Need help starting a detailing business in Macedonia

[ViGi]

Need help starting a detailing business in Macedonia


Hello Mike. I`m from Macedonia and this is my first post in autogeek forum (very big forum and maybe I`m not in the right place)

I`m new in detailing 10 day education from AUTOGEEK UNIVERSITY, and every day I`m becoming as good as i thought. Here in Macedonia I`m trying to open a small detailing bussines, I really need help, professional help.

I`ve chosed flex 3401 for my primary mashine.

Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay, or Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion (for newer cars). For claying i think it`s not very important what to chose maybe everything works. Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion is the best (correct me or give me another solution).

Compound Meg 105: But im not very sure where not to use this, does work even in some non metalic cars, i don`t understand a lot the clear coat, if it`s fineshet and i use this i may damage the car. (i need some instructions here). Good links may work.

Polish & Finish: something AllInOne. 1. After the 105. 2. In cases when i dont need 105 to start with this. 3. Newer cars. 4. Ceramic clear cot . I think this would be Menzerna Super Finish (SF-4000) PO 106. CORECT ME.

Again Glaze: Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing.

Selant: Klasse ALL-IN-ONE Polish (cheaper ang good option)

Wax: Meguiars Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Liquid Wax again cheaper and good option.

I really need help with this.

P.S. I really have that mindset element, i just need to become a professional detailer

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's a map of Macedonia....

The reach the AutogeekOnline.net detailing discussion forum had never ceases to amaze me....

:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hello Mike. I`m from Macedonia and this is my first post in autogeek forum (very big forum and maybe I`m not in the right place)

I`m new in detailing 10 day education from AUTOGEEK UNIVERSITY, and every day I`m becoming as good as i thought. Here in Macedonia I`m trying to open a small detailing bussines, I really need help, professional help.

Have no fear... you can do it and we will help.

I`ve chosed flex 3401 for my primary mashine.

This is a great tool and will serve you well. The only time I ever see these tools break is when someone is either getting their money's worth, that means using the heck out of it making money or abusing it and then it's the users fault.

Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay, or Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion (for newer cars). For claying i think it`s not very important what to chose maybe everything works. Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion is the best (correct me or give me another solution).

All clay works, at least if it's a quality brand name but there are different grades. Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay is an ultra fine clay and perfect for most people and especially for new cars unless something catastrophic has happened.

As for the Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion, this is a non-abrasive paint cleaner. It removes surface impurities, light oxidation and staining to prepare the paint for application of a non-cleaning wax or sealant. It does work very well but for me, if I'm going to hand or machine apply something to clean the paint I go ahead and use a fine cut polish as it will do everything the paint cleaner will do PLUS remove any fine or shallow paint defects to create an even more perfect finish.

For this I use the Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish.

Compound Meg 105: But im not very sure where not to use this, does work even in some non metalic cars, i don`t understand a lot the clear coat, if it`s fineshet and i use this i may damage the car. (i need some instructions here). Good links may work.

Meguiar's M105 is a great compound. It's the compound that really changed the paint polishing world for all segments,

1. Professional market
2. Detailing market
3. Enthusiast market

It's no longer the best compound on the market as there really isn't a single "best" compound there are a LOT of "best" compounds now days. Here's a few,

• Meguiar's M101 - Foam Pad Compound - Just about any tool or pad.
• Meguiar's M100 - Wool Pad Compound - Rotary Buffers Only
• Wolfgang Uber Compound - Any paint, any tool, any pad even by hand.
• Optimum Compound II - Any paint, any tool, any pad, not sure about by hand by probably.
• Rupes Zephir Gloss Coarse Compound
• Mothers Heavy Duty Rubbing Compound and Rubbing Compound
• Menzerna FG400

That's off the top of my head but they all work great when used with common sense.

Polish & Finish: something AllInOne. 1. After the 105. 2. In cases when i dont need 105 to start with this. 3. Newer cars. 4. Ceramic clear cot . I think this would be Menzerna Super Finish (SF-4000) PO 106. CORECT ME.

Just to note, generally speaking, when you use the term All-In-One you're referring to a cleaner/wax not a dedicated polish.

The two Menzerna products are dedicated polishes and offer zero protection.

An all in one, like XMT 360 or Optimum GPS will clean, polish and PROTECT in one step.

Again Glaze: Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing.

Pinnacle Paintwork Cleaning Polish is not a glaze, it's a chemical paint cleaner.

A true glaze would be Meguiar's Show Car Glaze, Meguiar's Machine Glaze or 3M Imperial Hand Glaze.

For most people, you don't need a true glaze.

Sealant: Klasse ALL-IN-ONE Polish (cheaper ang good option)

This is a cleaner/wax or if you want to get real specific it's not a cleaner/wax but a cleaner/acrylic sealant. Point being it cleans, polishes and protects in one step with zero correction ability.

Wax: Meguiars Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Liquid Wax again cheaper and good option.

Yep... that's a wax.

I really need help with this.

i just need to become a professional detailer

Here's what I recommend...

Start reading the forum everyday. Click on threads that interest you.

Start threads when you have a question but here's a tip, ONLY ask 1-3 questions in your post as you'll get a LOT more replies.

