Ica show impressions

[soapy]

I thought the ICA show was smaller than usual. I did not see many new innovations like I have seen in the past. I really felt that there was very little educational seminars for the Self Service side of things. The Q and A session was very good and could have gone on much longer. A lot of good topics were covered. A couple of more people with microphones working the crowd would have helped.
I thought that blendco had a unique approach with one large booth and several smaller booths scattered around the show floor. It made it real easy to talk to them vs. the one large booth concept that gets all jambed up.
The ICA really stumbled when it came to detailers. They would not allow any meeting schedules to b e printed on the ICA brochures so it was difficult to get class locations and topics. They should have been a little more help to the detailers who attended.
My thoughts are that all trade shows are getting smaller and are more expensive. I think they will all have to combine with other trade shows to offer more buyers opportunities to see various things. My thoughts for a car wash show is to combine with shows like SEMA who offer large base of attendees who are car people. It would give normal carwash people more of an incentive to attend if they had other shows that could benefit them. It would also open up more buyers to the suppliers and generate more leads for them.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

I think that the ICA put on a really good show. It was quite a bit smaller, that was ok also. Eric H and I and the Waxman had a really good time looking around. I miss the really good speakers they used to have, but those shows had 10-12K attending, and i would guess we didn't draw quite 5K for this show.
I almost went and registered for the Lightfair convention. I walked in up to the badge screeners and it looked really good. It was fun to meet you and others.
John

 

[rph9168]

This had to be one of the smallest crowds at an ICA Show I have been at. Despite the slump in the industry I thought the general mood of the Show was upbeat. Most of the vendors I talked to were pleased with the how it went for them. I didn't get a chance to attend any of the educational sessions but from those I talked to that did it sounded like it was the "same old same old". Too bad. I think many that attended were looking for some new ideas and help to improve their washes or the way they operate them.

Until they make the Show more affordable to attend and for vendors to participate I think we probably will never see the attendance they had in the 90's and early part of this decade. Hard to say if the regional shows will benefit from the low attendance or if it is a bad sign for them.

The Forum party was great as usual. Always good to see some familiar faces and connect new ones with their "handles". Good job Bill.

 

[Eric H]

Over all I was disappointed in this years show. I usually look for the new innovations, but did not find a single thing for my SS that got my interest.
The educational seminars were a also a disappointment. Quite frankly, the most annoying one for me was the "going green" seminar that Mark VII and PurClean put on. Out of an hour the Mark VII guy spent 1/2 of it promoting Mark VII. I could care less about the history of the company. The woman from PurClean did give me some useful information before the seminar but I was the only beneficiary of that information as we were chatting one on one.
It is alway good to do some networking and chat with other operators, but I do not know if it was worth a trip to Vegas JUST for that. Though, it may have been worth the trip to visit Luv-It frozen custard (twice).
I was at the SSCWN booth speaking with JJ and an industry veteran (who you would all know). The veteran left after complaining about the show. JJ commented that he was somewhat shocked to hear a man who was always so upbeat be so up in arms about the show.
Did anyone see an internet cafe? I remember one in the past but did not see one this year.
I know that there are budgetary considerations but Mark Thornsbury set the bar pretty high in past years. I do not think that the $369 I paid for my Deluxe pass was worth $100.
BTW: the info from the PurClean woman was: rebate information can be found at http://dsireusa.org/ and LSI will do a lighting plan for your site if you ask them.
PS:Thank you to Bill for hosting the forum party! I even got the mat clamps that I won (well, Kris Oliver From PDQ won them but gave them to me(thanks, Kris)) past airport security. I think TSA wanted to take them away until I explained what they were.

 

[Red Baron]

I paid $258 to get my wife and I into the exhibits only, for a single day. Seems a tad expensive. And the Italian doofus printing badges and hitting on my wife was a little irritating as well.

I don't recall who had the huge "green" exhibit area but that turns me right off. The car wash chemical industry has yet to figure out how to consistently clean a black car and remove eyebows - maybe they should concentrate on that before they climb in bed with Al Gore in saving the planet from ourselves. Besides, how green can it really be if the customer has to prewash his car in the self serve bay before he goes into the IBA?

 

[Kirb]

I couldn't make the show this year. I know in the past a lot of the vendors extend the show specials for a few weeks. Any good deals this year?
Thanks,
Kirb

 

[mjc3333]

ICA show comments

I have to agree with all of the above comments 100%.

I have been going to the ICA shows since 1988 with each year becoming smaller.

I remember when the show was three times a year, then two, and now once.

With this said, the regional shows to me, seem to be a much better deal all around. A smaller venue, but a more personal convention.

I was at the self serve Q & A and did not hear anything new (good or bad) as I do from this forum.

