Jace Denham and Cacen Crandall stand for a photo with the truck they use to transport their equipment and cleaning supplies. Their business, Apex Shine Mobile Detailing, got its start last fall detailing cars for family and friends. Now they are making a push to find new customers interested in them doing deep cleans on their cars, trucks and golf carts.
Cacen Crandall and Jace Denham are teenage entrepreneurs who are eager to make money.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
It started with two 14-year-old friends who were eager to make money. Now these young entrepreneurs have a business that offers two services, one geared to summer months and one for winter.
Jace Denham uses a small brush to clean crevices on a steering wheel. Last fall when he and his Apex Shine partner Cacen Crandall were brainstorming ways to earn money, Jace read online about car detailing. Now the pair has gathered the needed equipment and cleaning supplies to take their business to customers.
Cacen is the son of Damon and Chaille Crandall. Jace is the son of Brian and Jen Denham. Both families live at Lake Panorama. At the end of May, Cacen and Jace will finish their eighth-grade education at Panorama Schools.
Last fall, they were talking about ways they could make money. Snow removal was one idea. Another was something Jace read about online — car detailing, which goes beyond a car wash to a deep cleaning of both the interior and exterior of a vehicle.
In late October, they put the word out they would be doing snow removal in the Lake Panorama community. A social media posting for Apex Shine Snow Removal included the image of a snowblower and a QR code to book their services.
They had 10 customers for the winter, and frequent snow helped them make good money. They will offer snow removal again next winter and hope to expand their customer base.
Also, last October, they started detailing cars for family and friends. Some of the money they made moving snow was used to buy supplies and equipment for Apex Shine Mobile Detailing. The “mobile” in their business name means they come to their customers. Now they are making a push to find new customers.
Business cards promote their business with QR codes for direct booking. They use social media to provide information about their business and a link to their website.
When customers book an appointment online, they are contacted to confirm the appointment time and location. Then Cacen and Jace arrive with the needed cleaning products and equipment.
“The only thing we need the customer to provide is a water spigot so we can attach a garden hose,” Jace says. “We bring an air compressor, pressure washer, generator, vacuum and cleaning supplies.”
Cacen Crandall works on cleaning the interior of a customer’s truck. Several options are available. A Basic Detail is an interior cleaning that includes vacuuming, spray and wipe of all surfaces, windows and floor mats. The Super Detail is all those cleaning steps, plus floor mat restoration.
Their business website lists seven service options. The Basic Detail is an interior cleaning that includes vacuuming, spray and wipe of all surfaces, windows and floor mats, and is priced at $80. The Super Detail is all those interior cleaning steps plus floor mat restoration and is $100.
The Basic Exterior Detail includes washing and drying all exterior surfaces and costs $40.
The Supreme Detail option combines interior and exterior cleaning and detailing and adds a few steps beyond the basics, such as floor mat restoration, steam cleaning and wheel and rim cleaning. The Supreme package starts at $135. The Ultimate Detail includes all the things already mentioned but is described as a “deep clean” for both the interior and exterior, at a base price of $160.
Two other services are offered. One is the opportunity to schedule a monthly interior and exterior detail for vehicles. The other is a full cleaning and detail of golf carts.
Two “add on” services also are available. Trim restoration involves using a special solvent to restore faded plastic trim to its original color and is a fee of $30 or more, depending on the amount of trim that needs attention. For those with pets that shed a lot, an additional fee of $50 or more may be added.
“We have to charge a fee if there is a lot of pet hair, because it takes up a lot of our time and can be a hassle,” Cacen says.
The time it takes to complete a detail job varies depending on the service chosen and the condition of the vehicle. An exterior detail can take one to two hours, while the Supreme and Ultimate detail packages can take three to five hours.
The only thing the Apex Shine co-owners need from their customers is a water spigot so they can attach a garden hose. They bring an air compressor, pressure washer, generator, vacuum and cleaning supplies when they arrive to detail the interiors and exteriors of vehicles.
The final cost also depends on the service chosen and the size and condition of the vehicle.
“When we get to the customer’s location, we will need to look at the vehicle,” Cacen says. “The size and condition will show us how long the job will take, and we’ll quote a final price before we start.”
Until school is out and athletic activities are over, the boys are available for bookings every day but Tuesday and Saturday. By the end of May, they will be offering mobile detailing seven days a week.
While Lake Panorama is the primary target area for Apex Shine, Jace and Cacen say they hope to attract new customers from Panora, Yale and anywhere else in Guthrie County.
Bookings can be made online at apexshine.designdetail.io. Or contact Cacen by texting 641-431-0821 or emailing cacencrandall@gmail.com.mailto:cacencrandall@gmail.com