So What Else Can I add?

[bigleo48]

All,

So I have had my wash for a while now and always looking for ways to increase revenue and decrease costs. One issue I have is that my property is not maxed out and adjacent land is available on all three sides if I need it.

So far I have the following;

-Touchless IBA in 50' building
-8 SS bays with 10 options and room for another option
-5 shampoo vacs
-2 petwashes

and the following misc offerings: ATM, Air/fragrance/WW fluid machines, Pop machine, vending machines, skate sharpening and detailing (on request).

The only service I have that has not performed to expectations is the Skate Sharpening. Takes a long time to convert customers over, seasonal and winters haven't been what they use to (last winter was a non-event). So I'm thinking of pulling it and installing water machines.

I have been granted approval for a 4 bay detail building...but demand has not been high enough to justify. So I will continue in the SS bays. But it could be used for something else. I have looking into car rental...not sure what else.

I have also been thinking about a concession trailer as I have the perfect spot for it. I have a friend who has a few and he thinks my location could do very well (over $100k/yr) with an initial investment of less than $50k.

I have also considered a truck wash...adding another IBA, either in a SS bay or adding to the existing one (would need to buy a little land). Turning my touchless into an mini tunnel.

Any other ideas?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I like the mini tunnel concept, but I have been jonesing for one for a while now. It sounds like you have a good location for one, that's where I would head given how many other options you have.

What type of cost reductions have you done that have showed promise? Are you focused more on revenue generation or cost reductions?

 

[bigleo48]

I mini tunnel is a consideration down the road. My IBA is not even 5 years old yet.

My biggest problem with a mini tunnel is that I have many older customers. They are very skid-dish (I think some are afraid of my pop machine). Not sure how they would react to a conveyor. There is a conveyor (a kinda of crappy one) on the other side of town and doesn't seem to do well. Perhaps having a $5 wash might bring them in as older people buy cheap washes.

The other issues are damages to vehicles and having to have the someone there to help load cars. Also, I'd need to close overnight and I do perhaps 15% of my business then.

 

[Hoser06]

Hi Big, from what I gather from your previous work with wash time optimizations your site could benefit from a second in-bay or mini tunnel to increase peak revenue and throughput when you're slammed. What's your comps like in the area? all touch-less minus the old conveyer site? Maybe offering a soft-touch option along side your touch-less would attract new/more customers.

Have you checked out the Petro-Canada Glide Hybrid sites with the flat belt conveyers in Ontario? No loading attendant needed and could be old people friendly. Not so sure about their touchscreen wash builder/entry system. It's like re-tasking a satellite.

With only one IBA at the site, I'd put my money in twining it up or a MacNeil mini tunnel.
with the obvious added benefit that if one wash goes down, you're still washing cars and don't have to play beat the clock making repairs.
Good news is you have the space to grow. I'd kill for more land!

 

[Louise]

If you are attended you might consider U-Haul rentals. We do it at our mini-storage.

 

[Buzzie8]

I have two acres available next to me somewhat cheap. I was considering trying to develop it if I could get a national auto parts store as an anchor. I would then consider opening a wheel store, a stereo shop, a rustproofing Zeibart type store and make along with my car washand make it a small auto related mini mall. Getting an anchor back when I had it under control was a problem because the economy was shutting down. I like the concept though.

 

[seattleguy]

Not to steal your thread but I could use some advice too. At one location I have 2 IBA, 5 SS, Vending , 7 vacs. I was thinking of adding 3 shampoo/spot remover/fragrance combos. Thoughts? How do these products sell compared to Tire Shiners? I have never seen tire shiner in use so any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[bigleo48]

Have you checked out the Petro-Canada Glide Hybrid sites with the flat belt conveyers in Ontario? No loading attendant needed and could be old people friendly.

Yeah...Quarter Million dollar belt! Sometimes I think Petro Can is not in it to make money. Some of the reps tell me they are in fact not making money on those washes!? They just have too much cash to spend....

 

[bigleo48]

If you are attended you might consider U-Haul rentals. We do it at our mini-storage.

Already a franchise here, or I would do it...

 

[bigleo48]

I have two acres available next to me somewhat cheap. I was considering trying to develop it if I could get a national auto parts store as an anchor. I would then consider opening a wheel store, a stereo shop, a rustproofing Zeibart type store and make along with my car washand make it a small auto related mini mall. Getting an anchor back when I had it under control was a problem because the economy was shutting down. I like the concept though.

Oil change, Tire/wheel shop with rust proofing next door. The Big Box store next block does car stereos/remote starters, etc...prices very hard to beat, stole all the local installers. Plus I don't have that kind of cash.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

How about gas and C-Store. 24/7
It would definitely increase your night business and add security to your ss.

 

[bigleo48]

How about gas and C-Store. 24/7
It would definitely increase your night business and add security to your ss.

Not zoned for it and city has already turned down a rezoning application next door for gas/c-store from a big oil company. But I could fight it with a 50/50 chance. There is a busy one a few hundred feet away. Tough to make it as an independent here too... The gas bar/c-store is also tied to the biggest grocery store around and they give 8 cents off a gallon to be used in grocery store. Everyone seems to get their gas there and wash at my car wash.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

How about a small drive thru coffee booth.
We have alot of them in our area. Alot of
$3-4 coffees, and open 6a-2p. The cost of a
small 8x8 booth is low. I have a daughter
that does hair, and booth rental is $600 a
month, and about 20 stylists in their small
strip mall spot. Seems pretty profitable.
She has never even met owners in 2 yrs.

 

[Earl Weiss]

If you have an extra SS function, Mr. Hoffman put in a boom for compressed aitr that people can use to blow out crevices etc. Has the air metered to 60psi. Always thought that was good and not as hard to do as triple foam.

Seperate Tire / wheel brush seems good also.

 

[bigleo48]

How about a small drive thru coffee booth.

Starbucks with drive thru a few hundred yards away...Tim Hortons Coffee shop (almost a religion here) next door in Walmart along with a McDonalds that is big into coffee now.

Sorry to sound so negative about all these ideas...they are very good!

 

[bigleo48]

If you have an extra SS function, Mr. Hoffman put in a boom for compressed aitr that people can use to blow out crevices etc. Has the air metered to 60psi. Always thought that was good and not as hard to do as triple foam.

Seperate Tire / wheel brush seems good also.

I have an air-shammee in all my bays, so that covers it. I have considered a separate wheel brush or trifoam. I have three booms, so adding another boom may just be too much congestion...plus I don't really want to weep another device. Will look at it again...

 

[madscientist]

I would say that adjacent land and small building would be ideal for a drive through liquor barn, but if you are in Ontario that won't work. I guess slot machines would also be a no go.

Is there a need for a truck wash in your area? Or at least a larger bay for trucks, campers, boats, motor homes, etc.

 

[bigleo48]

I have considered a truck bay(s) a while back. Many have discourage me and with my dealings with many truck drivers now...I don't think I want one for obvious reasons.

 

[MEP001]

A truck bay can bring in a lot of money, but they bring in a lot of dirt and grease too. I certainly wouldn't ever build one if I had to clean it.

I'd definitely consider adding a triple foam system if you can find a good spot for the boom. I've watched surveillance video of some busy days and have seen that about one in six people use it. It seems like when it's not busy, about one in three will use it.

 

[bigleo48]

I'd definitely consider adding a triple foam system if you can find a good spot for the boom. I've watched surveillance video of some busy days and have seen that about one in six people use it. It seems like when it's not busy, about one in three will use it.

Yes...I need to install that. Might turn it off in the winter or use anti freeze product or make a ww fluid mist to avoid the weeping.