Our Story
I grew up inside a dealership. My dad sold cars starting in the early 80's. I have so many memories being there and the salesmen would chase me across the shop and then hold the door closed to the showroom so i could not get back in. I also remember washing my own car at 17. I used pledge on the paint which , even though it was so hard to work with, it created a hard as nails finish. I would say it was the first ceramic coating. That stuff wouldn't die.
I eventually got a job at the Dodge dealership where my Dad worked. I washed lot cars and eventually moved into the wash bay. It was great for me because at 18 I was able to get to know my Dad better. Considering he was a salesman and I never saw him when I was growing up. I don't have very many memories of him playing with me when I was younger but at least I have these working together memories.
I moved on from this job after 5 years. Around 2005 I went off to college and worked at a private detail business. I worked there through college and learned the basics of detailing. After college I worked for 2 different private detail shops. Around 2010-2011 I worked at the local Honda dealership managing their clean up department.
By this time, I had a really good handle on the detailing process. I was not efficient but I knew how to detail properly. Thankfully I had detailers that took the time to show me the basics and then I practiced as much as I could. Managing the clean up department was great. I really enjoyed it. We became a department that was profitable and busy.
I was able to run that department as a manager and yet still detailing to some extent. I trained and inspected finished vehicles the other half of the time. I got permission to detail cars for several small car lots in town. Eventually, the service manager who was my boss stepped in and told me that we could not detail those cars anymore and could not spend any more money. Buy the cheapest products possible and no big equipment purchases. I regret to say that my attitude did not help the situation. My frustration grew over the next year or so. I had an opportunity to work for a large independent detailer in Maryland and I took that job.
I continued to detail cars for those car lots but on my own time at a garage I rented. I hired a full time employee to work during the day so we could meet the demand. After taking this job in Maryland and working long hours, I felt that we had enough dealer cars to support me so I could work for myself.
Starting in 2013 I became a small business owner working for myself. No one to dictate the standard I wanted. The only thing that limited me was money. I worked a lot of hours to make up for the lack of efficiency and money but we got the job done to the standard I wanted.
In 2013 we bought a house, had a baby and started a business. I have made every mistake possible both personally and professionally the first 5 years. it is now 2021. 2020 was the best year we have had to date, (2021 is not over yet so I may have to update this later).
I am so glad I started this business and took the risk. Honestly, since God provides for me and his grace is sufficient, it was not really a risk at all. I have had a lot of bad days and I've wanted to give up more times than I can count. If I had given up I would not have learned business and detailing to the level I am today. I learn something new about business and detailing every day and my desire is to continue to learn more and more.
Efficiency and being profitable are my goals and always will be. If I am profitable than I will be here the next time you need your car cleaned. Delivering the highest quality possible are extremely important to me. Excellent customer service, (even though it has always been difficult for me to talk to people I don't know), is just as important as quality.
Currently, as this business serves our customers, we are a small shop, low volume. We install a lot of ceramic coatings and offer preservation-style detailing, (cleaning and protecting). We also offer maintenance or express detailing. We may not be able to handle volume but we can certainly more than handle expectations.
The type of customers that are an encouragement to us are those who very much care about preserving and protecting their vehicles. We also love those who don't have time or ability to clean their own cars. We can also teach you how to wash your own car. you can spend about 30 minutes in our wash bay and walk you through a wash.
I am looking forward to what the future holds for us and our detailing business. I am very excited. The possibilities are endless. We live in a land of opportunity and God is good! We look forward to building a relationship with you, your family and friends. Our Story Pa York Hanover
People at a restaurant