For the past seven years, ProsperUs Detroit graduate, Mr. Sunny Auto Detailing & Roadside Service, has been bringing the shine back to Metro Detroit’s vehicles, unleashing their elegance with top-tier mobile detailing. Their quality “concierge” service leaves customers with a deep sense of satisfaction, making them feel like “they have arrived.”
Mr. Sunny is more than just a detailing service. This versatile company also offers a range of support services, including roadside assistance, snow plowing and salting, and trash bin services, proving their resourcefulness and commitment to the community.
What started as a small, neighborhood operation in the Seven Mile and Evergreen area has grown into a professionally developed business with a loyal customer base throughout Michigan’s southeast region. Mr. Sunny Auto Detailing & Roadside Service LLC, founded by Richard Clay and Derek Davis, traces its roots back to the very driveway where Clay grew up. It was here that the two, then just nine and eleven years old, first honed their entrepreneurial skills.
As young adolescents, Clay and Davis began a quasi-car washing business that quickly gained a reputation for doing “such a good job” that it brought them steady business. The constant stream of cars in Davis’ mother’s driveway pushed them to create a business model, including figuring out a pricing strategy.
Customers would ask how much we charged, and we didn’t know, We would just say, give us whatever you can. But then Mrs. Davis said, ‘Hey, you're using up all our water. You have to charge something now, or I'm going to start charging you.'
To manage the traffic and maintain their business, the two young entrepreneurs alternated parking in each other’s driveways. Despite the success, neither saw their venture as an entrepreneurial endeavor; it was simply a hobby, a fun way to spend time, which they maintained for nearly a decade.
Clay’s passion for the business took a backseat when he left for college at Kentucky State University. During his absence, Davis kept the car washing operation running, maintaining their strong reputation in the community. When Clay returned home, he was surprised by the neighborhood’s demand for a mobile service, which sparked the birth of Mr. Sunny. “When I came back home,” Clay said, “I started working at Chrysler, and everyone kept asking when we were going to become mobile. Eventually, I bought a pickup truck in 2017, and we tried it out. We became more and more popular around the city, and we basically started our business based on the demand from the people in the neighborhood.”
Returning to their business-savvy mindset from childhood, Clay and Davis began brainstorming ways to generate revenue year-round, especially during the winter months. This led to the purchase of a tow truck and the creation of the company’s Roadside Assistance Division. This new service “measured very well,” providing a solid foundation for setting new goals and expanding their business, now officially named Mr. Sunny.
Going far requires a strong support system, and for entrepreneurs, that means support from family, the local community, and organizations dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial growth.
Mr. Sunny’s has been fortunate to experience all these elements of support throughout its journey. From the generous patronage of kind neighbors during their early days to the invaluable gift of the duo’s first generator from Richard Clay’s father, who has been a steadfast supporter, Mr. Sunny has grown with a foundation of strong backing. This journey was further propelled by their encounters with ProsperUs Detroit and Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, both of which played significant roles in their continued success.
Clay graduated from ProsperUs Detroit’s Entrepreneur Training Program in the Fall of 2023. This program provides comprehensive training and education designed to empower both existing and aspiring entrepreneurs. It equips them with the tools to actualize their potential, create robust business plans, and make meaningful strides toward realizing their dreams.
Mr. Sunny remains committed to focusing on the needs and demands of their customers. Whatever the future holds, their dedication to serving their clients will guide them in making the best decisions for their business. This includes the possibility of opening a brick-and-mortar location, which they are waiting for their customers to “force” them to open.
If you want to learn more about Mr. Sunny or become their next customer, you can find them on Facebook or Website.
