IDA Member Spotlight: Noah Dixon

Each month we feature a Member Spotlight. This month we spoke with the Marketing & Communications Committee co-chair, Noah Dixon. He is also the owner of Waxplus Auto Detailing. 

 

International Detailing Association (IDA): How did you get into the detailing industry?
Noah Dixon (ND): I have been around cars my whole life. I am 46 but started washing cars when I was around 5 years old. At 16 I started working at a wash and detail car rental lot. Soon after — in the 1990’s — I started working as a maintenance mechanic at a tire center. Next, I worked for U-Haul, where we had to perform preventive maintenance services. Cleaning/detailing was one of the duties. Many office jobs later, I decided to go all in and get into the business for myself. I adopted a friend’s business model and we started servicing our first clients. We started at their home, out of the back of a 1990 Ford Explorer with nothing more than a dream, two buckets, a few towels, a brush, water-soluble wax (Mothers Cleaner Wax), and some tire dressing. I fell in love with the idea of being self-employed, so we fought our way in. Even though we had minimal knowledge of “REAL” detailing, we took the ups and downs. God was with us and we made it work!

IDA: Tell us more about your business. 
ND: Waxplus Auto Detailing was established in 2001 with a family member. It started as a mobile maintenance and home car cleaning subscription service.  We have been proudly servicing the greater Los Angeles area and beyond for almost two decades now and have over thirty years of experience in the auto detailing industry. We enjoy our craft and love the people we work with. We face many challenges as detailers here in California. There are EPA regulations and water conservation and urban run-off laws that are in place. We make a conscious effort to utilize methods that help reduce the overall carbon footprint in our industry and the communities we serve. We only use products, techniques, and strategies that are responsible and safe for all, including our environment!

IDA: In what products or services does your company specialize? 
ND: We specialize in all phases of automotive detailing. We offer subscription-based mobile vehicle cleaning and maintenance services that are mostly residential. We are also a third-party detailing vendor for Tesla. We travel to various locations to assist their teams with delivery prep overflow, training, and staffing, along with pretty much anything else they need us to do. In addition, we promote detailing related products and more that are sold on Amazon via Amazon's Associate Program. 

IDA: What do you think is the most important factor to being successful in the detailing industry? 
ND: Never giving up! There were many times I almost threw in the towel, but I am glad I never did. Difficult times did not break us, they molded us, and our story is not over yet. The journey continues, thank God! 

IDA: Are there any awards/certifications/accomplishments that you or your business has earned and would like to share with us? 
ND: Outside of the IDA, there are very few Awards and Certificates in this industry. We just have scars, stories, and receipts. However, we possess many accomplishments, such as customer retention and still being in business after 19 years. 2020 was a difficult year but we are still operating and that is something we are thankful for. 

IDA: What is the best advice you ever received? 
ND: Believe in something greater than yourself and treat others as you would like to be treated.

IDA: What tips do you have for the new detailer? For the experienced detailer? 
ND: For the new detailer, your staff and customers are the lifeblood of your business. Give more than you take and always keep the trust of those you serve! For the experienced detailer, never stop learning and always try to be better than yesterday.

IDA: What is your funniest business moment? 
ND: The one that stands out the most is a little embarrassing, but it happened many years ago, so please do not hold it against me. One day we were out on a detailing job at the client’s home. They had specifically asked for tire dressing and we told him, “of course, we got you covered.” After finishing the vehicle, we noticed that we were out of tire dressing but not out of good ole Mobile 10-40. So, we slapped some engine oil on the customers tires and called it a day, those puppies were shining! As far as we know, the customer is still alive. It was a very risky and dumb move on our behalf. We will never do that again (fingers crossed), but we can look back and laugh.

IDA: Why did you decide to get involved with the IDA? 
ND: Initially, I decided to become a member of the IDA because I wanted to be a part of an association in my industry that I could grow with and learn from. I am inspired and I find myself wanting to be more involved. Involvement with the IDA has allowed us to be a part of something greater than ourselves. It allowed us to be a part of a global community of professionals and individuals in our industry which is invaluable. I also wanted to speak with people who spoke the same language as I did, unlike my wife, kids, and friends. It feels good to belong to a community.  

IDA: How has your involvement with the IDA affected your business and your career?
ND: Last year I was inspired by all the great people who volunteer and roll up their sleeves to help the IDA grow. I acted on this inspiration and joined the Marketing & Communications Committee. I took a Social Media Marketing & Management certification course offered by Facebook and plan on implementing some of the strategies to help the IDA. Who knows, I might even start a marketing agency for detailers one day. We will just have to see what the future holds.