the minor/waxing and the PE-8 for the finesse as well as waxing. I recently used the PE-8 and all I can say is WOW!!!

But that is me. The other 3 threads are great advice. I agree...keep it simple.
 
I have to agree with what's been offered so far...keep it simple and market your butt off!

The only thing i personally would've done better is to stick to firm pricing. I have yielded to giving a friend or two a "break" on my price every now and then and kick myself every time. Stand firm on what you charge.
 
Great replies!

Looking at it from an amateur's/hobbyist's/part-timer's point of view, it would be quite the same; if we needed to move, most of what we own wouldn't be coming with us. I have a ton of product I simply look at every time I go into the garage, gimmicky tools and supplies that don't really fill too many needs.

Fans of cooking guru Alton Brown have a mantra that is something like, "No unitaskers," meaning don't buy something that doesn't serve multiple purposes. Other than LSPs, products and tools should do double-duty or more. Concentrates that can be diluted by the user to various strengths for various purposes are what I'd invest in: D101, Hyper Dressing, Super Degreaser. Settle on one "utility" towel type and one or two buffing/product removal towel types that can also serve several purposes. While I only have a one-liter bottle of Hydro2 and have yet to use it, I can see that in a moderate- to high-turnover operation, buying it in bulk and using it for multiple purposes could work out to be very cost-effective and labor-efficient.
 
I agree with Puckman. The only people who get a price break are immediate family and my very closest friends.
 
He has 9 years of Detailing experience

He doesn't need advice on products!

The issue is starting up quickly and smoothly in a new city



Join a gym and talk to everyone in it. Have shirts w logo printed and wear one to the gym everyday

Establish a 10 foot rule in your head. Anyone who gets within 10' of you should know who you are and that you are a Professional Detailer

Maximize your networking. Reach out to everyone you know and let them know about the relo. Utilize Linkedin and Facebook to re-connect with anyone you may know in the new territory. Offer $10 off any service if the Customer posts a picture you provide of them with the clean car on their Facebook page.
 
Get a few license plate covers made up with your name/logo, number and web presence details, perfect for those pictures. ;)
 
I agree with the guys above. I'm getting rid of a ton of extraneous products, and stocking up on what I know I like.
 
Join a gym and talk to everyone in it. Have shirts w logo printed and wear one to the gym everyday


I've been a regular at the same gym for the past 6 years and know most of the regulars there and the staff.

The people that are 'regulars' at a gym tells a lot about their work ethic as a person. They're normally a lot more organized and driven than people that don't go to the gym. So that translates over to their career: they're probably doing pretty well for themselves in their respective careers due to their driven attitude and personality.

Therefor they probably are pretty well financially stable.

And can afford nice cars. I can vouch for that. Theres a guy who owns a Viper and a Range Rover that goes to the gym. Vettes show up. Audis and BMW's are parked outside. Mercedes and big, nice trucks. And guess what? They're all owned by the regulars that go to the gym.

Those people can afford this vehicles, therefor can afford a professional detailer to take care of them.

A professional detailer they know through working out at the same gym. :xyxthumbs:
 
Create a detailing menu.... with multiple interior and exterior detailing levels. Don't just offer everyone the works package if they aren't willing to pay for it! Market different levels of service to different levels of customers.
 
Thanks guys I appreciate the advice and you taking the time tell me some of your opinions, it's really appreciated.

He has 9 years of Detailing experience

He doesn't need advice on products!

The issue is starting up quickly and smoothly in a new city
Thanks for clearing that up, you are 100% right, I've got my system down and while I still tweak a few things here and there, there's probably not much change coming in that department - (although I am getting rid of a bunch of stuff so I have to move less - check out my post on the "SAMPLES" thread if you want a great deal on something.

Join a gym and talk to everyone in it. Have shirts w logo printed and wear one to the gym everyday

I've been a regular at the same gym for the past 6 years and know most of the regulars there and the staff.

The people that are 'regulars' at a gym tells a lot about their work ethic as a person. They're normally a lot more organized and driven than people that don't go to the gym. So that translates over to their career: they're probably doing pretty well for themselves in their respective careers due to their driven attitude and personality.

Therefor they probably are pretty well financially stable.

And can afford nice cars. I can vouch for that. Theres a guy who owns a Viper and a Range Rover that goes to the gym. Vettes show up. Audis and BMW's are parked outside. Mercedes and big, nice trucks. And guess what? They're all owned by the regulars that go to the gym.

Those people can afford this vehicles, therefor can afford a professional detailer to take care of them.

A professional detailer they know through working out at the same gym. :xyxthumbs:

Great advice on the gym you guys, this is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping for when I started this thread. I hadn't really even thought too much about that, but it's very true. I could even write the membership fees off as a marketing expense. I usually work out outside (I like running and biking and that kinda stuff), but it may be worth to switch that up for the next year or so.

Establish a 10 foot rule in your head. Anyone who gets within 10' of you should know who you are and that you are a Professional Detailer
Good advice, I'm not great with initiating conversation with random strangers, but I will be working on this. Once I get to talking, I'm totally fine, its just the initiating that seems tough for me. Wearing my new shirts everywhere should help.

Maximize your networking. Reach out to everyone you know and let them know about the relo. Utilize Linkedin and Facebook to re-connect with anyone you may know in the new territory. Offer $10 off any service if the Customer posts a picture you provide of them with the clean car on their Facebook page.
I've started some of this stuff and it should help a lot. Good idea about them posting a picture themselves instead of just me posting their cars.

I have to agree with what's been offered so far...keep it simple and market your butt off!

The only thing i personally would've done better is to stick to firm pricing. I have yielded to giving a friend or two a "break" on my price every now and then and kick myself every time. Stand firm on what you charge.
The plan is to market my butt off, I'm just trying to narrow down the options for the best ways to do so and make my marketing $$$ go the furthest. I shouldn't have to worry about the price breaks for friends and stuff as we know absolutely no one in the new location:eek: we're planning on that changing over time though.:xyxthumbs:

Get a few license plate covers made up with your name/logo, number and web presence details, perfect for those pictures. ;)
Interesting idea, I hadn't thought of that yet or heard anything like that before, I'll have to look into it a little further.


Thanks for all the great tips guys, I appreciate it, and keep 'em coming, especially in the department of ways to market and promote to a fresh and new area of people:dblthumb2:
 
this is a great thread for the up and comers. thanks OP for creating this and thanks everyone for contributing.
 
Hehe, I can't take credit, Jarred. I've seen them elsewhere over the years, but most recently Etienne in South Africa showcased with them.
 
Don't listen to people who haven't done what they are talking about. Lots of Parroting information without checking facts or testing the idea.
 
Well that's rather cynical. Might as well just say, "Don't keep an open mind."
 
Well that's rather cynical. Might as well just say, "Don't keep an open mind."

Far from it. The ability to hear an idea is far different than acting out what someone has told you without doing your due diligence.

There are a lot of "arm chair" detailers out there. :xyxthumbs:
 
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