The clearcoat brings back a new appearance better than detailing and will create the ultimate sun, stain, bug and mildew protection for the customer who buys. This gives you a powerful extra sales point along with the improved appearance.

A New Service Opportunity

Owners of older RVs are always searching for ways to make their home away from home look great. Why not offer that service to them through the body shop or service department? You could get a mailing list of all the RV owners in your area who have a five year or older vehicle. Send them a mailer offering this service. Train one service writer to handle the calls with a bonus for sales made. Or, alternately, mail the sales piece and have a salesperson call on the owners listed to offer them a way to make their RV look new and keep it that way. If properly done, this could be an excellent opportunity to up-sale other services, as well as provide relationship building for the future.

Facility Facelift

Of course, you've heard that you never have a second chance to make a first impression, A faded, dull, oxidized or even chalky finish of any surface of your facility (building facade, roof, signs, fences, etc.) can be restored to a like-new color tone with original or better luster. You can deliver a fantastic "cosmetic facelift" by a clear coat that is very easy and inexpensive to apply. By simply putting a clear coat on the faded surfaces, you can instantly restore a vibrant appearance to even the oldest facility that brings back the color and rejuvenates it to a sparkling new luster that lasts for years.

Added Protection From the Elements

The same clear coat that provides a new look to the vehicle or facility, also acts to weather protect it. The clear coat should be one that has a "non-stick" surface to shrug off all forms of dirt and contamination so it's a snap to keep clean. Just hitting it with a hose or having it pressure washed periodically will reap real benefits, not only in appearance maintenance but also in extending the protective life of the clear coat. The cleaner the surface is, the longer the clear coating will stay looking fantastic.

Of course, a clear coating will eventually fade away. Nothing lasts forever. However, when it starts to lose its luster, simply wash and spray the surface again to restore the color and luster with effective weather protection that will keep it looking its best.

The Bottom Line

Clear coating is a service offered by many paint and body shops to bring in thousands of dollars from customers who really love what it can do for their RVs. Why shouldn't you be making those dollars and increasing the value of your used inventory as well? A clear coat restoration and protective service program can be sold and serviced by the same personnel you have now, at the same facility, with limited inventory and give unlimited benefits to your bottom line.

Certainly, you should investigate any product you are going to associate your company with before starting a clear coat restoration program. Judge the ease of use, toxicity and required safe handling of the product. Also check whether the company makes its own or private labels the product from a third party, track record of the product, test reports, years the company has been in business and level of support for your program in deciding which product you should use. Choose wisely and reap the rewards.

About the Author

Bill Rice is a formulator of insulating and protective coatings. He can be contacted at 800-848-4566 or you can visit www.vivilon.com.