Changes needed?

[Midwest Steve]

Hi guys,
I have an exterior tunnel. It is touch free. Its been here 15 years. In the last 5 years their has been 2 friction tunnels built. We are the only ones that prep and towel dry cars. The other guys prep but do not dry.
Since the slow down the last few years we have been struggleing to keep our heads above water. Our costs are not all that high, except labor. I would have a hard time getting rid of the towel driers because we are the only wash in town that offers this and being a touch free wash sometimes the dryers remove film that doesnt come off in the wash.
My area has A LOT of mud. I mean a lot. Their is no equipment that will clean wheel wells and rocker panels on some vehicles. So, I would have a hard time getting rid of preppers.
My question is, Could I install friction equipment and eliminate 2 people from the drying area?
The problem is, I would be offering the same thing the other guys offer. We do wash more cars than they do, but with our higher cost it doesn't leave any profit.
We also have not had a price increase in 4 or 5 years. Thinking of that too.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Steve

 

[Earl Weiss]

Hi guys,
I have an exterior tunnel. It is touch free. Its been here 15 years. In the last 5 years their has been 2 friction tunnels built. We are the only ones that prep and towel dry cars. The other guys prep but do not dry.
Since the slow down the last few years we have been struggleing to keep our heads above water. Our costs are not all that high, except labor. I would have a hard time getting rid of the towel driers because we are the only wash in town that offers this and being a touch free wash sometimes the dryers remove film that doesnt come off in the wash.
My area has A LOT of mud. I mean a lot. Their is no equipment that will clean wheel wells and rocker panels on some vehicles. So, I would have a hard time getting rid of preppers.
My question is, Could I install friction equipment and eliminate 2 people from the drying area?
The problem is, I would be offering the same thing the other guys offer. We do wash more cars than they do, but with our higher cost it doesn't leave any profit.
We also have not had a price increase in 4 or 5 years. Thinking of that too.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Steve

The answer to your questions is in all likelyhood a definite maybe. (I think I hear a flex serve message coming)

As often discussed, the desired result of "Clean enough" and "Dry Enough" to meet or exceed customers expectations can be done without labor.

Years ago I believe Bill Consolo was touchless and added equipment. He still preps and gets a premium price. Don't know if he towell drys. You might contact him to see what felt was most useful contact equip to put in first. Then you willl need to decide on your needs and budget.

 

[my2cents]

Being touch free, I would think your chemical and water treatment costs may be higher than the friction guys down the street. If you choose to add friction maybe pick one or two items that would eliminate some prep or target hard to clean areas (wheel washer, rocker brush, top brush) or add more drying to help eliminate towelers. By adding a little at a time you do not have as much or possibly any down time. Drying is a function of cleaning and I am a believer in friction over touch free for cleaning but I also understand why some choose to go the touch free route.

What about other areas like adding free vacs if you are not doing so already?

How about express detail services?

 

[briteauto]

Some carefully placed friction components after the high pressure will take care of the film. Keep your prep as it is to target what equipment, friction or non-friction, cannot get.

Spot free rinse and/or different types of rinse arches - perhaps a rain arch plus a re-evaluation of your DA chemical/sealer and placement and amount of blowers all can contribute to a very acceptable clean and dry car without the need to towel.

Your cars will automatically be drier if the film is removed from them when the rinse and selaer/DA is applied and blown off a clean finish.

Don't get hung up on being the only guy that does towel - concern yourself with getting a cleaner and drier car without towel labor. You can still dry better than your competition without having towel labor - they are getting away with it.

I never liked the idea of needing towel labor to "clean" the car.

Your customers are obviously not too fussy about something touching their car if they don't mind a complete towel dry. I understand perception of mechanical friction can be more negative than hand toweling, but in reality, you are creating more micro-marring by toweling a car with film still on it than any modern, well soaped piece of friction equipment will cause.

You and your customers should notice a long-term increase in the appearance of the finish.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Mike

 

[robert roman]

“….been here 15 years. In the last 5 years their has been 2 friction tunnels built. Since the slow down the last few years we have been struggleing to keep our heads above water.”

I have worked on projects in Wyoming and find most areas in the State had modest growth through the downturn or at least have remained fairly stable.

Given the size of markets in Wyoming, building two tunnels in most areas within a five year span would be a significant addition, maybe leading to dilution of market share.

However, you have not mentioned car counts, average revenue, average cost or other variables needed to analyze your problem.

Let’s say the new guys (friction) may have at least a $0.50 advantage in chemical and water cost.

Aside from the towel dryers, your labor should be the same as the new guys (not mentioned is the type of tunnels they are).

Let’s say two people cost you $150 a day. Divide this by average car washed gives the new guy’s labor advantage per car.

“We do wash more cars than they do.”

How many more?

As for mud, your competitors face the exact same problem.

So, before solving your problem by spending on equipment, I would answer the question of whether you want to remain touch-less or become friction or hybrid.

If its touch-less, I would look for solutions that do not involve brushes.

I have several clients with touch-less tunnel and none of them have towel driers and get clean and dry cars.

Hope this helps.