Today we’d like to introduce you to Kent Rayfield.
Hi Kent, 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?
I detailed my first vehicle for profit when I was a senior in high school-the year was 1984.
I’ve always had a passion for automobiles. During my high school summer break in 1983, my oldest brother (Scott Rayfield) introduced me to the automotive appearance space on a grand scale. I was living in VA at the time & saw this as an opportunity to replicate what he was accomplishing in Columbia.
At the time he was professionally detailing used cars for roughly 2/3 of the dealerships in the Columbia, SC market. We were working 10 hour days to keep up with the demand.
Needless to say, I had a lot of time to hone my craft & absorb as much knowledge about products, processes, & the industry as I could.
I wore several hats while training/learning the process. One of those task was a runner. An employee who picked up & delivered the units back to each individual dealership. This was a great way to build relationships with the key plays…and of course, to drive some of the nicer units.
Fast forward to year 2000. I resigned my position with a major technology service provider & a 6-figure position to start my own reconditioning operation. Everything I had learned & conceptualized came to life as Finish Line Details.
While our strength was in the dealership market, we revolutionized the retail spectrum by offering repair services, scheduled maintenance plans, & our signature pick up & delivery services. Since we established a great relationship with the Jim Hudson Automotive Group, I decided to focus our efforts on growing with their organization alone.
I structured a staff augmentation program that offered complete reconditioning services
…working with only the best repair vendors in The Midlands, to control & generate revenue steams from each dealership new, used, & service departments inventories.
We not only had our own standalone facility in Lexington, but were on site at more than 7 dealership locations throughout the Columbia market.
Although we were extremely successful-managing the turnover & constant dealership adaptations to our processes & practices began to overwhelm our quality control. I decided to step back, reset, & learn from our strengths & our failures.
It was in 2018 that Automotive Services Group LLC was born. A need had risen just before COVID took its toll & I found myself thriving in a market where most reconditioned operations had imploded.
7 years later here we are. We scaled to address the need for automotive protection packages, while still providing monthly maintenance, reconditioning treatments, & our popular pick up & delivery service.
While our footprint is small, we are still a major player in the space & continue to grow our revenues each year. I am very blessed and owe all of my success to God for his impact on my life and how my business operates today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve learned that if you provide a quality service with an honest, ethical delivery process-success will follow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our wheelhouse is offering protective nano ceramic coating treatments for autos, proprietary industrial equipment, and specialty items like fine timepieces & luxury leather goods.
I’m proud of our support…our repeat clientele that trust us with their vehicles. I’m proud of our presence within the community-known for delivering a high quality work product, on time, with support after the delivery process.
What sets us apart is that I put my personal stamp on every job we perform here. My cell phone is our office line. We rarely if ever have a disappointed client & we ALWAYS provide value.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m a big Clancy fan when it comes to a good read.
I’m a true believer in the Word of God & read The Bible every morning to start my day. Whether it be a daily devotional or actual chapter/verse-you can always find an uplifting message to share.
Talk Is Jericho is a favorite podcast-great old school musical guest.
Pricing:
- Full Reconditioning Treatments start at $395-$595
- Our nano ceramic coating treatments include a full recon, paint correction, prep, motor detail, & interior freshen.
- Paint Correction starts at $50-$100 per panel based on stage.
- We sale Aero Cosmetics professional products.
- Our rim repairs start at $225 per rim regardless of size/complication.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://scceramiccoating.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotiveservicesgroupllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kent.rayfield.1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentrayfieldasgllc
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@scceramiccoating?feature=shared
- Other: https://paintcoating.com/palmetto-auto-blanket-sc/
