CULLMAN – At 17 years old and a junior in high school, Nathan Haynes has operated his own business, 278 Auto Wash and Detail, since July of this year.
As a former employee in fast food, Nathan said, “I like being my own boss.”
While most high school students went to the fair, Nathan said he would probably be working until 8 p.m. that night cleaning cars.
He is in advanced classes at West Point High School, volunteers as an athletic trainer for the football team, and helps out at the ticket booth and concession stand. He stays busy with homework and projects and is active in various clubs at school.
Nathan said that the start-up of his car cleaning business was difficult at first because he had to prepare and clean the building where he would be working, as well work out his notice at his current job. However, during his second week he made about $500 after working only two to three days. The last few weeks of the summer, Nathan was cleaning cars almost 24/7.
Since business is going so well, some may wonder if he will continue cleaning cars after graduating from high school. Currently, his plans are to graduate from West Point High School in 2016 and attend Wallace State Community College for two years. He will then attend the University of Alabama with further plans of attending Palmer College in Florida in pursuit of becoming a chiropractor. He said that if his business expands enough, he will get someone else to run it for him.
He is expanding his advertising by getting a sign made by C&C Graphics. While this sign will be his largest, he also plans to put out a few road signs. He will eventually be advertising with Channel 2 of Cullman, as well as the The Community Shopper’s Guide. For now, advertising through his business’s Facebook page has been the best way to promote his services. Nathan hangs flyers around town and receives a lot of business by word of mouth from his friends, and even his teachers, at school. He has even cleaned Coach Farley’s car, the football coach at West Point.
The 278 Auto Wash and Detail cleaning packages are as follows: Kustom Kleen, Middle of the Road and Komplete Detail. The services vary from each package, but can include an outside wash, tire and wheel scrub, an inside clean, vacuum, carpet scent, armor all, cleaning door jams, cleaning windows, debugging, tar removal, carpet shampoo, upholstery shampoo, fine comb clean, headlight restoration, hand wax, leather conditioning and chrome shining.
Nathan enjoys what he is doing, likes meeting new people and has no complaints yet.
“I’m a people person,” he said, “and I like cleaning cars.”
He will tell you that his mother helps him a lot and he gives her credit for helping him come up with great ideas. One of her ideas was to put 10 blank boxes on the back of the business cards to check off each time you use their services. After 10 services, you will receive the next service completely free.
Nathan would like to thank Cullman County and his parents for helping and supporting him.
He also wanted the readers to know that this year marks the 25th anniversary of Arrington Transmission.
“I want to thank my grandfather, Jim Arrington, for allowing me to use his facilities.”
To keep up with the current specials, be sure to like 278 Auto Wash and Detail on Facebook. For more information about how you can Ride in Style, call or text 256-595-1281. Bring in this article for a special deal!
