Bub Abraham's Certification Article.

[buda]

Frank:

You are a true professional and a very smart businessman. One who understands that you can be the best detailer in town but it does no good, if you do not flaunt it.

You can tell people all over the city you are the best but that does not mean a thing to them.

Promoting awards, certification and certificates on the wall will, in fact, give you the creditability.

It is not about the technical "stuff" of detailing, it is about being a good businessman. It is the detail businessmen/women in this business that make the BIG bucks in detailing without being a working slave to the business.

Check out Ron Ketcham's posting about certification the the Mobileworks Detailing Forum, it is good.

Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by mirrorfinishman

The point is simply that just because someone hasn't asked about your credentials it doesn't mean that you can't use your certifications, credentials and other awards to further promote your business.

Certification has everything to do with how the customer views your buisness. It can clearly help to position your detailing business way above your competition. Let's face it; the more certifications, credentials and other awards you can show a current or prospective customer, the better.

I think my photo album generates far more interest than any certificate I may be able to produce.

The point is, that very few customers probably care at all about certification. At least in my situation, most of my new customers come from referrals and to them, that is more important. If their picky friend is happy with my work, odds are they will be too. Even though most mechanics are ASE certified, the average person is still going to value a friend's referrence more than any certificate.

If a detailer certification program is going to work, it will also have to involve consumer education so customers understand how important it is to use a certified detailer and an organization backing the certification to make it worth something. If there is no follow up and no consequences for shoddy or unethical work, then the certificates have no value.

I believe Bud is very sincere about the need for such a program and I would agree there are a lot of hack detailers doing horrific work. I just don't see much demand on the part of the consumers for certification. How you go about changing that, I don't know.

[mirrorfinishman]

Originally posted by buda
You can tell people all over the city you are the best but that does not mean a thing to them.

Promoting awards, certification and certificates on the wall will, in fact, give you the creditability.

Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

I recently received an email from one of my students in Canada. He had completed our online boat detailing course and wanted to make sure that he was going to receive his 'Certificate of Completion'. You see, he intends to start his own boat detailing business.

Now keep in mind that the online boat detailing course that I offer is basically designed to help beginners learn more about the do-it-yourself approach to detailing their own boat.

Since this student intends to start his own boat detailing business, it is clear that he wants to use his 'Certificate of Completion' to promote his creditability.

Just wanted to share this recent experience...

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by mirrorfinishman
I recently received an email from one of my students in Canada. He had completed our online boat detailing course and wanted to make sure that he was going to receive his 'Certificate of Completion'. You see, he intends to start his own boat detailing business.

Now keep in mind that the online boat detailing course that I offer is basically designed to help beginners learn more about the do-it-yourself approach to detailing their own boat.

Since this student intends to start his own boat detailing business, it is clear that he wants to use his 'Certificate of Completion' to promote his creditability.

Just wanted to share this recent experience...

EXACTLY. That's what I've been saying all along here; people see that piece of paper on the wall and think "oh, he's certified/trained... he's dedicated which = good"

[buda]

Charlie:

You are absolutely correct. From a marketing and public relations point of view a certificate on the wall makes a HUGE difference with consumers.

Yes, it might not mean a thing about your creditability as a detailer since there are no standards in this industry and anyone can get into the business and call themselves a detailer. But a customer coming for a detail service has no way to judge whether a detailer is good or not, other than how the shop or truck/trailer looks, how the detailer looks and how they speak.

Having a wall full of certificates adds creditability.

They may not say anything but if I can use an analogy of the lighthouse.

We hear about the ships the lighthouse does not save, but how many ships do we hear about that were saved? See the point.

If a detailer cannot see the advantage of having a certificate on the wall of his shop, there is nothing you or I can say to convince them. That is why you will always have an advantage over that type of detailer.

Regards
Bud Abraham

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Just to chime in here and keep everyone posting to this thread on the same page....

While the validity of certification is an on-going debate, please do not support your position by mentioning courses you offer as this could be considered Spam; I am quite sure that was not the intent.

Thanks for your understanding!

Tim

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by buda


If a detailer cannot see the advantage of having a certificate on the wall of his shop, there is nothing you or I can say to convince them. That is why you will always have an advantage over that type of detailer.

Regards
Bud Abraham

Where do you suggest mobile detailers have a certificate?

Again, until the customer sees the value in certified detailers, I can't see spending money getting a certificate that so few will see anyway since I am mobile.

[buda]

That's why I am personally not much in favor of mobile detailing.

But you could put it on your business card; in your Yellow Page ad and in any print literatire you have and you can put it onl your truck or trailer.

As I say, if one cannot see the value then there is not much you can say to convince them.

Regards

Bud Abraham

[buda]

That's why I am personally not much in favor of mobile detailing.

But you could put it on your business card; in your Yellow Page ad and in any print literatire you have and you can put it onl your truck or trailer.

As I say, if one cannot see the value then there is not much you can say to convince them.

Regards

Bud Abraham

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by buda
That's why I am personally not much in favor of mobile detailing.

Huh? You aren't much in favor of mobile detailing because you don't have a place to hang a certificate? Are you serious?

Being mobile gives me a competitive edge in the Dallas area.

As I say, if one cannot see the value then there is not much you can say to convince them.

The point is, the average customer currently doesn't see the value in it. How do you propose to change that?

[Chubs]

I agree with the need of certification!
Certification is a start, we also need proper training. Training in technique, chemical knowledge, and knowledge of what you are working on. Why wouldn’t you want the knowledge of what you’re working with in your profession? What if a chemical combination is dangerous when mixed. Some chemicals when mixed with others can kill you. Ever mix chlorine and muratic acid in its straight form, often used in large swimming pools. It creates phosgene gas, it will kill you, but when mixed properly into swimming pools it will never harm you. How many people know that propane is heavier than air? If you heat your garage with propane and suspect a leak, get out of there. Propane is oxygen depleting. The refrigerant in your air conditioning and refrigerators, is also oxygen depleting. How harmful is bleach and ammonia to your body, and how many people wear gloves when handling these items. How many of these chemicals is used on the wrong materials and finishes. Ever think of what gas does to your paint finish when your using it to remove tar? How hard can you buff the paint this time after some hack had it before you? I could keep going on and on with stuff like this. This is why we need proper training and certification in many things that we do, including detailing. We are too naïve today to realize the many dangers we face in day to day life that we take for granite. The only way to do it is by the industry as a whole. From the consumer, the little detailer all the way to the distributors, detailing companies, and into the paint and vehicle manufactures. We all need to work on proper training and certification. There is a lack of training everywhere you turn today and we all have become accustomed to it as standard practice. Some people think it’s just another way to make money. Of course it’s going to be making money, who in there right mind would do all this work for FREE. I’m all for whatever training and certifications I can get, in whatever profession I’m in. Right now it’s in the HVAC field. In a couple of years I hope to fulfill my dreams of my own detail shop. I’ve been detailing for over 9 years and still believe I have a lot to learn. I hope to have as much knowledge as I can and still be looking to learn more as I go. If you quite striving to do better and learn more with each day that goes by, then what is the sense of getting out of bed.

These are of my opinions and don’t intend to offend anyone with them,

Chubs