Working Hard

This post is dedicated to working hard and understanding the value of a dollar. Below you can find some of our video training that we use to train employees! Stay tuned next week for some really big news in regards to marketing, car shows, and BIG moves in the CT area in regards to business pick up! Theres just so much going on right this moment, we cant even type it, we gotta bite down and break through all the tackles we hit. 

This is our specialty wash, used out of a foam canon to provide the ultimate cleaning power! 

This video is a must watch for all of our employees, make sure you give it a shot before getting at your car at home!

And for our more advanced viewers, heres how to watch and degrease an  engine bay!

Hope you enjoyed this weeks post!

Be sure to check out our website and other social media links! Stay Tuned!

Twitter: @DivineDetailLLC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/divinedetailing
Instagram: DivineDetailing
Website: www.Divine-Detailing.com

Please share this and contact us if your interested in any more information on our history, or services!

Thanks and stay tuned!


Sincerely,


Anthony 

Groupon Groupon Groupon

Hello Followers! 

This week I will be taking you through our first steps in dealing with Groupon. So with the detailing season on the east coast coming to close rapidly, myself and my partner sat down and had to come up with an exponential growth model in the short term we have left of our season. In order to get a big push we knew that we needed some marketing. At first we thought that magazines, and print ads would be the way to go, as people see them, maybe a coupon, they'll call in and we get the sale. However, not many think about what it takes to get that one or two ads to pay off.

In our experience with guerrilla marketing tactics we had some good success. Generating client calls and even small amounts of job creation. How veer we needed more, but when print ads can run you about 2500 in budget and every company wants you to sign a year budget contract guaranteeing them your business for a minimum of 6 months, its difficult wit adhere to with a seasonal business. So we turned to Groupon.

Groupon, the online marketing mecca, was one phone call away and about a 25 minutes conversation before becoming approved for our campaign in the area. Ever wonder why those deals are so good on groupon? Because groupon takes the businesses costs of performing the good or service, and marks it down to slightly above that. After the groupon is purchased, the company (at least tries to) more than half of ALL revenues collected from the campaign. So in our case, due to some great convincing and haggling by yours truly, was able to convince them to give us 55%. But wait theirs more, they even pass along the credit card charges on to us, which is 2.5% per transaction. So, after all is said and done, we are doing our packages listed on groupon at over 50% off the original price, and only getting 53.5% of that money. Its a rough path to take right? well that depends on how you look at it. Would you rather pay $500 a month to maybe get a client of two in print ads, or would you like groupon to guarantee you over 80 clients in a month span at slightly above cost. We went with the latter, what would you do? Get involved! tweet your thoughts at us! @DivineDetailLLC

Check out our Groupon page! https://www.groupon.com/deals/divine-detailing


Hope you enjoyed this weeks post!

Be sure to check out our website and other social media links! Stay Tuned!

Twitter: @DivineDetailLLC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/divinedetailing
Instagram: DivineDetailing
Website: www.Divine-Detailing.com

Please share this and contact us if your interested in any more information on our history, or services!

Thanks and stay tuned!


Sincerely,


Anthony 

Innovation

Hello People!

EDIT: This post was created on 7/19 however was saved as a draft and never posted.

This week were going to be talking about our companies constant strive to stay current, ahead of the curve, and able to best serve our clients. When we first started, we were nothing more than a glorified car wash with simple cleaners purchased from the local KMart and other small retailers. No real knowledge of the details of... well detailing. Over the course of a few weeks we were getting small jobs here and there from either friends or family members. At the time, we would not even have a set price of how much our services cost, what it included, or really any details with the exception of mentioning that we would make it look like never before. And thats exacrtly what we would do, take the simple cleaning solutions and chemicals that we would find in our garages and put them to full use to ensure the best qaulity posisble. Even though we would get a good amount of business that, year, our prices were so low ($60-$80) we would usually not be making more than between $10-20 for 4 hours of work.

Even though the salaries were low and work was sweat driven and difficult, we kept going through with it hoping that one day we would be charging hundreds of dollars and sending out own employees to take care of it. Although we still arent completely there yet, we are well on our way. Since then we have acquired a distributors based in California (The homeland of details) who give us a deal on bulk sized detailing chemicals that are top notch and all American made. Additionally, they provided us with trade specific tools and tips that really got us on our feet. For example thier wheel brush made the entire rim acceissble for cleaning without the ned to take the wheel completely off the car. Their chemical products are top of the line and innovative with the best quaulty and innovation ive ever seen.

Today we charge more because we offer more, more services, higher quality cleans, and more eco friendly decisions. With the cost of materials, shipping, gas, and training employees our overhead costs can feel overhwhelming at points but when we see your vehicle after the final wipedown shine like its still in the dealership makes it all worth the time.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks post!

