Kevin Hamill (aka Picus), owner of GTA in Detail, gets DI’s approval as one of the best pro detailers in Toronto, Canada
July 31st, 2008
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is blessed to have one of the best professional detailers right in their back yard, Kevin Hamill, owner of GTA in Detail. I originally came in contact with Kevin when we started sponsoring an auto detailing section of a popular G35 car forum he frequented under the handle “Picus”. I quickly noticed how he took the time out of his busy schedule to answer questions members were asking, put together how-to guides, and educate others on how to improve their detailing skills. I always respected Kevin’s input as he would always tell it how it is, with no fluff or hype. Over the years, Kevin quickly became one of our best customers and his reputation sky rocketed as the goto detailer in Toronto, Canada.
This summer, I had the opportunity to head up to Toronto to see GTA in Detail in action. When I arrived, Kevin welcomed me to his home and we had some great conversation about cars and auto detailing. The next morning, I knew I was in for a long day of detailing as Kevin booked 3 cars, all with some level of paint correction. Personally, I’ve never corrected more than 2 cars in a day, so I was very interested to see how this was going to pan out. The first car was a black BMW 325i and it was in desperate need of Kevin’s help. Here’s what we saw once we put it under the halogen lights. (Click on any picture to view a larger version on Kevin’s website, http://gtaindetail.com)
Kevin quickly got to work on finding the best combination of polish and pads to use on this neglected BMW. I was thoroughly impressed with the speed and precision Kevin was able to work his rotary buffer. As many people know, using a rotary buffer can potentially be more dangerous than using a random orbital, but in the right hands, it can correct more imperfections in less time and the end result is a deeper and more reflective finish since you are able to properly break down the polishes. As Kevin finished up that panel, the once marred, swirled and scratched panel turned out perfect.
We wrapped things up and the car looked stunning. Here’s a link to some of the finished pictures of this BMW. The owner couldn’t believe his eyes with the end result. He was full of compliments and praise.
The second car was a G35 that was well maintained but had some light imperfections that needed to be buffed out. Kevin also debadged the emblems on the trunk and touched up a nasty scuff that was on the rear bumper. Kevin was able to remove the light imperfections on the soft Infiniti paint with the help of Menzerna’s PO106FF polish. The end result had tremendous depth and gloss and really made the pearl white paint pop. The customer was very impressed and was proud to say he has never seen his G35 look so good.
The third car was another BMW, a blue 335 convertible. Unfortunately, we were in a rush to get the third car finished, we weren’t able to take any pictures. Kevin performed a two step polish, touched up a couple scratches, and I helped do a quick interior detail. The owner didn’t tell us he was bringing the car to a potential buyer later that night. Needless to say, the person who looked at the car bought it on the spot and commented on how incredible the condition of the vehicle was. Quite the day, over 14 hours of detailing!
The next day was more laid back, we only tackled 1 car, but were able to do some product comparisons and testing. This was a great learning experience for me.
Day 3 in Toronto, Kevin gets a call from a small dealership that deals with high end vehicles. They told him there was an Aston Martin DB9 in dire need of his services. Kevin and I made the trip down there to find out that the dealership paid another detailer (a good amount of money) and they completely hacked up the paint. Here’s what we walked in and saw.
Needless to say, the paint was in HORRIBLE condition. Of course Kevin worked his magic and was able to transform the paint back into beautiful showroom condition.
Here’s a link to more pictures on the DB9 transformation.
Needless to say, while I was in Toronto I confirmed what I already knew, Kevin is an amazing detailer. It wasn’t any surprise when I asked him what his favorite step of the detailing process was and he replied, “Definitely compounding”. Kevin is a master on the rotary and does so effortlessly and efficiently. You can tell he has 1000s of hours clocked working on the rotary if you get the chance to see him in action. I asked him what his favorite car he detailed was and Kevin replied, the 1939 Plymouth.