I was at another convention simultaneously this time in the beginning of the week May 10 to May 13. for my other business. This show to me had similar results to the ICA show; very small attendance and nothing new to learn. I have been going to this show since 2002 and have seen attendance wither away each year. To me, most conventions are drawn up to attract "new" investors. To me this is why this forum is so important.

Being from the east coast, Las Vegas is not always convient or economical. During the Q&A for the self serve washes, one of the speakers asked where everyone was from. I think only one person was from the west coast, yet the convention was right in their back yard. To me, the conventions that were held on the east coast, mid-west, or the southern states were much more appealing to me.

I have a suggestion that I am involved in my other business. We are involved in something called a 20 group. It basically is 15-20 different owners that meet three times a year to go over all of the positive and negative aspects of how they "run" their business. Nobody is a direct competitor, yet the group consists of similarly situated businesses. To me, this would be real world owners discussing real world problems and solutions about the car wash climate with do's and don'ts they all could benefit from. Its nice to go to the car wash conventions be it the ICA or the regional. The biggest problem is the fact that the distributors are in business to sell you everything under the sun without any true concern of your business. This is why the distributors and manufacturers need new "blood" to survive. Kill or be killed. As seasoned owners, we all are looking for the next "new" thing in car washing. Sometimes we are reluctant to try new things (cost, customer reaction, etc.), this is where the 20 group would work to everyone's benefit in the long run.

Mike

 

[Bill Manke]

I didn't get much out of it either. They keep getting more expensive with less to offer. I think the show cost so much for the exhibitors that they have to cut back also. But that is why I come to this show is to see and touch all the new stuff. If it isn't there it is about as good as getting on the internet.The more it cost the less people show up.

 

[Washmee]

I have to agree with all of the above comments 100%.

Me too.

To me, most conventions are drawn up to attract "new" investors. To me this is why this forum is so important.

I agree Mike.



I have a suggestion that I am involved in my other business. We are involved in something called a 20 group. It basically is 15-20 different owners that meet three times a year to go over all of the positive and negative aspects of how they "run" their business. Nobody is a direct competitor, yet the group consists of similarly situated businesses. To me, this would be real world owners discussing real world problems and solutions about the car wash climate with do's and don'ts they all could benefit from.

Mike, We already have that, right here on this forum.


The biggest problem is the fact that the distributors are in business to sell you everything under the sun without any true concern of your business. This is why the distributors and manufacturers need new "blood" to survive. Kill or be killed. As seasoned owners, we all are looking for the next "new" thing in car washing. Sometimes we are reluctant to try new things (cost, customer reaction, etc.), this is where the 20 group would work to everyone's benefit in the long run.

Agree completely.

Mike

I stopped going to ICA conventions when I figured out that they really weren't for existing operators any longer.

 

[Greg Pack]

MJC, I believe ICA has a program like you describe where operators from different markets network and share ideas.

I think any business that requires large amounts of capital to start up is in a contraction phase, and probably will be for years to come. A lot of carwash businesses , especially SS mfgs, are in survival mode, and I believe it will continue to be tight for them. I wonder how the mfg behemoths (like Coleman) in that market segment are going to adapt.

To me one of the best things about going to the show is getting around people that are enthused about the business. Sometimes the continuous daily grind of this business wears me down. But when I attend and get exposed to people that are excited and trying new things, it's contagious.

I would have liked to have gone, but I have no planned major purchases, and would rather spend the $1500 it would have cost me towards cosmetics on a new wash I just bought. Hopefully I will get to attend next year's show.

I often hear that the lightly attended shows still have more serious purchasers. Any vendor comments about the show?

 

[DavidM]

As small as this show was, the mood did seem generally upbeat. I didn't see any revolutionary products at the show but the manufacturers are improving their products.

I think in this environment, a lot of operators are looking for ideas to improve their business, not equipment. It puts the manufacturers in a tighter spot and decreases the value of a trade show. ICA started the Business Improvement Groups (BIGS) at the Orlando convention but I haven't heard anything about them lately. The forum gives us some of that however, I know I am hesitant to share too much information here because I have many local competitors that read this forum. In a small group of operators, you can share and gather information without the risk of helping the guy down the street.

Eric - I was at the Mark VII/Pur Clean seminar as well and I wish I had stayed in bed, what a waste.

There was an excellent seminar on recruiting and training employees given by a trainer from the Auto Bell chain. That alone probably paid for my trip. I also spoke with other operators, picked up some good ideas, and generally feel rejuvenated and ready to get back to washing cars. As the show continues to evolve, I still find it worth my time and money every year.

I do have the advantage of being involved in the SS, automatic, tunnel and detailing segments so there is a lot that is relevant to our operations. A SS only operator, for example, can ignore probably 50-65% of the trade show and many of the seminars making it more difficult to find value in the expo.

