Getting some work done here at Shine and Shade this summer. Its been different here. We are in the process of finding out what kind of work we like to do and where our favorite clients are. This has brought me to realize we need a better tracking system with each potential customer and contact we make. We have work orders in place for each job we schedule with the kind of work we will be preforming and when. This also helps us not lose important info about the job that we need later to look and feel professional. This in turn gets us more time to get each job done on time and able to take on more work. Looking forward to working for you..... btw our favorite new product in the shop?  Perfect 10. It comes in an aerosol can, and can be used on rubber, and plastic trim to renew it. Works great on floor mats and jeep tops. Sells for $10.95 and can but worth every penny....

SELECTING THE RIGHT CUSTOMERS

Hello there, I almost forgot this page existed. NOT. I just have been a little overwhelmed with our spring rush, how to manage my new help, and some not so great accounts.

In this post I want to talk about setting goals in reaching the desired customer. I learn everyday how in a business there are clients you want and some you don't want. Correct marketing methods will deliver you the outcome you want. If there is no marketing being done, you can only take the work that fate brings you. But if you tell others what you like to do, and show them a service they are looking for, you can find some really good people to work with. Finding the right client is like shopping. Lots of shoe stores are full of shoes, but one has to ask himself, how can store with this much selection have no options that work for me? I will say that a detailer does offer to clean dirty cars yes, but I like customers that want to preserve there vehicle as they know they spent allot of hard earned money on it. Cleaning out a car full of hard candy stuck to the carpet is no fun. It has its place to clean out the soccer moms car and they can and often like to pay you good as they know its bad. Interior detailing can be hard to bid especially over the phone. Many moms don't really know how much of that bag of trail mix really got eaten. So detailing a rich guys Mercedes fun after a suburban full of dog hair and candy, but I will warn you clean cars that come in usually come with a client with a lot higher expectations SO you better have the training to deliver.
I love performing exterior details as this is ones first impressions as he approaches the vehicle. On the outside bringing a scratched up paint job back to nearly new condition is really rewarding. Here again coming by a talent to actually perform paint correction without damaging the paint takes time and investment just like any other profession, whether it be becoming a doctor or a cook. Not all cooks are good ones. There is a local restaurant here that if you knew the cooks schedule you would make sure you didn't go - or some you would make sure that's the only time you went. So to become known for being the wanted cook in the automotive appearance industry takes time and effort both in telling others and performing the work you said you could. The reward for a good job is the opportunity to do more. Selecting the right customer does not happen overnight but by doing the right activities we have the ability to expedite the process and get to our goals.
 In order to find the ideal client you need to ask yourself who do you want to work for and what kind of work do you like? Me, I like fewer customers per day that have more difficult needs for there car and are willing to pay to get it back to normal. So in order to do that I cannot bid my jobs so low that I have to book 4 jobs just so I can stay afloat. I can perform 4 in a day but most times my client ends up feeling like a number and that you were just seeing dollar signs on how fast you could do there car instead of making sure that there once a year $275 detail that took effort to get it down and dropped off was wasted, maybe some even take a day off work to get it here driving 50 miles one way. Then to treat them with the hurry and get out of my space attitude so I can work on someone else's car is not going to bring them back nor make them a raving customer telling others how much time you took just for them. I found if you show each client how much you care for them they become a friend and tell others about you. This will quickly lighten your marketing expense and efforts and make you feel really good at night. The rest of a laboring man is sweet.  So I always have on hand our extra options you can upgrade to. While a customer is inquiring about a detail I show them the benefits of an upgrade helping them with a decision that fits the needs of the car and there budget. I often ask them if they are planning on keeping the car, and how often they get a detail done. If its not that often and they are keeping it I almost always can upgrade to a higher service. If they want to sell the vehicle then I encourage them to stick to the more basic one in order for them to use there money wisely. This may seem crazy to help them not spend money but I think in turn they feel as if you care about them and will most likely bring in the next vehicle they purchased for you to make it nice. One client brings in his SUV and Camero every month. these are both almost new and he tells me you decide when it needs waxed and I will be glad to have you make the decisions on maintaining the paint. I have instilled trust into these kind of clients as the dealership they purchased from would wash there car every week for free but they choose to pay me 35 to wash and offer more when ever they think it needs it. Ideal clients are not brought in by bragging about the exotic cars you detailed or that you are the best, they come in because you put your heart into your work and they know it. Show someone you care, and listen to them. Just like taking care of your own children if you want them to listen to you you have to first listen to them. When they ask a question or want a book read. They are finding out how much you care by your response. If you say not now every time they will not share with you when they are older because they get the perception you don't really care or have time to help them through the tough times. All in all I just say that be there for your customer one at a time. Do your best learn from each one on how they respond to your work. Have an upbeat sound in your voice and act excited that they chose you to do business with. They really are doing you a life favor by supporting your family and the lifestyle you have chosen. So a smile is a curve that sets things straight in life. Set yourself a goal to identify and find your ideal client this detailing season. If you follow these activities this summer it will come back to you 10 fold next year. It will even have noticeably positive results as soon as you start. Have a good day.  Andy
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Auto detailing can be a fun way to make a living. I love this way of life for its freedom to chose who you work for and how much work you want to do. If I need family time I simply just put it in my schedule book. One thing I have always liked about it even though I'm not very busy in the winter months at least I'm not outside trying to build something in the wet snow. I also love seeing how happy people are when they pick up there car. It seems new to them again. I love making other people happy. I think that is the best thing in life.

