PerroneFord
Hobbyist Detailer
Again,
I don't want to misconstrue anything here. I am *not* a professional detailer. I do this as a hobby only. My approach was to spend a year working on my car, and friend's cars. After learning from that, and investing in the tools, I decided to approach others about doing their cars. So I asked myself what cars I would enjoy detailing, and then approached car clubs that specialized in those cars about detailing.
Between the 3 or 4 car clubs, I am going to have more business than I can handle. In fact, what has happened is that the members have asked me not only to do those cars, but their daily drivers as well. All told, I am probably looking at a group of 100-150 cars per year. FAR more than I can do. I am to do good work, charge a fair price (for me as well as the customer) and give the cars the care I'd like to see taken of my own. If they should have reason to take their car to a pro detailer, I'd hate to think that I had turned over poor work to them.
Places like this have been invaluable to my learning, to avoiding mistakes, and to doing research on various vehicles and the processes that make the detailing possible. I still research every car I am about to do on Hemmings, Edmunds, Ebay, and similar sites. I want to see what the vehicle looks or looked like in new condition. I want to see every surface possible and how I would detail it. I want to look at areas that will need taping, etc.
I also know when to say no. I turned down a job on a classic car last night with 30 year old paint. I told the owner I'd attempt it once I bought a PTG and not before. With my current work levels, I should be able to buy one by the end of the month, so that detail may happen sooner rather than later.
There are a great many ways to differentiate yourself. Find a niche and be the best at it. For me, it will be specializing in daily driven British and German classic cars, Porsches, Mustangs, and the occasional oddball. That is as much as I care to do.
I don't want to misconstrue anything here. I am *not* a professional detailer. I do this as a hobby only. My approach was to spend a year working on my car, and friend's cars. After learning from that, and investing in the tools, I decided to approach others about doing their cars. So I asked myself what cars I would enjoy detailing, and then approached car clubs that specialized in those cars about detailing.
Between the 3 or 4 car clubs, I am going to have more business than I can handle. In fact, what has happened is that the members have asked me not only to do those cars, but their daily drivers as well. All told, I am probably looking at a group of 100-150 cars per year. FAR more than I can do. I am to do good work, charge a fair price (for me as well as the customer) and give the cars the care I'd like to see taken of my own. If they should have reason to take their car to a pro detailer, I'd hate to think that I had turned over poor work to them.
Places like this have been invaluable to my learning, to avoiding mistakes, and to doing research on various vehicles and the processes that make the detailing possible. I still research every car I am about to do on Hemmings, Edmunds, Ebay, and similar sites. I want to see what the vehicle looks or looked like in new condition. I want to see every surface possible and how I would detail it. I want to look at areas that will need taping, etc.
I also know when to say no. I turned down a job on a classic car last night with 30 year old paint. I told the owner I'd attempt it once I bought a PTG and not before. With my current work levels, I should be able to buy one by the end of the month, so that detail may happen sooner rather than later.
There are a great many ways to differentiate yourself. Find a niche and be the best at it. For me, it will be specializing in daily driven British and German classic cars, Porsches, Mustangs, and the occasional oddball. That is as much as I care to do.
) - Does a steak house have to explain to you why their steak is worth more than the local McDonald's hamburger? Get a portfolio and let it do the talking. My business is fueled by word of mouth and people looking at my website. I do nothing more to promote myself and rarely do I have to explain why I cost more than them anymore. 
