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It’s time to pre-schedule your 2025 details and learn about some of our plans for 2025. Once I finally sat down to write this letter/update I drew a blank, the only thing that came to mind is the re-branding that will occur this year, more on that later. To get some inspiration I pulled up my 2024 letter/update and read it. That letter/update was freaking awesome, I must say, minus the few typos, lol. As I read the letter/update I realized half of those plans did not go as planned, I could just reuse this entire letter/update and mention the re-branding that’s coming throughout the first quarter of 2025.
That lack of progress with my plans made me think of the adage, “Man plans, and God laughs”, which, derives from Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps”. This verse conveys that while people can make plans, God is the one who ultimately decides what will happen. It also suggests that planning is not wrong, but it should be done with humility and obedience. And Mike Tyson famously said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”. With that being said, I got punched in the mouth, stomach, head, and spirit multiple times throughout 2024 derailing the majority of my plans, but, I’m excited to try again in 2025. 2024 wasn’t a complete bust, I became a licensed Illinois automotive dealer again, which, I wasn’t able to utilize due to the punches, but I am very happy I am able to renew and not go through that entire process again. I continue to learn about employees and this current workforce and generation of twenty-somethings because I went through THREE in FIVE MONTHS, one amicably. After the third one I NEEDED a break from employees, as a result, I pushed and pulled myself through the heat in July through December. Despite my luck with employees, I’m hopeful I’ll find my person for this upcoming season. Back to the good, Abby graduated high school (woot woot), she also completed her reign as the inaugural Miss Juneteenth, we enjoyed a great family vacation in New Orleans, and Abby had a great semester at ISU, while also making history becoming the 2024 Miss Apple Festival Queen. Oasis Skin & Wellness Clinic celebrated its’ 8th year in business and Lilly and I celebrated 20 years of marriage the same day. Did everything go as planned - NOPE - but I look forward to and am grateful for being able to try again with a spirit of OPTIMISM throughout 2025. As you all know I take my business and life year-by-year, but, I knew early on that pre-scheduling would happen again in 2025 and that time has arrived, mark your calendar - pre-scheduling begins January 21st, 2025, and ends February 28th, 2025 (extended an extra week because of a mini-vacation and detailing training & certification in February). DO NOT wait until the last minute. Scheduling is first call first scheduled. Appointment slots will be limited for a variety of reasons (i.e.-closed all federal holidays, hopefully, a 20th Marriage Anniversary vacation, college move-out & move-in, ceramic coating days, and auction/car buying days). Call or text (618) 687-2886 or email: schedule (at) alliedautomotive.net to schedule your 2025 details. REMINDER: Your previous years' details/appointments DO NOT roll over and there are NO LIMITS, schedule ONE or THREE details (whatever works for your budget and circumstances). With every new year, business owners must sit and make hard decisions about the upcoming year on services offered, insurance needs, additional training, employees, wages and so much more. One of those decisions for me is the increase of prices by $15-$20. This increase will allow me to hire a full-time or near full-time detailer (in addition to completing more ceramic coatings and car sales). 2025 will also come with increases in commercial insurance coverage, chemical & supply increases, and several other increased expenditures. To soften this increase you will receive a longer-lasting wax/protection, a more durable trim protection/dressing, and probably a couple more valuable upgrades. As a friendly reminder/PSA: with the cost of vehicles becoming more and more expensive, please be careful where you drop off your $30,000-$70,000+ vehicle. Exact Automotive Detaiilng LLC is COMMERCIALLY insured, licensed, trained, holds multiple certifications by leaders in the automotive detailing industry throughout the country, AND battlefield tested Since 2008 (tell your friends to be careful with their second and a lot of cases most expensive purchase). Visit: Our 2025 Services & Packages page. I understand that life happens, but please try not to under-schedule or over-schedule. My future full-time detailer (#OPTIMISM2025) depends on these hours and I want to be able to confidently and consistently provide him or her with the agreed-upon hours and a fair wage. I WILL implement an appointment reminder system within the first quarter of 2025 (Lilly has been on me about this and it’s overdue). Back to that re-branding, for accounting/bookkeeping, insurance, and legal proposes I am separating my car sales business from the detailing business. Car sales will be operated under the Allied Automotive Brokers LLC entity and detailing will operate under the EXACT AUTOMOTIVE DETAILING LLC entity. I am so excited about this next chapter of