My business goals for next year

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

So I have been analyzing my business over the last month or so and reflecting on this last year . In doing so ive decided to work on and correct the three things I believe my shop struggles with the most. Im looking for everyones input on how to correct these issues

1)Turn around times: The average car detail we do takes 4-6 hours depending on vehicles condition. This does not include any paint correction.1 person per car.

2)Advertising: I currently have my website, #1 in almost all search engines , local smart shopper , high school sports program supporter.

3)Shop equipment failure: seems like everyday im fixing something , wether its an air hose with a leak or a an extractor pump gone bad. When these things go down it seems that my shop stops. I do have backups for most things.

Im looking for any input that i might not be thinking of ...Thanks peeps

 

[KneeDragr]

I have a question for you regarding #1.

Are your people working non-stop for their work day or do they have idle time? Do you have more work than you can get done?

The reason I ask, is the only way it makes sense to spend more money to increase efficiency, is if you have more work than you can handle. If not, the only way to make that money back is to lay off employees.

 

[statusdetailing]

Those turnaround times seem very normal to me. I spent 7 hours on a van yesterday. I can not get it down under that. It was an interior detail and aio on the exterior. That's my most basic detail, but it is still much more thorough than the big production shops.

Cars take me 4-5 hours. I can't do a one step and interior in less than 7 hours on a small car.

Paint correction takes me at least a full day, not including the interior.

It sounds like you may be caught in a gray area between production and high end detailing.

I think that's a tough place to be as a detailer.

 

[VP Mark]

Here's a couple of cents for you:

1. Do you and your employees follow a set process for each and every car? If there is variation each time a service is provided, there will be variation in time. I'm not talking about dirty cars taking longer here, I'm talking about lost minutes thinking "What step do I do next?" There should be a set process for every single service you provide.

Also, have you ever considered having more than 1 person work on each car? After the wash process is done, maybe one interior, one exterior?

2. Do you use google Adwords? It can be used to push searches that do not fit your exact keywords you are #1 in towards your site. Do you have any local signing? For instance I have a local family member off a main road that let me put up a Sam's Club flashing arrow sign up in their yard. I get tons of business from it. Signing works. Why do you think there are so many billboards out there?

Do you have a referral program? A good referral program, that drives business? If it doesn't bring in business, it isn't a good referral program. Change it.

3. Just asking here, but it sounds like you
a)have cheap equipment
b)are not treating it like the valuable money making tool it is (this includes your employees)
c)do not have a sufficient system set in place to quickly(think minutes) continue the service with either a replacement piece of equipment or replacement process.

 

[Pureshine]

Those turnaround times seem very normal to me. I spent 7 hours on a van yesterday. I can not get it down under that. It was an interior detail and aio on the exterior. That's my most basic detail, but it is still much more thorough than the big production shops.

Cars take me 4-5 hours. I can't do a one step and interior in less than 7 hours on a small car.

Paint correction takes me at least a full day, not including the interior.

It sounds like you may be caught in a gray area between production and high end detailing.

I think that's a tough place to be as a detailer.

:iagree:

My complete detail no polishing can take anywhere from 5-8 hrs just depends on the condition of car no way around it. Unless you have 2 or more people on the car. You need to decide what kind of shop you want high end or production shop in my opinion can't be both.

 

[statusdetailing]

I'd like to ad something. You're employees won't work quicker unless they have an incentive.

Perhaps start paying them per car. There is a legal way to do this, because my brother runs a commercial cleaning business and pays his employees per unit.

This will discourage them from sitting around. If you have cars lined out the door, this may increase efficiency.

You may go even further and pay them a percentage of the detail. If they are doing any of the selling or meeting clients, it gives them an incentive to up sell things like sealants and fabric protection.

All this could have a negative effect on quality, so you will have to monitor them more closely.

Careful though, or you will burn them all out. Detailing is hard, as you know.

 

[thebamboo23]

In general, you wont make em do much more if youre not paying them well either. not saying you arent, but in general, pay more= happier to work=better results (not always of course)

 

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

I have a question for you regarding #1.

Are your people working non-stop for their work day or do they have idle time? Do you have more work than you can get done?

The reason I ask, is the only way it makes sense to spend more money to increase efficiency, is if you have more work than you can handle. If not, the only way to make that money back is to lay off employees.

My detailers are paid per car so they pretty much work non stop. I do have more work than i can handle most of the year .

 

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

Those turnaround times seem very normal to me. I spent 7 hours on a van yesterday. I can not get it down under that. It was an interior detail and aio on the exterior. That's my most basic detail, but it is still much more thorough than the big production shops.

Cars take me 4-5 hours. I can't do a one step and interior in less than 7 hours on a small car.

Paint correction takes me at least a full day, not including the interior.

It sounds like you may be caught in a gray area between production and high end detailing.

I think that's a tough place to be as a detailer.

Yeah the times are pretty normal i agree , im just trying to be as productive as possible and i think you are right my shop is kind of in that grey area between production detailing and high end detailing. I would like to get to about 3-5 hours per car especially on all my dealer accounts.