Today's quote...
Laziness may look inviting but only work gives you true satisfaction.
                                                                                            -Ann Frank-

So love your work or let it love you- I don't care have and affair with every day you spend behind the wheel of every deal. Each sale you do is just the beginning not the end of a brand new friend.

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Detail shop or butcher shop?

Are you a detailer? If you have your own shop what kind of detailer are you? In todays automotive world there are all kinds shops. Mechanics shops, car sales, detail shops, tire shops, muffler shops, stereo shops, and car washes/express lubes and drive through coffee stands.
If in the detailing world you soon fall into one of 2 categories - one being the cheapest and fastest in town or the one (which I prefer) the best/most careful attention to details sort of guy.
In order to define what sort of shop you want to be you have to define who you want to work for and how you want to live.
In my opinion If you want to be the cheapest that will definitely get you lots of work but be prepared to work long hard hours. Working fast is a key in any business be it construction, on a loading dock, or in a mechanic shop but you cannot put enough emphasis on careful in the detailing field. In finding your kind of client you need to fit there needs. If its a car dealer you will in my opinion soon turn into the butcher style detailer as I have experienced and not enjoyed. They send you lots of uncared for cars and they are not owned by anyone individual so careful is not in most car dealerships requisites  If you find one hang on to them and treat them right. If they treat you like you are a liability to them and only cost them money- dump them like a dirty shirt. you will find yourself doing things to cars that make you feel funny,bad, like your not concerned how long the paint will last or if the leather is conditioned.
You are the one who creates your customer field by the way you represent your store and your prices. After you have 10 happy raving fans your path becomes golden- maybe not so much with 15 cars lined up outside your door but with 5 good paying well kept vehicles. This in turn is better profits - with less product use and shorter hours per vehicle and happier clients. Giving away a courtesy express wash is easy and a nice gift for one of your clients in return for a good referral.
Be available in the detailing industry is important too. Today is sunny tomorrow is not. Next week it will snow and the next is bills, Christmas, or the washing machine broke down.
Make your family come first you only get one shot with your 4 yr old to show him how to ride bike and draw pictures with him. They don't understand that you think work is more important. If you've over reached your abilities to make ends meet, simplify your life- its too short to miss and you can't buy it back. Mama is waiting for you to get there and she has supper on the table.
Customers are important and you should always sympathize with them but never be a push over and stick you your word they will respect you for it. Your price was fair the first time you quoted and cheaper needs to be educated that it can be done only by reducing the service provided. If not done so before the sale you both will feel cheated and disappointing.
Yes we often over deliver but only the easy little things like a quick paint touch up or a fabric gard on the carpets.
Keeping up your image as a class act not a hack is where you find the most rewarding work. You also are not a fly by night. The guys that win customers by price are gone as soon as there is a better paying job. Not to mention what they do to your vehicle to make it look good and not to make it last longer.

www.shineandshade.com            www.detailingsuccess.com 

 tell Renny Andy @shineandshade.com sent you.

Detailing cars is not a luxury item but a maintenance issue. I know if you have a power bill to pay that most likely will come first. It does at my house. But just like changing your oil for the transmission, your car begs for care inside and out. Leather wears out at the seams first because of the sand that stays there. After time of it rubbing on the stitching, it finally gives up on you to vacuum it away and tears. Your paint needs protection from all the unnatural deicing products distributed by our county snowplow trucks. Even bugs rocks and tree sap tend to attack your car right while your watching. We have detailing specials going on for winter. Ask for Extra protection package/winter.
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Also we are once again running newsletters so go to the contact us page add yourself to get inside tips and discounts on our services.  Have a good day and thanks for reading :)