After her father’s passing in July 2024, Jasmyn Jensen took the mantle as the business owner of Jensen’s Auto Detailing.
Jensen, who has the family business running in her blood, discussed the beginnings of the shop and continuing Bob Jensen’s legacy.
“Ten years ago, my dad originally opened up the business with a friend. He was going to be a silent partner, but he ended up running it when his friend decided this wasn’t for him. My dad already had a background in polishing ceramic coating, waxing and detailing from his younger years so he kind of took it from there,” explained Jensen. “We originally started on Chatham and Clarence Street when I was still in high school and I helped him where he needed it. We always worked together, side by side, but he was more of the face of the company… flash forward to the present [and] my dad, unfortunately got sick and passed away and I took over the business [in the summer.] It’s been quite a journey.”
Since then, Jensen has stepped into the ownership role, building upon what her father started.
“It’s been a very easy transition because my dad built a good name for himself in the community. I’m obviously not replacing my father, but continuing his legacy [and] when the community heard I was [heading the company], they were supportive…our customers and other small businesses from all over including Brantford, Delhi, Simcoe have been amazing.”
However, Jensen is looking to continue fostering the customer-focused culture at the shop with the help of her team.
“My right-hand person is actually my boyfriend, Fabio. He does the window tinting, paint protection, film, and the paint correction. He originally started with just window tinting, and after my dad got sick…he kind of stepped up…and then I have two other employees who are close family friends who I have been able to hire over the last year,” she noted. “I appreciate what my employees do…if I’m needed back there [especially if] we have a job that’s coming in that needs to be done for a certain timeline, I’m there with them.”
In being part of the success of Jensen’s Auto Detailing for the last decade, Jensen explained what makes the business special.
“Everybody can offer a service…,but for us…whether it’s a first-time customer or someone who has been coming here for a long time…I try to make everyone feel like family…[and] I treat them how I would want to be treated. And all of the services that we provide are basically what I would expect done on my own vehicle,” said Jensen.
The shop currently offers various services and the business is growing.
“Automotive detailing is the main service that we offer, but we also offer window tinting, ceramic coating, paint protection, film, paint correction, and vehicle accessories. We try and make it a one-stop shop as much as we possibly can without having to send out the work. We try and keep everything in-house,” she said. “But, where we’re located, we have 5,100 square feet, and we have outgrown it already. Fabio, is a full-time plumber and hopefully, within the next year, he can come full time at the shop and we can offer more services, for example, to dealerships that we already deal with. At this point, I don’t know if we can keep it all one location, or grow the business into other cities [but] that was kind of my dad’s dream…to [grow] and have other locations.”
Along with running the business, Jensen has been trying to support other initiatives and businesses in the area.
“We actually teamed up with a few other local businesses, and we’re doing a Brantford Food Drive holiday. [And] when my dad originally started the business, he really was a big supporter of the Brant County SPCA because he loves animals…so, I’m going to try and get involved in that again very soon,” said Jensen. “And recently, we’ve gotten a hold of some local businesses to do ‘12 Days of Christmas.’ Instead of offering gift certificates from big box stores, I’ve been lucky enough to have local businesses willing to donate some prizes to my customers during the Christmas season, and hopefully generate more business in the community.”
Nevertheless, Jensen is proud to be part of the Brantford community and praises its spirit.
“I absolutely love Brantford! Everybody has each other’s backs and when things happen like the COVID shut downs, a lot of people rally together to support small businesses,” Jensen said. “And you can probably go to a big box store to get the same product or service, but people here stick to small businesses, and help support businesses like mine, which I love.”
