Black vans for under £3k

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2011 at 21:34

Joshy said:
Also, surely you're planning on doing this on the side or something, because I can't really see how a living can be made on this? A couple of quid on the occasional weekend? Sure. Enough to justify the purchase of a van and securing exclusive contracts with suppliers? Not quite.

Mike - have you got public liability insurance as well now?

233 · 23 May 2011 at 21:37

Mike

going by the few pro detailers i know this is how you need to go about it

1) sign up to detailing world knowing nothing
2) buy a DA and practice a bit of your own/mates cars
3) buy a new van on finance and 25k worth of swissvax products
4) call yourself a professional detailer
5) profit

Kenai · 23 May 2011 at 21:37

The photography is really the killer here - you can make a car covered in swirls look like it's just had a day long detailing session if you're good with the camera. You can also make a car that's been worked on for a day look like a dreary old nail if you're rubbish.

If you're not good with a camera, it would be well worth finding someone who is to take some nice shots of your work.

Jez · 23 May 2011 at 21:37

Joshy said:
Business wise? Yes. Personally to get someone else around to wash my car at considerable cost I want to be able to say 'wow' and none of the pictures you've posted gets close to that.

I wouldn't bother putting pictures of a £600 Civic on the website full stop. How about you offer a few free/drastically reduced services to a few people with some nice, expensive metal on the proviso that you get to take a load of photos (done properly, with good lighting and lots of 'arty farty'). You get good material and get your name out there to the type of people who you want to be appealing to.

I cant comment on the business aspect of car washing, as i dont know much about it, but the rest of this post is spot on. The website needs pictures of proper metal, not run of the mill junk, let alone 20 year old hondas.

MikeHiow · 23 May 2011 at 21:37

It's a little more complicated than just public liability insurance, but yes, I will be insured now I'm doing it professionally.

ash_scotland88 · 23 May 2011 at 21:38

Surely your saying that taking photo's is not part of your job, but your running your own business as a one man band, and as such advertising and marketing it yourself, then taking a decent photo or arranging a photo shoot should be part of your job?

Kenai · 23 May 2011 at 21:38

Grad said:
In the lower half of the frame there are?

There aren't though :confused:

MikeHiow · 23 May 2011 at 21:38

Jez said:
I cant comment on the business aspect of car washing, as i dont know much about it, but the rest of this post is spot on. The website needs pictures of proper metal, not run of the mill junk, let alone 20 year old hondas.

The 20 year old Honda was never going to go on the website.....

233 · 23 May 2011 at 21:39

Joshy said:
Also, surely you're planning on doing this on the side or something, because I can't really see how a living can be made on this? A couple of quid on the occasional weekend? Sure. Enough to justify the purchase of a van and securing exclusive contracts with suppliers? Not quite.

believe it or not Joshy people pay multiple hundreds of pounds to have their cars proffesionally detailed.

some of the waxes alone can run into 4 figures a tub.

fools and their money and all

Jez · 23 May 2011 at 21:39

Good

Get some serious metal on there even if you have to do them for free.

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2011 at 21:39

Foxtrot26 said:
Mike

going by the few pro detailers i know this is how you need to go about it

1) sign up to detailing world knowing nothing
2) buy a DA and practice a bit of your own/mates cars
3) buy a new van on finance and 25k worth of swissvax products
4) call yourself a professional detailer

5) Go bust

ash_scotland88 · 23 May 2011 at 21:40

MikeHiow said:
The 20 year old Honda was never going to go on the website.....

But a good detailer and photographer can make a 20y/o anything look spot on, amazing, better than out the factory etc

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2011 at 21:40

Foxtrot26 said:
believe it or not Joshy people pay multiple hundreds of pounds to have their cars proffesionally detailed.

Its liek a license to print moneyz!! we should all do itzz!!11111

Skeeter · 23 May 2011 at 21:41

I notice the past tence in your posts now. How long have you already been doing this professionally?

Grad · 23 May 2011 at 21:41

Kenai said:
There aren't though

I've quoted two posts with photos in them. <insert confused smiley>

MikeHiow · 23 May 2011 at 21:42

Jez said:
Good Get some serious metal on there even if you have to do them for free.

I have some bookings for some apt cars that I will be going above and beyond what I'm being paid for, for this exact reason

[TW]Fox · 23 May 2011 at 21:42

MikeHiow said:
I have some bookings for some apt cars that I will be going above and beyond what I'm being paid for, for this exact reason

What about the Bentley's etc you did last year?

You were literally flooding the car cleaning thread with pics of your clients... err I mean mates. cars last year!

Kenai · 23 May 2011 at 21:42

Grad said:
I've quoted two posts with photos in them. <insert confused smiley>

Probably helps if your comments relate to the actual photo you're quoting at the time then, no wonder there is confusion if you were talking about the photo that you didn't quote in that post :/

Jez · 23 May 2011 at 21:43

Good good, perfect plan. I have an SL500 here which i'd be happy to be pro mo'd if you are feeling charitable

Grad · 23 May 2011 at 21:44

Kenai said:
Probably helps if your comments relate to the actual photo you're quoting at the time then, no wonder there is confusion if you were talking about the photo that you didn't quote in that post :/

Seems only you were confused.