‘You normally have to go to the US for this’: City hosts first summit for automotive detailing industry
EXPERT TOUCH: Matt Eager, right, of Revive Autocare in Birstall demonstrating products and techniques at the detailing summit in Hull watched by Richard Hutchins of event hosts the Leather Repair Company and Olivia Stone-Hall of 3D Car Care in Newton Abbot
By Simon Bristow Co-Editor
Regional leaders in the automotive detailing industry delivered a polished performance as colleagues from around the world came to Hull for the first in a series of sector summits.
Richard and Carolynne Hutchins, co-directors of the Leather Repair Company, came up with the idea of hosting their own programme of events while touring trade expos in the USA.
They booked summits in Colorado in April and in Alberta in June to bring together experts from different aspects of detailing services, but they were keen to kick things off at home so quickly arranged an exclusive gathering in their own premises at Argyle Industrial Estate.
The couple, who launched the Leather Repair Company in a garden shed at their home in Withernsea in 2007, brought together 26 industry contacts including participants from the USA, the Netherlands and Portugal. UK delegates travelled from as far afield as Scotland and Devon.
They secured sponsorship from major brands and gained the endorsement of the International Detailing Association (IDA), the leading global association for professional detailing operators, suppliers and consultants to the industry.
Richard said: “We organised it on an invitation-only basis to make sure all the delegates have different skill sets, different ideas and businesses at different levels of development. We also had sessions on mental health because these are all independent business owners – they share the same struggles and they can work together to find solutions.
“We held the summit here in our workshop. They all spent the week in the area, staying in hotels in the city and supporting the local economy. It’s small scale compared to some of the other business conferences and seminars which come to Hull but it’s a first for our industry and it gives us something to build on.”
Doug Reid, who has worked in the automotive detailing industry in the USA for nearly 25 years and recently launched the Snake Oil brand coating at his premises in Ohio, said: “I wanted to come here for the experience and the networking and the opportunity to introduce my products to the UK and Europe.
“I’ve been to the UK a few times but never to the North. Just by being here you meet people who can help you move your business forward especially if you are a start-up or launching new products.”
Marcus Eusebio travelled from Leiria in Portugal where his business, Master Detail, applies ceramic coatings for cars, boats and motorcycles.
Russell Urmston, left, of CCC Next Gen in Manchester applying paint protection film watched by Richard Hutchins of event hosts the Leather Repair Company
He said: “I connected with some of the people here on social media and this was a great opportunity to get to meet them in person. I met Richard at a summit in Florida last year and we decided we should do some events for the industry in Europe. This is the first of those.”
Olivia Stone-Hall of 3D Car Care in Newton Abbot said: “We joined up as one of the sponsors because it’s a good opportunity for brands to come together and talk about what we’re all experiencing in the industry.
“We have been doing demos to show people our products and processes, sanding and polishing and use of power tools and we are learning from each other. We are all very interested in our links with the USA market and we go over there as well but coming to Hull is easier.”
Matt Eager attended as founder of Revive Autocare, a car detailing, paint protection and ceramic coating business in West Yorkshire, and as incoming UK Vice President of the IDA, a specialist body which currently has just 156 members in the UK and 2,500 globally.
He said: “This is a huge event for the industry and it’s amazing to get international colleagues here. It’s a tough trading world and most of us are small businesses, independents supporting each other and this event will help that.
“You’d normally have to go to the US for this sort of event. Before we all met I maybe knew five or six of the people here so I’ve been able to build my network and look at other ideas, techniques and processes that will help to make my business better and more efficient.”