Another thing I noticed while working with Kevin for several days is his personality. Kevin is very easy to get along with and is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about cars, detailing, and lots of other interesting topics. Many of his customers stuck around to chat and pick his brain while he worked his magic on their vehicles.
If you are in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or are willing to travel there, GTA in Detail gets my personal recommendation. Not only will you be extremely pleased with Kevin’s results, but your car will be easier to maintain in the future and you’ll definitely increase the value of your vehicle (by many times the cost of the detail). If you’re interested in contacting Kevin, you can do so via email or by phone 647-203-5164
Strategic People and Businesses to Align Yourself With as a Pro Detailer
July 29th, 2008Here are some ideas on who to spend your time networking and building a long lasting relationship with. As most of you know, you’re best asset is word of mouth coming from people who believe in your work. Here’s a list of people and businesses we recommend trying to introduce yourself to and establish a relationship with:
Aftermarket Part & Performance Shops – I’m not talking about the chain stores in your areas, but niche shops that specialize on a certain brand vehicle or cater to a specific clientèle. People going to these shops obviously care about their vehicles, so getting in good with the owners or sales representatives is a great idea. Could be beneficial to offer a referral bonus with them.
Window Tinting and Decal/Graphic Shops – Again, their customers are putting money into their vehicles, so they often care about them. Consider putting together a flier on how to maintain your tinted windows or how to clean and care for the vinyl graphics. On the bottom list your contact information and mention you offer detailing services. The shops will be happy to hand out the material and you’ll get exposure.
Paintless Dent Repair Shop & Upholstery Shops – I know when I was detailing I’d always get asked: Can you fix this dent/ding? Can you repair this burn mark? Can you fix a tear in leather? Finding a reputable place to refer your customers to or to have someone come out when you’re detailing a car can add value and you can often get a referral bonus for a new customer. Talk to the shop owners to work something out. Go into it saying you want to pass them business, if you do it enough, they will reciprocate the favor.
Car Audio Shops – Their customers are willing to pour money into their vehicles, so again they obviously care for it. Their customers are often your customers, so try to talk to shop owners and sales representatives to work out some sort of incentive plan.
Local Car Meets & Clubs – In almost every town there’s some sort of hang out of car people. Make sure your vehicle is detailed to the max and stop by one of their hang outs. Introduce yourself, and if it’s a car club, ask to talk to one of the leaders to possibly set up a detailing seminar. I’ve done this a few times and once you educate people about the proper ways of detailing, they often want to invest in your services.
Quality Body Shops – My customers were always asking for a recommendation on a quality body shop. Find out the most reputable shop or two in your area and introduce yourself and let them know you’ll pass business their way. Sometimes body shops only want to repair and repaint but hate detailing. They may want to pass some business your way.
Local Racing / Drag / Auto-X Groups – People who are usually into these types of activities care about their vehicles a lot. They also can get dirty really quickly as well. It’s worth trying to meet a few contacts in these scenes or attend some of their events to show support.
Local Owners Clubs – Quite often a specific car make and model has a local following. The first month I started detailing professionally, I found a local Subaru WRX / STi forum, ran a group buy where I included a free engine detail with any detail and did 8 Subi’s my first month. Well word spread within their club and more and more details came out of it. Check online for these local groups and if they have a forum, post up some detailing information to educate them.
Regional Sections of Large Automotive Forums – I would recommend targeting forums that revolve around BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Porsche, Acura, any exotic cars, muscle cars, and enthusiast cars that are often heavily modified (Evo’s, STi’s, S2000s, etc.) Follow forum rules of course.
High End Dealerships – Many places may have a detailing center, but even if they do, they may look for a goto high end detailer. I used to do work for my local Porsche, Audi, VW dealership whenever their detailers would screw up or the car would be in horrible condition. I didn’t even cut them a break on price, they just passed it on to the customer. It’s worth a shot at some of the higher end dealerships. Talk to the Sales Manager and Sales Representatives, they also may be interested in your services, especially if they know their detailers are lower quality. Also, even if you don’t get direct work from the dealership, if you can connect with one or two sales reps, they’ll often refer their customers to you. Not a bad idea to do a free detail or two to prove yourself.
