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Déjà Vu... All Over Again. I agree with all who remember when exterior washing evolved. Dan Hanna was the prime mover of exterior washing but the concept grew quickly in the late 60's. Earl has it absolutely right... but the genesis was Hanna Enterprises (their first name) who saw the...

While I agree with most of what Bob offers, the arbitrary benchmark of "2 people at 20-minutes per service" is an over generalization. As Hopefully Bob might concur, that many services only require a few minutes, and two teams of 2 cross-trained detailers usually have far greater productivity...

Seems like you are stuck on a typical express format, and feel comfortable with the detail component being treated like an orphan. Candidly, and with only the best intention, I feel that you're making a mistake that will cost you dearly in lost revenue as well as customer retention. The plan...

Sent my contact info on this site's email. Glad to help. Call anytime. Pay it forward!

Like Bob inferred, the site is functional (but not great) for an express... but your project deserve a much better design that incorporates an aftercare component. Done right, that's where the real money will be made. Pay an architect who really understands flex-serve to redo it. There are a...

I guess some clarity is needed in response to the "wholehearted congratulation on retirement" comment. Maybe the appropriate term is semi-retired. given that I still function as a consultant but am no longer actively hop-scotching the planet or confining my activities to the carwashing...

Hands-On $$$ [][SIZE=3] You created offline profit center and centralized labor (existing attendants) which increased labor efficiency, like flex-serve does.- Bob Roman Riding on the coattails of Bob's comment, I've found the absolute best way (and most fun, too) to generate optimum net...

You'll Find It Can Get Better (More NET Profit) If You Optimize Its Flexibility Once again, Paul... if you really optimize the "hands-on" aftercare offerings and capitalize on everything being a detailing service, the number of customer-driven service choices will provide 3 potent enhancements...

"I am still amazed though by how many people do not want to stay in the car while it is washed. The biggest complaint is that they feel claustrophobic, one customer even compared it to being inside a MRI machine." Quick cure: Make the tunnel as bright as a local hospital emergency room! More...

3. The phased sequence of engaging customers and selling prior to the transaction process has been around since exteriors have; nothing new here because savvy carwash operators were doing it long before McDonalds. Why risk rushing a carwash customer when the option of having a second service...

A few more things you may have either missed or been given poor information. 1. There is NO FULL SERVICE in the flex-serve paradigm; just hands-free carwashing and hands-on detailing. It's not a semantic thing because consumers already have a frame of reference about what full service is and...

The flex-serve paradigm is fully scalable so it can be tailored to fit in most any site with wide ranges of volume demands. The bottom-line is to format your carwash operation with the greatest versatility for optimizing net profitability through superior customer retention efficacy...

Skilled Service Advisors Are Essential Profit Generators One of the fundamental precepts I used when developing flex-serve is the focus on adaptability and its easily adjustable format to meet market demands with a full spectrum of options available from which consumers can choose. Essential...

A sensible option to consider is a flex-serve retrofit designed/tailored to your marketplace demand and site configuration. If your location is favorable, with easy accessibility and exposure, you will quickly become a destination location due to the many consumer choices offered at a one-stop...

Depending on your location and drive-by traffic, a video sign may be your best advertising investment... as long as you optimize your usage of the sign's potential. Simple reader-boards are fine if you match them up with a time & temp sign. But the ultimate is either a rotational (changeable...

The key phrase you used is "Use just what you need to get the desired effect, show and results..." because the visual impact actually does make a huge difference... and it can be manipulated quite effectively. Several studies confirmed that when ample, no ... generous amounts of foam has a...

Introducing a carwash to the multi-profit center mix requires a commitment to understand and operate a carwash properly, meaning rendering an acceptably clean & dry vehicle on a consistent basis. Absent that commitment, c-stores would be gambling on devaluing their reputation for other...

Great idea, Ron. I too am a believer. Truth be known, "organic polymer filament" much more easily conforms to the various contours of vehicle surfaces, and due to its inherently slippery property actually requires less chemical while posing an even smaller risk to trim than fabric. I...

Consider This Option You would be wise to find and investigate a manufacturer that you'd like to represent in the sales and supply of carwash equipment. Once done, use your initial location as a showplace that you own and control for future sales in the region. You'll probably be buying at a...

Chicago is home for ICA One obvious reason for the Chicago choice is the management company that serves ICA calls it home. Some say it's self-serving. Nothing against Chicago. I love it! But it has always been a pricy place for a convention... which is why ICA left it decades ago. It runs...