We need innovation, any ideas?

[1carwash1]

As a fellow operator in the Southeast, I have seen a dramatic decline in revenue. Obviously this was brought on by over saturation and the proliferation of the express model. In my opinion we need new products and services and an improvement in existing services to make self service fun again. Our current model is decades old and is becoming obsolete. Several operators and my self are in the process of designing improvements/equipment for both the bays and vacuums. If you have any ideas on new equipment or services or an improvement on existing service we would appreciate any input. I might be wrong, but i see very little innovation for self service operators.

 

[Waxman]

triple foamy brush

spot free rinse

air dryers

cc acceptance

shurvend 51 selection.

bonus time/bonus tokens

petwash

fast (maybe friction) rollover carwash

detailing

complimantary towel dry station

mini laundry mat

 

[bigleo48]

Is fun gonna do it? If so then the above mentioned ideas are all valid. I would also add scented and colored soaps and tri-foam gun. Perhaps rainx as a ss option too.

I would also pay attention to cleanliness, friendly customer service with helpful assistance. My guys help customers who are having problems. If someone has something on their car they can't get off (like tar, road paint, heavy buildup on rims), we bring out the heavy duty stuff and get it done. Nobody else does this.

Big

 

[Whale of a Wash]

What kind of innovation would you like that is not currently on the market, and would we , or the customer find it valuable. Fun may not be what people are looking for at a car wash, although they do want it to be a good experience.
They say sometimes a rebranding will help with business along with the obvious customer service. Alot of business gurus always talk about making yourself or your business "Remarkable". New signs, New face lift, New name, Maybe with overbuilding a wash can be another face in the crowd, and they can't tell the difference between them-- so it doesn't matter where they go- It can be such a generic experience sometimes, that they can't even remember where you are located.

 

[Waxman]

I guess what these responses illustrate is that this is a more complex question than appears at face value.

Marketing and advertising are key elements of any successful business. Branding is part of this as is the appearance of the business. The website is important, and the overall vibe of the place is too. It has to be a great value these days and that can't be overstated. I fear the express washes may be hurting you the worst in the value equation. Heck, if I could get a good auto. wash below $6 I'd go there, too!

No amount of 'fun' will top that value importance in the customers' minds.

You may use service as a differentiating factor, but when revenues are down it's hard to spend the extra payroll dollars required to offer top service.

Patrick Crowe had some interesting ideas he implemented at his own SS carwashes when his sales needed a boost. Maybe check his SS Carwash Tech. Bulletins?

 

[packerscw]

idea

In my automatic I added some more new lights. I used led rope lights which cost me next to nothing and have more lights turning on for sealer wax and rinse arch. I have had a lot of people say that they love the lights. They find it fun to go through my wash.

 

[Randy]

With a U-6 unemployment of almost 18% I don’t care what you do if your customers don’t have any money they aren’t going to be coming in. There are a number of car washes in this area, nice car washes that are on the brink of going under, most of the people in this area don’t any extra income to spend on car washing, a few do but not as many as 4 years ago.

 

[Bob-O]

Randy, You hit the nail right on the head !!!!

 

[Whale of a Wash]

Bob and Randy are right -We do have high unemployment, poor economy, and it probably will get worse--Not a pessimist, Just positive Obama can't help. This is the reason to stick out from the crowd--Steal some customers from other washes-- put them under during these tough times and make some real money when the economy snaps back --Someday soon I hope?? Bring the wife and some friends to the wash--Ask them what it needs--Why they would wash at yours or not!! Go visit all your competition and wash at their wash. Maybe getting more customers is as simple as finding a better soap--Tweaking the soap you have.

This month I switched over to H.security $1 Tokens, and give them out of the changers,we still accept quarters-- I have seen a substantial increase as they don't have to plunk in so many quarters. In twenty years have never seen someone put in $10 into the self-serve till last week. This guy in a tahoe plunked in all eleven -One bonus token. I still take quarters but am seeing people buy them now for others and for birthdays and such. I originally bought 12k tokens a month ago and i am probably going to put that same order in again this week for more tokens. This is a small tweak I wished i had done a long time ago now. Sometimes just a small tweak is all you need to grab a few more customers. Bob--What part of florida are you in-- Email me-- going to be there at the end of the month!!

 

[1carwash1]

Thanks for all the responses. There is no doubt that the express wash offers value, however, part of the attraction is trying something new and unique. As far as self serv washes are concerned, we need something as revolutionary as the introduction of the foam brush (approximately thirty years ago). The focus is now on express washing with little emphasis on self serv. In the southeast self servs have been particularly hard hit with numerous bankruptcies and closures; many of which will never reopen for one reason or another. Just having a business that "stands tall" is not enough. In my humble opinion, regardless of the economy, we need to pull together and come up with a blockbuster hit on par with the foam brush.

 

[Greg Pack]

Take a look at gated SS/ pay one price SS concept. Customer pays to enter the facility and goes at it. Early experiments in this format are very encouraging. There is one in Savannah, Georgia and another in Lynn Haven Florida. There are several more being planned of that I know.

