Car detailing for general public

[legendracer]

High-end car detailing requires a temperature-controlled dust-free room which is the basic necessity. The average public has no idea what detailing means nor about the effort and science that goes into it.
Preparation is the main key rather than the application of costly products at later stages as we all know.

Suppose that high end detailing is tweaked for the general public and given at £350 in 48 hours, which includes

a decontamination
wash
some claying to remove further impurities
compounding/ polishing/ 1 step cut&gloss (depending on condition)
IPA wipes
sealing using high-end products like kamikaze or getchniq or cquartz
top up with a spray wax

Note that only exterior panels will be done and outer wheels will only get hand polished. High-end detailing costs above £800 and can take up to 10 days if it's a 1 man job. So if detailing is given at £300 as said above will the average joe take it because enthusiasts and detailing addicts wouldn't as they believe cheap is always bad. The idea is to get nondetailed cars and give them a changeover at a minimal cost.
Coming to the costs involved...
1 car would easily consume £120-150 of products, water and electricity and a balance of £150 per car which isn't of much profit after the back-breaking effort.

[Muzzer79]

legendracer said:

High-end car detailing requires a temperature-controlled dust-free room which is the basic necessity. The average public has no idea what detailing means nor about the effort and science that goes into it.
Preparation is the main key rather than the application of costly products at later stages as we all know.

Suppose that high end detailing is tweaked for the general public and given at £350 in 48 hours, which includes

a decontamination
wash
some claying to remove further impurities
compounding/ polishing/ 1 step cut&gloss (depending on condition)
IPA wipes
sealing using high-end products like kamikaze or getchniq or cquartz
top up with a spray wax

Note that only exterior panels will be done and outer wheels will only get hand polished. High-end detailing costs above £800 and can take up to 10 days if it's a 1 man job. So if detailing is given at £300 as said above will the average joe take it because enthusiasts and detailing addicts wouldn't as they believe cheap is always bad. The idea is to get nondetailed cars and give them a changeover at a minimal cost.
Coming to the costs involved...
1 car would easily consume £120-150 of products, water and electricity and a balance of £150 per car which isn't of much profit after the back-breaking effort.

I'm a little confused.

Are you considering offering a cheaper detailing service for the "general public" or criticising those who offer details for £350 over 2 days?

[legendracer]

Muzzer79 said:

I'm a little confused.

Are you considering offering a cheaper detailing service for the "general public" or criticising those who offer details for £350 over 2 days?

i don't know how you got confused. Will the general public accept cheaper detailing service?

[Crafty_]

legendracer said:

Will the general public accept cheaper detailing service?

imho I don't think the general public are interested, they'll go to the local handwash and pay £20 to have the thing scratchwashed and vacuumed out and be quite happy with it.

having a proper detail done is a enthusiasts thing I think.

[legendracer]

Crafty_ said:

imho I don't think the general public are interested, they'll go to the local handwash and pay £20 to have the thing scratchwashed and vacuumed out and be quite happy with it.

having a proper detail done is a enthusiasts thing I think.

so its either a £800 detailing or £20 roadside car valet... Just wanted to know some views if there can be a middle ground.

[Crafty_]

Right, gotcha.

Yes there will always be a middle ground, I just perceive the customer base for anything other than a scratchwash to be relatively small.

It might be worth routing through threads on detailing world from those in the business.

If you could wash/vacuum/minor correct and then use something to give say a years protection for £300-400 I think you'd get business, but can you make profit ?

I think the biggest struggle is having premises that allow motor trade, there are many who are mobile and work under a pop up gazebo or similar. Obviously bad weather ruins that.

[mk1coopers]

Of course there's a middle ground, plenty of places offering 'menu pricing' for enhancements without going over the whole car as would be the case with a high end detail for people who take an interest in their vehicle (but may not want to spend the time to carry out the work themselves), there are also plenty of people out there that have no interest in what for some is there second biggest outgoing behind property, they will run cars into the ground mechanically / body wise and leave the interiors looking like a skip at the local tip before taking it to the local scratch wash for them to sort out in 15 minutes.

Offer a good service as a business (if that's what you are looking to do), work to a high standard and see if you can make a go of it.

[Scrump]

My local professional detailers already offer a range of services. When I enquired about my car they all offered me a choice of services ranging from a couple of hundred upwards.