Financial Advisers/Planners – In this industry, FA’s typically target clients with an income of $100,000 or more. These people are also your target customers. In the world of financial services, first impressions can often make or break you. The people in the industry are very self conscious about what they wear, well groomed, and usually what they drive is important to them. Not only can they refer clients to you, but they often are good clients as well. Consider finding a local company of Financial Planners / Advisors and try to give a brief seminar about detailing to help educate them about what you do and your business. You can offer group deals or referral incentives (Something like for every X new customers you send me, you’ll receive a free detail).
Real Estate Agents & Mortgage Brokers – Again, these people are dealing with clients who are spending hundreds of thousands (or millions) of dollars. They will be able to find you well qualified leads and are probably interested in your services as well.
Lawyers and Doctors – While their clients may not be as qualified as the the above two professions, lawyers and doctors often are very busy people and usually drive nice cars. Wealthy people usually mingle with other wealthy people so if you get a chance to detail their vehicles, hopefully they can help spread the word for you.
Mechanics – They work on cars all day and sometimes their customers are looking for a professional detailer. I’d cater to mechanics who specialize in European vehicles, exotics or enthusiast vehicles.
Boating Storage and Marina Shops – Most people who own a boat, own a nice car. Sometimes people are looking to get their boats or yachts detailed, which is another market you can target.
***Most Importantly***
Auto Detailing Supplier – Your business revolves around variable costs of your products, why not team up with your supplier? We offer a Pro Detailer Program at Detailed Image to all of the pro’s out there, which gives pros an average savings of around 30% off every single order. Let us help you grow and profit more. Also, we always are getting asked by people, I found you on such-and-such site but I don’t want to do the work myself, do you have someone you’d recommend in XYZ area? We can send customers your way. We also give you the opportunity to get a lot of web exposure which is explained in our Pro Detailer Program link above.
Keep plenty of business cards on you at all times and always give out more than one when people ask. Hopefully they will distribute the extras to close friends and family who they think will benefit from your services. Also, any of the shops mentioned above, offer to pay for a nice business card display rack and see if you can put some cards out on their counter or waiting area.
An major added benefit to teaming up with all of these groups of people is anytime you need something, you can often barter your services. For example, I did a detail for the owner of a local car audio shop and my girlfriend wanted a car starter, so I did the detail and he installed a nice car starter free of charge. Don’t be afraid to give away some of your time and services to make an impression on the right person. For me, it paid off big time in the long run.
Hopefully, others can give input to this list and keep it growing. Networking is a major part of being a successful pro detailer.
New Pro Detailer Section
July 29th, 2008Detailed Image would like to announce the new Professional Auto Detailing section on our blog. Over the years we’ve worked with many high end professional detailers on all aspects of the auto detailing business. From making them more efficient detailers, landing more customers with creative marketing ideas, supplying them high quality products, helping them retain customers, making them more money and much more. The new Professional Auto Detailing section will include articles catered to the pro detailer, showcase some of the best professionals across the country, articles and interviews from high end professionals and much more. If you have any ideas on what you’d like to see in this section of the blog, we’d love to hear from you. Enjoy!
Menzerna PO106FF and PO106FA
July 25th, 2008Menzerna and Detailed Image are now selling both the PO106FF and PO106FA and we hope to provide you with some information about these products so you can understand the differences (or lack there of). Essentially these products could easily pass for being the same, but since there is a slight tweak in the formula we hope to provide you with some of the details. These polishes were designed to work on the harder ceramic clear coats, but they are exceptional on traditional clear coats too. Both products are largely considered light polishes and work best when worked in to the surface with a buffer. They help remove light surface imperfections (i.e. swirls) or haze from more aggressive polishing. Each formula is using the same abrasive particles so you can expect very similar cutting power. We have confirmed the liquid part of the formula has had a slight revision but the exact details of this change have not been released. Some detailers have noticed very little to no difference between these products. Other detailers have found the PO106FA to have a slightly longer work time, while cutting faster and with less dusting. These differences have been slight but to many professionals they are important differences that pay large dividends after many details.
