CarWash2013 Report from ShurVend

[Uncle Sam]

A preliminary report from April 22 that the ICA emailed shows a total attendance of 5646 which is up 3% from last year. The big jump was in the number of car wash locations that were represented; 7329 in 2012 to 9052 in 2013. We had a very busy first day with many contacts being made indicating increased interest in vending car wash products. The second day was not as busy, but we still had some good numbers. The last day, as usual, everybody was worn out except for the few that came at the last minute and distributors.

We showed two new products that were available for inspection for the first time. The first was our new VendPro-iG5 with horizontal bars across the window for increased security of the vendor. Bars are a look that an operator either likes or dislikes; if you don’t like bars, you will order the ShurVend VendPro-iG4 and, if you like the bars for security concerns, you will order the ShurVend VendPro-iG5. They are like fraternal twins; basically the same but with a different look.

Cont'd

 

[Uncle Sam]

The other, as promised in a previous post, was our first offering designed specifically for the Express Exterior business model. Architects of EE washes have been designing an alcove or closet-like area for car wash/drink vendors with (or without) a steel roll-down door to secure the area at night. This alcove or closet area is not very visible to the free vacuum customer and is also some distance from these free vacuums. I have sold many standard vendors (no security on them) to new EE sites for use in these alcoves. Even with the steel roll down doors and security locks the vandalism on the vendors has been considerable. Vendors that are vandalized or out of sight do not do very well financially for the EE operator.

The new ShurVend design for the VendPro-iG4 focuses on creating the security for the vendor so it can be installed in the free vacuum area of an Express Exterior wash site for high visibility and easy access. We designed a solid steel door that covers the window, control panel, drop box and coin return of the vendor so no openings of the vendor are open to a would-be vandal or thief during the hours that the wash is closed. This door can be unlocked, opened, folded, and latched against the side of the vendor by the wash attendants when the wash is opened. The free vacuum customers have an easy view and access to the vendor during the operating hours. When the wash is closed, the attendants can unlatch the door, fold it into position over the front of the vendor and lock it up with two socket head bolts secured by a high security plug lock. We make it easier to operate by having a timer that turns the vendor power on at opening time and turns the power off at closing. All the attendants have to do is open and close the machine each day and service the vendor.

Uncle Sam