Detailing in Guam

Shop pays attention to detail
By Jojo Santo Tomas
For Pacific Daily News

Don Paulino knows all about exceeding customer expectations.

As a youngster, he learned that if he did a really good job washing his relatives' cars, he made more money. Later, as an older teen, Paulino got a taste of the real world when he worked as a professional auto detail for a big car company.

Those experiences played a major part in the creation of Tropical Shine Auto Detailing, a full service operation located in the heart of Tamuning. The 23-year-old has been at the helm since business started in February 2005 and says that even today, attention to detail is still his top priority.
"There are a lot of cars on Guam. Nobody walks. And there's a lot of people who like to take care of their rides," he said.

What separates Paulino's company from other auto detailers is a unique partnership with his neighbors. Because of his location, he's able to offer many services -- say a full detail job, an oil change and new brakes -- all while the owner could be spending a few hours at the nearby Guam Premier Outlets.

"If you wanted a full tank of gas, we could do that too," he said, smiling.

That's not all. That service would include round-trip transportation to a nearby shopping area or restaurant. Paulino said he's got a growing client list of those who get the ultimate treatment -- a service where Tropical Shine staff will pick up your car at work, do whatever needs to get done, then have it back all ready to go within hours.

Paulino offers the services to those in the Tamuning, Harmon, Tumon and Hagta areas. Customers sign a contract and pay monthly for this high-end service, he said.

"The service industry on Guam is so powerful. As long as there are people who need things done, there will be businesses who will want to do those things," he said. "On Guam, many people like to take care of their cars."

The extent of his commitment to service is evident in his most basic offering -- the hand car wash, which starts at $25. Sure, he said, you could get a five-minute wash at a gas station, but he prefers to take his time. The payoff is when a customer picks up their car and says, "Wow, I didn't expect all that."

Because Paulino worked hard and re-invested many of his early dollars back into the business, he's been able to buy some of the best equipment and cleaning products on the market. His hot-water extractor, for instance, cost more than $2,500 but it pays for itself every time it removes deep-seated stains, gum, sand, pet hair and other debris that owners forgot about.

His staff, guys such as shop manager Rob Rojas and detailer Tim Rojo, are committed to the company's ideals and have the energy to carry it out. Tropical Shine can handle as many as 28 cars per day but typically, they work on six to 12 regularly.

"We really work hard to make sure our customers have something to talk about," Paulino said. "We want them to talk about us. That's why we refuse to cut quality."

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