Need Help with Redesigning a Detailing garage

[a3i]

hy guys

So lets get straight to it

Im gonna start my detailing business the moment i finish the garage but still i dont now what to do with it

First let me tell you that the garage is inside a tuning shop that belongs to a good friend but he got a bigger shop and told me have the garage and start your business ( i was a mobile detailer ) and he will make the old shop the one who haves the detailing garage in it a show room and will move the workshop to the new shop any way enough talking

Check the garage out and help me

I want to make it look cool and work inside it with out getting bored
It will be a detailing garage / dude chilling area you know what I mean

Help me with the colors flooring and all of those stuff that is inside a garage if you please

Im new to the garage thing

thanks

 

[Velosprout]

I would offer different suggestions if you were asking for a hobby detail garage/man cave for your own vehicles and friends. However, you are asking about a business property.

I own a former gas station property that has been rented out as a detail shop in the past (currently an auto mechanic rents the property). It seems to me from the photos you are already ready to go. Good lighting, heat, electricity, water, clean (non-gravel) driveway, and restroom facilities are the necessities. A Radio/stereo, a floor drain, and an area for a detailing rag washing machine/dryer, and storage cabinets would be next but not essential to start. I wouldn't spend any additional money on the garage as a business, but instead spend it on customer acquisition. The appearance or cool factor of a garage isn't going to attract many customers, and may give some the impression that you must be charging too much and that they can get the services cheaper elsewhere. The overhead costs you will now have as a stationary detailer (heat, rent, electricity, water, signs, garagekeeper's insurance, advertising, and later employees) will make you less competitive and profitable compared with the mobile detailers that don't have the overhead expenses.

From discussing with local detailers, their primary bread & butter business is subcontracting detail work from local new and used car dealers...they want the job done well, quickly, and cheap. They don't care what the garage or shop looks like.

When as a consumer I pay for a detailing it is a rare occasion; usually when a special event is coming up like a vacation, funeral, wedding, etc., for which I don't have the time to do the detailing myself or the temperatures too low. I don't select my detailer upon the appearance of the garage; I want it done quickly, with quality work that doesn't harm my vehicle's finish, and inexpensively.

A business is all about making money; not about looking cool and not being bored. Consult a local business development specialist, these are usually made available without charge through a local chamber of commerce, community college, or economic development group to help you with the business plan, local ordinance compliance, and referral to local professionals (who may become your future customers). I wish you great success!

 

[a3i]

I would offer different suggestions if you were asking for a hobby detail garage/man cave for your own vehicles and friends. However, you are asking about a business property.

I own a former gas station property that has been rented out as a detail shop in the past (currently an auto mechanic rents the property). It seems to me from the photos you are already ready to go. Good lighting, heat, electricity, water, clean (non-gravel) driveway, and restroom facilities are the necessities. A Radio/stereo, a floor drain, and an area for a detailing rag washing machine/dryer, and storage cabinets would be next but not essential to start. I wouldn't spend any additional money on the garage as a business, but instead spend it on customer acquisition. The appearance or cool factor of a garage isn't going to attract many customers, and may give some the impression that you must be charging too much and that they can get the services cheaper elsewhere. The overhead costs you will now have as a stationary detailer (heat, rent, electricity, water, signs, garagekeeper's insurance, advertising, and later employees) will make you less competitive and profitable compared with the mobile detailers that don't have the overhead expenses.

From discussing with local detailers, their primary bread & butter business is subcontracting detail work from local new and used car dealers...they want the job done well, quickly, and cheap. They don't care what the garage or shop looks like.

When as a consumer I pay for a detailing it is a rare occasion; usually when a special event is coming up like a vacation, funeral, wedding, etc., for which I don't have the time to do the detailing myself or the temperatures too low. I don't select my detailer upon the appearance of the garage; I want it done quickly, with quality work that doesn't harm my vehicle's finish, and inexpensively.

A business is all about making money; not about looking cool and not being bored. Consult a local business development specialist, these are usually made available without charge through a local chamber of commerce, community college, or economic development group to help you with the business plan, local ordinance compliance, and referral to local professionals (who may become your future customers). I wish you great success!

Well let me tell you that you made me change my mind ,yes my friend business is making money for sure im with you 100% on that

But when i said Redesign the garage is said it because in the pictures your not seeing what i saw in the garage when i was in it

Im not making the garage look cool for the costumers im making it look cool for a better work environment for my , when i was working mobile for dealerships some of the dealerships made me work in some boring looking garages I couldn't stand it , a work environment is very important for me i have a good budget for the garage to make it fun to work in and chill in it when i have a free time

Everything you said is absolutely right , but i want to make a fun work environment thats all with some new colors new storage maybe a tv some speakers but i need some help with this

Thank you my friend you really changed my mind on somethings and told me some good ideas about the business planning

Thank you

 

[Jay Sco]

Adding color is a cheap and easy way to improve, but the paint now isn't bad. Nice bright clean colors. Don't add too much color, it's not a tattoo shop.
As far as the TV/stereo situation goes I say just a 30" or so TV will suffice, and a small cheap surround system because sound will reflect in a room like that. Background music or show, not a theater environment.
Basically go minimalistic on everything, I'd pick a clean simple shop to detail my ride over a pimptastic lounge.
Maybe get some more cabinets to hide all those cardboard boxes, a detail shop shouldn't appear cluttered.

 

[bry@n]

I agree with the others. I would spend more $$ on products to try out. I am constantly trying new stuff and giving away stuff I didn't care for.

 

[bczygan]

Look at some of the garages in our GJ threads, especially the one with all the member garages displayed.