[legendracer]

Scrump said:

My local professional detailers already offer a range of services. When I enquired about my car they all offered me a choice of services ranging from a couple of hundred upwards.

they would charge more than £500 when they use product which costs £100. But what if same product service is given at £250-300

[Scrump]

legendracer said:

Scrump said:

My local professional detailers already offer a range of services. When I enquired about my car they all offered me a choice of services ranging from a couple of hundred upwards.

they would charge more than £500 when they use product which costs £100. But what if same product service is given at £250-300

I know very little about detailing so I guess I am the general public you are talking about.
What you are saying about the difference in product is lost on me and so will be lost on the general public.
My two local detailers offered me a range of services and quality of products used, I discussed with them what would suit my car and my wallet. I chose what I thought was the best service for the best price, I would not really know how good product A is compared to product B.

[Quickmoose]

An interesting ask.

Those that don't care get it done by the scratchwash
Those that care and can't afford regular pro-service might well do it themselves (me)
Those that can afford it, do.

[legendracer]

Scrump said:

I know very little about detailing so I guess I am the general public you are talking about.
What you are saying about the difference in product is lost on me and so will be lost on the general public.
My two local detailers offered me a range of services and quality of products used, I discussed with them what would suit my car and my wallet. I chose what I thought was the best service for the best price, I would not really know how good product A is compared to product B.

" I chose what I thought was the best service for the best price."

so my plan is to eliminate this so that best product is available to all at "general public" price.

[legendracer]

Quickmoose said:

An interesting ask.

Those that don't care get it done by the scratchwash
Those that care and can't afford regular pro-service might well do it themselves (me)
Those that can afford it, do.

Does this theory only apply to car detailing? not any other field? just look around you...see the variety of offers and solutions to the same matter.

[Scrump]

legendracer said:

" I chose what I thought was the best service for the best price."

so my plan is to eliminate this so that best product is available to all at "general public" price.

That sounds good but now would the general public know that what you are offering is the best product?
My detailers offered different products but I had to take their recommendations on which was best.

[legendracer]

Scrump said:

That sounds good but now would the general public know that what you are offering is the best product?
My detailers offered different products but I had to take their recommendations on which was best.

1 idea is to ask them to dial other detailers and enquire about the particular product service. or just browse some FB pages.
BTW, I wish to correct the term BEST as you said. there isnt anything best to begin with. its just which suits ones pocket.

[Muzzer79]

legendracer said:

i don't know how you got confused. Will the general public accept cheaper detailing service?

I got confused because you ended your OP with a conclusion that it wouldn't be very profitable.

Anyway, 3 ways to look at this

Bloke A doesn't car much for detailing. He pays for a £10 handwash

Bloke B has a high end car and/or knows about detailing properly. He pays £800 for a proper detail

Bloke C knows he shouldn't use a mechanical car wash and wants his car to look good. However, he is not knowledgeable about top end detailing products, methods, etc.
I guess he is your target market. However I doubt many Bloke C's would pay £350. £350 is a lot.

You are also fighting the lower end detailers who are already charging £350 (whether they're doing a good job or not)

[Scrump]

legendracer said:

1 idea is to ask them to dial other detailers and enquire about the particular product service. or just browse some FB pages.
BTW, I wish to correct the term BEST as you said. there isnt anything best to begin with. its just which suits ones pocket.

I am getting confused so sorry for not understanding.
You are expecting the general public to do their own research on the relative quality of products by browsing FB, I cannot see that being viable or giving very clear guidance.

BTW, I wish to correct you as you mentioned the BEST product:

legendracer said:

" I chose what I thought was the best service for the best price."

so my plan is to eliminate this so that best product is available to all at "general public" price.

As to choosing which product suits ones pocket, that seems to be what my local detailers are already offering.

[legendracer]

Muzzer79 said:

I got confused because you ended your OP with a conclusion that it wouldn't be very profitable.

Anyway, 3 ways to look at this

Bloke A doesn't car much for detailing. He pays for a £10 handwash

Bloke B has a high end car and/or knows about detailing properly. He pays £800 for a proper detail

Bloke C knows he shouldn't use a mechanical car wash and wants his car to look good. However, he is not knowledgeable about top end detailing products, methods, etc.
I guess he is your target market. However I doubt many Bloke C's would pay £350. £350 is a lot.

You are also fighting the lower end detailers who are already charging £350 (whether they're doing a good job or not)

now some thinking is going on. thanks. can we make a calculation for profit based on minimum wages, for example, working in a warehouse for 37.5 hours at £8.75 vs profit from 1 car .

[legendracer]

Scrump said:

As to choosing which product suits ones pocket, that seems to be what my local detailers are already offering.

by best i meant the costliest product which they provide above £800 whereas you are buying something as per your budget though you would select the £800 product if it was given at your budget? Isnt friend?

[legendracer]

what if £350 is reduced to £250?
profit...higher the better. but would it hurt if kept at a minimum? or is it sensible ? if 1 car consumes £150 then £100 also is a profit? isn't?