Sponsor Spotlight: Fortador

International Detailing Association (IDA): How long have you been with Fortador? Were you a detailer prior to becoming a supplier?
Lev Tretyakov (LT): I have been with this company since 2016, then we entered the US market. Yes, I used to work as a detailer at Miami Total Steam Detailing Center. It is a detailing/carwash mobile detailing company in Miami.

IDA: What made you switch to becoming a supplier?
LT: I realized that detailing could be more profitable by using steam as a cleaning tool. That inspired me to branch out and evolve. 

IDA: What type of training does your business offer?
LT: Miami Total Steam Detailing Center offers a variety of training. Last year, we moved all our training courses and materials online due to the pandemic. This allows our training to be more convenient and accessible to customers. Our steamers are also easy to use, so most of the questions/issues can be answered by text/call or a video link helping the customer solve a problem.

IDA: What are some of your company’s attributes that make you stand out in the industry?
TL: We collaborate with Lamborghini to develop and build detailing equipment. This year we are in the final stages to bring Kevlar Dupont into the detailing industry. 

IDA: Is there any advice you would give to detailers that may be looking into transitioning to product sales, distribution, or manufacturing?
LT: As a detailer, selling detailing products to your customer will give you additional profit. This includes items like small cleaning bottles of solution, microfibres, and odor eliminators.

IDA: What are some of the struggles your company has overcome to get to where it is today?
LT: The steam technology Fortador uses gives great detailing results, using less water and chemicals, yet it still delivers deeper cleaning results than other machines on the market. It is very difficult to explain the steam system to people if they’ve never tried it before. The price is a big takeaway for a lot of people, which is understandable, but with the price comes the benefits of using our equipment and not having to worry about having multiple things needed to do a detailing job worth paying for. 

IDA: Why does your company believe it is beneficial to support the IDA?
LT: The IDA is an organization that helps educate detailers and allow them to become more profitable, to be recognizable as a pro. We respect the IDA and what they are doing to further develop and contribute to the industry. 

IDA: As a supplier, what changes would you like to see made in the detailing industry?
LT: There are two trends I would like to see altered. First, people trying to go into high ticket amount for detailing services, starting to offer PPF, Ceramic Coating and Paint correction, downgrading cleaning portion. Second, I would like to see more detailers expanding to incorporate more sanitization services into their business.

Disclaimer: Fortador is a 2021 IDA Diamond Sponsor. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the IDA. If you are interested in becoming an IDA Sponsor, please click here to learn more.