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**Nick Chapman** · Apr 13, 2009, 08:08 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Sounds like an excellent idea! One thing you need to do ahead of time, and you didn't specify the location of the shop. But if there is a property management company that oversee's the salon, you may want to get permission from them first. Just to save any possible hassle.

As far as a sign, I did this years ago, and have since stopped doing it. We used to go to office buildings, and set up shop for the day. It was okay money, but you really have to hussle to make it worth while.
I had a sign made up, exactly like you are wanting. It was a sandwich board type sign, made out of thin metal. Local vinyl company made it for me, and I think it cost about $30. I don't have a picture of it all set up, but here is a picture where you can see it in the background(it's in the top right hand corner)....

Basically, it unfolds and stands by itself(looks like a triangle from the side). I put the most basic information on it, and set it up close to where we were working. Does it work? Absolutely! No doubt about it. But as I said before, you really have to hussle to make a decent buck for the day.

Nick

**Tom Weed** · Apr 13, 2009, 08:25 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Originally posted by Nick Chapman View Post

Sounds like an excellent idea! One thing you need to do ahead of time, and you didn't specify the location of the shop. But if there is a property management company that oversee's the salon, you may want to get permission from them first. Just to save any possible hassle.

As far as a sign, I did this years ago, and have since stopped doing it. We used to go to office buildings, and set up shop for the day. It was okay money, but you really have to hussle to make it worth while.
I had a sign made up, exactly like you are wanting. It was a sandwich board type sign, made out of thin metal. Local vinyl company made it for me, and I think it cost about $30. I don't have a picture of it all set up, but here is a picture where you can see it in the background(it's in the top right hand corner)....

Basically, it unfolds and stands by itself(looks like a triangle from the side). I put the most basic information on it, and set it up close to where we were working. Does it work? Absolutely! No doubt about it. But as I said before, you really have to hussle to make a decent buck for the day.

Nick

Nice organization and collection of M16!

**MrCLRider** · Apr 13, 2009, 08:25 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

dont mean to threa jack, but nick, what kind of towels are all those blue ones on the shelf, you must really like them..and the yellow ones in the plastic bins?

**Nick Chapman** · Apr 13, 2009, 08:33 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Originally posted by MrCLRider View Post

dont mean to threa jack, but nick, what kind of towels are all those blue ones on the shelf, you must really like them..and the yellow ones in the plastic bins?

There are 2 different types of blue towels there. The top shelf is the blue California Drying Towel, and the bottom shelf is the plain 16" blue towels from ADS. I use the ADS towels for things like final wipe down of the interior and glass. Yes I do like them very much, and I buy them by the 100 pack

I now have seperate towels for glass that are the same as the small blue ones, but I got gold this time to help seperate them.

The yellow towels in the bins are the Meguiar's Supreme Shine Microfiber towels. The absolute best bang for the buch there is

**Nick Chapman** · Apr 13, 2009, 08:35 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Originally posted by Tom Weed View Post

Nice organization and collection of M16!

Thank you, but it looks NOTHING like that now

I have become the most disorganized person lately. Have severely outgrown my storage, and it just looks terrible now. My products have doubled, towels have doubled. And have about 300 pads now(I hate cleaning them!)

So as you can imagine, my garage doesn't look anything like that anymore

**maarten22** · Apr 13, 2009, 08:44 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Need someone to clean it out for you??

**Nick Chapman** · Apr 13, 2009, 08:47 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Originally posted by maarten22 View Post

Need anyone to clean it out for you??

I've cleaned it up several times, and it only lasts abotu a day or so. My problem is I need more storage space. I'm going to do it right this time, with actual cabinets instead of cheap shelving units. Trying to plan everything out right now so I can have the best possible cabinets for me

**Mike Phillips** · Apr 13, 2009, 08:54 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Somewhere on this forum I posted a link to where you can purchase a Sidewalk Sandwich board?

Did a search and couldn't find it on the forum but if you Google it you should be able to find a company or two that offer different versions, sizes and lettering options.

