Summary:

In this episode of Cruise Control, Kevin Davis chats with Mike Karlen and Dustin Jackson, the dynamic duo behind IGL Coatings. The discussion delves into how Mike and Dustin transitioned from being detailers to co-owners of a renowned ceramic coating company. They recount their journey of risk management, including acquiring the IGL brand from its original founders, Joel and Jeff. The episode highlights the importance of trust, building strong customer relationships, and taking calculated risks in business.

Mike and Dustin share their philosophies on running a business, trusting a team, and innovating while keeping the family feel that IGL is known for.

Key Takeaways:

1. Trust Your Team: Success in scaling comes from delegating and trusting others, even if they aren’t perfect from the start.
2. Calculated Risk: Taking big risks is essential for growth, but it’s important to start small and gradually scale your comfort level with risks.
3. Customer Relationships Are Key: The true success of IGL Coatings is built on its family-like customer relationships, which Mike and Dustin prioritize over just selling products.
4. Innovation and Adaptation: As business owners, they focus on continuous improvement and being able to pivot into new services like residential coatings.
5. Resilience in Business: Failures are inevitable, but persistence, learning from mistakes, and moving forward are critical to long-term success.

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Summary:

In this episode of Cruise Control from the 2024 WFCT/AWG Conference, host Kevin Davis speaks with Kurt Felmar, owner of Detail Solutions in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Ceramic Pro Elite Dealer. Kurt shares his journey from corporate IT to running a 7-figure detailing business, discussing the importance of creating systems that allow a business to run without constant oversight. They dive into the balancing act between work and family life, the challenges of leaving a stable corporate job, and the mindset needed to make a business thrive.

Kurt emphasizes how his background in IT helped him apply scalability and efficiency in his detailing business, and he offers advice for entrepreneurs on building systems and nurturing long-term customer relationships.

Key Takeaways:

1. Systems and Processes Matter: Kurt’s IT background taught him to implement systems that make the business scalable and sustainable without him constantly being on-site.
2. The Right Time Is Now: Kurt stresses that there’s no perfect time to jump from a stable job to entrepreneurship—if you have a passion, work toward it and make it happen.
3. Fail Fast, Fail Cheap: Learn quickly from mistakes without major losses, then pivot and move forward.
4. Nurture Relationships: Building strong customer relationships through consistent touch points is key to business growth and maintaining success.
5. Balance Family and Work: Kurt shares how he balances time with his family, using calendar blocking and strategic resets to avoid burnout while scaling his business.

Chapters:

00:00 Navigating Business Growth and Transition
10:03 The Importance of Systems and Structure
19:56 Balancing Work and Family Life
29:54 Customer Relationships and Sales Strategies

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In this live edition of Cruise Control, host Kevin Davis is joined by Chris, Jason, Grant, and other industry experts for a roundtable discussion on business strategies in the detailing and film industries. The conversation centers around the upcoming October Detail Wise Business Training, where the speakers share their wealth of experience on scaling businesses, delegating responsibilities, and creating systems for growth. Each expert provides insight into key business elements like financial management, employee empowerment, and customer retention, offering practical advice for both new and experienced business owners. From unlocking the power of delegation to understanding the importance of knowing your numbers, this episode is a deep dive into what it takes to run a thriving detailing business.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Delegation: Let go of tasks that drain your energy and delegate them to people who love doing them.
2. Know Your Numbers: Proper financial management is crucial for making informed decisions about hiring, expansion, and budgeting.
3. Focus on Business Systems: Implement processes and procedures that allow your business to run smoothly without constant supervision.
4. Empower Your Employees: Train and trust your team to manage day-to-day operations, allowing you to focus on growth.
5. Continuous Learning: Surround yourself with mentors and experts to avoid common pitfalls and stay ahead in business.

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In this episode of Cruise Control, host Kevin Davis sits down with Rod Puzey and Jody Sedrick, the co-founders of RoadFS and Zenware, who share their 15-year journey in creating software specifically for the detailing industry. The trio discusses everything from business evolution and niche market success to the power of servant leadership. Rod and Jody emphasize how their high-touch, customer-centric approach has helped them grow a loyal client base and transform their company into a respected industry leader. They also delve into their personal stories, balancing family, business, and the importance of passion in entrepreneurship. With humor and candor, the episode highlights the keys to building a sustainable and fun business in an ever-evolving industry.

Key Takeaways:

1. Servant Leadership Drives Success: Rod and Jody’s philosophy of putting people first has fostered strong relationships with both customers and employees.
2. Finding Your Niche: Identifying and owning a niche is essential for standing out and sustaining long-term success.
3. Entrepreneurship Requires Adaptation: Their journey highlights the importance of evolving and staying open to new roles within a business.
4. Success Is Personal: Each person’s definition of success is different; it's important to define it for yourself and not be swayed by others' expectations.
5. Balance is Key: Personal fulfillment and family matter just as much, if not more, than business accomplishments.

www.roadfs.com

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In this episode of the Cruise Control Podcast, Kevin Davis sits down with Mark Green, a lifelong automotive enthusiast and entrepreneur. Mark shares his fascinating journey from starting a car detailing business as a teenager to building and leading Griot's Garage, a renowned automotive product company.

Mark discusses the strategies behind creating a loyal customer base through storytelling and quality, his transition into podcasting with "Cars Yeah," and the lessons he's learned from interviewing over 2,500 guests. The conversation dives deep into the importance of following your passion, the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, and the ultimate fulfillment that comes from helping others.

