These kinds of articles are always a cerebral exercise and I find it interesting how much more I coax from my gray matter every time I do one. With that said let’s tumble down the rabbit hole 42 years of detail life has to offer up.

1. How did you get started in detailing?

That’s an easy one, at age 13.5 years old, no one will hire you except your cousins Chevy dealership. I didn’t even know what detailing was. I came from a household where my parents cars were lucky to get a car wash once a year. I was not a candidate for a life in an OCD industry. So there I was, in a whole in the wall shop, working with Hang Loose Dewey. He was nicknamed that because he had somehow lost the three middle fingers on his right hand when he was in his 20’s and now at an age pushing 70 he was quite adept at making do without the digits. So when he waved it was always the “Hang Loose” sign he threw up. He drove, and lived in, an old Scooby Doo style, late 60’s van and slept parked behind the dealership most nights. He was a poster boy for most dealership detailers of that era. One thing Dewey knew was how to clean a car! His van was a wreck but he could make magic happen with 7 fingers and a rotary polisher. I remember the first car I burnt the paint on, Dewey said “It’s OK, if you ain’t Burnin, you ain’t learning” and needless to say I caught a few edges in my young detailing days. It was mostly old Idaho farm trucks so please don’t judge me. Dewey even had his own formulas for some chemicals. His interior shampoo was Wisk laundry detergent, ammonia and warm water. Back in the 70’s, in Idaho, there wasn’t a detail store down the street to supply our needs. Then it happened, after a couple of summer months Dewey just never showed up again. I showed up to work and the used car manager handed me the keys to a, nearly new, 1977 black Corvette and said, “If you burn it your FIRED.” So that day I began to perfect the art of rotary polishing with no YouTube, no training classes and not even a foam rotary pad. (They wouldn’t exist for another 15+ years) Well, I kept my $2.85 an hour job and lit a fire of interest in all things automotive appearance that has lasted me to the present.

2. How has your business evolved over the years?

That’s a question that is way too long to answer here. I can touch lightly on some high points and maybe it will give you a flavor though. I tried many other vocations over the years Pizza Hut, building concrete bridge beams, lumber sales, a degree in hospital administration but Auto Detailing just drew me back like a June Bug to an electric bug zapper! I had an itch that only detailing cars could scratch. I decided to ride that wave and see where it led me. My wife and I opened our own shop while in college and sold it to open another in Boise Idaho after graduation. I loved the business and the quick growth and soon decided to open my own chemical distribution company in 1991. I sold my successful shop in 1995 and spent 30 years distributing supplies to detailers in 4 states through franchising the operation. I absolutely loved teaching others about everything, I had learned the hard way, and found complete therapy in helping them succeed in their endeavors. I also fell in love with muscle car restoration and have restored over 200 since 1997.

At this point I was as happy as a Golden lab getting scratched behind the ears. I figured I would someday just pass away smiling ear to ear in automotive Heavenly bliss. Then I got BIT! I was out late (1 am) in the shop working on a silky smooth black 69 Camaro I was restoring and the lights went out with one panel to finish. My OCD wouldn’t let me sleep unless I completed my task so I searched my shop for a solution. I tried setting up a halogen light, using a headlamp, holding a flashlight in my teeth and nothing gave me the effect I needed to create the desired level of correction. I had fabricated many things while restoring muscle cars over the years so I started getting creative. I ended up with a, very crude, prototype of the first Buff Brite Flamethrower and, as I said, the invention bug infected me. That was 6 exhausting and exhilarating years ago and it’s been a great experience to say the least!

3. You are on the board of directors of the International Detailing Association. Can you talk about your role in the organization?

What can I say about the IDA except WOW! This has been another great defining branch of my detailing journey. So many people give so much volunteer effort to build a greater community. Nothing but good things happen when great people combine their efforts and talent to lift an industry up. Detailing has changed 1000% since the 70’s and I would dare say the IDA, and its volunteers, have had a great deal to do with that in the last 10+ years. If you doubt me just get involved on a committee for a year and you’ll be impressed, I guarantee it! Being on the board of directors has given me the chance to see, first hand, how much WORK is done and how much care is in every board members input. If you ever get the chance don’t pass it up. Making a difference for others is a very fulfilling feeling. Have I always enjoyed being an entrepreneur? Absolutely, I like knowing I can work 14 hours a day and no one can stop me! All kidding aside, it is what drives me. I have to be creating and making improvements to feel fulfilled. I’m not a “Self Help” guy who reads books etc. I’m more of a “Help Yourself” guy and I know that doing something, anything, just keep moving forward, is happiness for me. Everyone is different, there’s probably a 12 step program to help me but as long as I’m working, I’m happy. Perhaps I’m strange.

4. The Fur-eel Pet Hair Remover Vacuum Attachment is incredibly effective at removing pet hair and has been hugely popular. Did you know it would be a success right away?

I don’t think anyone KNOWS for sure what they develop will succeed. I dreamed up the Fur eel over 30 years ago but didn’t have the time or resources to do anything about it. Meeting my friend Allan, several years ago, helped encourage the tool to be developed. We are now on the third version (Fur eel PRO ll (2.0) and it’s just about perfect. We listened to our customers and tried to implement improvements. It’s an expensive lesson to learn but worth the effort in the end!

5. Can you tease any future product releases?

This year we brought out the Fur eel Pro ll, the Flamethrower lll (Massively improved light with integrated headband) and our Buff Brite Skinz. Every one of these has been a huge success and thousands of each have been sold already. Skinz are loved by detailers and vendors. Both are excited to take advantage of the ability to personalize their polishers. It’s such a great way to get your brand OUT THERE for all to see. Who knows, maybe some new things are coming down the pipe, Wink, Wink. We’re having too much fun to stop now!