FOR car enthusiasts and owners who take pride in keeping their vehicles pristine, Aero Premium Car Spa in Metrocity has set a new standard in automotive care.
Offering comprehensive services from A to Z, this premium car spa ensures every aspect of your vehicle’s beauty is meticulously attended to.
Whether it is a sparkling exterior, an immaculately detailed interior, or specialised treatments, Aero Premium Car Spa is the go-to destination for those seeking excellence in car grooming.
The business is proudly owned by Mohd Sham Mohd Affendy, 62, who has a diverse professional background spanning multiple industries.
Leveraging his extensive experience, he made a bold transition to establish Aero Premium Car Spa, redefining the standards of car care through passion and expertise.
How it started
Opening its doors to the public in Sept 2020, Mohd Sham said that there were various challenges he had to face during the process of setting up his business.
Aside from applying for licences, he explained that there were numerous inspections and approvals required before finally getting the green light from the Kuching North City Hall (DBKU).
He said, one of the notable hurdles was ensuring the business adhered to regulations including matters concerning signboards.
“The signboard for the shop wasn’t easy to get approved. We had to ensure the language used was proper and met the requirements set by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) before DBKU could give their nod.
“To keep our business running smoothly, we ensured that everything was in order before we could officially open our car spa,” he said.
Despite his efforts, the timing of the business launch presented another challenge.
According to him, only four months into operations, the second wave of the Movement Control Order (MCO) struck.
“We had to close for six months. The second wave hit us hard. Nevertheless, during that time, we only opened our business by-appointment-only model, which kept the business afloat,” he recalled.
What makes Aero Premium Car Spa in Metrocity stand out
Being in the big city, it is undeniable that car spa businesses have grown like mushrooms and gave rise to a lot of competition among entrepreneurs in this particular business industry.
For Aero Premium Car Spa in Metrocity specifically, Mohd Sham said what sets his car spa apart from others is the usage of filtered water in washing customers’ vehicles.
He explained that his car spa started to use filtered water when he received complaints from customers on their cars having rough surfaces after a wash.
“This made us realise the importance of using clean, filtered water.
“After a year of operation, we installed a water filtration system, making us one of the first car wash services to implement this innovation,” he said.
He added that water plays a vital role in the washing process as unfiltered water often contains impurities such as sand that can damage the car’s exterior.
“So, to ensure the safety of customers’ vehicles, we install a water filter system that can filter the dirt,” he explained.
In addition to the filtered water, he pointed out that his car spa also emphasises the importance of using mild detergents that do not contain harmful chemicals.
In an effort to care for the very sensitive exterior of the car, he said the cloth used to wipe the cars is also cared for by using mild detergent products such as Softlan to maintain its softness.
“Similarly, in washing car rims, we use dishwashing detergent to clean the rims to prevent them from being damaged.
“My goal is only one, to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service, just as I want the best for my vehicles,” he said.
He also said that his car spa has a range of services for which the prices are affordable.
For premium car washes, he said, it ranges from RM18 to RM40 depending on the size of the vehicle.
“Whereas for other services such as polishing, detailing, coating, and deep cleaning, we offer package service ranging from RM200 onwards.
“With the range of services we offer, we are known as the one stop centre for vehicle detailing services,” he said.
Aside from this, he noted that his shop also offers window tinting services for vehicles for as low as RM100 to RM2,000.
“Of course this depends on the quality, percentage and the brand.”
What makes his services more special compared to others is that they also offer a warranty of one to three years depending on the packages that his customers choose.
“For example, if the customer takes a one year warranty, within that year, we offer the customer coating maintenance for free. Without the warranty, this maintenance would usually cost RM150 depending on the size of their vehicle,” he said.
Moreover, to provide comfort for his customers, he said his car spa also has a waiting area which is fully air conditioned.
“This area is for customers to wait comfortably while their car is being washed,” he said.
On top of this, he also highlighted that SG plate numbers are given special prices when they come to his car spa.
“The price given will be much cheaper because they are our loyal customers here,” he said.
Various payment method for customers
Aside from using cash, Mohd Sham said his car spa also provides various cashless payment methods such as bank transfers, paywave, QR code scanning, and also through S Pay Global.
“But that’s not all. We also provide installment payment for customers. Depending on the package they selected, if the customers opt for this payment method, they need to provide their payslip and state how much they are able to pay monthly.
“Our installment can be done through auto debit which can go up to 36 months of installments,” he said.
Challenges faced
Like any other business, Mohd Sham revealed that he too experienced challenges in his business.
According to him, the one challenge that truly left a mark on him was when all his workers except for one, quit at the same time leaving him alone to take care of the car spa.
He said this happened during the time when the government had just announced employees should be paid RM1,200 per month.
He explained that his employees at that time requested for their increment right after the announcement was made.
“I told them to wait until the government implements it. However, they went on strike two months before the implementation and quit, leaving the shop with me and one worker alone.
“Despite that, I did not give up on my business. I told that one worker to bring his friends who want to work to the shop. Alhamdulillah, to this day, they are all still working with me.
“With their loyalty and teamwork, along with the support from my family and my wife, I am always grateful for them in helping me through the ups and downs in this business venture,” he said.
Taking care of employees’ welfare
For Mohd Sham, his employees’ welfare is one of his top priorities.
To ease the burden of his employees, he said they are given a place to stay.
“Aside from that, to keep my employees motivated, they are also given an annual bonus and commissions based on the extra work they do.
“Their commissions are paid once every two weeks. Sometimes they would even get RM300 in two weeks.
“On top of this, I also bring them on a company trip annually. They only need to bring their own pocket money for the trip and the rest is all paid for,” he said.
What’s next?
With his business at Metrocity and another branch near Sarawak General Hospital going well, Mohd Sham said that he will be expanding his business further.
He disclosed that in Jan 2025, he will be opening a new branch in Jalan Central Timur and another one in UTC Kuching in February.
“I am happy to share that these two new branches will also be using filtered water in washing customers’ vehicles as what has been done in Metrocity here.
“In actuality, I always have a dream to open a bigger branch where every service that a car spa could provide would be in one big building. This building will also include a restaurant where customers could enjoy meals while waiting for their cars.
“InsyAllah, one day, this dream of mine will come true,” he said.
Secret to being successful
As someone who has been in the car spa industry for more than four years, Mohd Sham revealed that his secret to success is his deep passion for cars.
Understanding the products and services offered aside, he said that his passion is one thing that kept him going.
“I have always been interested in car detailing. Before venturing into this industry, I would spend my free time caring for my cars.
“That is why, my motto here is that I care for customers’ vehicles as much as I care for my own. I want them to experience the same satisfactory level as how I experienced as a car owner myself.
“It’s about providing attention to detail and ensuring every car leaves our shop in the best condition that it can be,” he explained.
He emphasised that his approach is not just about delivering the best car spa services but about building trust with his customers.
“When they see the effort and care we put into their vehicles, they know they are in good hands. That’s the kind of relationship I want to nurture – one built on reliability and quality,” he said.