Detailed Image has both products available in different sizes. Currently Detailed Image is stocking the Menzerna PO106FF in the 16oz size and 128oz size. If you select the 32oz version of PO106FF on our site we are sending customers the PO106FA, because of their remarkable similarities. The Menzerna PO106FA is available at Detailed Image in the 32oz size at this time and we do not anticipate it being available in the 16oz size. Menzerna also plans to start calling the PO106FA (Super Finish) in the near future.
Spend $125 in July and get FREE SHIPPING & 10% off
July 25th, 2008FREE SHIPPING & 10% Off*
*10% Off and FREE Shipping for orders over $125 until the end of July!
We would like to extend a coupon code to our valued newsletter subscribers that gives you FREE Shipping and 10% off on any purchase over $125, through the end of July 2008. This coupon code is only available to Detailed Image’s newsletter subscribers. So don’t wait, now is a great time to shine your paint and stock up for the fall!
New Products at DetailedImage.com
 Metabo PE 12-175 Rotary Buffer |
 Menzerna PO106FA Nano Polish |
 Lake Country RotaryBacking Plate |
 Chemical Guys Fade 2 Black |
New DI Microfiber
 Super Gripper |
 Ultra Plush |
 Mini-Towel |
 Great White |
| Menzerna PO85RD Regularly $39.99 – Sale Price $29.99  |
Poorboy’s World Wheel Sealant Regularly $17.99 – Sale Price $11.99  |
Washing and Drying Starter Kit
July 24th, 2008Washing & Drying Starter Package
2x Sheepskin Wash Mitt
1x Lake Country Blue Grout Sponge
1x Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II
2x Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying Towels
1x Grit Guard
Fill two 5 gallon buckets with water, about two thirds full, and place the Grit Guard in the bottom of one bucket. In the other bucket pour in 1 – 2 ounces of the Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II and add more water to create a shampoo lather. Dunk the Sheepskin Wash Mitt in the water and shampoo mix and begin washing your vehicle from the top down. After washing 1 – 2 panels we recommend you dunk your mitt in the bucket with just water and lightly wipe the mitt against the Grit Guard. This will help loosen contaminants so they separate and diffuse into the water solution. Wring the mitt out and then put it back in the shampoo and water solution and repeat this process. Use the Lake Country Blue Grout Sponge on lower panels and areas prone to heavy contamination build up. This helps preserve the Sheepskin Wash Mitt so it’s more likely to be very clean and safe to use. Rinse the vehicle after completing several panels and thoroughly upon completion.While in a shaded area you should dry the vehicle immediately after washing to minimize the possibility of watermarks. Use one towel to absorb the large pools of water with a blot drying technique. This is the process where you pick the towel up and move it around the vehicle instead of dragging it. Halfway through drying you should use your second towel.
After the vehicle is dry we recommend completing the rest of your detail right after. Please look over our Polishing and Protection Packages for more products that can help you complete an outstanding detail.
Washing and Drying Ultimate Kit
July 24th, 2008Ultimate Washing & Drying Kit
2x Sheepskin Wash Mitts
1x Lake Country Blue Grout Sponge
1x Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II
1x Glass Scrub 8oz
2x Grit Guards
2x Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying Towel (36″x24″)
1x P21S Auto Wash 1000ml
1x Foam Applicator Pad
In this package we have provided you everything you need to complete a thorough and safe washing and drying process. Start off by cleaning your glass with the deep cleaning power of the Glass Science Glass Scrub. Simply apply a nickel sized drop of product on your foam applicator pad and buff it on the glass in a circular motion with medium pressure. Make sure the glass is wet to begin with and thoroughly rinse the glass as soon as you are done.
