08/05/2026
Just a slight vent:
For those who don’t know, I grew up in a three-generation auto-working family in Detroit. My father spent his entire career as a spray painter, and I spent countless weekends helping him prep and polish. I started interior detailing in the late 90s, just a few years after high school. I’ve been in this industry long enough to see trends come and go, and while I’m willing to embrace change, it has to actually add value.
Recently, I’ve had a few people think they can come into my shop to inspect and criticise my setup. They complain that I don't have tunnel lighting or a showroom floor, and that my shop is "too small." Apparently, they think this is acceptable behaviour because some social media "influencer" suggested they should "inspect the shop" before booking.
Going forward, I will not be open for these inspections. I’m happy to explain my products and methods, but they aren't up for debate—they work. My shop is small, and the rent is cheap, which is exactly why I can ceramic coat a car or clean a crime scene for under $2,000. Spending $10,000 on a light tunnel is just unnecessary glamour to me. I’m perfectly happy using my three high-powered lights and working panel-to-panel. My space reflects an assembly-line worker's mindset: simple, clean, stocked, and efficient.
For context: the car in the photos below belongs to Rich, a guy from the Blue Mountains who literally trains other detailers in paint correction and coating. I have now impressed him three times with my work.
Not saying this out of anger or feeling insecure, it's just a change in how I do things and sharing my perspective.
— TJ
