Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Mandy Haggerson
For the Clemmons Courier

Sage Barbee grew up in Clemmons and has always loved the emphasis on family that comes with it. The oldest of three children in his family, Barbee has relished his role of big brother. “My siblings were definitely the best thing that happened to me,” Barbee mentions of younger sister, Nadia, and brother, Slate.

Having a close support system made activities like football more enjoyable too. Barbee played football for all four of his years at West Forsyth High School. “Unfortunately, I tore my ACL my senior year, subsequently ending potential to play in college,” explains Barbee. He had several DII colleges looking to add Barbee to their roster. “I had played football all of my life so it was tough to end it due to injury.”

Although nothing about Barbee’s senior year of high school turned out to be as planned due to COVID, he adjusted to focus on the influences that mattered in his life to set the plans in motion for a new dream. “I had always loved cars because of my dad. I grew up going to races. My dad was in the Grand National Cross Country circuit and I enjoyed watching him in his element as he competed,” says Barbee. “I had considered racing too because of how much I loved every facet to the racing world, but ultimately, I respected how much it made my mom nervous to participate.”

Barbee decided to channel his passion for cars by attending Forsyth Technical Community College (FTCC) to learn more about detailing and auto body collision repair. The owner of Piedmont Mobile Auto Detailing, Barbee was inspired to channel his entrepreneurial side. “Both of my parents own their own business and I respected that,” says Barbee. While attending school at FTCC, Barbee has grown his mobile detailing business which helps his clients have their car professionally cleaned at their convenience. “My customers are not inconvenienced to have their vehicle look showroom-ready by having to drive somewhere and sit and wait. I’ll go to their place of business or home based on their schedules and preference to clean the interior and exterior for them,” explain Barbee. His ultimate dream is to expand the services he offers and provide more locations. “I am exploring options to incur growth in my company so we can be larger and offer even more services,” says Barbee.

Barbee’s had more 150 clients this past year appreciate his work ethic and attention to details. “It means a lot to me to have customers come back. I’d rather have the same customers come back again and again because they appreciate the quality of work that I had done,” says Barbee.

Our neighbor and young entrepreneur has appreciated learning the importance of a strong work ethic because it is reflected in the product you turn out.  As Steve Jobs once noted, “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”