tuscarora dave
Active member
- Aug 21, 2009
- 5,408
- 12
I lost track of how many years I have been detailing cars now, I'd guess at 3 years or so, maybe 4. What I can say for sure though is that it is tough to survive as a business detailing cars when you have a small location with no drains and no real working capital. Over the years I have kicked around a lot of thoughts as to what I can do to separate myself from the other detailing outfits in my area.
What makes Tuscarora Dave's different?
In one respect, it could be that I can cater my detailing service to any type of customer that is looking for anything other than rock bottom pricing. I tell price shoppers (respectfully) that if they're looking for the lowest price in town, they should continue their search. We all know that "real quality" detailing involves lots of work no matter how efficient you can work.
If I get someone who says they want "the best quality" detailing, I can do that. However...after a not so long conversation, these folks choose my production detail which I do consider to be of the best quality for production detailing. After I explain to them that no business can be legitimate and charge under $50 per hour, and that "The best quality" could involve 10 to 50 hours depending on the vehicle and the service they want, they normally choose the production package.
I'll be clear that I always ask them how they intend to care for the vehicle into the future, has it been professionally detailed before and by whom, then I talk about production pricing first and give them a little insight into what I'll do that's different than the other shops in my area. I save the details of "The best quality" for after (and only if) I've determined that they have a garage queen or a show car and that they really want the best service money can buy. I think it's safe to say that we all realize that a very small percentage of folks really want the best service available...They only think they do because they've never been educated as to the difference.
I really think though, that the single most thing that sets me apart from the other guys in this area is my network of other service providers and the fact that I personally offer other services as well. Ever since I started detailing out of the trunk (and back seat) of my Buick, I've been introducing myself to a lot of other companies in the central PA area. I give a business card, and I get a business card. I have a lot of business cards of other service providers, and not just automotive related either. I have cards from home re-modelers, tire and wheel installation businesses, state inspection stations, window tinting and stereo installation businesses, accountants, transmission specialists etc. etc.
When I first started doing all of this networking, I had bartering or referrals in mind. I hadn't really given much thought to dealing with these companies regarding the vehicle I had in my shop at the time.
Now when I get a call from or give a call to a prospective client, I let them know that I have a pretty extensive network and that I can make the arrangements to have tires installed on their car while I have it, or I can do a tune up to it while I have the vehicle, oil change and lubrication, brakes, air conditioner service, window tinting etc. Whatever they need done, chances are that someone in my network of service providers can do it for them, and for a fee I can do all the leg work and deliver the car to the right places to get it all done so the customer can handle the more important things in their life.
A lot of folks have a secondary vehicle or a significant other that can have their back concerning transportation for a few days while I make all this stuff happen. I normally don't offer these services to folks I don't know unless they've been referred by someone that I trust who will vouch for them as to their good payment history, or if a new client can provide a few real credit references in the way of other local establishments to vouch for them. These types of clients send me more work than any of my past detailing only clientele ever did.
There's a hitch to pulling this off though, actually a few...
You have to respect the scheduling and the needs of the other service providers in the network. Very rarely does any one particular client need a whole bunch of services all at the same time so you just have to call ahead to the state inspection station, or the tire guys, or the tint guys etc. and let them know that you'll be bringing one of your client's vehicles by for one of their services and verify whether they'll be able to get right on it for you. If you call them laying down demands that it must be done immediately regardless of what they have going on (some people actually do this) you'll probably just have lost one of the service providers in your network.
It simply boils down to having some good manners, considering the work load that your service providers have in their shops at the time you want to schedule the service, and extending a little professional courtesy when they call you to perform a service for one of their clients. If you're willing to go above and beyond to meet their needs and the needs of their clientele, they're usually willing to bend a little to take care of you in a pinch even when they're pretty busy. Some places don't do as well at this type of deal as others do so it's a "don't put all your eggs in one basket" type of mindset that makes it work.
It helps to let these places know up front in a very respectful way that if they can't provide the service if your client needs it right away that you'll have to simply leaf through your business cards and find another establishment that can do it, and that you'll try them again next time.
The longer I do this, the better I get to know these other business owners, the more times I have an opportunity to be friendly, courteous, attuned to their needs and the more they become willing to support my business plans. It kind of snowballs for the good if you conduct yourself in a professional and considerate manner.
So how many of the other members here have similar networks of other service providers, and what are some of the ways you go out of your way to be courteous to them and go with the grain so to speak?
