🔥EP 33: Where Did All The Customers Go?! The Slow Season is Approaching... (HOW TO PREPARE) 📉💼

🎙️Voices Behind the Mic : Andrew St-Pierre ⬌ Ercan

INTRODUCTION

➹ Welcome back to the SUDSTOSUCCESS PODCAST of Episode 33 !

This time Hosted with Passion by Andrew ✦ Ercan dive into one of the most nerve-wracking parts of small business ownership: that dreaded slow season. 🕰️

September often signals the start of quieter weeks for many service-based businesses. 📉 The phones don’t ring as often, the bookings slow down, and that rush of customers suddenly feels like a distant memory.

But here’s the good news 👉 Slowing down doesn’t mean Shutting down. With the right game plan, creativity, and mindset, you can turn this season into an opportunity for growth, innovation, and stability.

In this Blog, we’ll walk you through the strategies Andrew and Ercan shared—a practical roadmap to keep your business moving forward even when the customer flow seems to vanish.

🌧️ WHY BUSINESS SLOWS DOWN IN SEPTEMBER

Seasonal shifts:

Summer is over, vacations wind down, and families refocus on school.

Customer mindset changes:

Discretionary spending dips, and people start saving for holidays.

Less urgency:

Many clients push services to “later in the year.”

Recognizing this pattern helps you anticipate instead of panic when the phones quiet down.

📞CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE KEY DIFFERENTIATOR

Andrew emphasized that excellent customer service is the reason his business doesn’t slow like others. Spend more time on the phone with potential customers. A 30-minute call might seal the deal where others would rush. Be Personable, Not Transactional. Customers want to Feel Heard, Valued, and Connected.
Handle complaints with Humor and Humility. For example, turning a mistake into a laugh instead of stress can flip an upset client into a loyal fan.

💡 Pro Tip: Treat every call as an investment in building a Long-term relationship, not just a quick sale.

👥 BUILD A TEAM (And SHOW IT)

Ercan shared how having two people instead of being a one-man show instantly improved customer perception.

*Customers see a team and feel confident their money supports a business with structure.

*Having backup allows for better conversations with customers, not just rushing through jobs.

*Hype your employees in front of customers—it builds credibility and shows professionalism.

🛠️ SALES STRATEGY : INDUSTRY TARGETING

Andrew introduced a new sales hire who role-plays and cold calls industries one at a time:

• Focus a week on HVAC, the next on rental companies, then healthcare, etc.

• Purpose: Get better at calls while learning how each industry responds.

• Even if the industry isn’t a direct fit, it’s practice that sharpens Communication Skills.

🎯 Lesson: Consistent outreach builds resilience. Don’t just wait for customers—go get them.

🧽 SATURDAY STRATEGY : SMART SCHEDULING

Ercan shared why he closed weekends for the most part:

Customers in his area didn’t need Saturdays as much. Saturdays are now used as “Chill days” for Small Jobs, Shop Clean-Ups, or Last-Minute Touch-Ups.This reduces employee stress while still allowing some Light Work.

✨ Takeaway: You don’t always need to be open Seven days. Test what works best for your market.

💳 UNEXPECTED WINS: THE SILENT CUSTOMERS

Sometimes the Quietest customers are the Best:

One client barely spoke, dropped off a Van filled with Concrete Dust, and Left. Ercan thought the guy wasn’t Happy -- turns out , He left a 5-star ✦ Review.

🤔 Insight: Don’t overanalyze silence. Deliver great results consistently, and Reviews will Follow.

🔄 REPEAT BUSINESS THROUGH AUTOMATION

Andrew mentioned using Automated messages (like 1-year follow-ups) to bring customers back. This creates repeat clients without having to chase them manually.

📌 Tip: Use software tools that nurture past customers—your next big sale might already be in your database.

🌱 ALWAYS THINK A SEASON AHEAD

🧭 Successful businesses don’t just react — they anticipate.

🌸 In Spring, prep for the Fall grind.
☀️In Summer, gear up for Winter’s shine.

📅 Always be one season ahead with:
✅ Strategic promos
✅ Solid staffing
✅ Sharp marketing moves

🔮 Mindset Shift: The slow season is not a surprise—it’s an opportunity if you’re ready.

