There’s a segment of this industry that’s often overlooked by auto detailing entrepreneurs, even though it has the potential for respectable profits with less work and a reasonable overhead. We’re talking about express detailing or, as we like to call it here at Detail King, express after care.
Express detailing is a service offered by many established car wash businesses because — if they do it right — they can add $30 to $60 to the regular car wash ticket. This expedited service has the customer on his or her way in less than 15 to 20 minutes after the automatic car wash, feeling really good about the inexpensive — and fast — service.
That’s great for the fixed site car wash, but the hurdle facing the average mobile auto detailer is that he or she doesn’t have the luxury of an automatic car wash tunnel that can hurry the process along. But that certainly doesn’t mean independent detailers can’t take advantage of express after care. And it all begins by educating your customer when they pick up their vehicle following a complete detail.
Your detail shop manager or mobile detailer employee (which we recognize might be you) should make a point of telling customers that they can keep their vehicle sparkling clean inside and out all year long by taking advantage of your express after care detailing service. You tell them this service is available bimonthly or quarterly and it offers the advantage of having a clean and well-maintained vehicle all the time. And by encouraging them to come back every few months or so for a touchup, they enjoy the increased protection that such a consistent service provides for their vehicles.
The selling point, of course, is that express after care detailing is an inexpensive proposition compared to the typical full detail. That’s because it’s less labor intensive than a full auto detail and subsequently, much less costly for the customer. And by spreading these “check ups” throughout the year, the customer gets a well-maintained car all the time and you as the detail shop owner generate a steady, reoccurring revenue flow. It’s a win-win proposition and everybody drives away happy.
Since American car owners are hanging onto their vehicles for up to nine years these days, it becomes even more important to customers that those older vehicles retain their good looks. Express after care offers another reason for your customers to hang onto their current vehicle. Because the bottom line for most of us these days is economize.
Express after car includes a hand wash — which, incidentally is something most customers would prefer over an automatic wash. This is followed by a thorough cleaning that is made easier and much faster these days, thanks to a host of new state-of-the-art tools and products. For instance, there are now many spray-on express waxes and polymer sealants that can be applied to a vehicle while it’s still wet.
This frequent-cleaning plan can also include interiors, and there’s a rash of new items on the market to make even that task easier and less expensive, including the Tornador Cleaning Tool.
You can find all the proper tools and products necessary to offer an express detail package by visiting the Detailers Super Mall. Or give us a call here at Detail King by dialing (888) 314-0847 and find out which products and tools will best do the job for your operation.