 

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

Here's a couple of cents for you:

1. Do you and your employees follow a set process for each and every car? If there is variation each time a service is provided, there will be variation in time. I'm not talking about dirty cars taking longer here, I'm talking about lost minutes thinking "What step do I do next?" There should be a set process for every single service you provide.

Also, have you ever considered having more than 1 person work on each car? After the wash process is done, maybe one interior, one exterior?

Each of my detailers has there own style and process for detailing vehicles. I try not to make them all do it my way ,experience has taught me not to throw a wrench in the machine. As long as the quality level is there anyway. I have considered two people per car but my guys are paid per car and it also becomes a blame game.

2. Do you use google Adwords? It can be used to push searches that do not fit your exact keywords you are #1 in towards your site. Do you have any local signing? For instance I have a local family member off a main road that let me put up a Sam's Club flashing arrow sign up in their yard. I get tons of business from it. Signing works. Why do you think there are so many billboards out there?

I only have an a frame sign outside on the road wich im located on to help people find my location easier, i do like the idea of more signage. Thank you.

Do you have a referral program? A good referral program, that drives business? If it doesn't bring in business, it isn't a good referral program. Change it.

I do need a better referral program, right now i place a card inside the vehicle thanking the customer for there business and offering a 10% refferal fee when they refer someone and that person brings in the card. It works ok. Any suggestions on a better one.

3. Just asking here, but it sounds like you
a)have cheap equipment
b)are not treating it like the valuable money making tool it is (this includes your employees)
c)do not have a sufficient system set in place to quickly(think minutes) continue the service with either a replacement piece of equipment or replacement process.

i actually have real nice equipment(2 mytee extractors, vx 5000, atlas copco rotary screw compressor , ) . I think this issue has more to do with my employees treatment of the equipment and me not being able to monitor them all the time. nobody treats your things like you do. I am able to fix anything in minutes about 90% of the time and i have a backup for everything . its just seems to bring my shop to a dead stop ( maybe lack of management on my end ill work on it.

 

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

I'd like to ad something. You're employees won't work quicker unless they have an incentive.

Perhaps start paying them per car. There is a legal way to do this, because my brother runs a commercial cleaning business and pays his employees per unit.

This will discourage them from sitting around. If you have cars lined out the door, this may increase efficiency.

You may go even further and pay them a percentage of the detail. If they are doing any of the selling or meeting clients, it gives them an incentive to up sell things like sealants and fabric protection.

All this could have a negative effect on quality, so you will have to monitor them more closely.

Careful though, or you will burn them all out. Detailing is hard, as you know.

I already pay them all per car and i inspect every single car before it ever leaves always. They have very little customer interaction.

 

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

Thanks everyone for all the insight and suggestions, its greatly appreciated.

 

[statusdetailing]

Yeah the times are pretty normal i agree , im just trying to be as productive as possible and i think you are right my shop is kind of in that grey area between production detailing and high end detailing. I would like to get to about 3-5 hours per car especially on all my dealer accounts.

Just so you know, I totally respect production guys that do it right. Production work can be very profitable, and in many cases, it is exactly what the client wants and needs.

There are two types of production guys:

Hack/production: Guys that have never even heard of a DA and who mostly do one step (rarely two steps) with wool and rotary only. Cars leave the shop wet and full of holograms.

You on the other hand seem to be...

Quality/Production: Sounds like your heart is in the right place. You want to make money (who doesn't?) and you still want to do a good job, all while getting the vehicle back to the client in a timely manner.

The fact that you are on here, asking questions and seeking advice means that you are headed in the right direction. While it doesn't guarantee success, it puts you lightyears ahead of your competition.

I hope you get some of those things worked out that you are struggling with.

 

[PERFECTIONPLUS]

Just so you know, I totally respect production guys that do it right. Production work can be very profitable, and in many cases, it is exactly what the client wants and needs.

There are two types of production guys:

Hack/production: Guys that have never even heard of a DA and who mostly do one step (rarely two steps) with wool and rotary only. Cars leave the shop wet and full of holograms.

You on the other hand seem to be...

Quality/Production: Sounds like your heart is in the right place. You want to make money (who doesn't?) and you still want to do a good job, all while getting the vehicle back to the client in a timely manner.

The fact that you are on here, asking questions and seeking advice means that you are headed in the right direction. While it doesn't guarantee success, it puts you lightyears ahead of your competition.

I hope you get some of those things worked out that you are struggling with.

Thanks man... I dont really view my retail clientele as production work, sometimes on there vehicles i will spend 7-8 hours just correcting paint , and I always , always make sure every retail customers vehicle is in the best possible condition when it leaves here no ifs ands or buts. I do alot of high end detail work as well , but im the only one that touches those vehicles so they take alot more time.

 

[statusdetailing]

Thanks man... I dont really view my retail clientele as production work, sometimes on there vehicles i will spend 7-8 hours just correcting paint , and I always , always make sure every retail customers vehicle is in the best possible condition when it leaves here no ifs ands or buts. I do alot of high end detail work as well , but im the only one that touches those vehicles so they take alot more time.

Sweet, being the only one that does the high end work is a great idea. That way your name is associated with that work. It's a great way to sell your high end work as well, being able to tell the client that only your hands touch his car.