Equipment vs advertising

[witness]

I initially didn't plan on posting this but then figured that this may be a topic that many detailers just starting out have to deal with. Especially those on a limited budget like we are. We are at a difficult crossroad at the moment. Our money is all but exhausted and therefore must be spent on the most essential final pieces.

On one hand we want an extractor. After further reviewing the steamer we wanted we decided it didn't offer the longevity or customer support that was initially advertised. We have been looking at the Aztec horrid. And muted lite Mini extractor. Both proven to be good machines. These will run around $700 total for the machine and attachment we want.

On the other hand we need our methods of advertising. Business cards. Postcards. Banners. Fliers. My wife has spent alot of time designing these business cards that look simply amazing. The downfall is that they are pricey. $250 for 1500 and then we still have to invest in our other methods. The cards are solid black with chrome engraving. Eye catching. Simplistic. Very professional.

The pros and cons of each are this. Pro for the extractor is that we make short work of interiors. It will be heated for easy removal of ground on stains. Will have an upholstery attachment for seats ect and will have a misting attachment for headliners. The cons are that I will be another piece we have to haul. Get out. Set up. Run. Take apart. Cleanout and put back. Parts may break ect ect. It takes money and we will be without a Machine for a bit in the case that this happens. But it saves time. Time is money. And a well cleaned interior 1. Compliments the exterior and 2. Earns references.

On the other side. Business cards. Well. They get us out there. They get our name and number and website into peoples hands. They can be left anywhere and statistically we will get a response if we pass out enough. The cons are that 1. Statistically only 2-3 people of every card passed out may call and none of those are a gaurenteed client. 2. Let's face it. More will probably end up in the trash than on a fridge or somewhere that it will be used. 3. The most effective form of advertising, hands down, proven without a doubt is word o mouth. Therefore it's possible to get the same response or a greater response from doing good work as opposed to passing out cards all day. Although cards theoretically will generate a geographically wider area of response.

So what should we do. Opinions appreciated. Were just in a bind and looking for input. As much research and comparing and pricing and ordering as I've done in the past few months, I'm exhausted. I just need some level headed Input. Thanks in advance.

And sorry for all the typos and sentences that might not make sense. I do all my posting via iPhone and it's not as quick as I'd like it to be

[Beemerboy]

You can buy biz cards online for less than half of what you've posted. Flyers and such can be run off for pennies at Kinko's or even online for that matter.

[Poorboy]

ok I'll make this quick and simple ... buy a small extrator like the LGM especially for spot and upholstery cleaning .... forget about headliners period ... they are too tempermental and you do not want to touch these as you will probably end up having to replace them if you mess with them. Expensive business cards will not impress anyone until you are very well established .. I think jngrbrdman has posted where you can get cheap cards that look good as you said, most will end up in the trash .. as the saying goes, proof will be in the pudding ... if you do good work word will spread ...
You must also get a good shop vac ... the Home Depot version comes with a lifetime warranty and will take a real beating

[atkinsonair]

Cant you get buy without a extractor or steamer at this point and do the interior cleaning the old fashion way, scrubbing it down with a good cleaner and then shop vac it out? I know it will take a bit more time but then you can get the machine of your dreams when you have money coming in. Just a thought.......

[Poorboy]

Originally Posted by atkinsonair

Cant you get buy without a extractor or steamer at this point and do the interior cleaning the old fashion way, scrubbing it down with a good cleaner and then shop vac it out? I know it will take a bit more time but then you can get the machine of your dreams when you have money coming in. Just a thought.......

that's more or less what i said, but a LGM is really good for spots or stains that are a bit more difficult and they are not that expensive and have very good reviews

[kgb]

The LGM is a total waste of money. Get a brush head for your PC and it'll do much better than the LGM and last much longer.

[Beemerboy]

Originally Posted by kgb

The LGM is a total waste of money. Get a brush head for your PC and it'll do much better than the LGM and last much longer.

I disagree I had one for two years and it got used A LOT, finally it gave out. If I added the amount of hours to $$ spent it was a great buy. If you are going to use it as a full on car extractor, then its going to break fast they are not commercial level in anyway, as a spot cleaner and mats its a real time saver IMO

[witness]

thanks for the input guys. I'll look up some reviews on the LGM. We already have two shop vacs. A 10gallon and 12 gallon one. I'll check in to the ones at home depot and compare though. I may look into buying some carpet pads for the PC. and I'll also check into the business cards.

[GearHead_1]

Originally Posted by kgb

The LGM is a total waste of money. Get a brush head for your PC and it'll do much better than the LGM and last much longer.

