A hectic work week or days filled with classes and tests can make scheduling some of the finer details of life difficult. Thanks to Manuel Diaz, owner of Absolute Mobile Detailing, people who are strapped for time don’t have to let the details go.
Diaz got into the detailing gig right out of high school. He gathered experience while working in the Perry Ford detail shop and apprenticing in the body shop before moving to Las Vegas.
But with a growing family, Diaz decided he wanted his children to be able to grow up on the Central Coast, so they returned to the area, and Diaz went into business for himself.
“I always thought, being my own boss, I wouldn’t have to answer to anybody,” he said. “But every client is kind of your boss.”
Diaz is willing to have a whole bunch of bosses because of the freedom it gives him to take care of his family. If he has to take one of his children to the doctor or be at an event, he can.
The Absolute operation is surprisingly compact. Diaz has switched from hauling a 200-gallon tank around in a trailer behind an F-150 to streamlining everything to fit into a Ford Transit Connect. Everything he needs—including his water filtration and deionizing system—fits in the trendy-looking van Diaz says gets way better gas mileage than the truck.
And Diaz also does windshield chip repair. While detailing cars, he noticed many small windshield dings stood out no matter how clean the car was.
Combining honesty (not tackling repairs above his skill level) with his cheery disposition and his willingness to go the extra mile is probably why Diaz doesn’t need to do any advertising. He did the Yellowbook thing for a year, but his clients overwhelmingly came from referrals. He’s conscientious of business owners who wouldn’t approve of him washing their employees’ vehicles on their property and is knowledgeable about city ordinances having to do with what can be done where, as well as being licensed and insured.
“I love what I do,” Diaz said.
It’s probably because he doesn’t approach his job as a static thing. He and Fernando Paz, Diaz’s only employee, experiment, trying to figure out the best way to detail a car. Can it be done faster working from the interior to the exterior? Is it better to have one person work interior while the other does exterior? One of their timesavers is the use of deionized water, which doesn’t spot vehicles while they air dry.
Detailing appointments can be scheduled by calling 345-6558.
Highlights
• Santa Barbara County received some good news on Oct. 21 regarding the health of the labor force. According to the latest data from the California Employment Development Department, the county’s unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in September, down slightly from the previous month’s revised figure of 8.8 percent.
The county currently has the fifth-lowest unemployment rate in the state, which recorded an unadjusted rate of 11.4 percent in September. The numbers also compare favorably with the nationwide unemployment rate, which stands at 8.8 percent.
The estimated unemployment rate was 9.1 percent for Santa Barbara County at the same time last year.
• The Olde English Tap Room at the Historic Santa Maria Inn will be the scary site of a Halloween Bash on Oct. 29.
Dress to impress and join DJs and bartenders for a night of fun and dancing from 9 p.m. to close. Costume prizes will be up for grabs, with first place receiving a bed and breakfast package for two. There will be a $5 cover charge to enter.
For more information, call 928-7777 or visit santamariainn.com.
Biz Spotlight was written by Intern Michael McCone. Highlights were compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 3, 2011.