my entrepreneurial journey and everything that comes from it throughout 2025. This is a soft launch and will happen throughout the first quarter of the year and be fully implemented early in the second quarter of 2025. New website & domain, new social media accounts, new signage, new business cards & marketing materials, etc. COMING SOON! Allied Automotive Brokers LLC will gradually start offering vehicles for sale and personal car shopping services. I’ve dialed in my ceramic coating service and will promote this alternative to waxing more often throughout 2025. I’ve become a believer in ceramic coatings now that I’ve applied and provided ceramic maintenance to numerous client vehicles throughout 2023 and 2024. You can choose between a one-year and multi-year ceramic coating. The 2024 Miss Apple Festival Queen (Abigail Cook), Exact Automotive Detailing LLC, and Allied Automotive Brokers LLC will collaborate on something exciting in the Spring - stay tuned! Lastly, I am so grateful for ALL my clients' continued support over the past nearly 17 years (May 15th). I remember my humble start like it was yesterday, splashing water on a vehicle to rinse it because the water supply hose froze and heating the garage with a torpedo heater. I’m extremely excited about the 20-gallon hot water heater that was installed on December 11th, 2024 all these years later after making it work with the on-demand four-gallon water heater. Because when life punches you in the spirit and/or mouth, get back up, dust yourself off, and make ‘stuff’ happen (we use another ‘S’ word, lol). With gratitude and optimism, David Cook PS - Can you please take a moment and leave Allied Automotive Brokers a Google Review? PPS - Schedule your 2025 details between January 21st and February 28th, 2025. Call or Text (618) 687-2886 or email: schedule (at) alliedautomotive.net. PPPS - Are you interested in applying LONG TERM & DURABLE protection to your vehicle in 2025? I believe a ceramic coating will meet your needs. There is a one-year option and a multi-year option. PPPPS - Follow & Like Allied Automotive Brokers on Facebook, Instagram, etc. to be informed about our exciting Spring 2025 Miss Apple Festival collaboration. We will be more social throughout 2025. January 2024
Pre-Scheduling Announcement: Greetings Allied client. This is the pre-scheduling announcement for flight 2024A to Detailville. We are now inviting clients with cars, mid-size vehicles, full-size vehicles, and any client requiring the special care and attention to detail they deserve, to begin scheduling at this time. Please have your calendar available ready to schedule your 2024 details. Regular scheduling will begin on January 16th, 2024, and end on February 16th, 2024. Thank you for detailing with Allied! ***(Call, Text, or email to schedule your 2024 details between January 16th and February 16th. Call (618) 687-2886 or email: schedule(at)alliedautomotive.net Reminder: your previous years’ details/appointments DO NOT roll over.)*** To My Greatly Treasured Client, We made it to the conclusion of another year and crossed another milestone - Allied turned 15 years old on May 15, 2023. This skill gained working at two local dealerships gave me the initial stepping stone to start Allied over 15 years ago has come so far from its infancy, I never thought that detailing would take me this far, therefore, I am humbled and grateful that Allied has enjoyed the limelight since day one. The first few years were rough but the growth was steady and consistent year after year. We (Lilly and Abby were/are pivotal in Allied’s success these past 15 years) are proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years but we are most grateful for all the lessons we’ve learned on this journey of starting, running, and growing a small business and we appreciate you ALL for coming along as we experiment and test different hypotheses. As I’ve mentioned before, detailing was not the business I intended to become my main business, it was a skill I acquired and knew would give me a “quick” infusion of funds while I figured out how to be a business owner and then pursue starting my envisioned brokering/personal car shopping business, hence the name “Allied Automotive Brokers LLC”. But being the creature of habit I am and the need for stability, my initial foray into the car business didn’t go as planned but I learned a lot and learned what I didn’t like which is just as important as learning what you do. So back to the consistent and stable income of detailing, but after 10 years of grueling detailing, my body is telling me it’s time. It’s time to find, groom, coach, and mentor my successor so that this valued service doesn’t go away like so many other small businesses that have closed throughout the years. So what is the future for Allied and Murphysboros’ only FULL-TIME detail shop? Within the next 3-6 months we would like to hire a part-time detailer with hopes of him or her working up the ranks to full-time Detail Manager. The next hire would be another part-time to full-time detailer and lastly hire a part-time Office/Marketing Assistant. Gradually offer personal car shopping services throughout 2024. For this to happen I must step into the CEO/CFO/COO role and a few executive changes MUST occur to afford Allied to make these hires.
