2023 Mobile Detailer of the Year Award: Karim Khan's Auto Perfection

Congratulations to the winner of the 2023 Mobile Detailer of the Year Award, Karim Khan's Auto Perfection! This award is presented annually to a detailing industry professional who works above and beyond to advance the detailing profession and the IDA. We spoke with Karim to learn more about what this recognition means to him and his team.  

International Detailing Association (IDA): What does this accomplishment mean to you and your team?
Karim Khan (KK): It was an honour to be nominated for the IDA Mobile Detailer of the Year Award. Going on to win this award has meant an immeasurable amount to me and my team in Trinidad. We are proud, and we are humbled. I am immensely grateful to the many people who have supported me throughout the last year and even further back. I am proud to be one of the first Caribbean detailers to achieve such a prestigious IDA award. 

IDA: How long have you been in the industry? How did you get involved?
KK: I remember being around 8-years-old when I started hand polishing my 1:64 scale hot wheels toy cars. The love for having the shiniest hot wheels snowballed as I grew older, working on friends' and family's vehicles just to be gratified by the smiles, supporting comments, and, of course, the extra pocket change. To date, I have spent approximately ten years part-time and a little over ten years as a full-time automotive detailer. 

IDA: How Did Karim Khan's Auto Perfection get started?
KK: I grew up in a traditional home where formal education was important, but my love and passion for what is now known as detailing lived on. I saw the commercial viability and an untapped niche market for detailing services when I wrote my graduate thesis paper on the detailing industry in Trinidad and Tobago and a supporting business plan. From there, I started formally setting up my detailing business, called Karim Khan’s Auto Perfection. 

IDA: What were some major obstacles that your business had to overcome?
KK: There were numerous obstacles to overcome when I first started out. First, the detailing sector did not exist within the larger automotive industry in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean. At that time, vehicle enhancement was limited to automotive body shops providing buffing and polishing services. Local car washes provided basic valeting services. The idea of detailing as we now know it was barely in its infancy stages. I remember in my early days, I had to sign up for a body shop course to formally learn about paint and what we now call paint correction. Much of my other learnings evolved from trial and error prior to seeking international training and certification.

IDA: What would you say is the key to your ongoing growth and success in this industry?
KK: My open-mindedness to learn is the key to my ongoing growth and success in this industry. I focus on continuous education and attend at least one international training course annually. 

IDA: Who inspires you most in this industry?
KK: Many people have inspired me in this industry. Some of these people include Renny Doyle, CD-SV, RIT, Paul Dalton, Mike Phillips, CD-SV, WC, RIT, Barry Theal, CD-SV, RIT, Kevin Brown, and Jose “Joe” Fernandez. The one person who stood out the most to me is Jason Rose, CD-SV, RIT. He is a kind and selfless gentleman who has always been willing to share his knowledge, support, and assistance throughout my detailing career.

IDA: What words of wisdom would you like to impart to your fellow detailers?
KK: While it sounds simple, it’s not as easy to do — Believe in yourself. I have faced and continue to meet with many issues, but you must persevere and remain consistent in your belief about what you can achieve if you follow my passion.

Also, I want to thank The International Detailing Association for the recognition. Our industry is a better place because of those who dedicate their time to the IDA.

*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.