‘What is learnt in the cradle is carried to the grave. Go for it!’

Bob Scholten (20) is a Business Studies student in Haarlem and has set up his own car detailing company, ‘Bob Scholten detailing’. What started as a hobby has now grown into a business cleaning the most beautiful cars.

Don't take everything at face value
"I'm always curious about the why and how of things. How does it really work? Why do I have to do it this way? I don't just take something at face value, but always do my own research first. I do this by talking to various professionals, scouring the internet or watching YouTube tutorials."

"I started a car cleaning business and I use all kinds of chemicals for that. I don't just use them without thinking. I want to know everything about them first. Thinking logically gets you a long way, but many professionals also share their experiences on LinkedIn and Instagram. That helps enormously. In the beginning, I looked at different products and didn't consider biodegradability. But now I have products that work well, deliver results and are biodegradable. That's a win-win."

"Sustainable entrepreneurship is important, but as a beginner, it doesn't make sense to make more expensive investments in more sustainable options. I'm taking small steps and I'm proud of that.”

Can it be a little less?
“Entrepreneurship was instilled in me from an early age. I come from a family of entrepreneurs. Many of my friends also have parents who are entrepreneurs. I think that makes it easier to try it yourself."

"I don't just have any old car cleaning business. Detailing is really on another level. My customers are more likely to say “can you tone it down a bit” rather than “it needs to be better”. I make sure that cars are worth more once they've been through my treatment. A car wash sets the machines so that they use as little soap as possible. This increases the chance of dirt from other cars being transferred, which can cause scratches. With me, you get a specific pre-wash, so that as much dirt as possible is removed before I even touch the car. All corners are done with a brush and the interior is delivered in mint condition.”

Maintaining the value of cars
“My customers drive cars in the luxury segment. They appreciate that their cars are well maintained, as this preserves their value. I ensure that they enjoy every journey because their car is a place of peace and cleanliness."

"I visit most of my regular customers at home. My customers are even located in Almere. As a start-up, I am affordable, but I see a lot of potential in jobs such as polishing, coatings and deep cleaning. My ambition is to be able to add various specialities to my range of services. Such as applying film. This protects you against stone chips. I need to take a course for this and invest in machines, rollers and software. I still need to save up for that."

"I get a lot of customers through word of mouth. I see that as a good sign, because customers recommend me. I hope they find my services professional and that they also appreciate my optimistic character. I like to chat and share interesting facts about their cars. If they are considering buying a new car, I am happy to help them make a decision. I have now gained a lot of knowledge in this higher segment."

"Before the summer, I started another business in selling car cleaning products and accessories. So now we sell the chemicals I use for my customers as our own product line under the trade name Glozz.”

It's not always about money
“At SUCH, I followed both the start-up programme and the community programme. These programmes help me to take a step back and look at my business from a helicopter view. Sometimes I get so absorbed in my work that I forget to do that. My participation adds a lot of value to my study time. That's why I chose to study at Inholland, because Start Up Campus Haarlem is part of it. The added value of the group of entrepreneurs, the various workshops and a place where you can develop yourself further are worth their weight in gold to me."

"I learn a lot from the other entrepreneurs in the group, but many of my customers are also entrepreneurs."

"That's what I would always advise others to do. Talk about your ideas with others. You can learn from that. And just get started. Don't overthink it. Most people at school are still young, so what is learnt in the cradle is carried to the grave. And I always think: it's not always about money. Do it out of passion. You have a bigger purpose in life. No one wants to be the 50-year-old man without a wife and children in a Ferrari. So do what you enjoy and go for it!”