Q – Please give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans – The Polishing School is a distribution company for detail products, equipment, accessories. The main focus is on education through our school to further the professionalism of detailers within the industry and insure they can produce high quality work at all times. The Polishing School has 2 locations 1 in Rancho Cordova and the School is located in Cameron Park. The P&S Brand of Products has been in business since 1961.The P&S Detail Products brand is manufactured here California and The Polishing School is the exclusive distributor in the greater Sacramento and surrounding areas.
Q – Please provide a brief description about yourself (it should include a brief educational, work and/or or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans – I have been in my own business since the age of 19. I am self taught and have also been educated through the business. Attending and eventually teaching the same classes and or seminars I attended. I have lived a true entrepreneurial life. Starting and successfully selling business after business. Here is the list below.1a.The beginning. Purchased Rick’s Smoke Shop $5000.00 1971 – 1976. Sold 1976 Start – Ups 1976 Current2b. The Advocate Journal and Santa Cruz Record Newspapers (Independent Publications Inc.) 1976 to 1981. Sold 1981. Sold again in 2000 for millions.3c. Ricardo’s Sub Station Deli x 2 plus Time-Out Sports Bar & Cafe 3 locations 1976 to 1989. Sold – 19894d. AAA Limousines 1980 through 1991 Sold 1991. i.e. Served on the California Limousine Association Board and also became President of the association.Relocated from the Bay Area 19905f. Consulted for a Limousine Service in Sacramento 1991 to 1993 finished successfully and became a 50% stockholder as per my agreement for turning the company around.6g. The Polishing School – Part Time 1993 – current7h. Rekrete – 1999 through 2000 Ask me about this one….
Q – What inspired you to start this business or get into this industry? Or to make significant changes in an existing business? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans – Inspiration to do this for me was simple. To make it part of my lifestyle and have the time to raise my 3 children. The idea came about because I was familar with the product and aware of the quality but could not purchase it in Sacramento.
Q – What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs/business owners?
Ans – Persistence Persistence Persistence.. Education too but there are a lot of educated derelicts out there.. Persistence in truly omnipotent! 2b. Make your business part of your lifestyle. 3c. Do it for the money don’t lie.. once you get it learn how to enjoy it and not just make it is when the fun really starts…
Q – What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur/business owner?
Ans – Persistence Persistence Persistence.. Education too but there are a lot of educated derelicts out there.. Persistence in truly omnipotent! 2b. Make your business part of your lifestyle. 3c. Do it for the money don’t lie.. once you get it learn how to enjoy it and not just make it is when the fun really starts…
Q – How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans – Currently 20 to 30 hours per week.
Q – To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans – Persistence again.. 1975 I sat in front of very successful man’s desk. On the desk sat a plaque with the word Persistence is Omnipotent as well as 3 other words with other meanings and I asked the man behind the desk where he purchased the plaque. He gave me the name of Mac Anderson.. read some of his material and it can be inspirational. It was for me.
Q – How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing? (Word of mouth, referrals, online, etc.)
Ans – Speaking to people/customers not at them is the first part.. know your product/service so when you speak to customers they do listen.. finally reach out in as many ways as possible with a handshake to those you have a possibility of doing business with. All the normal marketing is great when your business is all grown up.. to start people always buy from people and either you have it or you don’t.. in order to find out make your contact personally to launch your business. The personal face to face sales approach is my most successful form of marketing. All of this said.. maybe you have a 5 million dollar marketing budget to startthen that would be another conversation.
Q – Where did your organizations funding/capital come from (yourself, investors)? IHow did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans – $5000.00 Loan in 1976. Self funded since.
Q – What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans – First surround yourself with smarter people than yourself. Second learn how to enjoy it.. which the reality is not many can.. being persistent should be a joy. Starting your business a joy. Finally all the cliché’ can help if your willing to act on the words and most importantly show the people who work for you that you will act on your words.
Contact Details :
Company Name: The Polishing School Detail Products
Address: 11321 Trade Center Drive Suite 250, Rancho Cordova, CA, 95742
Tel No.: 916-799-5264
Email Id: rick@thepolishingschool.com
Url: https://pscarcareproducts.com/
