Member Spotlight: Diana Balboni, CD-SV

Diana Balboni, CD-SV, is a proud IDA member and Owner of N2 Details in Sterling, Virginia, United States. We had the pleasure of speaking to her and hearing about her journey from government employee to owning a detailing business.

International Detailing Association (IDA): How did you get into the detailing industry?
Diana Balboni (DB): At the end of 2013, I was working for the Federal Government in contracts and acquisitions. Although I was not very satisfied with the work, I thought I was pretty good at not outwardly showing my unhappiness with my career. But apparently, I didn’t fool our financial advisor as he said to me, “Diana, ever since I have known you, you don’t seem happy doing what you are doing. Why are you doing it?” After he asked me the question, I recall thinking, “Wow, is it that obvious?”  He stated, “You know, you could retire.” I said, “What do you mean 'retire?' I am too young to retire.”  “Oh no,” he said, “in 2015 you will reach 10 total years of working for the government and the minimum retirement age and you can retire.” 

After showing me what the numbers would be, he asked, “So, what would you want to do?” I told him, “Oh, after I grow up I want to detail cars!”  I swear the words were out of my mouth before my brain engaged. So, for the next year-and-a-half I “worked” toward retiring from the Federal Government and pursuing my dream of detailing cars. The first week of February 2015, I traveled to Big Bear, CA, and trained with Renny Doyle, CD-SV, RIT, and Diane Doyle, CD-SV, WC, RIT, learning about detailing cars and the business of detailing. At the end of February, I turned in my government badge and retired. On March 17, 2015, I applied for a business license for N2 Details and began living my passion.

IDA: Please tell us your business’s story.
DB: I put in my notice to my government job and attended a detailing training with the best person in the industry. Since I created N2 Details in 2015, I have focused on providing a high-end detailing experience, working out of my garage. I restore and maintain the value of my clients’ vehicles using people-friendly products that are safe for people, the car, and the environment. My reputation has spread in our community, so I have neighbors recommending me on our community’s Facebook page when other neighbors ask where to go to get a good detail for their vehicles.

IDA: In what products or services does your company specialize? 
DB: I love to transform customers' vehicles to help them fall back in love with their cars.  I use environmentally safe products. I am the only authorized installer for Dr. Beasley’s products in Northern Virginia.

IDA: What do you think is the most important factor to being successful in the detailing industry?
DB: Communication: talking with your customers and listening to what they want — rather than what service you want to sell the customer.

IDA: Are there any awards/certifications/accomplishments that you or your business has earned and would like to share with us?
DB: There are several!

• IDA-CD-SV, 
• Dr. Beasley’s Authorized Detailer, 
• IICRC Certified — which is the Cleaning, Restoration, and Inspection Industry, 
• A seven-year team member of Detailing Success, and 
• A five-year team member assisting with the preservation of President Eisenhower’s Air Force One.

IDA: What is the best advice you ever received?
DB: Don’t over buy products or equipment.

IDA: What tips do you have for the new detailer? For the experienced detailer?
DB: For new detailers, give out at least one business card every day. You never know when someone will need your services. I had a prospective customer hold onto my business card for two years before he called me. When I met the customer, his 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air had 27,000 original miles. When he called me two years later to detail his car, he had only driven another 3,000 miles.  

For the experienced detailer, be open to the possibility of sharing your knowledge and expertise with detailers new to the industry and young men and women interested in beginning a career detailing cars.

IDA: Funniest business moment?
DB: My funniest business moment occurred when a customer brought me a 1966 Pontiac GTO to remove oxidation from the car.  Initially, when the customer called me, he was waiting for the car to arrive from Southwest Idaho, where the car was found. The car arrived in our area of Northern Virginia on a Saturday. I was scheduled to see the car and give the customer an estimate on Monday the following week. The car was dropped off to me on the next day, Tuesday, and the customer picked up the car two days later on Thursday.  

When the car was dropped off, I asked the customer to back the car into my driveway so I could begin the process of cleaning, decontaminating, and preparing the surface to polish. After working on the car, I was going to pull the car into the garage as I do with all the cars that I have overnight. However, once in the driver’s seat, I realized the brakes seemed to be a bit “iffy” and, although I had the seat pulled all the way forward and I was sitting on the edge of the seat, I could barely reach the clutch. Since the brakes were not very good, coordinating the brake and clutch wouldn’t have been very safe for me. Oh, did I mention our driveway is on a bit of an incline? So, I decided to call my neighbor, Joe, who is a car guy, to pull the car into the garage. Before Joe pulled the car into the garage, he asked if I wanted him to back the car into the garage to make it easier to pull out the next day. I said, “Sure, that should help.”  Did I mention that the car didn’t have any side view mirrors and is 206” long, 17’2” in length, and was only one inch from the workstation in the garage? All went well. The car barely fit but it was in the garage. Joe had backed the car in perfectly, just like threading a needle. The funniest part of the story occurred the next day while Joe was at work. The only way I could polish the car was to pull the car out of the garage. So I thought, “Now what am I going to do?” The car has “iffy” brakes, and the driveway is on an incline, but thankfully, we live on a cul-de-sac. So, here I go. I placed the car in gear, coasted down the driveway, made sure no one was coming, got to the end of the driveway, turned the wheel, and finally parked in front of my neighbor’s house across the street.  

IDA: Why did you decide to get involved with the IDA?
DB: About a year after I started my business, I kept hearing about the IDA and that the organization was an international association that recognizes professional automotive detailing as a trade that sets the standards within the industry and provides credibility. I wanted to receive certification for myself and my business.

*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.