Now rinse the whole vehicle down so it’s wet and begin spraying the P21S Auto Wash on areas that have stubborn build ups. The P21S Auto Wash is a citrus degreaser designed to safely loosen contaminants from virtually every surface on your vehicle. Agitate these build-ups with light to medium pressure with the Lake Country Blue Grout Sponge. After you are done, rinse the vehicle down and begin your regular washing process.
Place your Grit Guards in the bottom of two 5 gallon buckets and fill them both about two/thirds full with water. In one bucket add 1 – 2 ounces of the Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II and add more water to create a foam lather. Dip your Sheepskin Wash Mitt in the Shampoo and water solution and wash your vehicle from the top down. After washing 1 – 2 panels dip your mitt in the bucket with just water and lightly wipe the mitt against the Grit Guard to help loosen and separate contaminants from the mitt. This will help you wash safer because there is less risk of grinding in contaminants attached to the mitt. Wring out your mitt and then put it back in the shampoo and water mix and repeat this process. Rinse the vehicle frequently during this process and thoroughly when you are done.
After completing your wash pull your vehicle in to a shaded area if you were not already in one. Using your Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying Towel blot dry the surface of your paint. This is the process by which you place the down on the vehicle and let it absorb the water, then pick it up and move it to a new area to repeat this process. By not dragging the towel you help reduce the risk of grinding in any contaminants that could be left on the surface or in the towel.
After completing this process we you can use a clay bar, polish, glaze, sealant and wax to further clean, shine and protect your vehicle. We encourage you to look at our Polish and Protection Packages and other Packages to help complete a thorough detail. To purchase the Ultimate Washing and Drying Kit please click here.
Polish and Protection Starter Kit
July 24th, 2008Polish & Protection Starter Kit
1x DI Accessories Gentle Fine Grade Clay Bar
1x Poorboy’s World Spray and Wipe 16 oz
1x Menzerna Intensive Polish
1x Menzerna Final Polish II
1x Poorboy’s World EX-P
1x Poorboy’s World Natty’s Blue Paste Wax
1x Microfiber Applicator Pad
Fully maximizing the results of this process will require that you use a buffer like the ones found in our Porter Cable 7424 Packages or the Flex XC 3401 VRG. Our Microfiber Packages will also help you remove the left over polish, wax, clay lube, etc. from the paint quickly and easily.The Polish and Protection Starter Kit is an excellent package that takes you through all the steps needed to make your paint look like new again. After you have washed the vehicle you would be amazed at just how much contamination will still remain on the paint. Removing all of these contaminants while washing is nearly impossible but using a clay bar will solve this problem. The DI Accessories Gentle Fine Grade Clay Bar will make the clear coat smoother and more transparent. Simply spray the Poorboy’s World Spray and Wipe over a small area (2ft x 2ft) and glide the bar back and forth with light pressure. Remove the excess clay lube with a clean microfiber towel.
Polishing is the step where you can really take your paint to the next level. Swirls, oxidation, fine scratches, etchings, water marks and more can make the paint look dull and faded. Polishes will help remove those imperfections and restore a transparent clear coat, which is needed for the maximum shine. The Menzerna Intensive Polish is a medium cutting polish that will smooth out the clear coat so it’s smoother and more vibrant. This process may leave a very light haze on the surface that is to be expected. The haze will be fully removed with the next step, which is to apply the Menzerna Final Polish II. This light polish or finishing polish is designed to leave the paint extremely smooth and glossy.
After you have cleaned and smoothed out the clear coat with the clay bar and polishes it’s important to protect the surface. This will help prevent future build-ups and enhance the shine. We have selected the Poorboy’s World EX-P for this job because it’s an outstanding sealant. It will protect your paint for 3 – 6 months, add a highly reflective shine while being very easy to apply and remove. The last step we recommend is hand applying the Poorboy’s World Natty’s Blue Paste Wax with a Microfiber Applicator Pad. This carnauba wax will give you the “hard candy” appearance that makes the paint look very glossy. The wax will further protect the paint and really take the shine up a notch.