Never been to Allied before or haven’t been in two years, you will have to pick between a “New Client Detail” or “Nearly Perfect Detail”. These two higher ticket services will allow Allied to employ and retain the staff needed to thrive and keep a FULL-TIME detail shop in Murphysboro for another 5-10-15-20 years. If this doesn’t happen there is no guarantee that Murphysboro and the surrounding communities will have a FULL-TIME and CONSISTENT detail shop in the next 1-5 years. We need your support to keep this service around for many years to come. That support is pre-scheduling your 2024 details, interested in a ceramic coating (learn more at: www.alliedautomotive.net/services) schedule yours for the Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter, and tell your friends & family Allied is now accepting new clients for its “New Client Detail” or “Nearly Perfect Detail”. Lastly, do you know someone who would be interested in detailing and being coached and mentored to take the Murphysboro Detail Shop reign when that time arrives please send them our way. We know some people will be tempted to not want to help because “I only want David to detail my car”, we hear this way too often. This sentiment (along with so many other reasons) is why so many small businesses shut down because the owner wasn’t encouraged to build a self-sustaining business that can run/operate/grow without the owner doing the everyday technician jobs. The owner's job is to build the brand, create the systems, streamline the standard processes and procedures, and build a team that keeps the company going and growing and the CEO focuses on how to grow the company further. This approach of going from a one-man lifestyle business to a company that employs numerous individuals keeps the economic flywheel spinning in towns & cities throughout the country and world (hats off to all the men and women who chose to grow their companies beyond themselves). On the flipside when this growth isn’t supported loved businesses disappear. I (David Cook) take 100% responsibility in my role in the lack of growth Allied has experienced these past 15 years. I am a CONTROL freak when it comes to my craft and my reputation, which, has prevented me from letting go and accepting that 90% is good enough. This need for “perfection” is something that I’ve been working on this past year and will continue to work on. In order to build a team to keep this service going I must continue to fight my urge for “perfection” because NO ONE will do it my exact way every single time - PERFECTION IS A MYTH. Excellence is the goal not “perfection”. Change is hard and not desired but losing another small business would be worse - help us keep this service in Murphysboro. Help us help the next generation of small business owners the same way you helped me in 2008. YOU helped mold me into the small business owner and detailer I am today. You took the time and in some cases, courage to point out something that was overlooked, missed or you just didn’t care for. You gave me the grace and opportunity to improve as a first-time business owner and novice professional retail detailer. With your help and my guidance, we can help catapult Murphysboros’ next detail owner to heights we will all be proud of. David why don’t you just give up this dream of being a personal car shopper, you’ve been talking about it for years - what gives? I hear you and the tough love “sh*t or get off the toilet”. To be completely honest, FEAR has kept me from pulling the trigger - fear of the unknown, fear of all my clients jumping ship before getting brokering going, fear of it not succeeding. But this DREAM of mine will not go away, I keep being called or pulled to offer this service to Southern Illinois, whereas detailing has run its course, the love, passion, and desire have waned dramatically over the years, and the things that shouldn’t bother me annoy and frustrate me and that’s not good for me and fair to people. “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware I’ve also been gifted and cursed with a TON of business ideas that won’t see the light of day, but, if I win the lottery (that I don’t play) or some generous person gifts me about $7 million I would start 6-10 businesses over the next 20 years (that’s how many ideas are running through this creative head). In the meantime, I’ll keep detailing going for a little while longer with the hope of my successor taking it over and growing it further (there is an untapped RV and Marine market ready for some ambitious person). I’ll then spend the next 10-15 years brokering vehicles and finally launch my retirement business (told