2025 Pre-Scheduling & Re-Branding

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.