Upgrade

[A & J Carwash]

Suggestions for a tired but already decent carwash volumm wise. Wash, wax, rinse and FB with trigger guns and two motor vacuums. Give your thoughtful experienced ideas on what two things you would add/change first. Competitors: one upscale self-service oposite side of town and a gated automatic with 'free' vacuums 3 miles on same road but different market area.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Good lighting, white bay walls, Bill acceptors and Credit card acceptors in Bays. Venders?

 

[Randy]

I’d take hard look at the curb appeal. What is the first impression of the customer when he drives onto the lot? Lighting is the place well lit at night, bright. There’s nothing wrong with 2 motor vac’s, we’ve been using them for years, just keep the maintained, cleaned out and they suck. I’d install tri-foam, tire cleaner, Presoak and credit cards, like the Crypto pay system and maybe dryers in the bays. I wouldn’t install bill validators in the bays, they are too much of a target or temptation for the thieves.

 

[chaz]

Spot free rinse, and then trifoam
C/c and bill acceptors also make it easier to spend $

But...curb appearance for sure. We are a busy wash with all the bells and whistles. Just added a fresh coat of bright white epoxy to the bay's, and changed the exterior from earthtones, to bright blue with a white stripe. Amazing new look. Two customers actually asked how long we've been open. 8 years.

 

[2Biz]

How many position rotary switch do you have in the bay? Makes a difference when deciding to upgrade. You only listed 4 selections? I have an 8 position switch....Soap, Rinse, Wax, FB, PS, SFR, TF, and Off...

 

[robert roman]

Most business owners follow process.

Decision to renovate is a function of net present value. Net present value is function of cash flow (net income), discount rate, period and initial investment.

Cash flow is function of sales revenue. Sales revenue is function of market and costs.

Market is function of site location characteristics including competition. Cost is a function of business model.

The question is “what two things you would add/change first.”

Answering this requires cash flow (net income) not “volume.”

The reason is to determine initial investment.

For example, business model is “tired” wands-only & vacuums (but decent volume) whereas competition is formidable – upscale SS (in-bay too?) and express exterior - of which most draw from 5-mile radius.

So, you need to at least match attributes of business model of closest formidable competitor to effect change in market share.

The reason is you are already getting all you can from existing customers.

Fresh paint, light bulbs, credit acceptors and additional wand functions may get some customers to spend a little more but the improvement isn’t going to be enough to pull customers away from superior locations.

So, what will it cost to match relative attractiveness of the upscale SS?

I suspect it’s going to take all suggested and a lot more.