you I had ideas). This all comes just before Abby graduates high school in FIVE short months. We are all excited for this next journey and the lessons and skills to be learned and gained. We are so proud of the confident, smart, self-aware, resilient, multi-talented, and mature young woman she has grown into. Lastly, but most certainly not least congratulations to Lilly for another year of business December 15th you are simply amazing and l look forward to everything you have planned over the next few years - Your #1 Fan. With gratitude, David Cook-Founder & CEO/COO PS: Help me find my detail manager, if you know someone who’d be interested in detailing and being coached and mentored to take the Murphysboro Detail Shop reign when that time arrives please send them my way or to: www.alliedautomotive.net/careers PPS: Schedule your 2024 details between January 16th and February 16th, 2024. Call or Text (618) 687-2886 or email: schedule(at)alliedautomotive.net *Updated 2024 Prices & Services are now available at: www.alliedautomotive.net/services Please visit the website to confirm new prices align with your circumstances & budget. PPPS: Are you interested in applying a ceramic coating to your vehicle in 2024 we now have a package for you. It’s called the “Nearly Perfect Detail” . PPPPS: Now accepting new detailing clients for our “New Client Detail” - tell your friends, co-workers, and family we are now accepting new clients. The “New Client Detail” is available year-round (when dates are available) however, it’s not the same service or price YOU get when you pre-schedule between January 16th-February 16th, 2024. PPPPPS: Still coming soon-ish: Personal Car Shopping/Brokering services, Blunder Repair, “Clean Cars & Cold Cash”. Slow and steady wins the race. PPPPPPS: With the rising cost of postage, printing, and pretty much everything, this will be our last print and mailed letter. As long as it is feasible we will continue to send an abbreviated annual postcard. We will also introduce an e-mail newsletter in 2024 and will continue posting our annual “Client Updates” letter on our website. PPPPPPPS: Google reviews are always greatly appreciated you can leave yours by going to: https://g.page/alliedautobd/review December 2022/January 2023
Pre-Scheduling Announcement: Greetings Allied client. This is the pre-scheduling announcement for flight 2023A to Detailville. We are now inviting clients with cars, mid-size vehicles, full-size vehicles, and any client requiring the special care and attention to detail they deserve, to begin scheduling at this time. Please have your calendar available ready to schedule your 2023 details. Thank you for flying detailing with Allied! Order of Scheduling:
***(All kidding aside call or email to schedule your 2023 as soon as you finish reading this letter. Call (618) 687-2886 or email: [email protected] Reminder: your previous years’ details/appointments DO NOT roll over.)*** To My Greatly Appreciated Client, What a year 2022 turned out to be, I am looking forward to all the great things to come in 2023. As some of you may have noticed I had FOUR different employees between April and July, two of which only lasted less than two weeks, and my third employee gave me 6-months but needed more consistent hours (he was great, but, I understand) and my fourth and current employee has been developing into an amazing detailer. And I am so grateful for her and look forward to helping her throughout this season of her life. Why do I bring this often sore topic of employees up, I’ve learned so much interacting with this next generation of potential employees and a few older ones as well. So many potential employees DO NOT know what they like, are good at, and what type of employment suits them best. On the flip side so many employers/small business owners (me included) just want a warm body and have not done the time-consuming task of figuring out who would be a perfect fit for the open position, at this business and with these specific expectations, which, include these benefits or lack thereof at this starting wage and yearly raise of (fill in the blank) and these are the hours you are required to work. Now that I know this about potential employees and learn more every day I screen potential employees in an entirely different manner. Over the years I’ve also learned so much about myself and have gained a little knowledge about running a small business – employees – are – not – my – thing. I do not have the patience and the return on investment with my current business model isn’t sustainable. This is why Allied Automotive Brokers & Detailing, LLC has to change dramatically