Be sure to check out our website and other social media links! Stay Tuned!

Twitter: @DivineDetailLLC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/divinedetailing
Instagram: DivineDetailing
Website: www.Divine-Detailing.com

Please share this and contact us if your interested in any more information on our history, or services!

Thanks and stay tuned!


Sincerely,


Anthony 

Our Training Methods

Hello Everyone! 

This week we will be talking to you a little about the hiring process for our detailers, and just a taste of how we go about training them. First lets talk about what the employees would be doing for us. Mainly, our employees act as assistants to the master detailers who will not only oversee the whole detail start to finish, but also having most of the burden on the job. The employees help with simple and less risky tasks such as vacuuming, rug shampooing, window cleaning, and airbrushing which all can lead to very little or virtually no damage. This is not the plan for the future here at Divine Detailing, but for now the best way we can go about acquiring more master detailers, is by finding and training them ourselves.

Which leads us into actual training. While training our newest employees, they undergo simple learning experience vehicles and even our signature spy detail. First, we do a pre-screening interview where the applicants background is checked, referrals are cross referenced, and of course that the applicant has a genuine interest in not only vehicles but hard work and money. Next we train them on either their car or a close relative of the applicants car, to see just how much training needs to be put forward. If the applicant has made it past their own vehicle detail, the next stage is on video training. At divine detailing we take our employees and hiring process very seriously as the integrity of our reputation and business cash flows are at stake with every employee we give responsibility to. After a few more hands on training exercises on their vehicle, we move onto hands on training with client vehicles, then after 3 weeks, we pretend to send them off to complete their first detail, which isn't really a detail but a setup by the owners watching from inside the house just how they go about it when they think nobody is watching.

Below are some training videos for what we do! Tell us what you think, can you do it?

Thanks for tuning in this week and stay tuned for this week!

 Be sure to check out our website and other social media links!

Twitter: @DivineDetailLLC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/divinedetailing
Instagram: DivineDetailing
Website: www.Divine-Detailing.com

Please share this and contact us if your interested in any more information on our history, or services!

Thanks and stay tuned!


Sincerely,


Anthony

Our First Car Show

Hello Followers! 

Today we were very excited to be featured at our very first Auto Show! Today, the show benefited children suffering from fallen fathers overseas. A truly great cause, with tons of truly great cars! The show took place at Palazzone 1960 on Route 23 in Wayne, New Jersey. The location is a small authentic Italian coffee bar and pastry shop. Of course in proper fashion the cars part of the donating organization were an all Italian Sports Car Club. Based in Staten Island New York, the club gathers some members at various locations throughout the Tri-State, invite wealthy car owners, and gather donations for great causes, and of course enjoy the scenery and exotics! The vehicles at the show include Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Porsche's, Ford GT's, even Corvettes and Authentic Shelby Cobras!

We managed to get this spot as of the partners sisters works at the venue, and got them a slot in the event. For presentation purposes, Divine Detailing took a 2009 Mercedes Benz driven frequently in New York City, with 120,000 original miles, and put a piece of tape down the middle of the interior and exterior. On one side, a uncared for, exposed, and damaged side which in fact, looks clean to the average consumer. The other side, consisted of 4 consecutive hours of restoration including (but not limited to) a 7 Step Paint Correction Process complete with compounding, polishing, and waxing. Additionally, interior leather conditioning and cleaning, steamed and cleaned carpets!

The event went well, many new alliances and strategies have been put into place, and big things are soon to come! Stay tuned! 

Below are few pictures from the event! Enjoy everyone! 

Be sure to check out our website and other social media links! Stay Tuned!

Twitter: @DivineDetailLLC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/divinedetailing
Instagram: DivineDetailing
Website: www.Divine-Detailing.com

Please share this and contact us if your interested in any more information on our history, or services!

Thanks and stay tuned!


Sincerely,


Anthony

Product Review: Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner and Conditioner

Hello Followers!

This week on our blog, we are going to change it up a bit and issue our very first product review! One of our main chemical suppliers is The Chemical Guys. Based in Southern California (The Home of the Auto Detailing Industry) is a small professional auto detailing company that specializes in high end detailing tools and products.

Why We Went With Chemical Guys:
 

At first we were looking for a supplier who offered quality at a modest price. Just how our company views our deals, a high quality product at an affordable price. There were many big name brands such as Megauirs, and Mothers. But we wanted to get something that the average person could not just walk in to AutoZone and buy. We wanted something special, and a lot of the high end guys were just a bit too niche and over priced to have a steady stream of supplies from. Chemical Guys offered a very great deal on shipping, along with a large collection of videos and how to's on their products, included on their Youtube Channel. It was quite impressive, it offered the same high quality as the designer brands, but offered at in some cases, lower than the Autozone big names!