Like Nick said, get your ducks in a row first so you don't get into any trouble with the city or the property owner.

Sounds like a good idea and wouldn't cost much to test your idea.

If this works for you others could copy your idea and open the door for the opportunity by offering to wash and detail the shop owner's car.

**Nick Chapman** · Apr 13, 2009, 09:10 AM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Here's a bit more info on how we handled our car washes at office buildings. If you can use this info, go ahead. Like I said earlier, it was a great money maker, if you hussled.

I used to approach the HR person, or get some type of contact within the company. Talk with that person and see if their office would even be interested in having an on site car wash. If so, press the issue. Offer that single person a free car wash every week for doing the leg work.

What I'd have them do was arrange the war wash. They had to email the employee's in their company, and let them know that we would be there on a specific day. In that email, I would have them list the charges for the different services we offered on site. Actually, I pre wrote the email for them, and they would just forward it to everyone in the building.

3-5 cars, and that person got 1/2 price detail
6 or more, and their vehicle was detailed for free.

Also, their(your contact in the building) responsibility was to keep a list going throughout the day. All employees would drop off their keys and payment with that single person(your contact within the building). You get there in the morning, and the keys would be lined up in order, ready to go. Take a set of keys, clean the car, return the car to it's original spot(a cone helps block the spot), and return the keys for another set. At the end of the day, collect payment from that single individual(your contact).

We mainly offered "Mini Details" at these on site washes. They would include a wash, cleaning the wheels and wheel wells. A quick wipe down on the interior and a vacuum. 2 guys could knock a single car out in 15-20 minutes(yes, you have to hussle!). But we also offered serveral other services at a higher cost.

Cars were priced at $25 and larger trucks and SUV's were $35.

At the end of most days, we would have knocked out about $400-$600. But you will be sore the next day

Hope this helps a bit

Nick

**J. A. Michaels** · Apr 13, 2009, 02:50 PM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Good luck in getting your business going. I think it is a excellent idea.

Nick's ideas seem like they are tried and true. Can't go wrong with the success he is having. Good Luck.

**ColonelCash** · Apr 13, 2009, 03:37 PM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

What Nick mentioned is pretty much how it works at my office complex. We have probably 400 people working in this building and the car wash guys comes on Friday usually. We take the keys to one of the secretaries and they will bring them to us once the job is done, I think its $20-$25 per exterior scratching...I mean washing. $15 for the inside.

I've let them 'detail' my interior, but the real reason was to go visit with the cute girl at the front desk. $15 well spent in my book.

**ClearlyCoated** · Apr 13, 2009, 03:42 PM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Originally posted by toe View Post

I have a really great idea.My wife owns a high end hair salon and has about 6 other hairdressers working for her.Every Saturday there's about 100 people in and out.These people are paying close to 100 dollars to get their hair done.So,I'm gonna be out there every Saturday doing my wife's car or someone that works there and offering the people coming and going a quick wash and dry with a interior vaccum while they wait.While offering more expensive services at a different time.Maybe some of you could give me some ideas about set-up or how to go about this.The customers are extremely high end.I would have to look really professional.No posterboard signs with magic markers you know.I think if I'm out there doing my thing people will ask and talk about it,but I would love to have a sign or something.

Adding to your idea, I would offer up a business card with a coupon redeemable for 10-15% off (1st time customers) for more advanced services at a later date. At best it might snag you another job for higher end services and maybe a regular customer. Or it might at least seal the deal for the simple car wash even if the customer never redeems their coupon.

**toe** · Apr 13, 2009, 09:15 PM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

super ideas guys thanks.Just to follow up the good thing about this is my wife actually owns the property.So it can't get any better in that area.I do have business cards now and a shirt

the sign was basically where I was stuck.Also most of these people will be in for an hour or less so probably just basic washes,but I love the Idea of offering a discount for higher end details.Thanks guys

**DoctorWho05** · Apr 13, 2009, 09:37 PM

Re: wonderful oppurtunity

Hey Nick since you have such an abundance of pads, any possibility of giving up 3?

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