Ollie Barr discussed the recent challenges that detailers face due to lack of customer information. He explained how features at Automechanika help spread what detailing is and the benefits that it brings to people who are aware and willing to pay a premium price for a premium service.
To start, we asked David why he believes Automechanika is important for the automotive industry. He quickly responded, ‘Automechanika brings people together in the industry from all parts of the sector from garages, workshops, and body shops, right the way through to finishing vehicle conditioning with detailing. It’s a great opportunity to network in the industry and to promote businesses to help each other grow and support each other in this fantastic industry. I think detailing is a real growth part of this industry. A lot of customers are now recognising the importance of having their car professionally detailed or machine polished to a very, very high standard. There are also now protection options in the form of ceramic coatings, paint protection film and I think that’s a natural segue from maintenance of their vehicles when they care for their cars from body shops or servicing workshop materials right the away through to finishing that car so it looks absolutely key.’
Next David was questioned on how Automechanika helps firms within his detailing industry. ‘It’s a real good opportunity to have a detailing live stage here at Automechanika because it helps integrate detailing into the wider motor vehicle body shop industry and it’s great for the consumer to find out how they can get their car professionally detailed and look after their pride and joy. So what I’m hoping to get out of today is to be able to educate consumers and the public on what professional detailing is and how they can choose a professional detailer in what is actually quite a flooded marketplace so then a customer can search for a detailer based on somebody that’s skilled, proven, insured and has got some certifications behind them so that they know that they’re getting high quality work.’
‘I think Automechanika is a great place for somebody like me that owns a detailing business to come so that I can talk to customers and other business owners within this industry about what professional detailing is and to try and increase the the trust and the confidence in what has traditionally been a carwash sector to help people understand what professional detailing really is. The most exciting thing about being here from a detailers perspective is to integrate and network with other people within the industry and to be part of the detailing live stage work and to meet other detailers.’ He stressed.
We asked him to inform us on some of the main challenges of being a detailer next. He explained with confidence, ‘Some of the key challenges that I face as a business as a professional detailer is helping customers and clients understand what professional detailing is. If they want their car looking better in terms of its appearance, there are various options in which you can do that. Some people just see clean, so they’re happy with a six pounds carwash however some people want their paint corrected, so that it’s almost concours, and they’re happy to invest in the quality of that work. I think that’s a big challenge for the detailing sector going forward. Because often people need help in understanding what condition we can get their paint to.’
Finally, we asked David what his plans were for his business over the next twelve months to which he said, ‘The plan for my business going forward over the next 12 months is to basically continue what I’ve been doing in providing excellent customer care and vehicle care. I’m actually not looking to grow my business. I’m a sole trader, and my OCD doesn’t allow me to employ anybody to touch any of my client’s cars and that limits my capacity. I split my time between my detailing business and investing time back into the trade associations to help give back to the industry.’
