Today we’d like to introduce you to Curtis Reed.
Curtis, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My love for cars started from a young age, I would wash my own power wheel or bike while my dad would wash the family vehicles. Since I can remember my dad has been a firefighter and with them, keeping vehicles and equipment clean is a necessity.
Besides my appreciation for cars, I played every sport from 5 years old up until middle school when I quit them all except soccer and snowboarding.
To pay for my season passes and my car, my first job in high school was detailing vehicles for a car dealership. In addition to snowboarding, I bought a ’97 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX. Over a couple of years, I built it into an amazing machine where I was racing from Salt Lake down to Las Vegas. At the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I ran a 10.2 quarter-mile and was not allowed back on the track without a roll cage and other safety equipment.
After high school, I traveled a bit, snowboarding all over the Western United States. During this time, my sales/business background began with working for small board shops and eventually managing eight years for Zumiez in 5 states and running one of the flagship stores Fashion Show in Las Vegas.
From there I made the decision to return to California and transferred to the Zumiez in the Carlsbad Mall. I had always dreamed of opening up my own board shop or business and it is after this move, I knew it was time to make my aspiration a reality. More than two years ago, I went back to school to update my techniques and detailing and I’m in the process I’m finishing my ASE certification.
Moving to Oceanside has been the best life decision between the people and the places I feel at home for the first time in my life. I love this community and as I pursue my passion and create possibilities for my business, my goal is to increase involvement in the community and give back.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting your own business especially here in California, can be definitely a struggle. At first, not making money, out there promoting and seeing nothing back at first was disheartening. It took a toll on me (stress/injuries) and my relationship as well as this past winter, when it was raining every other day made it hard to pay the bills. They say most new businesses fold after the first couple years and I can see why. I am so grateful where my business and I are today.
Left Coast Mobile Detailing – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
One of the biggest things that set my business apart is customer service, quality of my work and the attention to detail. I detail all kinds of vehicles but my respect and high regard for restored classic cars, trucks and motorcycles is and has always been the focus of my business.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment has to be getting Hippy Killer Garage’s Econo ready for the Hippy Killer Hoedown that is always the star of that show and a crowd favorite!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leftcoastmobiledetailing.com
- Phone: (760)338-1376
- Email: leftcoastmobiledetailing@gmail.com
- Instagram: @leftcoastmobiledetailing
- Facebook: Left Coast
Maker:S,Date:2017-8-30,Ver:6,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar02,E-Y
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