ADN SPRING 2022 WEB

INDUSTRY
NEWS
Man turns his life around, thanks to detailing
Donte Wilburns of Colorado was only
22 when he almost lost his life. It was a drug
deal gone bad. A shoot-out ensued and his
friend was shot three times. Wilburns was
arrested and faced an eight-year prison sentence.
“I was suicidal,” he told WTHR in a
February 25 story. “I just didn't see myself
coming out of the pit that I put myself in,"
he said. "But my mom kept telling me, 'It's
gonna be OK. I promise you.' She said, 'I
know it hurts now, but it's gonna be OK.'
And thank God, I had her in my ear encouraging
me."
Autobahn signs on as
Canadian IGL distributor
IGL Coatings announced in a February
25 press release the appointment
of Autobahn Auto Salon as its new
exclusive distributor in Canada. Autobahn
will distribute IGL Coatings’ full
range of products and ceramic coatings.
Founded in 1991 by Frank Duarte in
Concord, Ontario, Autobahn specializes
in automobile detailing of fine cars, the
press release stated, and it is one of the
largest distributors of detailing products
in Canada.
For the past four years, the Autobahn
team has worked to build the IGL
Coatings presence in Ontario.
“It is an opportunity of a lifetime as
we are able to fully realize the expansion
of the IGL brand throughout the
five regions. We are glad to be part of
Repairify acquires AutoMobile
Technologies
Repairify, Inc. announced the acquisition
of AutoMobile Technologies (AMT),
a provider of enterprise-grade used vehicle
reconditioning software, according to a
February 22 story by BodyShop Business.
AMT helps automotive reconditioning
providers replace paperwork, enforce processes
and gain instant visibility into business
operations regardless of team size and
geographic distribution, the press release
stated. “With the combined capabilities of
AMT and Mobile Tech RX, the Repairify
family is now poised to become a comprehensive
provider of solutions, expertise
and capabilities for auto reconditioners
and paintless dent repair (PDR) customers
of all sizes, from small independents to
large, multi-location enterprises.”
AMT customers range from dealerships
and rental car companies to auto reconditioners,
PDR providers, and detailers.
“We are very excited to welcome the
entire AMT team to Repairify as they join
in our mission to simplify the repair and
His mom was right. Years later he is now
the proud owner of Premier Auto Detailing,
with locations in Lafayette and Kokomo,
Colorado, and he has plans to expand
soon to Indianapolis. Wilburn was also just
named Indiana's small business entrepreneur
of the year in 2021.
But how did Wilburn go from criminal
to celebrated citizen? Back when he
was caught by police, he was sentenced
to community corrections and got a job
washing cars for minimum wage, WTHR
reported. “He worked his way up to manager
and then saved up enough to open
his own business.”
Premier Auto Detailing is now a huge
success and Wilburns wants others to succeed
as well. His advice: Hard work and
determination.
"Never give up," he told WTHR while
tearing up. "Even when it's the worst of the
worst of the worst, you can come out of it.
It takes work. I had to basically rip up how I
was and start over as a new man. But it's not
impossible. That's what my story is. It's the
possibility of becoming better."
the IGL Family and look forward to a
green future,” Frank Duarte said in the
press release.
“IGL Canada is set to grow to unprecedented
heights. We’re glad to see
Frank on board and look forward to
an exciting 2022,” added Keong Chun
Chieh, founder, and CEO of IGL
Coatings, in the press release.
reconditioning of today’s complex modern
automobile using technology and an
amazing, growing network of certified
technicians,” said Tony Rimas, president
of Repairify, the press release. “The AMT
team brings a wealth of expertise, technology
know-how and client relationships that
will benefit our team greatly. As our vision
comes together, we believe the result will be
access to more services, more technicians,
and allowing our customers to drive costs
down and efficiency up.”
Detail shop
expands
in the
Twin Cities
The car detailing and window
tinting shop, Tint Pros/
Platinum Auto Wraps, is continuing
to expand in the Twin
Cities, according to the Minneapolis/St.
Paul Business
Journal. The February 23
story said the shop will be upgrading
into a bigger flagship
facility shortly after opening
a second satellite shop.
Owners Triet Nguyen
and Tien Truong bought the
property for more than $1.5
million in February 2022.
“At nearly 25,000 square
feet and with 12 garages, the
new building is too big for
just Tint Pros, so the shop
plans to operate out of about
half of them and then rent
the rest to other businesses
offering different automotive
services. Nguyen said he and
Truong want to set up a onestop
shop where customers
who are having work done
at Tint Pros can also have
a dent fixed, upgrade their
stereo system or have their
wheels painted in the same
trip,” the story said.
The shop frequently services
Tesla and counts Minnesota-based
professional
athletes among its clientele,
the story said. The owners
have worked in the automotive
industry for around 20
years. They hope to open the
new space in the beginning
of May 2022.
VOL. 7, NO.1 • SPRING 2022 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | 19