One thing we've learned over the years, working with businesses big and small, is that you don't need to look far and wide to find inspiring stories. Sometimes, it's the local small businesses that truly have an encouraging story to tell. That's why it's so important to showcase those that have turned their passion into a successful business, to highlight the fact that anyone can go after what they love with hard work, dedication, and commitment to their craft.
Meet Craig Philo, joint owner of Taking Car of Cars (or TCC for short). With his son, Jake, as partner, Craig started up his own car detailing business based in Kent about two years ago.
"I worked in the food retail business for twenty or so years, then came a eureka moment when I really was tired of what I was doing. I wanted to change my life; and within changing your life, a large aspect of that is your work life."
What sparked the idea to start TCC?
"I wanted to find a better balance, so I decided to follow my passion and it’s brought us to where we are now. It wasn’t an easy set up, as I was still working full time in retail, which was five days a week. My other two days I was concentrating on building my fledgling business.
The original concept started some 2 1/2 years ago when we started out of the back of my BMW X5 until we could purchase a works van, which I was eternally grateful that my mum and her husband helped financially with.
The van was a very important purchase because it was the center of our business. It was an example of the work we were offering to potential customers. It included our very top line products, i.e. a five year ceramic coating. The paint was fully corrected and polished to a mirror finish, so it looked absolutely stunning whenever we turned up for a job at our new clients. Our van is something we are very proud of even today, because it represents who we are and what we do. I cannot emphasise how important first impressions are.
The van enabled us to be self-sufficient, so whatever we need we have on board. In the current climate of rising energy bills, it is very important to us that we we are self-sufficient, which means using our own electricity, water, etc. And it is something our customers appreciate.
It really is a operation that is founded on a great work ethic, attention to detail, and for however long we are detailing a car, that car becomes ours, and we treat it with the same passion as we treat our own vehicles.
I have been detailing cars for as long as I can remember. Ever since I first started driving cars, which would be some 30 years ago, so I really do have a deep ingrained passion for shiny metal! I was always known as that crazy guy cleaning his car almost daily!
The name Taking Care of Cars comes from my other passion, which is Elvis Presley. I have a YouTube channel with my brother where we create Elvis content. Anyway, Taking Care of Cars, or TCC, comes from Elvis’s motto, which was TCB - Taking Care of Business in a flash."
Can you talk about some of the challenges you faced when starting up your own business, and how you overcame them?
"The biggest challenge in setting up the business was patience, really. I was concerned that whilst I was in my other job, I was losing potential customers and opportunities when I wanted to dedicate 6 to 7 days a week to my business, and I had to learn this very quickly that you cannot run before you can walk, so it was a case of patience.
Of the other challenges we have faced, we have conquered with experience. We cannot overemphasise the importance of experience, and you can only gain that whilst on the job, so experience and patience are the two key elements that I believe has built a very sound and successful business."
What has been one of your biggest highlights since opening up shop?
"The biggest highlights of this job - and it will always be so - is the look on the customer's face when you present the car back. You cannot buy that feeling of satisfaction and pride. And for someone to really appreciate what we do, that’s the best thing about this job. That is the major highlight it never gets old.
With that, of course, comes word-of-mouth and a growing reputation, and the trust our customer give us and we earn, it is a two way street. That is very important. And along the way, we’ve made a lot of good friends, and to me, that’s is an added bonus. We like people and talking to them, building up relationships."
In a few years from now, where do you hope to see TCC?
"I hope we go from strength to strength. The most important thing is that we continue with our success and we are happy in what we do. That’s really the most important thing. If you get up every day and look forward to going to work, then you are doing something right. And if you look forward to the things that you do, it breeds contentment. If you can’t wait to attack that day's project, then I believe you do them with a greater application, and a greater success."
You’re obviously very passionate about cars – how did your love for cars develop? Was it a passion of yours since a young age, or did you only come to find it at a later stage?
"I have always had a passion for cars. I am a real petrol head! If I’m not detailing cars, then I’m watching YouTube channels on cars and Elvis! I just love cars - it’s a simple as that, and every car I’ve driven, I’ve always wanted it to look the best that it could. And that’s led me on this path of where I am now.
I remember my dad, whenever he changed his car, I was so excited to see his new car. It’s just something that’s ingrained in me, the same with my brother and my sons. A real beautiful car is a piece of art, and if I ever had enough money, I’d have a whole stable of cars. And do you know what I would do apart from driving them? Yep, I would be cleaning them!"
What advice would you give to someone who's considering starting a small business based on their own personal passion?
"My advice would be - don’t think you know it all. Don’t think that you’re the finished article. You’re only as good as your last job. Learn and research - that is one of the biggest things that helps me and my job. I practiced at what I did, before i even let myself onto a customer's car. My cars were my guinea pigs, where I learned to polish and correct paint. I just practised and practised, until I was confident enough to go out and do it. I think that is so important.
Another thing is having good people around you; people that are sounding boards, people that can offer you advice, or people that you can go to for help. For me that was family - family is very important. You can’t do it all on your own. And learn from your mistakes. There is nobody that has set up their own business and never made a mistake. If you learn from them, in the long run, that will stand you in good stead."
What’s your favourite car and why?
"My favourite car of all time is a Pagani Zonda. They are beautiful made, insane power, but like the most beautifully crafted watch, they are exquisite."
I imagine that to be successful in an industry like this, you need to be a bit of a perfectionist with a keen eye for detail. Would you say these traits are important to have in this line of work?
"It is having a real eye for detail. It is not excepting something unless it is 100%, not excepting anything below the standards we have set. But it’s also about being imaginative, thinking out of the box, finding different ways of doing things. That’s what really excites me, when I’ve done something that’s got a better result.
When new products come out, something simple as a polishing pad gets me excited and I want to try it out. I want to see how it performs. A big part of it is also about being receptive to change, to change the way you do things. Honestly, it’s satisfying to approach something differently and see the result is better. Of course, that comes with experience. Don’t be set in your ways."
Besides cars, do you have any other passions/hobbies?
"As I said earlier, my other huge passion is Elvis Presley. I am somewhat of a historian on the subject. I have a YouTube channel with my brother, called Elvis Always Production (EAP). I love to write about the history of Elvis and my brother produces videos to bring this history alive. And Elvis Presley had a huge passion for cars, so that’s no bad thing!"
Check out Taking Care of Cars here.
Get in touch with Craig: takingcareofcars@gmail.com
Comments