Detailer's Digest

Florida has some unique challenges in the detailing business. “Love bugs,” Lee says, “During the month of May and June and then again from September through October, love bugs are very difficult to clean off a vehicle without some extra brawn and elbow grease, and everyone wants them removed. So business is good on that front,” he laughs.

“It’s all in the details,” Lee says about what automotive detailing means to him. “That is our tag line and that is what it is all about – the whole detailing package.” The whole package includes making sure he gets every speck of dirt out of the carpet, the engine shines and the customer gets whatever preferences they want. “Some customers are particular about their tires and wheel wells while others are particular about the hood and front end. Some customers are happy with a simple cleaning, wax and polish on the outside but they want the interior meticulous and spotless. I provide it all.”

Lee too, has his own preferences in the biz. “I wanted to add on some features to the business and I found the perfect product at the Mobile Tech Expo in 2006, about 7 months after opening Diamond Mobile Detailing.” Lee watched a demo by the Dvelup representative out of Lakeland, FL showing how the product cleaned up hazy headlights. “I loved it and I just had to have it,” he says, “They were a Florida company so product was easy to come by and there was no start-up cost involved. I had been aware for some time there was really not anyone in my area doing a good job with headlight repair and hazy headlights are dangerous, especially at night. It struck me as extremely important to add Dvelup to my line. I still feel it is an excellent product.”

In the detailing lines, Lee has researched and used a variety of products, but he prefers the lauded Meguiars and several products from the affordable RightLook.com as well.

“I am looking at the possibility of adding leather repair to my repertoire, here in the near future. I have several people with whom I piggyback for work and I see a gap in the ability and quality of leather repair in this area.”

The dirtiest job Lee ever tackled was a close-to-expirad gift certificate valued for about 3 hours. “It took me 6 hours to detail a 2006 Hyundai Sonata that had never been cleaned, much less detailed!
There were tree shavings and leaves around the jams and the backseat, which was gray leather, but looked light brown from the family dog. Apparently consistently parked in front of a sprinkler system, the driver’s side had water damage.”

Lee was still toting a trailer behind a truck when he spotted his new neighbor’s van across the way. “I told my wife, Tausha it sure would be easier with a van. When it rained, I had to disconnect the trailer and pull it into the garage – there were just several personal inconveniences involved.” Lee bought a Cargo van off eBay from a nearby Florida seller and this year that Diamond Mobile Detailing unit tied for 3rd place in competition at the 2008 Mobile Tech Expo! His fully stocked rolling billboard is a definite move up from his first truck in which he had to ask, ‘Do you mind if I use your plug and faucet?’

This was Lee’s third trip to the Mobile Tech Expo and it seems the new product seminars have been very good to him. This year he was impressed with the new System One Advanced Polishing System, which takes a 3-step process down to one step by switching out the pad, which can be used for compounding, as a swirl remover and as a finishing polish. Two years ago, he sat in on a seminar about branding, signage and how to implement simple things to make your business look more professional.

“The Expo has been instrumental in getting me to the level of success I find today.”