A Professional Detailer’s Journey - Rodney Tatum
Meet Rodney Tatum - nationally recognized detailer, technical author, industry speaker, and master detailer bringing relentless precision and proven science to automotive preservation.
I am a classic story to some about the person that got carried away with his car. My friends suggested frequently that I take detailing too far. Then subtly suggested that maybe I was destined to operate an automotive detailing business. This was ofcourse from feedback of detailing their cars.
They told me that did not know of another detailer that does what you do. A motivation to start, yes! But it would be the sign of the struggle to run my business the way I want.
‘Nobody details as obsessively and over the top like you’, quickly turned into, ‘nobody cares about their car like that (and) nobody will pay for quality’ rhetoric very quickly. I understand why it was so difficult to offer what was normal, the detailing world I was apart of learning to take care of my first car.
Kind of like learning how to cook around a bunch of chefs, when forums were popular I spent much of my spare time glued to the Autogeek forums. I studied all things detailing, picking up the process write-ups of top enthusiasts, enthusiast specialist go to detailers, and higher-end shops. I studied the level of cut and lubrication of polishes. I purchased all of Mike Philips books. I was consumed by detailing even before the thought of running a business became a serious thought.
My time on the Autogeek forums was a transformation of asking for advice on my very first detail of my car, to over a year later helping other people with advice. Shortly after I started a detailing business, a TV series Competition Ready was being filmed. Mike Philips, arguably the most respected authority in the automotive detailing industry was looking for people on the Autogeek forum to detail collector cars. Although based on his criteria and the stakes involved, I did not expect at all to be chosen. I was stunned to receive a phone call from Mike Phillips himself to detail a 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II Town car for the Amelia Island Concours. I was selected a second time, even rarer honor for Season II
Fame And Acknowledgment Within The Industry Not A Guarantee Of Success
There have been multiple times in which I was on the verge of quitting. Many people will never care why I take an hour longer to wash a car versus the other detailer. Many people do not care about swirls or what goes on the fabric, dashboard, or leather. I am still here running an automotive detailing business, proudly. I am proud to continue to show up for the people that thank me for being different from the norm.
What Do I Mean By Mirror Reflections Auto Spa (Rodney Tatum) Is Not For Everyone
I will likely never impress the majority of people with the most reviews. I certainly will not resemble a local car wash or high volume shop with numerous employees. But chasing the norm, would steer me away from my vision. I want quality of experience. I appreciate seeing my clients at Cars And Coffee. I am proud of being a select audience’s only choice for several years. A lot of people may only care about price, a warranty with questionable fine print, or the word ceramic and correction without context. My clients appreciated the fact that I encouraged them to do the work to earn their lifelong trust.