We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Glyshaw a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?
When I first started my business I wanted to be set apart from other businesses that shows a way of personal attention as well as a personal touch. I would hand write a thank you card and leave it inside of the customers vehicle when I was all finished with the mobile auto detail. This thank you card was one simple way for me to show my appreciation to customers. My customers would tell me at the end of the detail when they opened up their door for the first time after the detail and say “thank you” the car looks amazing and it’s like brand new again! Plus, I really feel appreciated with the thank you card and message that was hand written with the personal touch. This is still a staple for me in my business on a daily and weekly basis five years later. It’s all about blending personal attention with professional expertise here at Super Shine Detailing, LLC.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Brian and I wanted to pursue this industry and a dream of mine to always own my own business. I can remember back since 8th grade that I would like to own my own business someday, but I wasn’t sure what it would be. I have always had a passion for cars, my Dad had the same passion and taught me about cars, how to clean them, and if you take care of your car by cleaning it and keeping it looking good it will last longer. This is something that I will always treasure from my Dad – he passed away over a decade ago. I want my business model to be about blending personal attention with professional expertise. I’m from a small town originally before moving to St. Louis, MO and I always think of the small town waves, smiles, and how are you doings. I wanted to extend that same feel and experience from start to finish in my own business.
My brand is eye catching with a bright color palette that helps the first time potential clients relate to auto detailing that is easy to read, a clear message, and finally, consistent branding throughout web, print, and in person. My logo and brand was created and designed by myself. I have a background in Graphic Design, a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University. My background has helped me through creating my brand and a simple message of “Discover the Detailed Difference with Super Shine Detailing”. I always try my very best to bring back the highest level of perfection within the realm of possibility on the vehicle.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
When I first started my business, my wife and I decided that I could get started with $500 and using my personal vehicle to load up all my gear to take to each Mobile Auto Detailing appointments. In our minds it was a low cost to get started for running a business and to take the step of faith to get started and see what it might turn into. Now, five years later I still think back and say to myself “wow” what a opportunity I took and risk it was to start something new that didn’t exist and had no idea what was in store for my business and the 1,000’s of people and cars I would meet and be able to detail.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
I purchased an online course from Luke Wilson, an auto detailer from Franklin, Tennessee. He really was the only one that I found through YouTube that offered a course that was a two part course of learning all of the detailing and then how to run a professional auto detailing business. Plus inside of his course he talked a lot of SEO, Google My Business, and bringing the highest value that you offer in your services. That course has helped me learn a lot from detailing vehicles and how to talk with potential clients. Luke has always said being consistent matters so much in the customer service industry. If you can continue being consistent and bringing your clients the best results, it’s a win-win because these people will always want you to be their go-to detailer that will praise you to their friends, family, and even a Google review.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ssdetailingservices.com/
- Instagram: @supershinedetailing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supershinedetailingllc
Image Credits
Brian & Jess Glyshaw