By Angela Barbosa
Tribuna Newspaper
Every day, we hear stories about immigrants who have struggled to achieve their dreams, those who could not handle the challenges and went back to their homelands and those who have beaten the odds and overcome obstacles, becoming examples of determination and persistence.
Sergio Castro came to the U.S. almost 10 years ago with a deep desire to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur. He had the passion and the eagerness to work hard.
For eight years, Castro worked in a steel company in Brewster, N.Y., leaving his last position as an inspector/manager in March 2009. But while he was still working at the company, he decided to make some extra money in the afternoons by washing cars.
Expansion plan
Castro started off by cleaning the cars of friends and family, but as business picked up, he sat down with two friends and the trio developed an elaborate plan to expand the car-washing business.
One had the equipment; Castro bought a second-hand van and adapted the equipment necessary to execute the job; the third partner had the experience in the business the two others lacked. As they blended their talents and tools, the mobile car-wash business took form and sooner than expected, people were noticing the van with the Castro”™s Auto Detailing logo driving around Danbury and neighboring towns.
But just driving the van would not do the trick for Castro. “At the beginning, I would go to parking lots and malls and place flyers on the windshields of cars offering my services,” he said. “I would also go to Ridgefield and give flyers away, stick them (in) mailboxes. It was that strategy that brought me the first dealership contract, Danbury Honda.”
Convenience, service
The mobile car-washing business provided the perfect option for customers who wanted to take care of their vehicles but had no time to do it. Castro would drive to their home, work and business locations and leave their cars sparkling clean ”“ at the client”™s convenience.
At Danbury Honda, Castro said, he was in charge of the front line. He would drive the mobile van to the dealership parking lot and do a basic cleaning, which involved dusting and spraying the cars with water from a tank installed in his van. When he started doing the detailing, he would set up a tent at the location and clean, polish and wax the automobiles, both inside and out.
And that opened many other doors for Castro”™s Auto Detailing, which today has clients such as Colonial Ford, Subaru and Mazda, Danbury Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Danbury Chevrolet Cadillac Saab, County Line Nissan, BMW of Watertown and Brewster Honda.
“I would visit every dealership in person and offer my services,” said Castro, who is the sole owner of Castro”™s Auto Detailing. “The difference is the quality of the service we offer. I have the best rates on the auto-detailing market in the area.”
In the details
Castro explained that auto detailing offered at car-wash businesses is not the same as the one provided by a business specialized in it.
“You may pay less at a car wash and think that you are getting a complete detailing service, but you are not. Detailing involves much more than just shampooing and polishing,” Castro said. “It includes cleaning and bringing a shine to the car”™s paint, windows, wheels and even tires. For that, we use different products, including detergents, waxes and polishes, as well as a variety of applicators and special cloths.”
Castro is offering a 15 percent discount on detailing, a promotion that will expire at the end of this month. The company is also offering a new service of tinting for auto, residential and commercial businesses.
“If you cannot come to my store, we will come to you,” Castro said. “The most important (thing) is to get the job done at affordable rates and with top quality.”
Angela Barbosa is a reporter at Tribuna in Danbury. Reach her at tribunanews@gmail.com.
