As some high school students start summer jobs, soon-to-be senior Connor Nicholson hopes he is launching a career.
Nicholson, 17, founded Shorty’s Auto Detailing in May during the conclusion of his junior year at Brighton High School.
He said he started small and tested the service to see if it would be profitable, and it turned out to be.
He spent about $300 for equipment and supplies to start. “At first I was borrowing my parents’ old gas pressure washer,” he said.
“We’re already booked through mid-July.”
It only took a few jobs before he had earned enough to invest in more equipment and cleaning products.
He operates the service out of the hatchback of his 2012 Madza3, where he stores his new high-end electric pressure washer, a shop vacuum, drill-powered and hand-held brushes, cleaners, protectants and soft cloth towels.
He said after his first week, he put in his notice at Gus’s Carryout, a local takeout restaurant, to devote all his energy into growing his new business.
“I wanted to work for myself. I don’t have a manager telling me what to do.”
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He said he learned a lot about how to clean and detail vehicles in the high school’s automotive technology class.
“I got a lot from auto tech and basic knowledge also came from watching a lot of YouTube videos, seeing, maybe this will work better, some trial and error.”
He named the company in honor of his late grandfather Ford “Butch” Nicholson, who passed away in 2016. His grandfather operated an auto body repair shop called Shorty’s. It is also a nod to his and his grandfather’s short statue.
Going mobile
He said he decided to make it a mobile business for a couple reasons.
“My sister has a mobile dog grooming service. I saw she could do that mobile.”
He said he also wanted to offer a better rate than some auto detailing businesses run out of brick-and-mortar locations.
“Some places where you take it in charge $300. My parents drove 30 minutes for $200. I thought, I could go out to people for less.”
He offers different pricing options for basic and premium interior and exterior detailing. A basic combo package runs $80, and he charges $100 for a premium combo package.
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He said his goal is to get vehicles back to their original look as much as possible.
He spends several hours vacuuming, dusting, cleaning carpets and fabrics, washing any plastic, wood or rubber surfaces, shining up glass and thoroughly washing exteriors, among other services.
As he looks towards expanding the business in the future, he has already enlisted two friends and auto tech classmates Spencer Nelson and George Pacaj, who have worked at car washes.
Bigger dreams
Nicholson is working on expansion plans.
“I want to get a van to work out of in the next year, and my dream is I want to get a trailer, too.”
He may eventually set up a headquarters in a three-car garage at his grandparents’ home.
He said having a garage to work out of would allow him to offer more services, like two-day paint correction.
He is saving up for more equipment, including a stain extractor for carpets and cloth seats and an undercarriage cleaner attachment for his power washer.
He also plans to add salt protection in the winter months.
If the business grows enough, he could see turning it into larger operation.
“If I got a few vans, I could have multiple people going out.”
He plans to attend college, but anticipates spending a year building the auto detailing business before taking classes after high school.
He said he is considering studying business.
“And I’d like to do some engineering.”
Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at [email protected]