When you ask dozens of questions in a single post it's so overwhelming for most people it's easier for them to simply click away and move onto easier to answer threads.

I wrote two articles to help people help themselves...


A tip to help yourself get great answers when you start a thread

How to write a good title for your thread

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Also... get a copy of my book, either the ibook version or the paperback version, the ibook version is the best as it has embedded videos and links to MORE information that you can click to. You can't "click" on anything in the paper version.

Read it from cover to cover and you'll know more than most people and more than most detailers that don't hang out on detailing discussion forums.


The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine on the Apple iBookstore

The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine - Paperback



:xyxthumbs:

 

[ViGi]

Thank you Mike for all the help you gave it to me. as i see i have a lot of work to do before i strart the bussines.

Polish & Finish: something AllInOne. 1. After the 105. 2. In cases when i dont need 105 to start with this. 3. Newer cars. 4. Ceramic clear cot . I think this would be Menzerna Super Finish (SF-4000) PO 106.

Just to note, generally speaking, when you use the term All-In-One you're referring to a cleaner/wax not a dedicated polish.

The two Menzerna products are dedicated polishes and offer zero protection.

An all in one, like XMT 360 or Optimum GPS will clean, polish and PROTECT in one step.

I meant not to use a special polish after compound, special one when the car is in beter condition and i dont need heavy compound, special one for ceramic clear coat, special polish & special finish. I need one that will work for all of this specials. What do you think for Menzerna Super Finish (SF-4000) PO 106 will work for all this specials.

For most people, you don't need a true glaze.

And i will not use Glaze.

Sealant: Klasse ALL-IN-ONE Polish

This is a cleaner/wax or if you want to get real specific it's not a cleaner/wax but a cleaner/acrylic sealant. Point being it cleans, polishes and protects in one step with zero correction ability.

But can i use it like a selant in let`s say all type of paints.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

What do you think for Menzerna Super Finish (SF-4000) PO 106 will work for all this specials.

Yes. Menzerna SF 4000 is a great all purpose light cutting polish for cars in which the paint is still in great shape with only light neglect.

But can i use it like a sealant in let`s say all type of paints.

Yes. You can use either one or both the Klasse AIO and the Klasse SG as a final sealant on all types of paint.

 

[trekkeruss]

I really need help with this.

P.S. I really have that mindset element, i just need to become a professional detailer

I am not in the detailing business, but I have decades of professional retail, service, and sales experience. It sounds like you have the tools and techniques. What will make you successful is how you take care of the business side of your operation. That is harder than the detailing itself.

Best of luck in your venture.

 

[lkotsios]

Mike that is not a map of Macedonia! Please re-tract that map of macedonia.

 

[trekkeruss]

Mike that is not a map of Macedonia! Please re-tract that map of macedonia.

Boy, that is an OLD map! :laughing:

 

[ViGi]

Thanks Mike and trekkeruss

Mike that is not a map of Macedonia! Please re-tract that map of macedonia.

That`s old map of macedonia, Here the new updated map from google:

 

[lkotsios]

Boy, that is an OLD map! :laughing:

It's not an old map either its just a mickey mouse map.

 

[RMM]

It's not an old map either its just a mickey mouse map.

That map may be offensive to some...namely Greeks...

 

[ViGi]

Importantly that is Macedonia, and in this case shouldn`t be offensive to no one. I updated it with the new map.

 

[irsankao]

Back to you original thread instead of map thread.
Just take the plunge!

Nothing is ever perfect, take up your first customer, a friend maybe and adapt from there and just keep improving in term of skill, experience and tools/products. If it's hot and dry out there, you may want to get products that with longer play time.

 

[ViGi]

Thanks irsankao, anyway very good car care online shop, we need something like that here in Macedonia, we have just Sonax here, nothing more, I made a purchase from autogeek and the shipping price is very big. I`m going deeper and deeper with this things, and now I`m starting to dream about something like Autogeek Macedonia, but i have litle to no informations how this works.

 

[irsankao]

I am suggesting you to search for europe version of AG forum, it's very popular for europe community. I probably not allowed to say it here but you will find many big suppliers there, they are european based.

Menzerna is in germany as well as flex, rupes is in italy. Gtechniq is in UK so in term of shipping cost you would find them very competitive. There is no excuse really, you can even put less efforts to succeed.

My country is far from any major suppliers except china, the wholesale price include shipping + margin = minimum twice the AG price, it's insane but we have no choice. The cheaper price is only from china because it's closer and like many countries doing business with china is very common nowadays.

 

[lkotsios]

Thanks for the map new map vigi.

 

[ViGi]

Prices in europe are x2 x3 higher than in US, i don`t get this, and they are harder to find.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike that is not a map of Macedonia! Please re-tract that map of macedonia.

Feel free to provide your own correct version. There's a button when you post a reply that will let you insert an image.

Also, I'm not a geography expert, I just did what most people would do and that's a Google image search.

How's this one?

For the recored, my point was about our reach and that the car detailing hobby and business knows no boundries....


:dunno:

 

[ViGi]

I contacted AutoGeek, and I`m ready to bring AutoGeek as much closer in Macedonia, with selling product, teaching how to care for their cars, how to use products, how to get help from autogeek forum etc.