This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to build a brand, scale a business, or find purpose in their work.

Takeaways:

1. Entrepreneurial Beginnings: Mark Green's journey began at age 14 when he started his first business, Autocare, highlighting the importance of following your passion from a young age.
2. Building a Brand: The deliberate effort to create a unique and loyal customer base at Griot's Garage through storytelling, quality products, and exceptional customer service.
3. Adapting to Change: How Mark transitioned from traditional advertising and catalog sales to leveraging the internet and new marketing strategies.
4. Importance of Niche: The significance of identifying and filling a niche in the market, whether in product offerings or in content creation like podcasting.
5. Helping Others: The realization that true happiness and fulfillment come from helping others, a key theme Mark has learned through his extensive interactions with successful individuals.
6. Overcoming Challenges: Mark's willingness to take risks, such as leaving California to join a startup, demonstrates the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone.
7. Persistence in Business: The concept of "polite persistence" as a key to success, as shown in Mark's relentless pursuit of opportunities and connections, even when faced with initial rejection.
8. Scaling and Selling a Business: Insights into the complexities of building a business that is not only successful but also scalable and sellable.

Find Mark and the Cars Yeah Podcast at www.carsyeah.com.

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In this conversation, Kevin Davis interviews Jay Bentley from Gtechniq Marine North America. They discuss Jay's background as a financial advisor and his transition into the boating industry. They also talk about the challenges of marketing and selling ceramic coatings in the boating world, the importance of understanding customer pain points, and the growth of Gtechniq's certified installer network in the marine industry. The conversation explores the different market segments in the boating industry and the challenges and opportunities for marine detailers. It emphasizes the importance of building relationships and networking in the industry.

The conversation also discusses the value proposition of ceramic coatings for boats and the economics of boat ownership. The advice for marine detailers includes setting realistic expectations, being professional in appearance and communication, and specializing in their services. The episode concludes with a mention of the upcoming Gtechniq Marine Summit in Orlando.

Takeaways

• The boating industry is a traditional business that is slow to adopt new technologies.
• Selling ceramic coatings in the boating world requires understanding customer pain points and presenting the value of the product.
• Building a business within a business requires education, marketing, and building relationships with manufacturers, distributors, and detailers.
• The marine industry has a low barrier to entry, so it's important to vet detailers and installers to ensure professionalism and quality.
• The growth of Gtechnic's certified installer network in the marine industry is a result of education, marketing, and building relationships. Building relationships and networking are crucial in the boating industry.
• Setting realistic expectations and delivering quality work is key for marine detailers.
• Ceramic coatings offer long-term protection and cost savings for boat owners.
• Boat ownership comes with significant operating costs and maintenance expenses.
• Professional appearance and communication are important for marine detailers.
• Specializing in boat detailing can lead to success in the industry.
• The GTECNIC Marine Summit is a valuable event for networking and industry growth.

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Episode Summary

In this high-energy episode of Cruise Control, hosts Kevin Davis, Chris DiGiovanni, and Grant Menard dive deep into the strategies that can take your business from good to great. They explore how to scale your business effectively, focusing on Grant's journey of expanding his window tinting services from 15 to 60 jobs a week. The trio discusses the importance of a proactive business mindset, the role of digital marketing, and the power of knowing your numbers. With actionable advice on everything from Google Ads to email marketing, this episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about growing their business.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of a Proactive Mindset: Shift from being reactive to proactive in business by anticipating future needs and opportunities.
2. Maximizing Marketing Channels: Not every marketing strategy works the same; understanding which channels work best for your business is key to maximizing leads.
3. Leveraging Digital Tools: Google Ads, retargeting, and social media can dramatically increase your visibility and conversion rates when used effectively.
4. Efficiency in Operations: Scaling your business requires both marketing strategies and operational efficiency. Ensuring your team can handle increased workload is crucial.
5. Customer Engagement is King: Using email marketing, customer spotlights, and UGC (User-Generated Content) helps maintain strong relationships with existing customers while attracting new ones.

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In this episode of Cruise Control, host Kevin Davis sits down with Matt Kelly, a veteran in the detailing industry and the innovative mind behind HydroSylex and Detailing World. Matt shares his remarkable journey, from learning the ropes of detailing at a young age to facing immense challenges and ultimately creating a thriving business empire. Through candid storytelling, Matt opens up about the hardships that shaped him, the importance of staying ahead of industry trends, and the power of resilience and faith in overcoming obstacles. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to build a successful business while staying true to their values.

Key Takeaways

1. Resilience Through Hard Times: Matt discusses hitting rock bottom and how those moments of struggle fueled his drive to succeed, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in business.
2. Innovation and Adaptation: Matt highlights the need to stay ahead of the curve by identifying gaps in the market and being the first to capitalize on new opportunities.
3. The Role of Faith: Faith plays a significant role in Matt’s life, guiding his decisions and providing strength during difficult times. He encourages others to find a higher purpose to keep them grounded.
4. Personal Relationships and Business Success: Building strong personal relationships is key to business success. Matt talks about the value of face-to-face interactions and the trust that comes from genuine connections.
5. The Impact of Social Media: Matt advises using social media wisely, focusing on business rather than getting caught up in the negativity that often pervades online platforms.

Get your one-stop success solution at www.detailersroadmap.com!

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