otherwise Allied from 2008-2022 will not make it another two years (more on coming changes below). Back to my current employee, Ms. Trina age 23, that’s right TWENTY-THREE, is amazing and has so much potential and drive, and isn’t afraid of hard work even though I’ve tried to get her to quit multiple times. The difference between her and other employees is that she has a huge motivating factor that drives her – she plans to start her own detail business and I will help her do that over the next 12-24 months (stay tuned). Not only am I going to help Trina start her small business, but I also want to help another young lady or guy start another detail shop in Murphysboro within the next 9-18 months. Do you know someone that would be great at detailing – a neighborhood kid, a niece, a nephew, a grandson, a granddaughter, etc? WARNING – detailing is hard work and I will only work with someone that isn’t afraid of hard work – EVERY SINGLE DAY. I do not teach work ethic, which, should be taught at home. I will turn this young lady or guy into a great detailer and help her or him start their detail business and avoid a lot of the “mistakes” I made in the beginning. I want to be the mentor I needed when I started my business. I want to help this person go further so much faster. The question I often get when I tell people I’m training my current employee to start her own detail business is; “why would you train your competition”? First, I no longer consider others that detail competition (not in an arrogant way) – they are another option for potential clients. All detailers are different, we all have our own way of detailing furthermore the experience clients have at Allied is different than other detail shops/detailers. Secondly, there are too many vehicles, boats, motorcycles, RV’s, etc. for Allied to detail and I truly believe Murphysboro can handle at least THREE full-time detail shops and I would love to be able to confidently recommend people to another in-town detail shop that produces CONSISTENT QUALITY SERVICE, day-after-day for many years to come. You may be thinking, why not just keep this in-house at Allied? Hire, train and keep these great detailers. I get this snide remark from random people when I tell them my next openings aren’t for two-six months, “you need to hire someone”, and this comment irks me so much. There are so many reasons why I would rather help someone start their own detail shop and not just build a team of detailers (we don’t have enough time to have that long conversation). In a nutshell, I am tired, burnt out, and have very little patience for employees that do not have a work ethic and do not know what they want out of their lives. This is why I am extremely upfront and frank with potential employees, I tell them what to expect working for me and what I can afford to pay (which is negotiable once you prove your value and make it six months) and the hours you can expect and I tell them it’s going to be hard and frustrating in the beginning but if you stick it out it becomes much easier. I try to be as transparent as possible so they don’t waste their time and DO NOT WASTE MY TIME. Now, that you’ve listened to me vent the past few minutes it’s time to get my business affairs in order. For the past 4-5 years I’ve been trying to figure this thing called small business ownership out and this current version of my business has run its course. This has been an announcement I’ve avoided for the past 4-5 years. Why? Only one reason – loyalty to my clients. I do not take it lightly that you and so many others have supported my small business all of these years – but after a couple of health scares and the fact I am not as invincible as I thought I was (my 40-year-old body doesn’t bounce back as my 25-year old body did back in 2008). I have to put my well-being and health on top NOW – not when I’m forced to by a doctor. What does this mean for you and Allied? Read this carefully ALLIED IS NOT CLOSING – pre-schedule your 2023 details NOW! I am preparing for the future now – Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. I do not have the energy or desire to rush through two details any longer. Most of you say take your time and I get where that sentiment comes from, but, I am running a business (this is NOT a side hustle), and the longer I take the less I make, or the later Allied stays open and the more I have to pay an employee (the less Allied makes). Some people would say if you’re this busy, you may need to raise your prices (I’ve done that every year since the beginning) that price increase also included better products, improved skills gained investing in training