Advice on increasing CPD on Petit

[Eric H]

Traffic count 7500,

What did your Proforma indicate the car count would be? Calculating 7500 x .005 = 37.5 cars per day. This is Robert Roman’s formula.
For the past 20 years I’ve had my eye on a site in front of a Walmart. Traffic count is 9500. Mostly commuter traffic or direct into Walmart. Using my Proforma program, I’ve never been able to make the numbers show an enough profit.

 

[Roz]

Your place looks very nice and appealing. Perhaps some mural on the side of the building to get people talking about the cool looking mural?

 

[Car Wash Man]

We have feather flags by the street that we alternate between a few different ones to keep changing things up. Really inexpensive way to catch peoples attention. Also try to hit home the 24/7 open as that sets you apart from the tunnels.

 

[soonermajic]

Eric, I didn't do a ProForma. I saw abcity of 68,000 that had zero good Touchless washes, & found a spot in front of WalMart. I knew the traffic count was low, but it is also a stop sign corner with SLOW traffic.
I erroneously thought that would add up to 70cpd. Boy have I been wrong.

But, that area of the city is growing, & it will get bwtter.

I forgot to add, this was was closed down for 10 yrs. We bought it for CHEAP, remodeled, & have a helluva good wash now. I just gotta get folks to try it one time.

I have thought about buying 500 --1000 Cryptopay $1 cards. Anybody else lse done this with success?

 

[Greg Pack]

I will only say that any comp washes through the use of gift cards, codes, etc. to customers should be given to customers that drive clean cars. I know that is counter intuitive but the cleaner the car, the more likely they care about the way their car looks and are more likely to be a frequent customer. If a car is trashed, don't bother giving them a free wash. They have already exhibited they really don't care what their car looks like and will get your free wash and won't be back for a year, or ever.

That info above is probably the best nugget I ever got from an ICA seminar.

 

[soonermajic]

Greg, that is very intuitive. I never thought of it that way... But, that is simple brilliance!

 

[Keno]

It's also the middle of summer, so going to be a little harder to build up your business in the dog days of summer, at least that's how our washes cycle, we are in the southeast.

Might get more marketing traction in the fall

 

[HeyVern]

When I first opened, I carried free wash cards with me everywhere and handed them out to whoever I talked to waitresses, store clerks, everybody at city hall.

 

[ShinePro]

One of the best things I ever did after getting the new paystation 4 yrs ago.
i went and visited the local sheriff. Sold him fleet cards for the whole dept. at about half price. They wash all the cruisers etc. Then they all started washing their own cars and they talk to a lot of people.

The best part of the deal- one never knows when a cruiser comes rolling in for a wash. Having them on site at sporadic times is a blessing!

 

[Keno]

Can you capture the Walmart shoppers traffic? Free or 1/2 of any wash with a Walmart receipt from same date? Might be worth trying a similar promo for a while to get people used to using your wash when they do their weekly shopping. You want it to be part of their routine, weekly shopping and car wash. Easy and convenient for them.

 

[Axxlrod]

Eric, I didn't do a ProForma. I saw abcity of 68,000 that had zero good Touchless washes, & found a spot in front of WalMart. I knew the traffic count was low, but it is also a stop sign corner with SLOW traffic.
I erroneously thought that would add up to 70cpd. Boy have I been wrong.

But, that area of the city is growing, & it will get bwtter.

I forgot to add, this was was closed down for 10 yrs. We bought it for CHEAP, remodeled, & have a helluva good wash now. I just gotta get folks to try it one time.

I have thought about buying 500 --1000 Cryptopay $1 cards. Anybody else lse done this with success?

Remodels are tough. It's not easy to get people to come try your "new" wash that did a crap job every other time they went there previously for years.

When you build new from the ground up, everybody wants to come try the "new" place, but when you are trying to resurrect an old wash that had a bad reputation, that's a long hard road. I've done it.

You have to use signage/banners/feather flags/balloons/everything to get people to know that the site has new owners that have completely remodeled it and is putting out a good car. Old reps die hard.

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

Remodels are tough. It's not easy to get people to come try your "new" wash that did a crap job every other time they went there previously for years.

When you build new from the ground up, everybody wants to come try the "new" place, but when you are trying to resurrect an old wash that had a bad reputation, that's a long hard road. I've done it.

You have to use signage/banners/feather flags/balloons/everything to get people to know that the site has new owners that have completely remodeled it and is putting out a good car. Old reps die hard.

Truth here. I’m doing the same with a tunnel.

My distributor said it could be a good 2-3 years

 

[soonermajic]

Truth here. I’m doing the same with a tunnel.

My distributor said it could be a good 2-3 years

Dayummm

 

[Zal]

Coach,
I did similar with an old wash, rehab, new paint, membership on PDQ equipment. What worked for me was a great clean car with soap dripping off the car before the rinse to show we don't skimp, also make a lot of noise- big banners with Wednesday specials, LOUD SIGNAGE for short terms, directly behind me is a tunnel. Every week I had new customers as the tunnel did damage to their cars so I added a banner on that side with big letters CAR WASHES DONE TOUCH FREE on a 12'X4 banner - In about a year I was smiling since we did 3 times start up volume. I'm working on the second bay now and its already on Dencar Membership and so will next bay. KEEP UP on Google-this generation does use it so have someone you trust run a google account on your property. My advertising budget is $50 monthly for google and $50 for facebook-no need to advertise more than a few miles from the wash is all it takes. Considering a 4th wash location soon since all 3 are profitable. at least 12 months of hammering the message really helps

 

[soonermajic]

I have avg 37 CPD during August so far. MORE than double what I was doing. greatly appreciate you guys help. I have been pasing out free 1x use cards, telling everybody I see, & asking folks to like us on FB

 

[soonermajic]

I've been telling everyone abou tthe new chemicals & new site. Business is going UP. Thanks for yalls help

 

[Jaltavela]

I see you have this listed for sale. Did you not have luck increasing the cpd?

 

[soonermajic]

I see you have this listed for sale. Did you not have luck increasing the cpd?

Long story. Those guys are trying to sell it, before they buy it. I told em my price, they agreed. They just wanna flip it.
Im about to get pissed though, & tell em kick rocks & gtfo here!

 

[Axxlrod]

Long story. Those guys are trying to sell it, before they buy it. I told em my price, they agreed. They just wanna flip it.
Im about to get pissed though, & tell em kick rocks & gtfo here!

You gotta be chittin me! The stones on those guys.

 

[Roz]

unless they pay you now they are just a listing agent. That said the deal they outlined is priced to sell, fairly quickly. You just need to find someone within an hour drive of the place who is willing to work. If I lived nearby I would jump on the sale. Patience is the name of the game as things take time to find that person looking for a good job and has money for the down payment. The structure they describe should make it a bit easier than a deal without financing involved. Good luck, patience.