Why The Carwash Industry is Stagnant; What You Can Do to Change Your Field

Many years ago, I had warned the carwash industryDocument Online3.) Forming a Strategic Alliance with
of problems brewing in customer dissatisfaction asInfoSports Online, the number one youth sports
we continued to grow our car wash company into awebsite4.) Recognized by the State of Washington in
National Franchise Chain. I warned of environmentalPuget Sound Region5.) Helping Inner City Kids raise
controls, speed of wash, water usage, quality ofmoney for travels and education6.) Diligent and
labor, price points, car wash fundraisers, car damage,Continued EffortsOur company and our company
up selling and hot wax. At that time I was calledalone, along with the vision of our team has brought
everything under the Sun by operators who did notabout great and positive changes in the Car Wash
wish to change.Today, just over a five years laterIndustry and we will continue to peddle past the
those changes are coming about. The ICA,name calling in search of our victory in the market. It
International Carwash Association has sponsoredis for that reason we have forced others to adapt
training on saving water due to drought situations into a higher standard or exit the market place. Today
North America. Many large consolidating Car Washnearly every major Car Wash Association in the US is
Companies such as Mister Carwash have adopted 5sponsoring or calling for some type of charity car
minute wash policies, no waiting or bottleneck trafficwash fundraisers to help the youth of our country
flows, flex service with no upsell and responsiblegrow up to be hard working and good citizens to
employee policies. Other Car Wash chains such aslead our future.As a matter of fact in a brash and
WashDepot, Mace Holdings, CarSpa, Splash . As achallenging way we have systematically changed the
matter of fact this years listing of the Power Inc. Carindustry into our image and we have uplifted the
Wash Survey shows that nearly all of the top 50dirty image of the former car wash industry adding a
consolidated carwashes in North America havelarger customer base for us along with all other
adopted 5 or more of Mr. Winslow's challenges ofmarket participants. Yes we have helped eliminate a
past year. Nearly all of these companies havefew through these market demands, however the
adopted safer car wash chemical procedures, waterconsumer is thankful for the changes as they vote
saving systems and community volunteerism. Otherwith their dollars to more frequent car washing at
major players have adopted incredible standards inprofessional car washes. The rest of the industry
Image like SuperWash Franchise Systems.which are willing to follow the new higher standard
At the time many in the Industry jeered myare doing fine still. Today Wash Guys belong to no
comments such as Industry Leader, John Moran whoCar Wash Associations, we just command them to
said in an article with Professional Car Washing andsee our will for the benefit of the consumer,
Detailing Magazine;"What world do you live in? Surelyenvironment and future success of the industry, and
not the same as the rest of us? What you areto think that most of this started with a kid washing
describing is a Utopian fantasy. Why don't you openairplanes, who eventually wrote the book on
up one of these full serve car washes and call it, TheCommunity Based Car Wash Fundraisers, as good
Utopian Fantasy Car Wash. Please show all of usclean fun to unite young and old, teach respect and
moron's how it is done. By the way do you everservice and raise millions of dollars a year cleaning the
sleep, or do you stay up all night dreaming this stuffWorld one car at a time, with the help of thousands
up?"But never the less the challenge is being met dueof Industry Active Car Wash Owners across this
to the vision of our founder to deliver to theGreat Nation.Today all 50 of the top car wash chains
customers, that which they desire, we were rightin the Nation subscribe to more than half of our
and saw the future others did not. Even moreoriginal initiatives and proposed industry changes of
interesting was this announcement that the majorMay of 2001. We are watching as the winners and
industry magazine was not only adopting thelosers in the market place are now separated by only
community based car washing, but sponsoring athese upgrades in the industry. We are now working
non-profit group to do charity carwashes nationwide.on raising the bar in January of 2003 as soon as the
are now the official sponsors of WashUSA. Even themarket leaders catch up to all 12 of our visions for
ICA and WCA, which in 2000 made it a point to trythe industry. We have single handedly brought
to limit or have carwash fundraisers from kids groupsawareness to the entire industry through our
banned due to the fact it was costing them business,challenging of old thought processes and conventional
have dropped those efforts. They were using tacticswisdom. We will continue to change, modify and up
similar to that of the Sierra Club to curtail thelift this industry for the betterment of all.This proves
fundraisers claiming violations of 13.260 of Californiawhen your mission is noble and you commit to go
Water Code in Southern CA, Fish and Game in Pugetthe distance you will always win in the end. We win
Sound region of Washington State and Federal CleanAgain, thank you Team. Now my question for the
Water Act in other parts of the country. This madereader; What industry are you in? What have you
for a consumer backlash. Meanwhile our companydone to improve that industry? What have you done
was being awarded for our assistance to theto set yourself apart from the mediocrity? Think
common good;1.) Recognized by the City of Losabout it.
Angeles2.) Recognized by the EPA in an official