I'm on the far opposite end of this statement as this hasn't been my experience. A Green Machine does require a little bit of caution when handling. They aren't built like a tank. That said, with a little care I can see one of these easily getting your operation up and going to a point where you can afford better. I've had one for about 5 years and it's still works as well as the first day I used it.

It doesn't see as many cars as it once did but my wife or I uses it at least weekly for one thing or another inside the home (side effect of owning pets). I've also got a brush for my PC. Cleaning some of really nasties (vomit or the likes) out of carpet isn't a great job for a PC. I much prefer something that sucks it up and and compartmentalizes the bad stuff. It's small and easy to clean, I don't want that kind of stuff even hitting my vacuum. Given the choice I would reach for the Green Machine every time.

[cwcad]

It would appear that you have more time and labor than you do expenditure costs. A LGM would be nice to help but that is not to say that it is needed.

If money is a problem at this point it would behoove you to "NOT" spend money unless it will "MAKE" you money. An extractor at this point will only "COST" money and "TAKE" money away from you. It will not generate any money to add to your coffers for quite awhile in my estimation. IF your business becomes so busy to justify the cost to speed up your operation that is a different matter entirely. But that is not the case is it?

From what I have garnered you have the basics already in hand. After that it is just a matter of making it easier for the majority of your details that are in your future. Not every car that you detail will require such a specialized piece of equipment.

I also agree that the cards are of little import at this stage of the business. Work, results, and word of mouth will soon be your friend. Then the cards will play a more important role.

I remember a member named Brenton a few years back from Prince Edward Island (PEI Detail I think it was) that made a lot of comments about his Brick and Mortar detailing business vs. going mobile. I wish I could quote him now but what I remember he made a lot of sense in his estimation of his business. He struggled through some tough times and finally sold or quit... I cannot remember.... either way he made very salient remarks. I thought his posts were erudite.

[witness]

Originally Posted by cwcad

It would appear that you have more time and labor than you do expenditure costs. A LGM would be nice to help but that is not to say that it is needed.

If money is a problem at this point it would behoove you to "NOT" spend money unless it will "MAKE" you money. An extractor at this point will only "COST" money and "TAKE" money away from you. It will not generate any money to add to your coffers for quite awhile in my estimation. IF your business becomes so busy to justify the cost to speed up your operation that is a different matter entirely. But that is not the case is it?

From what I have garnered you have the basics already in hand. After that it is just a matter of making it easier for the majority of your details that are in your future. Not every car that you detail will require such a specialized piece of equipment.

I also agree that the cards are of little import at this stage of the business. Work, results, and word of mouth will soon be your friend. Then the cards will play a more important role.

I remember a member named Brenton a few years back from Prince Edward Island (PEI Detail I think it was) that made a lot of comments about his Brick and Mortar detailing business vs. going mobile. I wish I could quote him now but what I remember he made a lot of sense in his estimation of his business. He struggled through some tough times and finally sold or quit... I cannot remember.... either way he made very salient remarks. I thought his posts were erudite.

umm...i'm gonna say thank you and .. but I'm gonna go get a dictionary before i make any response comments to that

[GearHead_1]

Originally Posted by witness

umm...i'm gonna say thank you and .. but I'm gonna go get a dictionary before i make any response comments to that

Detailers on this site are much more intelligent than your average Tom, Dick or Harry. You're going to have to pick up the pace a bit.


I'm kidding of course.

Pssst - Let me know if you find out what those words mean.

[cwcad]

Awe come on you guys

All I can say is that he did and he was.

[Tex Star Detail]

Without me reading through the entire thread, I'll post my opinion. Skip those expensive business cards, as said earlier. Waste of money. I get 2000 for less than $80 from overnightprints.com (subscribe with your email and you get coupons) Buy equipment, and again, as said earlier, get a LGM or the likes. I have never used one, so I cannot comment on it, but some swear by it. I went 1 full year without an extractor of any kind. I saved and bought a Mytee HP60. I do not know how I did it without and extractor, seriously.

Word of mouth is your friend. I tried many advertising techniques, and that was number 1. I did a full color, dollar bill size ad in the phonebook, on the top of the page, and got nothing but price shoppers. I maybe did $200-300 in jobs from the phonebook, vs. the $1500 I sank for the year. Never do it again, ever, unless it free of course.

Buy what you need, when you need it. Don't blow all the funds at once. GET A WEBSITE. My website is my 2nd on advertising. Get on google and yahoo and such. Well worth it in my opinion.

Anyways...
Anyone figure out what those words mean yet? hahaha

[witness]

I'll check out overnightprints.com. Thanks for the input. Not only did I find the solution to my problems. I learned two new words.