EP 6: Wisdom from The Millionaire Auto Detailing Godfather - Bashir Hirjee

The Sunny Setia Show

Mr. Bashir Hirjee has come a long way since emigrating from east Africa in 1974 and cleaning cars for dealerships while he was a student. Bashir's advancement in car reconditioning began the year after he came to North America. In 1975, his father, Sultan Hirjee, purchased a Texaco gas station. In one mechanic bay, Bashir and his father installed a detail shop. Bashir attracted the business of a Chrysler dealership across the street, which sent him their "old" cars for freshening up. Detailing demanded more and more attention, and the gas station closed in 1979. Well, rest is history. Bashir has an area-wide reputation as a detailing/ reconditioning expert. Doing something extra, whether touching up a client's car, outfitting his business facilities, providing help for an employee, or teaching dealership people how to do their own reconditioning has paid great dividends for Bashir. His sharing, unconventional approach to business has been a resounding success. Many people in this business would avoid such practices, but Bashir didn't. His reward is a monthly detailing volume of 14,000 vehicles, a metro-wide reputation for top-notch car reconditioning and a business that has now grown to reach from Richmond, British Columbia, his main base of operation, to Calgary, Alberta and Edmonton, Alberta.