As the old saying goes, focusing on the small things can pay huge dividends. This is a concept embraced by the team at Eco Care Detailing, a successful business founded by Joseph Stern who operates Sarasota, Florida’s flagship Ceramic Pro Auto Spa. And although they have only been in business for six years, Ceramic Pro Sarasota has created a customer experience that starts the moment you visit their website – till you pick up you’re ride.
Supported by a team of more than 15 hard-working detailing specialists, Ceramic Pro Sarasota has served residents and business owners in the South Tampa Bay region with detailing and protective solutions since 2014. After spending a decade detailing and coating high-end and luxury vehicles himself, Stern took the leap to open a one-stop-shop for automotive detailing and protective services, offering nano ceramic coatings, paint protection film, and window films.
Like many other Ceramic Pro Auto Spa owners, he started operating out of mobile vans, and has grown into a storefront that operates out of convenient locations and docks in the Sarasota area. The mobile fleets are still active – giving customers the flexibility to choose how, when, and where they receive top-notch detailing and protective coating services.
From Gardens to Detailing Shops?
The entrepreneurial apple doesn’t fall to far from the family tree for Joseph Stern. As he stated during an interview with Ceramic Pro’s Content Editor Tim Charlet, “Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, your immediately thrusted into the life of finding or creating a product and selling it to friend’s relatives and eventually potential clients.”
For Stern, his first business was a garden built on top of the family’s horse manure storage. The 200-foot long by 25-foot wide garden netted a $2,000 profit in its first year, eventually growing to a wholesale distribution to road-side stands – while he was still in middle school. His hard work ethic stemmed from growing up on the family farm, taking care of horses, mucking stalls, and never shying away from investing blood, sweat, and even tears to achieve success.
But he didn’t stop there. Stern also launched a workforce housing center for those working in the Bakkan Oil Fields of North Dakota, a wholesale consumer electronics company, mobile pressure washing company, and a commercial truck wash to just name a few. Stern has owned over 15 companies, currently operates seven – and has four more in development.
With so many businesses under his umbrella, Stern doesn’t have a lot of ‘spare time’. In fact, when he’s not busy running the businesses he spends a large portion of his time networking friends or helping their businesses grow.
However, he also understands the importance of taking time to shut off the brain – which is spent traveling, hiking – and mainly hanging with ‘Diesel’ – his loyal Bull Terrier.
Digital Marketing Done Right
Today’s consumer is quickly becoming technically savvy – meaning, they use digital tools and resources to find local providers of services. Creating an easy to navigate website, filled with simple to understand content, and embracing all aspects of modern digital marketing (from email to social media activation) is a critical element that helps some Ceramic Pro auto spa’s stand out ahead of the competition.
This is a marketing concept that the team at Ceramic Pro Sarasota knocks out of the park. Their website is clean, neat, and straight – featuring simple to navigate toggles and sections that clearly explain to the site visitor what they offer.
The user experience begins with a website video walkthrough – hosted by Stern and is posted on the home page of the website.
The video not only guides users to which sections to select, but more importantly – personalizes the customer experience. When site visitors land on the website, they are greeted with a simple to navigate chat box – that allows them to connect with team members or receive automated responses, after the customer provides their contact details.
The website content is also well-written, SEO enhanced, and easy to read. However, the Eco Care Detailing team doesn’t stop their digital marketing efforts there. Their social media game is likewise on point. They frequently update their Facebook page – showing what’s currently in the shop, giving practical examples of services offered, and engages their followers with each post.
When you combine all these efforts – it’s easy to see why Ceramic Pro Sarasota is the go-to location for professional detailing services in the South Tampa region.
Success Is Never an Excuse to Stop
During our interview with Joe, one concept remained crystal clear – he’s never satisfied with success nor does he rest on his laurels. A shining example of his dedicated to constant review and improvement is clearly articulated when we asked him about the peaks and valleys of owning a Ceramic Pro Auto Spa.
“One of the best parts of owning the Ceramic Pro auto spa is that the brand is very well recognized with a lot of support for any questions for the expansive network of individuals that possess the same drive for success and quality,” Stern stated. “However, it’s difficult to manage work-flow, and the growth needed to sustain success. The team of hard-working people that serve our customers, take pride in their work, and continually surpass expectations is really the secret sauce. I’m blessed to have great people working with us.”
Wrapping it Up – Advice to New Ceramic Pro Shop Owners
If there is any message that should be taken from this Detailer’s Profile article – it’s that humility is one of Joseph Stern’s best attributes. During our interview, we asked him for some ‘words of wisdom’ to share with up-and-coming shop owners.
“Some of my advice is to always appreciate the things that you have, by looking at yourself from an outsider’s perspective. Believe in yourself, any crazy idea may just be the next game changer. Always have an exit strategy for your company, as well as well laid out plans and goals, so that you can have a measurement of your success.”
“The greatest advice as a business owner is to manage your money very closely, as well as make sure that you set up your business to operate for financial growth in your personal life as well. Monitor your trends between seasons, as well as have the foresight of when to reduce expenses, as well as to ensure that you are paying yourself what you deserve.
Like other successful entrepreneurs, Joe continues to push forward with expectations – and is never satisfied with ‘business as normal’. He’s a business owner who understands the importance of surrounding himself with exceptional people, who work as a team to accomplish goals and take care of customers.