🧩 BEYOND DETAILING: BUILDING, NOT JUST DOING

Andrew also stressed the difference between just going through the motions and building something bigger: Hosting events like tint training isn’t just about teaching—it’s about creating awareness for the shop and brand. The podcast isn’t a money-maker, but it’s a powerful awareness and networking tool. Being in front of people consistently builds credibility.
Consulting, automation setup, and side projects diversify income and expand reach.

🌟 Lesson: Don’t just wait for business—build systems, opportunities, and brand Awareness that keep paying off long-term.

🤝 OFFLOADING & DELEGATION

Growth isn’t about doing everything yourself:

1. Hiring a Virtual Assistant and trusting them with Editing, Admin, and Repetitive Tasks saves time.

2. Employees who are Focused on Detailing will Outperform the owner who’s juggling everything else

3. The more you Delegate, the more you can Focus on Leadership, Vision, and Growth.

📢 Reality Check: Customers don’t always want the owner touching the car—they want the car done right. And a focused team will usually do it better.

🏢 FROM MOBILE HUSTLE TO SHOP EXPERIENCE

One of the biggest Mindset shifts comes when moving from Mobile detailing to Running a shop:

~ Mobile = car-focused.

~ Shop = customer-focused.

In mobile, interactions are quick: grab the hose, do the car, get paid.

In a shop, the environment itself becomes part of the product.

Clean aisles, safe walkways, and a professional checkout area show credibility.

A simple, well-organized station with a debit machine, brochures, and retail items encourages upsells and trust.

🌿 Tip: Invest in presentation—Whether it’s plants, brochures, or tidy layouts. The experience makes customers return.

📊 DATA AND SMART MARKETING

Andrew highlighted how critical it is to track numbers, not just rely on gut feeling:

Know what cars come through (make, model, type).Identify trends, like dips in the third week of September, and plan sales accordingly.
Track customer frequency and lifetime value.

📈 Lesson: When you know your numbers, you’re not guessing—you’re predicting. That’s how you stay one stepahead.

🕒 WORKING SMARTER, NOT LONGER

As businesses mature, the focus shifts from long hours to smart hours:

• Delegation allows owners to work fewer hours while the team handles the bulk of the cars.

• Quality improves when employees can focus solely on detailing while the owner manages growth.

• Working 8:30–5:30 with systems in place can outperform grinding from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. solo.

⚡ Takeaway: The goal isn’t to be the hardest worker—it’s to be the most effective one.

📚 LEADERSHIP MINDSET: TRAINING FOR THE FUTURE

Prepare employees for growth by offering training in new services like PPF and tinting. Give your team roles and responsibilities that make them feel invested. Celebrate their passion and willingness to learn—it builds loyalty and long-term capability.

🏆 Lesson: Great leaders don’t just manage tasks; they grow people. A skilled, motivated team is your greatest asset.

🌐 NETWORKING AND CONTENT CREATION

Consistency in content (like podcasts, blogs, or videos) keeps your brand in front of people.

Hosting events or collaborations builds community credibility.

Networking with other businesses creates cross-promotional opportunities.

📣 Reminder: Even if it doesn’t make money directly, visibility compounds. Stay present and people will remember you when they’re ready to buy.

🚀 FINAL THOUGHTS

Slowdowns are Inevitable, but they don’t have to sink your Business. Focus on:

✔ Customer service that stands out
✔ Smart scheduling & strong teams
✔ Proactive sales outreach
✔ Long-term loyalty systems
✔ Brand awareness + smart delegation
✔ Customer-focused shop experiences
✔ Data-driven decisions
✔ Work smarter, not just longer
✔ Train your team for real growth
✔ Network + consistent content creation

As Andrew and Ercan remind us: The businesses that treat customers like people, not transactions, and invest in building for the future are the ones that stay busy—even when everyone else is asking, “Where did all the customers go?”

🎥 EPISODE WRAP-UP

🙏 Thank you so much for tuning in! Episode 33 has been an incredible one to share. Remember:

Keep your marketing consistent 📢

Keep your business moving forward 🚗

Stay positive—it truly makes the journey happier ✨

➡️ Catch Episode 33 on:

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🎧 EPISODE 33 is LIVE! 👉 Discover why stepping away can actually make you come back stronger.

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⚙️ Stay ahead of the curve. Stay booked. Stay shining.

💥 Because clean cars don’t wait — and neither should you.

Until next time, wishing you a Productive and Successful week of Detailing! 🧽💎