Car detailing/valeting in NZ?

[Tony Starks]

Hi guys,

I'm new here, i'm looking to emigrate to New Plymouth in about 4 years with my partner (shes a Kiwi) and want to hopefully start my own Detailing business.

I've just started a small (on my days off from my real work) operation over here in blighty and would be interested in peoples views on it over there?

Would it be a service people would use?
We're talking higher end here, swirl, light scratch remove etc.

How much would people be willing to pay?
I currently charge between £80-£150 (size dependant) per car, so maybe $250-$350 (would people pay this?

Or are people happy to do it themselves/ use the drive-thru?

Thanks for your help

[Kiwi XTR2]

Welcome

New Plymouth, in the 'Naki , is relatively isolated for a North Island town. I've only been there 3 times for work and know nothing about the car scene down there.

The (uninformed) impression I get is that with the 'Think Big' projects and provincial economy the locals will be quite self sufficient.

The other possibility is that with soaring petrol prices, a punters budget allocation for their car is already spoken for.

I'm sure someone else will ridicule theses comments from a JAFA (ask your g/f) and give you a more considered opinion.

[Richard Gee]

We emigrated from Shottingham in May - had our NZ Nissan 4WD valeted and the engine bay cleaned so we could 'start afresh' with it. It was their top clean, with some wax containing that Carnuba stuff and cost $248. Was a good job, but I don't like that silicone crap they put on the plastic in the interior. It was greasy for weeks..!

(Note to Ian: - was wifey's decision, not mine. Way too GJOB even for me)

[Tony Starks]

Cheers guys.

So there is a market, i was thinking of possibly covering the whole of the Naki due to how far spread the population is, where as over here you can just stick to one town.

[kylie]

I believe there could be a small market for it down there if its advertised well. But you would be targeting the higher end of people and may be very small down there?? I know its quite big up here in Auckland amongst wealthy petrol heads to get their P&J’s fully cleaned two weekly, monthly. But there are heaps of car washing station chains that have opened up now that seem popular too. Hope it all works out for you.

Cheers

[roger A]

I agree with Kylie. the market for this would have to be Auckland.
BTW, I have a friend who has just moved to NP from Ak and lovesit....but can't find work and is currently commuting back to Ak weekly.