Hall of Fame Inductee: Karen Duncan

Pioneer, groundbreaker, leader, and promoter. These are some of the words used to describe Karen Duncan. She is an exceptional individual who has made significant and lasting contributions to the professional detailing industry in the areas of Innovation, Advancement, Education, and Leadership. For these reasons and many more, Karen was inducted into the IDA Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

We spoke with Karen to learn more about her detailing career. What does this accomplishment mean to Karen? What changes has she seen and experienced throughout her career? Let's find out!

Karen Duncan (KD): I was so excited to receive my IDA 2022 Hall of Fame nomination; getting the award was the icing on the cake. I was in the industry for 20 years, from 1988 to 2008. When I left the industry, I took a lot of lessons with me and amazing friendships. I didn't realize until getting the call about my nomination that the passion for the detailing industry was still there in another form. My time spent, experiences, and memories came flooding back to me. The late 1980s was a good time to get into the auto detailing world. People were working a lot and didn't have time to clean their cars. The services offered meant a lot to busy people who were leasing a car, wanting to keep their vehicles longer, or wanting top dollar for selling their cars.

The International Detailing Association (IDA): Who inspires you most in this industry?
KD:  I feel that we can be truly inspired by everyone you come into contact with. People who have been in this industry a long time have so much wisdom to impart, and they want to. I have deep respect for manufacturers and operators that have been key industry players. Newer operators offer fresh perspectives seen through bright eyes. Our peers can offer us great friendships. Our customers can be our greatest allies. Even the difficult ones provide invaluable lessons.

IDA: What would you say was the key to your success in this industry?
KD: I think the key to success for me was continual customer education, both on the home consumer side and/or commercial dealerships that tend to have old-fashioned thoughts about detailing. Pointing out the truths and the myths, staying on top of what was happening concerning paint systems and changing materials and components inside and out was necessary. At the time, getting involved with the PDA was very helpful. Meeting and working with others from around the country and hearing everyone's stories of good and not-so-good ideas, thoughts, and support was grounding and made you feel like you were on the right track.

IDA: What words of wisdom would you like to impart?
KD: Always stay true to yourself. Do the best job that you can for people. Listen to what your customer wants first, then offer solutions and compromises if need be. Surpass their expectations whenever possible ⁠— it usually is possible. Have fun! Keep your passion alive for creating growth and change within yourself and your company.

IDA: What would you say is your greatest accomplishment, or which one are you most proud of?
KD: One of the accomplishments that I am proud of is that my customers looked to me for advice on maintaining the appearance of their vehicles. They trusted me and saw me as genuine, not as someone looking to profit off of them. Some even asked me to go with them when they bought their next car. I will say in 1988 that I did have some difficulty with some older male customers who wanted to speak to a man about what we were going to do to their car. In time ⁠— I know it wasn't long ⁠— they did see that I knew what I was talking about and that they could trust that the job and quality that they were getting for their money was outstanding. There then was no divide, and I am proud of that.

I am also proud to see that the groundwork that PDA covered, albeit under the thumb of the ICA, could play a role in what later in another incarnation became the IDA. I was blown away by the level of commitment, the organization, the training available, the professionalism, and the participation worldwide in the IDA. Wow. It is so wonderful for me to see this. Keep going, keep building. It is so worth it.

IDA: What is one major change you have seen in this industry? What is another change you would like to see made in the coming years?
KD: I would love to see more education and resources on the consumer side. There once was a strategic plan to get the auto manufacturers to include better and updated car care information in manuals. Consumers still need to understand professional car detailing and respect it and honor all sides of it. Detailing still needs elevation and respect. That starts and ends with respecting ourselves, the hard work, and attention to detail that detailers put into their work. This industry deserves and demands respect.

Read her full bio here.

*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the IDA.