The Leather, Why its cleaned, conditioned, and how it looks now:

In detailing, one very important aspect is the interior. Many cars today offer the luxury of a leather interior. Some offer more coverage in the interior of it with the higher quality brands. Leather is a natural skin like surface that after some time and use dries up and becomes soiled with stains and other contaminants that could be potentially harmful to the interiors overall integrity. We clean the leather to ensure that it looks atheistically pleasing with the removal of scuffs and other imperfections and conditions them to ensure that cracking is removed and the natural oils a restored to keep the glow and soft feel of the leather.

The Review, 5 Stars:

And here is why, with most leather cleaners, you often find the leather showing streaks or even taking a lot more time and effort to get out the stains that some cleaners would take color from the leather to have the same power. Its unparallelled cleaning power matched with its uncanny ability to condition the leather and restore it to its natural feel and shine is remarkable and unlike any other cleaner Ive used before. The two and one solution is one that i plan on continuing to make as a detailer.

Be sure to check out our website and other social media links! Stay Tuned!

Twitter: @DivineDetailLLC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/divinedetailing
Instagram: DivineDetailing
Website: www.Divine-Detailing.com

Please share this and contact us if your interested in any more information on our history, or services!

Thanks and stay tuned!


Sincerely,

-Anthony

Our Baby Steps

Hello All!

Thanks for tuning in to our second post, if you missed our first one and got here but luck then please refer to our earlier post!

During the infancy stage on the road of our development process in the company we hit quite a few milestones, overcame a few obstacles, and made alterations. At some points, we even trimmed off a few of pieces our original plan that just didn't seem to fit.

Infancy and Capitol:

Well at first there was basically none. During the summer of 2012 Brendan and I were sitting in the backyard, and wondering what else we can do for some more income because though well paying, at this point our work was sporadic and just not providing enough of a consistent cash flow. Brendan, a freelance teleprompter, and myself, a "Freelance" Professional Disc Jockey.

As we sat and pondered what we could do, and instead of turning to a traditional job, decided to work towards owning a business of our own. One that we can make our hours, decide our clients, and basically have complete control over our own success or failure. Both being interested in cars, and being familiar with the process of washing them fairly well due to our care and interest in automobiles as a whole. We decided to go for it, we both had chemicals, supplies, vacuums, cords, etc. It was right in front of us, the moment we figured it out, I stood up, called a close friend of ours (who's family is more than well off and had plenty of vehicles and an interest in cars as well) and asked him several questions as a type of "pitch" and eventually convinced him to be our very first client. The rest is history.... That will be reveal in our next post! Stay tuned!

Be sure to check out our website and other social media links!

Twitter: @DivineDetailLLC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/divinedetailing
Instagram: DivineDetailing
Website: www.Divine-Detailing.com

Please share this and contact us if your interested in any more information on our history, or services!

Thanks and stay tuned!


Sincerely,

-Anthony

Hello, World! We're Divine Detailing

Detailing cars seem like a simple task? Many believe that detailing cars is nothing more than a basic car wash with a few extra steps. While some local providers of this service this may be the case, it is not what you would find for Divine Detailing LLC. Divine Detailing, a local small business based in Bloomfield CT, has prided themselves on utilizing top of the line equipment and materials, paired with the experience and passion of two experts in the field, to ensure a top notch job is consistently achieved.

Divine Detailing's humble beginnings start with two college students and home town friends, Anthony Maffei and Brendan McCafferty. Living through the most recent recession lead the two to create their own means of income to ensure they would not be affected by the economic downturn. In the summer of 2013, the duo began their long and sweat filled journey as Detailers. Starting with basic equipment found in their garage, they began booking friends and family members to build their own personal experience, and the businesses overall reputation. Over the course of that summer the two had performed over thirty detail services, and raked in just over three thousand dollars in revenue. Seeing this business was profitable, the two quickly realized that the job was not only rewarding, but financially rewarding as well. The two continued to detail throughout the fall as a small cash business. The off season during the winter allowed the team to delve into research and develop a new mentality and approach for the upcoming detailing season. Anthony, a entrepreneur major and economic finance minor, honed in his skills to piece together the business registration, manage their financials, and continuously research how the business can not just save money, but operate more efficiently with the highest margins possible. This included a complete breakeven analysis, SWOT analysis, and additionally continuing internal and external audit analysis. Brendan, a Communications major, utilized his skills to develop rhetoric for their marketing campaigns, websites, and general customer interaction.  Together both bring to the table experience in web design and development, and the general expertise in detailing cars.

During the late spring of 2014, the two pooled the last of their cash saved over the past years into the business, and decided to dive head first into the detailing business.

Want to hear the rest of the story? Stay tuned for our next post!

Thanks for reading!


-DD