Last Updated April 29, 2022
As our Authorized Detailer network continues to grow, we’re taking time to sit down with each of our AD’s to learn their stories. This week we talked with Anthony Carubba, owner of Authorized Detailer Champion Car Wash & Detail Shop in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
How he got obsessed with detailing
In 1953, Anthony’s grandfather opened up a body shop that would become the Carubba family business. Growing up in that environment, Anthony learned first hand how cars are painted and what it takes to remove defects from automotive paint. Armed with that knowledge, Carubba detailed throughout high school and college, honing his skills and eventually making it his part-time job.
How he came to own his own detail shop
After years working in the corporate world, Anthony had the opportunity to purchase Champion Car Wash & Detail Shop, which at the time was mostly focused on the car wash side of things. Putting his MBA and detailing expertise together, Anthony bought the business with the intent of expanding the detail shop. After hiring on two additional detailers, getting his IDA CD-SV and starting to offer coating services, the detail shop doubled his business and put him on the map as a talented detailer in the Moore County area. Today he routinely books out two weeks in advance with clients coming in from as far as Raleigh.
How he got into Dr. Beasley’s
As the detailing side of Champion grew, Anthony started encountering more and more high value vehicles. Like many detailers, he wasn’t thrilled with how major brand products affected the health of these vehicles. One of the first products he sought a higher-end alternative for was a leather conditioner.
Intrigued by Dr. Beasley’s Leather Cream, Anthony bought a tube and put it to the test against the product he was currently using. Squeezing an equal amount of each onto a piece of paper, Anthony observed his current product seeping into the paper, while Leather Cream kept its form.
After switching to Leather Cream, Anthony began investigating Dr. Beasley’s nanocoating systems, as he was looking for a brand that actually made the product they were selling, not just private labeling some generic coating from a factory in Taiwan like so many others. Taking a specific interest in the self-healing Nano-Resin Pro, Anthony spoke with Authorized Detailer Chromatic Auto Detailing’s Mike Chmil to get feedback on the coating. After Chmil gave it a good review, he went head-on into using the coating in his own detail shop.
How he promotes his shop
Champion Car Wash & Detail Shop is the official detailer for the Sandhills Motoring Festival, which hosts a Concours d’Elegance as part of the event. As such, Anthony had the opportunity to detail some truly stunning vehicles, including 4 that won Best In Class in their respective categories. His personal favorite? A 2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder—although he’s never been a fan of the Boxster model, he says the Spyder variant is a welcome departure, styling-wise.
At the event, Anthony and his crew used Dr. Beasley’s products extensively and handed out Dr. Beasley’s brochures whenever possible. Apparently attendees were very interested in Formula 1201 and PlasmaCoat for use on their daily drivers, which didn’t surprise Anthony. Car collectors generally reserve the heavy duty stuff for their prized vehicles, but for a daily driver an entry-level coating like 1201 is just perfect.
Where he sees himself in 5 years
Since Champion’s seen double-digit growth these past few years, Anthony anticipates an expansion of his detailing operation. Building new shop from scratch with a pristine interior and all the latest and greatest in detailing tech is the ultimate goal, he says. With demand for high quality detailing services growing in his area, expansion is the only option.
Thanks again to Anthony Carubba for taking the time to speak with us. We’re proud to have him aboard and hope to grow with him in the coming years! Stay tuned for another Authorized Detailer profile later this month. Want to get Authorized? Apply here!