 

[Sequoia]

Whale & cage fighter-- What I would like to see is the ability to sell unlimited unattended washes and vacs. Ideally, by affixing an RFID tag securely to the vehicle, and once in a bay or pulled up to a vac the driver could use either one without fumbling with cash, credit cards, or coins.

The sensor placement would need to be directional so only one service would turn on at a time.

Much simpler than that, I wish all operators of SS washes would convert their pricing signs to only use $1 increments. I did this back in 2005 as, even back then, I didn't see the need or value of presenting pricing to the customer in .25 cent increments.

 

[Bob-O]

Whale of a Wash. Tried to send you a E-mail. No success... I'm in the middle of Florida.

 

[Greg Pack]

Whale & cage fighter-- What I would like to see is the ability to sell unlimited unattended washes and vacs. Ideally, by affixing an RFID tag securely to the vehicle, and once in a bay or pulled up to a vac the driver could use either one without fumbling with cash, credit cards, or coins.

The sensor placement would need to be directional so only one service would turn on at a time.

.

Interesting idea. The Savannah site does have washcard RFID hooked up to Hamilton ACWs. The owner is trying to establish a decent number of monthly subscribers I believe he is selling unlimited washing for 29.95 at his SS and dual automatics down the road.

 

[Greg Pack]

I'm going to add a couple of things:


1. People (except the unemployed) are busier now, with both parents having jobs and ovescheduled children. Translation: Less time to spend at a SS.

2. I think to a great extent the love affair with the American auto is waning. I'm not talking about boomers finally getting that 68 camaro they wanted in high school. The current generation of young people below thirty is obsessed with electronic devices. Cars have taken a backseat to that. I'm talking about people, especially younger people, seeing washing as more of a necessary maintenance thing. I have watched many conflicts at my wash between a parent and their child who is most unhappy they are being forced to wash their car. It is taking time away from their precious texting (or ****ing Facebook, the biggest time-waster in the history of this planet), and they don't like it one bit.

Express washes are fast, and a great value. It is cheaper, yes cheaper, than most SS washing, and the customer doesn't get sweaty or cold, or get their clothes dirty.

The lower economic class will also use express. There is a Goo-Goo in my town that is in a an area you wouldn't want to be on foot anytime of the day unless you are well armed. That place is rocking every time I go by (with my doors locked, of course).

SSs will have to learn how to compete if we are to survive in the same market. We can not do it quicker than the express. We're gonna have to at least compete on value and hopefully find something the express can not give them that they want.

 

[1carwash1]

I guess i need to accept reality; self servs are like payphones.

 

[Waxman]

SS aren't like payphones.

There will always be a need for self-serve washing, just like folks will always wash in their driveway.

Many vehicles cannot wash in an automatic.

Many customers like d.i.y. stuff, including carwashing.

You can do a great job in an ss bay at a quality carwash.

You can't wash a horse trailer, motorcycle w/sidecar, or refrigerator at an auto wash.

Some of you guys need Xanax!!!!!

 

[rph9168]

The reality is that self service will always be around but not as profitable as in the past. Express Exterior washes have had an effect on how the motoring public uses all types of professional washes.

In many areas where EE's have popped up IBA's and Self Serves have suffered. It seems to hit IBA's worse since many EE's have lower price points than they do. Two EE's opened up near me. The IBA's in the area have had to lower their prices with one even going to a $2 basic wash.

I think that motoring public will continue to use all sectors of professional car washing with a current shift to EE's. I believe that much of the overall decline in the industry has much more to do with the economy and weather patterns than people wanting to wash less.

 

[1carwash1]

Xanax---I'm not going to dignify that with a response. As far as making a living washing horse trailers, motorcycles, or refrigerators, i'm highly doubtful. I've owned a number of washes over the course of twenty years and have never seen anything like were seeing now. Whats really perplexing is that on picture perfect days when we should be busy, the self serves are slow and the express washes are jumping. Which, at least in my mind, downplays the effects of the economy. Moreover, i have seen many washes where their volume is down in excess of 70%, hence, the need for innovation. Believe it or not the self serv model as we know it is on a serious decline. It would be interesting to hear from other operators within close proximity to express washes what their experience has been. For the naysayers out there, if you want to come to the southeast and get a tour of the empty buildings that once were profitable self serv car washes, just let me know. I'm sure i could arrange a tour of at least 30 washes; and that's just off the top of my head.
good day

"your entitled to your opinion, but your not entitled to your facts"

 

[Greg Pack]

I don't know one SS/IBA operator in my area who is grossing what they did three, four, or five years ago. Not one. We may have flattened out though as I am up 3% for the year vs 2009. But my take home pay has been cut if half.

Many of you guys here are in smaller town or lucky enough to be in other parts of the country where you have not had the pleasure of being sandwiched between two or more express washes. The concept started in the south and we got swamped before financing for most people got cut off. I hope many of you prosper for a long time, but this market has changed in my area and I am working harder for less money than I have made in while. I really think the SS business model is dying. It won't go away in the small communities, but many will die off with stiff value priced competition. My best hope is my income goes up through attrition of my competition.