Today we’d like to introduce you to Rigoberto Mercado
Hi Rigoberto , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Noagai Mobile Detailing started out as just Detailing my own car and friends and family only. I bought Detailing equipment for myself. Never had the intention of starting a business. Then the covid shutdown happen. I had 2 jobs and was closing on a house March 26 and the shutdown was March 19. Just days away from owning a home. Lost both jobs. And bills were going to add up.
During covid. We were all stuck at home. I caught up with all the Detailing I wanted to do to my own car. Then a friend called me asking if I could polish and wax his car. I did and his friend asked him about the extreme change to his cars look. My friend told his friend that he knew a guy who can do his car as well. And so it kept going and hasn’t stopped since. Every time someone talked about the topic of detailing. All the people that owned the vehicle’s I worked on always said “I KNOW A GUY” who details really good. So that’s where I got the name KNOW A GUY MOBILE DETAILING. But that was to long. So to pay homage to my Asian roots. I spelled it NOAGAI. FOR NOAGAI MOBILE DETAILING.
After I had done so many vehicle’s and my jobs were calling me back. I went back to one job. But I wanted to keep detailing. I’ve been doing it all my life. My Dad had a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge convertible that I would wax anytime I was with my dad since I was little. I waxed and polished all of my hot wheels toys.
So I really didn’t want to go back to work to a regular job. And I got lucky scrolling around google and found google my business. And saw a start your business here link. So I clicked it and learned on my own how to set it up and I have been Detailing since 2019. The job I went back to. Knew I had been through a lot and my boss wanted to help me. So he pretty much let me work when I could and allowed me to pursue my dream. I became so busy that my boss told me. I think your ready to go on your own. Your barely at work for us. It’s time. I was scared but that helped motivate me more and well I kept on pushing and now I no longer worry about having no customers. Because they just come. I’ll finish a week. With no appointments for the following week. And next thing I know. POOF! My week is full of appointments again. Every year each month grows a bit more. I am so happy and I love what I do.
Never did I ever think that I could make detailing into a business. We are just getting started. We don’t just clean vehicle interiors and exteriors. I love to make the vehicle’s I touched look better than before. And my favorite part is witnessing the customers reaction. I always hear. Wow it looks better than when I bought it new. Or I never thought it could look like that.
I’ve had customers intend to sell a car. Then either raise the price of the car or just keep it because the work I did was that much of a turn around. Then they want all of their vehicles done.
I welcome any challenge. Even disaster details. And I enjoy doing restorations. Those are fun. Now I know what they mean when they say. It’s never work when you do what you love.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh! BOY! NO It has not been smooth. About 2 to 3 years after I started I was in 2 car accidents within 2 weeks. The 1st accident was a small fender bender. Not a big deal. About a week and a half later. BAM! I get rear ended hard and I ended up having back surgery and was out for 7 months. I would cry because I needed money and turned down customersas they called. We lost our home and was staying in hotels, I could barely walk. but I couldn’t work and my sister is special needs and she is disabled and we’realone. It’s all on me. I HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK. So I went to every physical therapy session and exercised at home until I felt strong enough to get back out there. I used a 35 pound dumb bell to wack out the huge dent in our trunk from the accident. I drilled hose reels into the trunk of our 2003 Honda Civic and used that for a detail rig. I had no choice but to keep going. Now I have a newer vehicle and a way better setup and finally gaining momentum again. That was so close.
I am glad that we made it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have been a car guy since I was little. My father was very into cars and taught me a lot about car’s. I love anything mechanical really. But what I love most is making them look beautiful. I love being around machines. I always tried to work around vehicles. I sold cars. I worked on cars as a DIY mechanic. I worked at Autozone getting parts for customers, then traveled the east coast building stores for Autozone corporate. I worked at the airport driving and cleaning vehicles for Enterprise rent a car. I worked at 2 auto auctions. 1 auction I drove cars and the 2nd I drove cars and detailed them.
What sets me apart from me apart from other detailer’s is that I look forward to working on daily driven vehicles. Not the exotic 6 figure hyper cars. They’re not really much of a challenge for me. Not a lot of people can afford those.
I look forward to working on the daily driven vehicles of people who are to busy with life. They’re so busy, they don’t have the time to really get their vehicle perfect. And those vehicle owners have hopes of getting a better car. But they have to use the one they currently have. I think it’s safe to say that most people want to drive and be seen in a really nice vehicle. And you really do need to know which tools and products you need to maintain your vehicle. And most importantly you need knowledge of how to do it. And I am constantly looking for the new thing. How? I attend the MOBILE TECH EXPO every year. It’s like a yearly detailer’s convention. Where I learn about the new tools and products and procedures of how to correctly maintain a vehicle.
I want to help those people who are to busy to have a pristine vehicle. Get it. It makes me so happy to see and hear the WOW! My customers make when I’m done with their vehicle. I’ve had a few come to tears.
I never thought I would touch people’s hearts with detailing. I get calls of pet owner’s who lost a pet and they were to heart broken to clean the mess in their car because it hurt to remember that traumatic day. Pet hair, blood , feces, urine and tears everywhere.
Son’s and daughters who had a parent or grandparent pass away and their vehicle needs cleaning but that too hurts them because they feel like their wiping away pieces of a lived one away.
Or when a young person buys their first car but it’s used and they can only afford the basic package. So I understand what it’s like to want something shiny and new to show it off. So I give them that extra polish or shampoo to really make them have that experience. Even if I lose time and money. I don’t care. The look and excitement customers show when I’m done is what makes it worth it.
That’s what sets me apart. I try to help and give that extra. I don’t buy the cheapest soaps or waxes and coatings. I use tools and products that I would use for me and my loved ones. Yes I could save and make more money by purchasing bulk items. But they only last shirt term. That’s not fair and not right.
How do you think about luck?
Bad luck
Getting rear ended and having back surgery and being out of commission for a long time.
Good luck
Covid shutdown, and accidentally coming across google my business and just trying it out. Having people who just wanted a clean car and kept telling everyone that they know a guy who details really good.
And best of all, I have my son Javier working with me. I get to be with my son pretty much every day. Working with my son everyday has been a blessing. I feel so fortunate that I am able to teach him myself and still watch him grow. He’s a retired marine and he enjoys what we do. Not many people get the chance of working everyday with their kids. I feel very lucky to do just that.
Pricing:
- Interior details range from $65 to $1000
- Exterior details range from $65 to $2000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://noagaimobiledetailingllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noagai_mobile_detailing?igsh=MnY5ZDNxcnR4bDk1
- Twitter: https://x.com/noagaidetailing
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@inoagaiwhodetails?si=ivnPd5h1uQWDAAtg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRopjjx9/
