BY
Irfan Ali
The UrbanWire Deputy Production Editor

Hype Issue #59

Published on

August 7, 2024

“Focus on your studies first and then you can dream about starting a business,” said Akbar’s mom, when he first told her that he wanted to start his car detailing business, Calros Auto Detailing, in 2018 when he was just 14.

17-year-old Akbar detailing his first ever car, a Volkswagen Scirocco back in 2021. Photo courtesy of  Mohammed Akbar.

Fast forward six years down the road, Akbar has gained a loyal following in the automobile detailing scene through his sublime workmanship and tenacious disposition, which has sustained him in the competitive world of car detailing. At just 20, he boasts a catalogue of over 150 cars, ranging from luxurious Mercedes to sleek Lamborghinis. 

His clientele does not fall short either as he has detailed cars for high-profile individuals like the CEO of W&F Motoring and famous realtors. However, Akbar’s journey to success was not an easy one; but is rather a tale of his perseverance, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Early Beginnings

Born into a family of butchers, Akbar was exposed to the business world from a young age and aspired to start his own business as he grew up. “I was fascinated by my uncle’s lifestyle. He would get up at 4:30 am every day to assist at our butcher shop and be home before I got back from school. He was his “own” boss, and that was one of the few reasons I wanted to be a business owner,” Akbar stated.

On weekends, Akbar helped out at the shop, taking orders and packing meat, gaining customer service experience. He also learned negotiation skills by listening to his uncle’s discussions with suppliers.

Despite possessing business knowledge, Akbar’s extended family opposed his entrepreneurial ambitions at 13, considering him too young. The reality of financial struggles hit when he moved to his current home with his mother and two brothers, as she was the sole breadwinner. 

First Venture into Business

The different variety of Fossil watches. Photo taken from Gear Patrol.

Wanting to financially support his mother, 15-year-old Akbar started his first business venture in 2019, selling Fossil watches typically priced over SGD 100. Inspired by a birthday gift, he did some research and found Fossil watches were highly profitable for resale. “I used my academic bursary savings to purchase the watches at 20-30% below the market rate from a local supplier,” Akbar said. “Lucky for me, I managed to flip two to three watches per week through my social circle, which helped me invest in more watches.”

Despite initial success, Akbar had to stop the business to focus on his N-level exams due to his mother’s concerns about his education. This brief venture ignited his entrepreneurial spirit and taught him valuable business lessons.

His Educational Journey

Akbar graduated in the top 10 percent of his cohort from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). Photo courtesy of  Mohammed Akbar.

Driven by the passion to run his own business, Akbar studied hard and scored 16 points on his N-Level examinations. Although he qualified for the Direct Polytechnic Program (DPP), he had to reject it due to a lack of available vacancies. 

Since he knew he had about four months before pursuing his higher education, Akbar thought he would use this time to revive his watch business. But once again, his mom was against his idea as she, being a realist, felt that it would be better for Akbar to fund his tertiary education by taking up part-time jobs instead of pursuing his entrepreneurial aspirations due to their fiscal status.

While job hunting, Akbar found a dealership hiring car detailers without experience. Seeing an opportunity to gain new skills and fueled by his love for cars, he took the job. This seemingly small part-time gig unexpectedly led to the creation of Calros Auto Detailing.

Learning from a Mentor

Since Akbar was inexperienced in detailing cars, he was assigned a mentor at the car dealership to teach him the foundation of grooming cars. “Initially, I got scolded by my mentor for even making petty mistakes like scrubbing the rims in the wrong direction, but the more vehicles I groomed, the more experienced I became,” stated Akbar.

Within two months, he outshone his colleagues, driven by the desire to start his own business. After mastering detailing skills, Akbar left his part-time job in early February to pursue higher education. Before leaving, his mentor encouraged him to start his car detailing business.

From Vision to Reality

In 2020, Akbar founded his business amidst a global pandemic, defying naysayers like his friends who told him that he would not make it due to the prevalence of automobile detailing workshops. Undeterred, his commitment to high-quality and time-consuming services, like deep rim cleaning and engine bay detailing,  quickly helped distinguish his business.

 Calros Auto Detailing’s rating on Google. Image taken from  Google.

Despite offering detailing services anywhere at any given point in time, Akbar failed to rake in customers during the initial stages of his business because of the catastrophic pandemic. However, the lack of customers did not demoralise Akbar, instead, it spurred him to find ways to grow his client base.

Soon, Akbar harnessed the power of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to promote his business. His efforts paid off, resulting in significant growth and a 4.4 out of 5 Google rating.

Akbar’s success allowed him to support his family and let his mother retire. “My mother, who once opposed my ventures, now helps prepare detailing equipment so I can meet clients on time. I am truly happy she supports me now,” he shared.

Current & Future Endeavours

Currently serving his National Service (NS) with the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Akbar successfully manages his duties alongside a thriving business, demonstrating exceptional time management and devotion. He is slated to join Temasek Poly’s Design Thinking and Business Needs Specialist Diploma program in October of this year where he aims to further his business knowledge.

“After National Service (NS), I plan to expand by hiring staff. As a one-man show, I lose potential customers since I can’t detail more than one car at a time. By training others, I hope to develop my client base and meet all clients’ needs,” shared Akbar.

What can we learn from Akbar?

Akbar’s story highlights the significance of tirelessly pursuing goals despite discouragement. Facing various obstacles, his determination and resilience only grew stronger.

From humble beginnings to the success of Carlos Auto Detailing, Akbar exemplifies triumph over adversity. His hard work and commitment show that anything is possible, inspiring young entrepreneurs and proving that age is no barrier to success.

“I’m grateful to those who doubted me; their negativity pushed me to succeed. Now, I can support my mother without financial worries. Remember, you should be the one having the last laugh!” quipped Akbar as he attended his client’s call.