Everyone here at Detailed Image is excited to add yet another great detailing mind to the Ask-a-Pro team. James Melfi of AutoNuvo started out like almost everyone we talk to in car care industry, with that pure love for everything cars. He began detailing cars at a young age and slowly grew into making them look the best that they possibly could. From just a pure enjoyment of detailing, to an addiction to finding the best possible products, James knew he was on the right track. He trained under some of the best detailers in the world and gained invaluable knowledge, which allowed him to take some unbelievable steps in his detailing process. James wants to share this knowledge with all of the readers on the Ask-a-Pro Blog, along with the entire detailing community.
From clear bra applications, product reviews, complete details of some amazing super cars, James has written many different posts that every reader will be sure to enjoy. Take a look at a more detailed background James shared with us below:
Let see, where do I start, I was born in Providence RI and have lived there most of my life. Outside of the detailing world, I am a huge Manchester United fan, sometimes bordering on fanatical. For just about every game I try and make it down to Boston to watch United at my favorite pub. I played soccer in college and the sport has always been a big part of my life.
I think it goes without saying but I’m a big car guy, I remember as a kid always wanting to clean my parents car and I think it was in those early years that I starting getting the detail bug. My dad was always washing his cars and I remember him showing me how to rinse the soap off from top to bottom, its one of those things I’ll never forget.
When I purchased my first car, a BMW 328, I remember researching and researching detailing products. With that car I tested a ton of chemicals and loved the feeling of make it the shiniest around. At the time, I didn’t have a garage to work out of–so I used to rent space to detail my car in a vehicle storage facility. It was at this facility that I thought to myself–wow I wish I could detail all these cars. That was the first time I seriously thought about turning my passion into a business.
In college, I participated in as many internships as I could. Hotels, restaurants, and small businesses you name it. But it was at one car wash where I took my dream to the next level. The name of it was Triple Play Car Wash and it had everything, a detail center, Valvoline, gas station, Dunkin Donuts and a sandwich shop. While I was there, I talked with the owners often and started formulating my thoughts about what my business could become.
After college I worked at the Capital Grille as a bartender and detailed on the weekends. I officially started my business, JRM Detail Studio in 2010 and have loved every minute of it. I’ve always been obsessed with researching new products and testing new innovative chemicals. I’ve been up all night more than once looking at coatings, quick detailers and new compounds; it was getting to be an addiction.
It was during this period that I spent quite a bit of time on detailedimage.com looking through the blog so excited to see what other top detailers were doing and working on. It was at this point that I decided to dedicate time to training. I’ve had the privilege to train with some of the best detailers in the world, from Kevin Brown to Jason Rose, I’ve been lucky to be able to pick their brain and take some of there knowledge back with me. I trained with some extremely talented detailers and at these training sessions you can totally geek out and talk about detailing all day without someone giving you the eye, saying ok enough is enough.
Fast forward to now and my detailing career was taken another turn. I’m currently the Master Detailer and Training Manager for AutoNuvo, a vehicle appearance company based in Boston, MA. We specialize in paint correction, coatings, vinyl wrap, tint and paint protection film. AutoNuvo prides itself on bringing car care to the next level by syncing many aspects of the vehicle appearance industry under one roof. We are constantly innovating and finding new ways to give the absolute best product to our clients while providing unrivaled service. You know where I’ll be most of the time, in the detail bay with a polisher in my hand.
Help us give James Melfi of AutoNuvo a warm Detailed Image welcome!