Finishing Line

Early in my career, my mentor advised me about the importance of the P.T. Barnum aspect of the car wash industry. Barnum was an American showman remembered for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. »

Car washing can be divided into three elements: point-of-sale system, wash-bay or tunnel, and a mechanical room that contains support equipment and inventory. »

Physical location is often thought of as the single most important factor for retail success, but other factors must also be considered when selecting a site for a new wash. »

Historically, the car wash industry has been an equipment-driven business, but its future will most likely be determined by people. »

Arguably, the photo above is not an image that most developers who invested $4 million in a new express wash would relish seeing anytime soon. However, more and more low-priced express washes are popping up. »

According to industry surveys, the average crew size for a full-service conveyor wash in 1991 was four off-line positions (two managers, two clerks) and 23 on-line positions (13 full-time, 10 part-time). »

A real estate bubble is an economic phenomenon that occurs periodically in markets typically following a boom period. The bubble forms while supply is still increasing. In other words, demand decreases while supply increases,... »

Hacking is when computer experts use their technical knowledge to gain unauthorized access to data in a system. One common form of hacking is jackpotting, also known as a black box attack. This is where an ATM is targeted. »

The flex-serve business model has been around for about 20 years. Former car wash operator and consultant Steve Okun introduced it as an alternative to full service. »

Back in 2013, Nissan issued a press release stating that its technical center in Europe would begin testing a “self-cleaning” Nissan Note in a variety of conditions. »

Commercial car washing is often described as an equipment-driven business because equipment is required to clean vehicles, and that’s where the bells and whistles are. »

If you operate a car wash or detail business, a great way to reach your audience —  »

As competition intensifies in the car wash industry from another wave of investors and growth of existing networks, operators will become more concerned with their market share. »

If the Pareto Principle applies to car washing, some would argue success is 80 percent equipment and 20 percent how the customer is treated. More successful operators would say it is actually the opposite that holds true. »

As a former auto-body technician, detailer, and car wash operator, I’ve been following along with interest the development of self-cleaning paint. »