Completing this process is very rewarding and the results are often a dramatic improvement. To learn more about each part of this process and to get step by step instructions please read our Detailing Guide. To maximize the results from this package we recommend you apply the products with one of our Porter Cable 7424 Packages or the Flex XC 3401 VRG Packages. Using a buffer with the right pads will help you more thoroughly work in the product while saving you lots of energy. To help remove the excess product you should also look in to our Microfiber Packages.
Polish and Protection Perfection Kit
July 24th, 2008Polish & Protection Perfection
1x Clay Magic Fine Grade Bar
1x Poorboy’s World Spray and Wipe 32oz
1x Trigger Spray Top
1x Menzerna Power Gloss
1x Menzerna Super Intensive Polish
1x Menzerna PO106FF
1x Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze
1x Menzerna Full Molecular Jacket
1x Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax
5x 4oz Dispenser Bottles
After a thorough washing you will have removed most of the loose contaminants from the vehicle’s surface. Many other contaminants are embedded in the clear coat and bond to its surface. These contaminants can be removed with a clay bar. Simply spray the Poorboy’s World Spray and Wipe over a small section (2ft x 2ft) and gently glide the Clay Magic Fine Grade Clay Bar side to side with light pressure. The bar will pull away contaminants and leave the surface much smoother and cleaner.
We have included 5x 4oz Dispenser Bottles with this package so you can pour the polishes into the smaller sized containers. The dispenser bottles have fine tipped spouts so you can more accurately distribute the product on your applicator and they fit right in your pocket. Polishing the paint is the process where micro-abrasive particles are worked in to the surface to smooth out imperfections. This process is totally safe and provides the most dramatic improvement in the aesthetics of your paint and clear coat. Imperfections like swirls, watermarks, fine scratches, etc. cause light to fragment in various directions, thus creating a dull shine. When you remove imperfections you allow light to pass directly through the clear coat for a much deeper reflection. Additionally a smoother surface will allow the future steps like glaze, sealant and wax to adhere to the surface much better. To remove these imperfections we have selected the premier polishes in the world created by Menzerna in Germany. The first step is to use the Menzerna Power Gloss, which is a heavy cutting polish designed to remove deeper imperfections. The Power Gloss may leave a light haze or micro-marring on the surface which is totally normal and will be fully removed by the next two steps. Next use the Menzerna Super Intensive Polish which is a medium cutting polish. This polish will further reduce the appearance of imperfections and remove the haze from the previous step. The last step is to apply the Menzerna PO106FF which is a light cutting or finishing polish. This polish ensures the surface is extremely smooth and glossy.
The clay bar and polishes have now cleaned and smoothed the clear coat, so it’s perfectly prepped. Now it’s time to enhance the gloss and protect the surface. We’ll apply the Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze first for added gloss. The Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze has kaolin oils in it, which will cling to any imperfection and fill it in for a perfectly uniform finish. Lock in this gloss and protect the surface with the Menzerna Full Molecular Jacket. This outstanding sealant is extremely easy to apply and remove, protects for 4 – 6 months and looks very sharp and reflective. The last step is where you can really add that “wow” factor with the Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax. This wax has very high carnauba content which makes the paint look like it has endless depth and gloss. After you complete this process your paint will have an exquisite shine that really makes the paint stand out and turn heads. Select this package today and you’ll be thrilled with the outstanding results from this package.
To optimize this package we recommend you apply these products with the Porter Cable 7424 Packages or the Flex XC 3401 VRG Packages. These buffer and pads will help you get better results than hand applications while expending less energy. To learn more about using these buffers or any part of this process we recommend you read our Detailing Guide, which has more information and step by step instructions. We also recommend our Microfiber Packages to help you remove excess product safely and effectively.
