wraps and clings to the surface. The item is then removed from the water, dried, and then clear coated in urethane. The possibilities are wide ranging, from customers who want their interior trim areas treated, to achieving a new and different look for their wheels, grilles, door mirror housings, etc. Again, you can establish a relationship with a hydro-graphics shop, farm out the customer’s pieces, reinstall them to the customer’s vehicle and make a buck (marking up the graphic job and charging for the R&R of the parts). For commercial customers who run a feet of vehicles, it may be desirable for them to “label” various components in order to track service life. In addition to using permanent markers or stick-on labels, certain applications may lend themselves to laser etching or CNC engraving, both of which are permanent marks that will hold up against the test of time and environment. Again, you can connect with a local CNC shop for this out-of-house work, with the customer billing it all through you (middleman markup at its best). Another potential money-maker and valuable service for your customers are specialty functional coatings. This can apply to both commercial customers and customers who are hobbyists and/or racers. A range of specialty coatings, to name but two, are available that address issues of both
Circle 102 on Reader Service Card
heat and frictional wear. Ceramic coatings (thermal barrier coatings) can beneft any engine that features a turbocharger. This coating (applied to turbo housings, turbo feed and exhaust tubing, etc.) reduces underhood heat while increasing effciency. Thermal barrier coatings have many other applications, but I’m citing turbos as but one example. Anti-friction coating (generally moly/graphite or Tefon-based), depending on the application, provides a superior oil flm retention and can serve as a back-up/fail-safe lubricity coating for momentarily oil-starved engine components, drive-gears, etc. The specialty coating feld is far-reaching, with a host of various materials and applications. Once again, this is a service that you can easily farm out while the money fows directly into your register. The services I’ve mentioned here are merely examples. The point I’m trying to make is that, given the application and/ or customer request, you’re not limited to what’s available only through your current parts suppliers. I know that it’s a trite and over-used urban-yuppie term, but sometimes “thinking outside the box” can make you stand out in the minds of your customers (and those referrals that result from customer word-of-mouth). Just a thought. ●
6 | March/April 2013
