Enfield Small Business Spotlight: Allied Car Detailing Services

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

Business: Allied Car Detailing Services
Owners: Allied Rehabilitation Centers, Inc.
Website: www.alliedgroup.org
Address: 3 Pearson Way, Enfield, CT 06082

How did you come up with the name?

It describes the service we offer.

Why start a business in this town?

We’ve been here for more than 50 years and serve all of north central CT. Enfield is the perfect central location.

What business are you in?

Allied Rehabilitation Centers provides day, employment, residential and transportation services to adults with intellectual disabilities. Car detailing is one segment of our employment program, which enables our participants to learn skills and earn paychecks for their work. Our detailing crews clean interiors only.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

We don’t have indoor space for our car detailing operation, which makes it weather-dependent. We dislike having to reschedule appointments, but our customers have been very understanding and supportive.

What’s been your proudest achievement since opening?

Our proudest achievement in car detailing has been training 14 individuals to perform a variety of car-detailing tasks, to work as a team and to enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.

How does your business give back to the community?

The participants and staff at Allied Rehabilitation Centers support a number of local and national organizations and services, including the Enfield Food Shelf, Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen, Network Against Domestic Abuse, Educational Resources for Children, Asnuntuck Community College Foundation, the Enfield Invention Convention, Rays of Hope, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, North Central CT Chamber of Commerce, Enfield Rotary Club, animal shelters and more. Our Allied’s Attic Thrift Store in Enfield offers reasonably priced clothing, furniture and household items and responds to emergency requests for assistance from local organizations and Social Services departments in area towns.

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.