I totally agree with you. If you're going to be there 8 or more hours a day, don't work in a tomb or a cell. Make it your own man cave.

You obviously have a little OCD, or you wouldn't be into detailing in the first place. So go wild. Make it pin neat. Do it sparse and minimalist and like a museum, to show off your work.

Lighting will be real important, of course.

I worked in a few shops that were horrid hells. Why? Sloppy shop means sloppy minds in my book.

Go for it!

 

[bczygan]

I might be careful with color, both paint, as well as color temperature of the lighting.

Do you have room for a lounge area? You can use color there and carpet and use temporary partitions to separate it from the rest of the work area.

 

[bczygan]

Are you renting from your friend?

What can you do to the space?

Can you paint?

Can you hang things from the walls?

How long is your lease?

Get everything into cabinets.

Put away all those boxes.

Use a curtain or roll away screen in front of the shelving.

Do you wash in the space?

Is there an office and/or bathroom facilities?

Have you worked in an indoor detail shop? What is their lighting like? Do they have lights down low on the wall? Or mobile and adjustable light stands?

That one big wall screams out for a giant company logo or sign.

Is there a pleasant view wen the door is open?

Is the space conditioned (Heated and cooled)?

I would get the biggest 4K TV I could find, and mount it on the wall above the work area. If money was no object, I would put one on each wall.

I would mount speakers on all 4 walls and set up a stereo and computer for streaming music and getting on the net.

I would paint everything gloss white.

I would redo the floor if allowed, even epoxy it that would stand up to the chemicals you use.

Detail the space the way you would a vehicle.

Put big continuous mirrors on the wall to show off the car.

More later.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Hire a local graffiti artist and let him go wild on the walls (with a theme, of course).

-

 

[bczygan]

Not these colors, but sparse and spartan like this.

Black cabinets on white walls. White floor with a black stripe around the perimeter.

 

[a3i]

Adding color is a cheap and easy way to improve, but the paint now isn't bad. Nice bright clean colors. Don't add too much color, it's not a tattoo shop.
As far as the TV/stereo situation goes I say just a 30" or so TV will suffice, and a small cheap surround system because sound will reflect in a room like that. Background music or show, not a theater environment.
Basically go minimalistic on everything, I'd pick a clean simple shop to detail my ride over a pimptastic lounge.
Maybe get some more cabinets to hide all those cardboard boxes, a detail shop shouldn't appear cluttered.

Well about the colors im thinking like a light gray and with some lines

And about the boxes and the old storage its not mine he will move it
And you are right a simple shop is good to work in

 

[a3i]

I agree with the others. I would spend more $$ on products to try out. I am constantly trying new stuff and giving away stuff I didn't care for.

But my friend the thing is i'll be there 8-10 hours daily detailing takes time

And its gonna be a business not for me and my friends

But i want to create a good work environment for me

 

[jchetty]

As one of the original autopia.org regulars, I can say you are on the right track. Make your space warm and inviting- this can bring in added revenue in:

1. Becoming a product reseller
2. Holding free detailing seminars
3. Teaching people at a cost
4. Having local car clubs over (like cars & coffee)

I am an avid detailer- one day I will open up a shop. Detailing motorcycles is good to offer as well.

 

[a3i]

Are you renting from your friend?

What can you do to the space?

Can you paint?

Can you hang things from the walls?

How long is your lease?

Get everything into cabinets.

Put away all those boxes.

Use a curtain or roll away screen in front of the shelving.

Do you wash in the space?

Is there an office and/or bathroom facilities?

Have you worked in an indoor detail shop? What is their lighting like? Do they have lights down low on the wall? Or mobile and adjustable light stands?

That one big wall screams out for a giant company logo or sign.

Is there a pleasant view wen the door is open?

Is the space conditioned (Heated and cooled)?

I would get the biggest 4K TV I could find, and mount it on the wall above the work area. If money was no object, I would put one on each wall.

I would mount speakers on all 4 walls and set up a stereo and computer for streaming music and getting on the net.

I would paint everything gloss white.

I would redo the floor if allowed, even epoxy it that would stand up to the chemicals you use.

Detail the space the way you would a vehicle.

Put big continuous mirrors on the wall to show off the car.

More later.

I'll try to answer you on everything and im sorry if I forgot something

Yes he is my friend

I'll try my luck on 6 months

Its will be cheap

And yes bro i have a big ocd i dont know i just like to do cars ( im a motor head )

And you my friend understand me , i want a good working environment for me i'll be there 8-10 hours daily

About the paint light colors do well with detailing ,light gray
The color white

About lights i'll go with a 50-60 w Led 5000 kelvin on the rooftop

And yes i can do any thing in the garage

I have never worked for someone i was my own boss i used moveable led lights when i was mobile

About the black Cabinet i love those actually

About washing yes i can wash inside and outside because the out side is a drive way and its covered
About the TV dude 4K tv is way too expensive to get it i think i'd go with a 40" LCD tv

And for the speakers i have 4 Bose speakers they are so good

You really helped me

And im sorry if I forgot something i didn't answered it

 

[a3i]

As one of the original autopia.org regulars, I can say you are on the right track. Make your space warm and inviting- this can bring in added revenue in:

1. Becoming a product reseller
2. Holding free detailing seminars
3. Teaching people at a cost
4. Having local car clubs over (like cars & coffee)

I am an avid detailer- one day I will open up a shop. Detailing motorcycles is good to offer as well.

Yes man a good working environment is very important

And

1
2
3
4

You have all of those right ,, cars make friends and learning people new things is something that makes any one happy

 

[Velosprout]

Ok, it's been over a year. How is the business going?


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