David

 

[DiamondWash]

I saw next year the show is to be held at the Sands Convention Center instead of the original convention center also the Sands Convention Center is smaller in size as well.

 

[soapy]

I took my wife who runs my detail shop and makes most of the decisions there. She had the following observations about the show. Most of the detail booths she attended would not give her the time of day. SHe was interested in products like brushes, waxes and really talking about things in detail. Almost every booth just handed her a brochure and walked away. She stated that they all felt detailing was strictly a MAN"S business. A lot of companies lost an opportunity to sell her things. We were at one booth and she was ordering hundreds of brushes and the sales rep. kept leaving us to take other orders so we finally walked away in disgust. Several thousand dollars were lost by that booth alone.
She also felt that companies in this economy need to offer updates to older equipment not just try to sell complete new units. Examples might be a new face panel kit for a auto cashier that would create a new look and cost the wash owner less money than a complete replacement. A package of new covers for automatics at a special price would be nice. It would let us create a new look for our washes without having to spend 50K or more. I saw very little of the big companies taking this approach, instead they only want to sell all new equipment. This attitude is what opens the door for the smaller companies providing updates and improvments on existing equipment. I loved the new Dixmore led display for older Hamilton ACWs as an example.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Did not go this year but will provide my thoughts with a hope toward perhaps more worthwhile future shows.

1. Last couple of shows I attended was because I had a specific purchase in mind - Tire Shiner and Bill acceptors. The show was a place to compare many offerings.
2. Aside from comparing certain items my thought was perhaps I had been to too many shows since Brushes still went round and round and mitters went back and forth, or side to side or in a circle.
3. While it is nice to hear from industry "Experts' I preferred and would prefer to hear from from people in the trenches (as opposed to umpteen salesmen and consultants wh always say "when I was in the XXX business...") who share their stories of successes and lessons learned from failures, like Benny's, auto bell etc.
4. Some time ago the ICA solicited ideas / speakers. I submitted "10 ways to improve your bottom line with little or no cost or effort" . Mine was rejected, but perhaps soliciting ideas for seminars from Operators would be a good step.

 

[bigleo48]

I have a suggestion that I am involved in my other business. We are involved in something called a 20 group. It basically is 15-20 different owners that meet three times a year to go over all of the positive and negative aspects of how they "run" their business.
Mike

Sounds like this forum!?

 

[bigleo48]

My 2 Cents on my 1st time to the 'Big' Show.

Spent 3 hrs (one of it talking to Bill). Didn't learn much (if anything), didn't see anything I didn't know about (except from Bill). The most interesting thing was to see a nice Bikini girl freezing her a$$ off in the air conditioning. Sorry I did't notice who's booth as I was busy looking

But had lots of fun at the Forum party, drove all over the place (even made it to the Grand Canyon).

Over all, had fun will likely come again, but just do the forum party and enjoy Vegas and the area.

BigLeo

 

[Mr Frank]

Wasn't there but heard that Belanger has a new Saber touchless automatic with on-board dryer

 

[phred113]

I liked visiting Jim at Etowah Valley. He seemed to busy with folks looking at his stands whenever I went by.

 

[Waxman]

I spent less time than ever at the convention itself but still enjoyed myself. My Dad and I saw Jubilee, the Hoover Dam, 'Old Vegas', etc. Hung out with good friends like Eric and John and others and had a generally nice time. I also need to break free from the business daily grind or I feel too much like a glorified janitor. The trade show reminds me that I am a business owner and in control of my company's destiny.

I was inspired to a few new ideas about my carwash, detail shop and business in general, so it was worth it for me personally.

If I have even one decent idea from a trip like this one or make a connection that is beneficial over the long term, it is for me worth it.

I could care less that the show is small. I've been going to these ICA shows for far longer than I've owned a carwash, so I still have that 'new guy' zeal going for me. But give me some time; I'll be as jaded as y'all someday!

 

[pitzerwm]

It does amuse me that the companies that spend all of that money to be there, don't seem to spend $2 to train the booth personnel. You want to see one booth that knows what they are doing is DRB. Every person there has a job and they know how to execute it and have the tools to do the job as well. A number of them had the new iPad, God what a neat "toy" I'll be getting one when they add the phone, it apparently will have a camera too, but I probably can live without that.

One side note on the booth with the bikini. Sadly, she wasn't that attractive in that bikini, aside from the fact that she was just out of place at that convention, the two clowns that own the company and were in the booth, sat on their butts and when I tried to talk with them, they acted like they could care less.

A lot of you remember when I had MS. USofA in my booth, that is the way to do it.

sidenote: the bikini was gone on the 3rd day because of complaints.