News & Press - International Detailing Association

News & Press

Read about the latest industry updates, catch up on member news, and find educational articles with best business practices and insider tips from top industry professionals.*

*The views and opinions expressed in member-written and sponsored articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the IDA.

Education
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Vapor Steam » By Clayton Ryan, Steamericas Vapor steam may not sound like a realistic option for all-in-one car washing and detailin...
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) How Does Your Shop Rate? Good, Bad, or Ugly? » By Keith Duplessie, CD-SV, RT First impressions count for a lot and can go a long way toward attracting new cl...
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) HD Pad Comparison » by David Patterson, Lake Country Mfg., Inc. I’ve always been the kid that asked why, or how (repetitively), and someti...
Monday, September 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Innovative Polishing Methods » By Raffaella D’Arienzo, RUPES Marketing Systematic polishing of painted surfaces can increase the gloss of new p...
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) New Trends in Paint & Paint Protection Technology » About a dozen years ago, I wrote an article about “Evolution of Paint and Protectant Technology” with the collaboration of...
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Does Your Shop Promote Anti-Bacterial Detailing? » Is your shop doing interior detailing? If so, you have to ask yourself, is your shop using anti-bacterial cleaning product...
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 (1 Comment - view/add) Removing Scratches » by Prentice St. Clair, CD-SV, RT (This information originally appeared in the June 2002 issue of American Clean Car.)...
Monday, July 13, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Five Major Marketing Mistakes » by Bud Abraham Stop throwing your money away. A smart detailer is an educated detailer. You need to avoid making marke...
Sunday, July 12, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Are You Ready for High Tech Paint Finishes? » by Bud Abraham In the past, detailers only had to concern themselves with single-stage paint systems that were either...
Saturday, July 11, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Ten Helpful Steps to Growing Your Business » by Jim Lafeber, CD Over the last several years, I have consulted with many business start-ups, given presentations, an...
Sunday, June 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Window Tint Add On » by Jim Goguen, CD-SV Selling add-on features is a good way to add profits to each car you detail. Window tint is a ver...
Sunday, June 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Show Me The Money » by Bud Abraham What is the purpose of being in business? Profit. To make a profit, you must do the following:...
Sunday, June 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Little Company, Big Company » by Prentice St. Clair, CD-SV Many operators begin a detailing business because it seems like an easy business to run....
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) The Right Location » PRIME, SECONDARY, FREE-STANDING OR ATTACHED? To understand the importance of location as it relates to a detail center...
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Boosting Your Marketing Efforts » by Bud Abraham DETAIL PLUS SYSTEM The purpose of this article is to give you some usable information to hel...
Saturday, March 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) Know the Science » Someone who is considering the detail business for the first time or even many old-timers can find detailing chemicals to...
Saturday, March 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) The Science of Stain Removing » The most difficult task for a detail technician besides getting a swirl-free finish on a vehicle is effective stain remova...
Saturday, March 21, 2015 (0 Comments - view/add) A Missing Piece of the Puzzle » We are always trying to find ways to improve our businesses, something that gives us an edge over our competition or peaks...
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Worst You Have Ever Seen? » by Rob Schruefer, CD As a detailer we get asked all of the time, “it is not the worst you have ever seen, is it?”...
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Detailing, Ebola, and Other Biohazards » by Jim Lafeber, CD Recently the news has been filled with stories about deadly viruses. Ebola, Norovirus, Ente...
Thursday, October 9, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) How to Read MSDS Sheets » We are most concerned with the chemical products utilized in the industry and the following will address possible hazards...
Sunday, September 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Applied Colors » The Entrepreneur - An Interview with Robert Keppel For over a year, Robert Keppel says they saved every cup of paint th...
Thursday, August 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Braun Brush » 140 Years and Strong An Interview with Lance Cheney Current Braun Brush CEO and successful sculptor, Lance Cheney say...
Tuesday, August 12, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Hazardous Chemical Communication Standards » HOW TO COMPLY IF ANY ONE GOVERNMENT REGULATION SHOULD BE FOLLOWED, IT IS THIS ONE. IF YOU DON'T, LOOK OUT The frighte...
Tuesday, August 12, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Almost Went Under » I want to share with the IDA how my Mobile Auto Detailing business in Houston, Texas, went from nearly collapsing ten year...
Monday, July 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) The Benefits of Detailing Clay » Using detailing clay to clay your car's paint, or your customer's car's paint will, Enable your choice of wax or paint...
Monday, July 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Upholstery and Carpet Cleaning Techniques » by Erik J effries The continued interest and growth in the use of steam for cleaning automotive carpets and upholster...
Monday, July 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Ten Fatal Business Mistakes » Want to go Belly Up? Ten Ways to Fail in Business by Jim Lafeber, CD Over the last several years, I h...
Monday, July 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Pro Tricks for Increasing Your Search Engine Optimization » By Erik Jeffries Here are two simple ways to immediately increase your online searchability. These methods are conside...
Monday, July 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Salesmanship & Pricing » by Prentice St. Clair, CD This article first appeared in the March 2010 issue of America’s Car Care Business....
Monday, July 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) The Science of Detailing » TO MANY, DETAILING IS AN ART, BUT IT ACTUALLY INVOLVES MORE SCIENCE THAN CREATIVE ABILITY. Many detailers fashion thems...
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Mechanization » THE ANSWER TO DETAILING TIME MANAGEMENT As long as I have been in the detailing business, the complaints I hear from d...
Saturday, July 5, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Productivity Getting the Most Out of What You Already Have » Most operators would think of two methods to increase production in a detail shop: Push the employees to work f...
Saturday, June 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) Repairing Acid Rain and Rail Dust Damage » THESE STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURES CAN PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS, BUT KNOW WHEN TO SAY "UNCLE" When industrial pollutants such...
Saturday, June 21, 2014 (0 Comments - view/add) The Customer Interview » First things First: The Customer Interview and Vehicle Inspection by Prentice St. Clair, CD This information...
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