Rodney Tatum of Mirror Reflections Auto Spa, interviews Austin Pruett of Fort Worth Auto Detail.

Fort Worth Auto Detail is one of if not the top high-end Ceramic Coating and Paint Protection Film shops in the Texas region.  The state of Texas is highly competitive with great premium detailing options.  Austin Pruett has made his shop stand out as a preferred auto detailing business in a short period of time with well over a 100 5-Star reviews.

Me:  What inspired you to start Fort Worth Auto Detail?

Austin:  Fort Worth Auto Detail was born out of necessity.  In 2020, I was laid off from a marketing company during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Jobs were scarce, and we had just welcomed our first child.  To make ends meet, I started detailing cars on the side, and before I knew it, it took off and turned into a full-fledged business.

Me:  When it comes to the daily operation and detailing as a higher-end operation, many people only choose to see the glamorous side of the business.  Can you tell me about the real challenges people often do not really think about?

Austin:  Running a 5,000-square-foot facility that offers ceramic coatings, window tint, and PPF comes with its own set of challenges.  When you operate at this scale, everything grows– rent is higher, payroll is larger, and managing multiple people and departments becomes a complex balancing act.  The challenges you face as a smaller business don’t go away; they just get more intricate and require greater oversight and planning.

Me:  I understand that not everyone, especially initially, sees the value of a high-quality detailing service provider.  Can you describe the kind of clients that often choose you as a preferred provider?

Austin:  Our clients come from all walks of life, but the common thread is that they genuinely care about their vehicles.  Some have a high disposable income and can easily afford to invest in protecting their cars, while others may be on a tighter budget but still prioritize their car’s longevity because they plan to drive it for years to come.  Whether it’s a luxury vehicle or a dependable daily driver, we believe in protecting what is often the second most expensive purchase a person makes in their lifetime.

Me:  PPF, like Ceramic Coating services a few years ago, has become much more popular with a more mainstream following.  Could you tell me about your experiences educating consumers on ceramic coatings and PPF, whether it’s describing the benefits or managing expectations and beliefs about the cost?

Austin:  There are definitely some common misconceptions about PPF and ceramic coatings that we work to address.  One of the biggest is when people say, “I’ll do it later.”  Truth is the ideal time to apply PPF is on a brand-new vehicle.  Driving it unprotected exposes the front end to wear and tea, and while touch-ups can be done later, they often don’t match perfectly.  Once the front end is damaged, you lose the opportunity for a clean, seamless PPF installation unless you repaint, which is costly.