throughout the country, manufacturer price increases, and much more. But, I wonder how much more can I charge for the same service that only increases its value by 15-25% (running a small business is perplexing most days). What I’ve concluded, it’s time to offer something that provides way more value to the ideal client and allow some younger person to cut their teeth on minor league services. It’s time for me to join the major leagues and focus on ONE well-paying detail per day (the “Nearly Perfect Detail” coming Spring 2023 – Light Paint Correction/Paint Enhancement and Ceramic Coatings). SIDE NOTE: You may have heard about ceramic coatings; you may even have a friend that had their vehicle coated. I’ve known about coatings for about 10 years and was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon (the claims were just too sketchy for me and I refuse to offer my clients anything that seems like snake oil for a quick buck). Now that ceramic coatings have been around a while and I’ve had a few clients get their vehicle done elsewhere, plus I’ve had the privilege of visiting some elite detailers throughout the country, it’s time to offer a more valuable service. Wax and paint sealants are alive and well, but, ceramic coatings are superior and perfect for the ideal client. Allied Two-Year Goals/Plans:
With gratitude, David Cook PS: And I repeat Allied is NOT CLOSING please do not jump to that conclusion - assume – misinterpret – share this false narrative. Allied/David is ready to pass the torch to someone that has the energy and passion to continue providing the consistent quality detailing services you have enjoyed this past nearly 15 years. Please do not abandon me now, please help me find someone to continue serving Murphysboro and surrounding areas with this highly desired service. Schedule your 2023 details today. Call (618) 687-2886 or email: [email protected] ***Updated 2023 Services/Packages/Prices now available at: www.alliedautomotive.net/services Please visit services to confirm new packages and prices align with your circumstances. PPS: Once I do find Murphysboro’s next detail shop owner this will allow me to begin the next season in my life, which, will allow me to make a bigger impact in our community and surrounding communities. I see mentoring and guiding young men from their Sophomore year until enrollment in college or a trade program in the future. I have a few side-hustle ideas I will test and I have a retirement business that I will launch within the next 10 years. I want to die empty. PPPS: I really “WANT” your review can you please take a couple of minutes and leave Allied a Google review: https://g.page/alliedautobd/review. Leave a review before February 10, 2023, and you will get $25.00 OFF your next detail. Help me reach 75 reviews before February 10, 2023, your next detail may be FREE (Up to $305 Value). If Allied reaches 75 Google reviews before 2/10/2023 every reviewer will be entered into a Wash & Wax + Interior Clean & Protect Detail Raffle. (TIP: To all of my couple clients, increase your chances by leaving two reviews.) PPPPS: As I painstakingly thought about breaking this news to you about the future of Allied ALL year it frightened me, it has given me so much anxiety and has stressed me out about your response. I recently got to the point of telling Trina tidbits of what the future of Allied entails and she asked me “won’t they be upset with you”. I immediately responded they won’t be upset, a lot of my clients will be disappointed and those few that are “upset” I can’t control how they feel, I can only hope they come to understand he gave this business 15 years of his life (blood, sweat & tears) which, is a miracle considering the type of person I am - a creative with a lot of ideas. I know what it’s like to have that go-to place or go-to person that does it the way you like (I still miss Rule of Pie) - people change and people grow. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT says it PERFECTLY - “For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up…” It’s my time to plant the next seed in preparation for a new season in my life. Even if I don’t accomplish all of my desires and bring all of my ideas to life, I will try and die knowing I went after my dreams and learned and grew so much on the journey. PPPPPS: Last, but most definitely not least, I am looking forward to dating my wife and best friend with so much vigor for the next 25+ years and look forward to being the most active father in Abby’s twenties and thirties and beyond. College tours have begun and a hand full more in 2023! |
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