I will attend Mobile Tech Expo in 2026.  I also plan on participating as a speaker on Education Day.

But I want to address the many criticisms about the (IDA) International Detailing Association.  For one, most of the critiques as well as the elephant in the room consistent theme behind them, I do understand the critical perspective to a point.  I do believe in some cases, the frustration is understandable, and I also see room for improvement.  But more importantly, I see the issue as more of an indictment of the detailing business owners.

Let us cut to the chase.  The critiques summarized, the IDA does not do enough for the typical business owner.  The name IDA does not carry significance to consumers enough.  Many consumers do not care regardless of what the IDA represents!  The information provided are not in depth enough.  Is this the theme essentially?  I am going to provide a counter argument, but not what most people will think.

I am here to suggest that you must be a member of any organization or argue its value.  I think there are positives and negatives to just about all things detailing.  I am someone who consistently looks outside of the detailing industry for resources to aid in my self-improvement.  I also believe paying slightly over $100 is not a significant barrier to entry in 2025.

My issue with many of the complaints about the value proposition are that it begs the question of a deeper for business owners.  How serious have you taken your business since you made the decision to register your business name?  Uncomfortable and perhaps offensive to some, it is a serious question that I wonder.  I am not categorizing everyone, but I think everyone should evaluate themselves about the following.

I want you to really think about your past responsibilities working for other people.  How much whether you agreed or disagreed was laid out for you.  You simply did what you were assigned to do.  Even your creativity and decision making was within a structure.  Is it your unique operation (not the opinion of other detailers or your coating company)?  Did you take that vision, mission statement, or core values assignment seriously?  Have you turned down customers who are not a fit, versus hustling for jobs?  What independent ideas have you come up with to communicate value to customers?  How did you expand upon the talks and lessons from members.  Did it inspire you to research more in depth?  That is and has always been my concern about people in this industry.  You left your jobs to start a business, but you didn’t stop being employees.  You did not unplug that mindset.

That is what a business owner does.  They are not saying how do I get more jobs.  They are putting a marketing plan together for the following month of clients.  They don’t ask random people passively how much to charge or what services to offer.  They take resources and creatively think for themselves.  I only expected the IDA to be a foundation or starting point, receives complaints for not doing enough to provide exposure or credibility for people’s businesses.  I see frustrated members wanting the International Detailing Association to market, advertise, and sell their services for them.  Are your complaints revealing your shortcomings?