Car Wash Show to Chicago in 2014.

[I.B. Washincars]

It appears the 2014 show will be in Chicago. I love that it's in Las Vegas and since they moved it to Sand's Expo it's even better. I'm bummed and underwhelmed. Is anyone else as disappointed as I am, or is my Vegas addiction clouding my judgement?

 

[4csuns]

I agree, if it's not in Vegas I'm not at the show. Simple huh.

 

[soapy]

I am glad to see it leave Vegas once in a while. When the ICA decided to stay in Vegas for an extended time it was unfair to the WCA and their trade show. If the ICA decided that they would have their trade show in Texas every year the SWCWA would see a huge drop in their trade show attendance. The same could be said of all the other smaller regional associations. I feel that all the regional association do certain things that the ICA does not. Strong regional associations are a good thing. It always seemed to me that the ICA was being predatory towards the WCA. I like the ICA traveling around to various regions of the country to make it easier for some people to get to it.

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

I agree, if it's not in Vegas I'm not at the show. Simple huh.

I'm the exact opposite, I generally go if it's not in Las Vegas.

 

[Greg Pack]

Vegas has little appeal for me, too. I vote for another show in San Antonio, or Orlando!

 

[rph9168]

I think the ICA does little to help any of the regionals. With low air fares and hotels Vegas used to be a cheap venue to exhibit in or attend but not any more. I like the idea of moving it around. For the sake of the exhibitors they need to avoid cities with strong unions. Cost of exhibiting in those cities can almost double due to union restrictions.

 

[Rondo]

ICA Show

I would go if in SAT, not Chicago or ORL. ORL is too hard to get to, pay for a car, pay for parking and their $15.00 sandwiches are ridiculous.

 

[rph9168]

No venue is cheap any more. Food prices at any of the shows are ridiculous. There are usually some deals out there wherever the Show is. It is nice to see the different attractions at the various cities.

 

[boywonder]

The last time it was in Chicago it sucked. Talked to a lot of equipment exhibitors, and they might not show up. I know I wont go.

 

[rph9168]

Chicago has the potential to be a great site. Supposedly there have been improvements in the arrangement with the unions servicing the Show and surrounding accommodations. I agree that the last time the Show in Chicago was one of the worst ever. They will have to convince both exhibitors and attendees that things will be much better this time or it will be another disaster.

 

[pitzerwm]

Last time the Mayor and unions promised to play nice and they didn't. Most of my clients said that they wouldn't return. I doubt that I will go.

 

[rph9168]

No doubt they will have a hard time convincing exhibitors and attendees to go to Chicago. It was a really bad Show the last time it was held there - very expensive to exhibit and attend. Holding it there is definitely a big risk. I am really surprised if the rumor is true.

 

[buda]

Today trade expos are about money.

As an active senior in the car wash industry 40+ years I recall when the ICA or ACWA (Automatic Car Wash Association) was completely "operator driven."

The show moved around for the benefit of operators who wanted to see different parts of the country at convention time and have a chance to visit with different operators in these parts of the country they would not otherwise travel to during the year.

When the new management company took over the management of the ICA there were a great many positive changes that took place.

This group pushed hard to make the ICA an "industry-driven" association vs being a membership driven association as it had been since it's inception.

Leaving, the growing in popularity regional associations, to be "member-driven."

A part of that industry-driven mentality was to make putting on a trade show easier to do and more economical for the ICA. That meant picking a single location that was a "major draw" for attendance.

It is much easier for the association to make convention hall deals and hotel arrangements if they know they are coming back to the same venue every year.

Like Vegas or not, and I certainly do not like Vegas, it is a draw for most trade shows, and compared to other cities a bit easier for exhibitors since the unions in LV are not a "strict" as say, in Chicago.

In spite of the inexpensive airfares and hotel rooms in Las Vegas there is the problem of smaller operators not being able to, or not wanting to, get away from their wash for more than a day or two. Going from the East Coast or the Southeast to Vegas requires an operator being away from the wash for at least 3 days which is what many operators do not want to do in spite of airfare and hotel packages that are quite attractive.

The last time the ICA went to Chicago, I believe was 2001, same year as
9/11.

Interestingly there was a completely different crowd of operators at that Expo compared to what you experience in Las Vegas. As an exhibitor it was refreshing to have a chance to speak with different operators than you usually find in Las Vegas.

As far as ICA being industry-driven vs member-driven there seems to be a shift in the thinking and the board seems to be doing more things that reflect that ICA is reaching out to operator members.

Changing from the Car Care World Expo back to the "Car Wash Show" is in, my opinion, an example that the ICA Board recognizes that if it hopes to increase membership it has to first and foremost serve the operator not the industry. Maybe it is not as some thought, "what is good for the industry is good for the operator."

The downside of Chicago for a suppliers are the unions in Chicago, not allowing you to pick up so much as a screw driver.

There are so many sides to this question, I hope these comments help.

Regards
Bud Abraham

 

[I.B. Washincars]

For the record, the info I got was from an article on carwash.com. It also stated that an official statement hadn't been received from the ICA or Eric Wulf.

 

[dogwasher]

Chicago needs to clean up there act period. Now that there loosing business there still putting up a fight....they just don't get it. With there hourly pay, benefits, pension, workers comp ins, ..ect.. they cost about $100.000 per year to employ so basically most of the time they make more than there employer. As the employer your sometimes better off leaving the long hours and head aches behind and become the employee.

 

[rph9168]

Although there was no official announcement by the ICA the Mayor of Chicago was quoted as saying “I am pleased that the Car Wash Show is coming to Chicago and its more than 6,000 attendees will have a chance to experience all the great things our city has to offer…" Sounds like a done deal to me. Supposedly the unions have agreed to allow exhibitors to set up their own booth but you can bet if that is true any services like electric or moving equipment will cost plenty. For the sake of the ICA let's hope this does not turn into a nightmare.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

It's hard to believe that Chicago will ever change, but I do like the variety, and wish there would be more central locations to hold the show. San Antonio i would pick as #1, and Orlando and Nashville tied for #2, and Chicago, and Las Vegas not on the list.

 

[Earl Weiss]

It's hard to believe that Chicago will ever change, but I do like the variety, and wish there would be more central locations to hold the show. San Antonio i would pick as #1, and Orlando and Nashville tied for #2, and Chicago, and Las Vegas not on the list.

Curious as to why San Antonio was your #1. I did not find a wide variety of other stuff to do there. Also, flight arrangement was not nearly as easy as most other cities mentioned.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

Earl, you are right about flights, but we liked the friendly atmosphere of texas, the hotels, and the river walk, and the restaurants. We are easy to entertain, and vegas is just too much. I would be happy if they held it every year in Orlando, as we are leaving las vegas this year and going to Jacksonville, and the connecting flights take us thru Chicago. So i feel for the east coast guys that spend a day each way on the plane going to vegas. The ICA is looking for maximum attendance, and even las vegas probably can't deliver enough, as last year the 6K they claim seemed slim.

 

[Waxman]

I would choose Nashville first then San Antonio and/or Chicago (cause I haven't been).

Though I have only owned a carwash for 6 years, I started attending the ICA show much earlier to educate myself.

I had a super time in Nashville as well as San Antonio. The band America played at the outdoor Riverwalk theater and they were great. There was a restaurant in Nashville called the Boun'dry that was amazing.