"Us and Them" By Robert Roman

[Earl Weiss]

“Us and Them” by Mr. Roman in the 5/13 issue of Auto Laundry News points out the declining membership in the ICA and offers reasons. I agree with a lot of what is written, but I am not sure I get all of it.

He writes; “ After writing about this I received e-mail from operators. Most comments regarding not joining or relinquishing membership centered on the ICA’s participation at the NACS and Chevron / Texaco North American Marketing Conventions.”

So, 2 questions.

1. What was the connection to not joining / relinquishing and ICA participation in these events? Were people upset about them helping the competition? Were they going to these events and getting info elsewhere they thought would only be duplicated by the ICA? And

2. What should ICA do to attract and keep more members?

 

[robert roman]

“1. What was the connection to not joining / relinquishing and ICA participation in these events?”

“Were people upset about them helping the competition?”

Basically, yes.

“2. What should ICA do to attract and keep more members?”

Interestingly, Eric Wulf sent me an e-mail in response to the article.

I believe Auto Laundry News is going to publish these comments as an editorial in a future issue.

If you send me your e-mail address, I’d be glad to copy you on Wulf’s comments.

I’m on the road, so it may take a day or so for me to respond.

 

[Kevin James]

Come on Robert you’ve got to be freaking kidding me. You stated that “After writing about this I received e-mail from operators. Most comments regarding not joining or relinquishing membership centered on the ICA’s participation at the NACS and Chevron / Texaco North American Marketing Conventions.”
Let’s cut through the BS. The real reason members are relinquishing their membership or not joining the ICA is there is NO BENEFIT in being a member. Do they have a health insurance program? Do they have a reduced business insurance program? Do they have reduced credit card fee program? Do they have a reduced cell phone program? Do the members have any say in how the association is run? The answers to these questions are NO! So why join?
From what I’ve seen the ICA is a for profit business who makes a lot of money from their conventions with no input from the membership.
I get more benefits from my local Credit Union or from Sam’s Club.
So what is the benefit in joining the ICA?

 

[robert roman]

The type of benefits mentioned are those more suitably provided by a regional association whereas ICA provides benefits for the industry overall – the meaning of industry-centric.

Consider the recent Expo session topics – brand building, customer experience, social media, online marketing, growth, teamwork and traits of managers and franchisees.

These topics address current and future needs of the industry overall.

ICA’s current platform has three planks – info to run a carwash business, expo and educating consumers and regulators (primarily environmental issues).

Consequently, if I was still an operator, I would belong to ICA as well as the regional association in my area.

 

[Washmee]

In my mind, other than the Expo, the ICA is all hat and no cattle. Show me one thing in the area of regulators or educating consumers the ICA has accomplished in the last ten years. And I mean meaningful, not just a voluntary program for self promotion.

 

[JeffM]

While attending ICA show every few years can be beneficial, Membership doesn't help me wash anymore cars. Therefore the cost to be a member far exceeds any return on the investment. Most consumers don't know or care about the ICA.

 

[Earl Weiss]

In my mind, other than the Expo, the ICA is all hat and no cattle. Show me one thing in the area of regulators or educating consumers the ICA has accomplished in the last ten years. And I mean meaningful, not just a voluntary program for self promotion.

As stated, the shows can provide valuable info. Some of the best stuff i go in recent years was at roundtable or informal sessions with other operators. "consultants" and mfgr reps are great but I'd rather hear about what works from succesful operators like Auto bell, Jax, Benny's Hoffman etc.

The damage alert bulletins are also great.

I recall one show where ICA claimed to have done a marketing piece seen by 30% of the population. No one I spoke to at the show had ever seen it.

 

[buda]

ICA and decling membership.

This is an issue for all associations, decline membership.

One major reason is the internet. It has allowed operators to get information that they could not previously obtain.

In surveys done by assocations the answer operators gave for not joining was:

"I can get what I would without joining."

As for the person who commented to Robert Roman and benefits, what you need to ask ICA is?

"Are you industry driven or member-driven?"

I think you will find that ICA is "industry-driven" and believes what is good for the industry is good for the operator. It is logical that if the industry is prosperous and healthy and looked upon favorably by the general public it has to be good for car wash operators?

Regards
Bud Abraham

“Us and Them” by Mr. Roman in the 5/13 issue of Auto Laundry News points out the declining membership in the ICA and offers reasons. I agree with a lot of what is written, but I am not sure I get all of it.

He writes; “ After writing about this I received e-mail from operators. Most comments regarding not joining or relinquishing membership centered on the ICA’s participation at the NACS and Chevron / Texaco North American Marketing Conventions.”

So, 2 questions.

1. What was the connection to not joining / relinquishing and ICA participation in these events? Were people upset about them helping the competition? Were they going to these events and getting info elsewhere they thought would only be duplicated by the ICA? And

2. What should ICA do to attract and keep more members?