Interior detailing is often ignored by detailers who seem to believe their skill as a detailer centers exclusively on their ability to restore a paint finish to a flawless, scratch-free glossy shine.
However, the interior is as important, if not more important than the exterior of the vehicle sense this is where the motorist spends their time, in the automobile.
Moreover, women drivers are especially sensitive to the vehicle interior, more so than men. Considering that over 50% of the drivers on the road today are woman and they account for over 58% of the automotive services purchased, today’s detailer needs to focus more learning about the materials in the interior and how to effectively clean and restore them to a like new condition.
There are so many government regulations that affect a detail business a savvy owner will do well to know them, both Federal & State, the latter, which can be stricter.
This primer and guide to laws and regulations, you should also consult NADA & ATD Federal Regulatory Compliance Chart Second Edition, available at www.nada.org/regulations (requires member access). It lists federal laws and regulations by agency, notes to which they apply, and offers Web addresses for further information.
All Departments (General Management/Personnel)
]]>With all the talk about nanotechnology in the detail business, you must be aware these small particles used in detailing chemicals do not come without risk.
While researchers are busy exploring the hundreds of commercial applications for nanotechnology, less attention is being given to determining the possible health implications of working with particles whose extraordinarily small size causes then to behave in strange, sometimes unpredictable ways.
So the question is: “Do the unique properties that make them so useful also make them uniquely dangerous?”
As well, since the most likely avenue of exposure is airborne, will existing respiratory protection (when it is used in detailing) be effective with nanotechnology compounds and polishes?
]]>Unfortunately, they're already resigned to lack of business and are already trying to figure out how to make up their losses in.
Summer is often a tough time because people take vacations and don't have the time, or they don't have the money, or figure they will wait until the "kids go back to school”.
But keep in mind that vacations are usually no more than 1-2 weeks at most, and they are back for the remainder of the summer.
Even if your detail business slows down during the summer, it is time to be proactive. Start to pre-book business, build relationships, and get referrals.
What you need to realize is that the top 20 percent of the detail businesses in the USA, maybe even the world will find ways to get business. These are the detail business owners who are managing their businesses, not putting their face in the side of a car buffing away.
Here are some ways you can use to get some business this summer and all year long:
#1 Have a Plan.
Of course, there are some basics to operating a business that should be followed by all in business. We assume you are operating legally and in compliance with all the laws of the land.
Want to stimulate a discussion among detailers? Bring up anything to do with paint finishes and their potential damage from carwashes. This is one of the big issues that comes up and has been a matter of avid and heated discussion in this industry for years. However, in the discussions no one is talking about paint finishes themselves and why they might or might not be damaged.
To make sense out of this it would help to have some knowledge of automotive paint technology and its history and evolution..
The History
]]>As auto detailing moves from the back alley, bucket-and-sponge wholesale business of yesterday to a legitimate retail business, it carries with it certain responsibilities. No longer, for example, can workers be paid under the table or under the guise of "contract labor”. You can no longer get by with little or no insurance. Owners must meet government environmental regulations for the discharging of effluents, meet OSHA safety standards, and pay employees according to the labor laws.
The Largest Expense
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