We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christian Shamas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christian below.
Christian , appreciate you joining us today. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?
As a business owner yes I take vacations. I find the need to escape reality a bit sometimes to clear my head with my family. I hear it all the time from folks, we can’t take a short vacation we don’t have the time. Find the time, don’t book yourself a Friday, Saturday, Sunday and just go. You don’t have to take a week trip to Cabo or 3 weeks to Europe to feel that release. Often times to clear your mind may just involve a change in scenery for a couple days.
Christian , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Christian Shamas, I’m 34 years old and originally from South Lake Tahoe, California. Since I was able to walk, cars have always been my greatest passion. My family would travel to Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada every year and attend the local car/truck shows at Harvey’s Casino in Stateline Nevada. I would stand at the registration table as the cars came rumbling across the entrance and give the biggest thumbs up to all of the drivers. I played with hot wheels and RC cars, but when those got dirty I had to keep them clean.
As I grew older, I attended South Tahoe High School. During this time, I heard of an opportunity to detail and maintain an 82ft luxury yacht on the lake with an opportunity to become a deckhand. I began to work for Lake Tahoe Yacht Charters detailing and maintaining “Dream Big”. Washing, buffing the hull or keeping the beautiful hard wood interior flawless were just a few of my day to day duties. My boss had an idea my second year while maintaining this yacht of me starting my own detailing business. He said “your work ethic is impeccable, your ability to follow instruction to a T is phenomenal and the passion you show for your work is unmatched”. Learning the value of a dollar came quickly, and I knew with some hard work anything would be possible.
Inspiring me to become an entrepreneur, I set out to build a business and offer a service that was only offered at that time by one other person in the basin. I was called on to detail some of the hottest vehicles, boats, planes and motorcycles of that time. This included a Lamborghini Diablo, Dodge Vipers, and Porsche 911 slant noses. I wanted to create and keep a business model that would follow my work forever no matter where I ended up. I graduated high school in 2007 and moved to Orange County, California. Keeping myself busy with schooling and other jobs, detailing was always a passion I held. While living in Orange County I was asked by Fisker Automotive to help get their vehicles ready for new owners. I also did work at other dealerships locally when my schedule allowed.
In 2020 my family and I decided it was time to relocate to Texas, so we packed and moved to the North Dallas area. I thought I’d give the stay at home dad thing a try, mind you I have never not worked since the age of 14. That decision lasted a whole 2 weeks when I finally decided I would take my Detailing Business to whole new level of luxury. I rebranded the business with new logos, new machines, and new products. Remembering what I had carried with me since starting my journey, I wanted to be affordable, provide the best customer service, and produce a product that the customers would be amazed by. My moto is if your not looking back at it, your detailers not doing the job right. I focus on the finer “details” in each and every service. Anyone can wash a car, but not everyone has the time nor skill to focus on the smaller details throughout. Tiny brushes, picks, foam pads, steamers, extractors, buffers, polishers and so many more tools combined help me return the project as close or better to its show room finish.
Over the years I’ve been called to service vehicles torn apart by bears, vehicles with living ant colonies, paint overspray, cement bonding, heavy oxidation, show vehicles, antiques, and the SOS calls of I’ve hit the garage pulling out and scratched the paint can you help? Knowing that not every vehicle will have the same outcome and being totally upfront and honest with my client will always make them trust me enough to keep coming back. I manage and maintain several million dollars in assets annually. Proper time management is of the utmost importance for day to day operations. Keeping track of product ordering is also essential. Staying up to date with technology and technique will only make my business better and more efficient.
I’m an owner-operator with no hired hands in my business. Your vehicle gets a spa day when it’s with me guaranteed. It gets an initial inspection to determine paint health and interior condition. The customer gets notified if I believe it needs more care and or I tell the customer they do not need such extensive work that another company has told them they needed providing a huge savings.
I’ve been fortunate enough that I can use my business to raise money for families in need and or donate my time to go to a car show and support a fantastic cause with so many other great enthusiasts. I have created a successful business that allows me to live my passion while delivering top notch service at a price that is affordable.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Throughout your entire young life you wonder just what it is you’ll want to do for the rest of it. I had a love for architecture, but I also wanted to become a police officer. While in high school I joined the local police station cadets to learn the law and how to serve the people of my community. I was also enrolled in architecture courses and CAD courses. Going to college I then found myself in both paths once again. I strived to learn architecture while also applying for all the local police and sheriffs departments in Orange County. I was accepted and hired to work for California State corrections.
My reality check was when my wife was very sick and needed treatment. I couldn’t focus on my work and decided it was best I resign and return home to get her the care she needed. I went from wanting to draw homes to wanting to watch over some of the most dangerous people in the nation. I look back now on that time throughout my young adult life and really believe detailing was always where I belonged I just didn’t know it yet.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Fitting into this community, making that initial leap of contact the very first time is crucial as it would set the stage forever. Listening, being kind, communicating and giving the client a guarantee that’s not just on the box means everything. Repetition of quality, making them love their car again. The client posts on social media “this guy killed it detailing my car”. Soon after traffic follows, and it becomes this wonderful space to be in as a business owner. Knowing that the brand you represent and the product you produce makes so many people want to shout from the roof tops at times with excitement. Hard work even when working on your own doesn’t go unnoticed and your clients will greatly thank you for that. I make every dollar they spend absolutely worth it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: shamelessluxurydetailing
- Other: tiktok: @shamelessluxurydetailing
Image Credits
Jackie Slone Photography