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Joe DiFiore is the owner of DiFiore’s Auto Detailing in Norwich, Connecticut. He’s been in business for over 30 years, is an IDA certified owner/operator and has cared for over 35,000 vehicles. What began as just another routine chore while growing up in Cleveland, turned in to a business when he was just 17 years old, and that was back in 1978. In 1983, he purchased a building for his detailing business and on August 14th, 1988, he opened that facility to continue to grow his company. Joe served in the US Submarine Force from 1979 until 1984, was the Southeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year and is currently the Chair of the IDA Membership Committee.
SHOW SPONSORS
Covercraft • MetronGarage • Bonanza • Christopher Kimball Financial Services
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
All people have the ability to make a difference. It’s the responsibility of all of us to at least try.
CAREER & LIFE CHALLENGES
I think I failed my way to success. I have had many challenges. The winter season is really tough, and the detailing business would basically fail during the winter in New England. I decided to begin cleaning the carpeted foyers for surrounding businesses during the winter to make the business succeed. I’ve also had key employees pass away and many other challenges, and I just had to find another way to keep going. You never know what life will throw at you, so you always have to think on your feet.
FIRST SPECIAL VEHICLE
I bought a 1971 C10 Chevy long bed pick-up. Back then, I could pile my friends in the back and just have a lot of fun times. I also got more speeding tickets in that truck than you could shake a stick at. It was just a lot of fun. I would love to have that truck back.
BEST AUTOMOTIVE ADVICE
My wife had a 1979 Mazda GLC that we bought in 1988. We drove that car to upstate NY to visit friends and on the way back, it got quite cold in the car. I remembered advice an old farmer gave me about what to do if you ever get a pinhole in the radiator. He told me to put black pepper in the radiator, and it would clot on the hole and stop the leak. We were in the middle of nowhere and found a little diner. We went in and I bought Hubba Bubba bubblegum and 2 shakers of black pepper. I told the wife and kids to chew away, and we did. I packed the bubblegum into the hole, threw in the black pepper, and plugged the hole. It worked, and I never had a problem with that radiator again. I’m not even sure the black pepper even mattered. It may have just been the bubblegum.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
Tyler and Joseph at Wipe On and Wipe Off are great resources. They are members of the IDA, and they are great distributors who make it their business to really know about the products they sell. They are really a great resource in the New England area. Printice St Claire and Bud Abraham, authors at Professional Car Washers and Detailing Magazine have really helped the industry with their articles.
RECOMMENDED BOOK
The People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
PARTING WORDS OF ADVICE
Believe in and rely on yourself.
WHERE TO FIND JOE
Your opinion matters and I will greatly appreciate your support.
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