Published: May 21, 2009 12:52 pm      

It’s all in the details

Early training results in successful business

BROWNSBURG — Mike Shumaker always liked working on cars.

Growing up in Avon, he was the kid who washed his parents’ and neighbors’ vehicles. After moving here in 2003 and working in the information technology industry for about eight years, Shumaker went back to his first love.

“I figured out I didn’t want to sit at a desk in front of a computer all day,” he said.

Shumaker started Driven Auto Detail in 2007. It was a mobile business the first two years.

“I’d go around to people’s homes or offices and work on-site,” he said. “Mobile was a way to get my business started. There was less overhead. But I knew at some point I’d have a shop.”

He moved into his permanent location at 128 1/2 E. Main St., behind the Brauman-Moore law office, in March.

For Shumaker, the lure of auto detailing is the before and after.

“When a person drops off his car, he knows it’s not looking its best,” he said. “After however long it takes to detail it, they come back and normally are pretty floored by it. A lot of people say when they pick it up it looks better than the day they bought it. That’s about the biggest compliment I could get.”

Shumaker estimates he spends six hours restoring a small car, and up to 10 on an SUV. Paint correction alone can be a day-long process. Shumaker once spent 15 hours refurbishing the shine on a BMW.

“It’s a lot more work than what people realize,” he said. “Like with any industry, you’re an expert if you work in it, but you’re not if you don’t. I know the ins and outs of it. I realize you really have to like doing it to be successful at it.”

Shumaker also prides himself on using eco-friendly cleaning products. After testing several brands, he chose to work exclusively with Optimum-Polymers Technology, which is considered safe for the environment. Driven Auto also utilizes a vendor that only uses organic, recycled packaging.

“There’s so much waste in the world,” Shumaker said. “It’s pretty amazing how much we throw out.”

His work is earning him a client base. Shumaker recently detailed a Porsche that was driven by Matt Damon in the upcoming movie “The Informant.” He also spruced up a Lotus owned by the CEO of an Indy Car team. Besides here, Shumaker also has many customers in Zionsville.

“I try to tailor my services more toward quality over quantity,” he said. “Generally I get more high-end clients, and that’s what I shoot for.”

Today he’s got a BMW and Cadillac Escalade in the shop.

“When you work on nice vehicles, it makes your job a lot easier and more enjoyable,” Shumaker said.

For more information on Driven Auto Detail or to schedule an appointment, call 509-7158 or visit the website at www.drivenautodetail.com.



wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com