Any comments from those who haven't done this are also welcome in this thread.
Kind of trying to start a think tank of sorts here, so if you have something please contribute it.
Thanks, TD
What makes Tuscarora Dave's different?
In one respect, it could be that I can cater my detailing service to any type of customer that is looking for anything other than rock bottom pricing. I tell price shoppers (respectfully) that if they're looking for the lowest price in town, they should continue their search. We all know that "real quality" detailing involves lots of work no matter how efficient you can work.
If I get someone who says they want "the best quality" detailing, I can do that. However...after a not so long conversation, these folks choose my production detail which I do consider to be of the best quality for production detailing. After I explain to them that no business can be legitimate and charge under $50 per hour, and that "The best quality" could involve 10 to 50 hours depending on the vehicle and the service they want, they normally choose the production package.
I'll be clear that I always ask them how they intend to care for the vehicle into the future, has it been professionally detailed before and by whom, then I talk about production pricing first and give them a little insight into what I'll do that's different than the other shops in my area. I save the details of "The best quality" for after (and only if) I've determined that they have a garage queen or a show car and that they really want the best service money can buy. I think it's safe to say that we all realize that a very small percentage of folks really want the best service available...They only think they do because they've never been educated as to the difference.
I really think though, that the single most thing that sets me apart from the other guys in this area is my network of other service providers and the fact that I personally offer other services as well. Ever since I started detailing out of the trunk (and back seat) of my Buick, I've been introducing myself to a lot of other companies in the central PA area. I give a business card, and I get a business card. I have a lot of business cards of other service providers, and not just automotive related either. I have cards from home re-modelers, tire and wheel installation businesses, state inspection stations, window tinting and stereo installation businesses, accountants, transmission specialists etc. etc.
When I first started doing all of this networking, I had bartering or referrals in mind. I hadn't really given much thought to dealing with these companies regarding the vehicle I had in my shop at the time.
Now when I get a call from or give a call to a prospective client, I let them know that I have a pretty extensive network and that I can make the arrangements to have tires installed on their car while I have it, or I can do a tune up to it while I have the vehicle, oil change and lubrication, brakes, air conditioner service, window tinting etc. Whatever they need done, chances are that someone in my network of service providers can do it for them, and for a fee I can do all the leg work and deliver the car to the right places to get it all done so the customer can handle the more important things in their life.
A lot of folks have a secondary vehicle or a significant other that can have their back concerning transportation for a few days while I make all this stuff happen. I normally don't offer these services to folks I don't know unless they've been referred by someone that I trust who will vouch for them as to their good payment history, or if a new client can provide a few real credit references in the way of other local establishments to vouch for them. These types of clients send me more work than any of my past detailing only clientele ever did.
There's a hitch to pulling this off though, actually a few...
You have to respect the scheduling and the needs of the other service providers in the network. Very rarely does any one particular client need a whole bunch of services all at the same time so you just have to call ahead to the state inspection station, or the tire guys, or the tint guys etc. and let them know that you'll be bringing one of your client's vehicles by for one of their services and verify whether they'll be able to get right on it for you. If you call them laying down demands that it must be done immediately regardless of what they have going on (some people actually do this) you'll probably just have lost one of the service providers in your network.
It simply boils down to having some good manners, considering the work load that your service providers have in their shops at the time you want to schedule the service, and extending a little professional courtesy when they call you to perform a service for one of their clients. If you're willing to go above and beyond to meet their needs and the needs of their clientele, they're usually willing to bend a little to take care of you in a pinch even when they're pretty busy. Some places don't do as well at this type of deal as others do so it's a "don't put all your eggs in one basket" type of mindset that makes it work.
It helps to let these places know up front in a very respectful way that if they can't provide the service if your client needs it right away that you'll have to simply leaf through your business cards and find another establishment that can do it, and that you'll try them again next time.
The longer I do this, the better I get to know these other business owners, the more times I have an opportunity to be friendly, courteous, attuned to their needs and the more they become willing to support my business plans. It kind of snowballs for the good if you conduct yourself in a professional and considerate manner.
So how many of the other members here have similar networks of other service providers, and what are some of the ways you go out of your way to be courteous to them and go with the grain so to speak?
Any comments from those who haven't done this are also welcome in this thread.
Kind of trying to start a think tank of sorts here, so if you have something please contribute it.
Thanks, TD
