Best Marketing Bang for the Buck?

[hopingforthebest]

We are replacing our current touch free IBA (one that has not washed well for a while and has a recent history of upsetting our customers with is lack of dependability...we have always made it "right" with them, but fear we have lost much business due to a undependable machine) with a new Friction unit.

I am trying to figure out a way to get the word out we have a new unit and to get people to try it...once they try it, I think they will come back.

I have thought of many different approaches, but I keep coming back to just offering a Saturday or even a whole weekend of free car washes. We could hang some grand re opening banners and signage around the wash and give away washes. I think this would be cheaper than other advertising media and more effective (directly targets those driving in front of our wash)

I have never done this before and would appreciate any insight.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I'm doing the exact same thing once ours is up and running.

 

[PEI]

Whenever, we want to introduce a new iba, we put up signs that read grand opening, car wash $1.00. This allows the customer to use the hamilton to start the wash even when we are not there. We used to do it for a quarter, but for security reasons we had to do away with accepting quarters through the hamilton.

So far, it has always worked to get people in to try the new machine.