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1 DAY
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3 DAY WINTER 2018 •
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Selfie Notes BY DEBRA GORGOS, EDITOR
Who goes through the chilly months unscathed? But it also brought things not to be forgotten—silver moons and snow, brilliant under stars; it brought Christmas and a new year, and to each of us something happy, something unexpected, which was not another problem but a joy. For the pendulum swings; nothing is static; and the road, however long, does turn.”
CONTENTS Letters to the Editor.................................6 Looking Back: Fall 1999 ........................8 Cover Story: Sizing Up the Self-Serve Summit ................................ 10 Quick Tips................................................ 24 Innovations.............................................. 26 Fun & Games.......................................... 28 Self-Serve Shout Outs .......................... 30 Self-Serve Snapshot.............................. 32
- FAITH BALDWIN, HARVEST OF HOPE
The Ins & Outs of Insurance ............ 42 Oh, winter, you have been good to the self serve industry. Drivers hurriedly heading to bays to wash off salt and grime. Long lines have already formed at washes from Nashville, to Washington D.C. to Maine. Rare snowfalls in the Western half of the United States has had people lining up, anxiously scrambling to halt any halite harm. I am one of those people. I had to wash off about 14 layers of salt due to the freezing cold temperatures up here in the Northeast. It was so cold (how cold was it!?) that one day the highest temperature was -1-degree F and the lowest was -7 degrees F. F is right. Has anyone heard of a bomb cyclone? Me either, until this past winter. And, there is still a month left! But, alas, I know this season is a primetime for you, my dear readers. So, for all of you, I will, for the first time in my entire life, thank the winter. Now, I lived in Vermont for 5 years. I was there for the “Great Ice Storm of 1998.” I remember falling under my car due to the ice around it formed a sort of slide. Whoosh! Suddenly, I was in a slippery state of affairs and wondered if I would be stuck under there until Spring. Back then, we had no cell phones, so I just sort of slithered my way out until I was firmly planted on the ground. I think it was then that I proclaimed I was moving South. I remember other winters where my car wouldn’t start. Where I had to shovel out snow from under my tires. I remember getting stuck in my own driveway 5
Industry Dirt........................................... 48 Extra! Extra! ............................................ 50 History Buff ............................................. 52 Tricks of the Trade ............................... 56 Random Thoughts: Marketing & promoting your car wash ......................................... 60 Association Calendar & News ........ 66 Open for Business ................................ 72 Funny Business ..................................... 74
months pregnant. Oh, winter, how far we’ve come as now I am actually thanking you. But, it had
Darwin at the Carwash....................... 76
to happen, as I appreciate all of you readers so very much. Speaking of appreciation. I want to thank Colonial Car Wash of Schenectady, New York, for providing me with a perfect self serve washing facility. Here in upstate New York, we haven’t just had freezing temps, we have also had odd warm weather mixed in here and there. That warm weather caused muddy puddles of road and parking lot ick that took a liking to my beloved minivan. Between the mud and the salt, my minivan needed a good washing and Colonial came through. {continued}
VOL. 45, NO. 1, WINTER 2018 Publisher Jackson Vahaly Editor Debra Gorgos Design Katy Barret-Alley Editor Emeritus Jarret J. Jakubowski Editor Posthumous Joseph J. Campbell Editor Posthumous Julia E. Campbell Self Serve Carwash News is published 4 times per year and is independently owned by Jackson Vahaly. Web address is www.sscwn.com. All inquiries should be directed to:
Self Serve Car Wash News 110 Childs Ln., Franklin, TN 37067 jacksonv@sscwn.com Copyright 2014. 2 Dollar Enterprises/SSCWN. All Rights Reserved
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• WINTER 2018
Todd Klismet Independent Carwash Owner Waupaca, WI
I have a spotless reputation. Running a car wash isn’t easy. I’ve got picky customers, competitors trying to undercut me–and don’t get me started on the weather. So yeah, sometimes I can get a little stressed. It comes with the territory. But one thing I know for sure: my customers keep coming back to my PDQ-equipped car wash because it’s the best in town. All they care about is getting the cleanest car possible, and my wash delivers, week after week. And that puts a smile on their faces and mine.
DRIVE | CLEAN.
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pdqinc.com | 800.227.3373 WINTER 2018 •
5
Selfie Notes Speaking of car wash visits, do you all remember the “On the Road” cover stories from JJ Jabukowski? Well, they are coming back to Self Serve Car Wash News. My first tour will be of the downstate New York area, such as Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Croton-On-Hudson, Whitehall, etc. The visits will be complimentary and kind and will showcase your washes. So, please, if you’re a self serve operation location in those areas, please let me know, and you’ll get to see your businesses in print. In other news, I was saddened to hear about the passing of Randall “Randy” Coleman. I met Randy during my time at another publication. Randy brought a huge smile to my face and made me laugh, which was greatly appreciated during my previous tenure. He was kind and personable and my heart goes out to his family. To read more about his passing and legacy, turn to page XX.
Also, a few more things: I have a new email address: debrag@sscwn.com.
We have a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/selfservecarwashnews/.
And, please send me any letters, ideas and suggestions. And, as always, thank you for your readership. Until the spring!
Sincerely,
Debra
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Debra, We wanted to express our congratulations and best wishes on your new position at Self-Serve Car Wash News! We know you will do a great job and look forward to the upcoming issues. Kind Regards
Jerry, Jay, Howie, Terry & Marla Weiss Guys Express Car Wash | Phoenix, AZ
Dear Weiss Guys Family, Thank you so much for the kind words. It means so much to me, you have no idea.
Hi Debra, I own and operate a car wash in North Carolina. Five ss bays, IBA, 8 vacs. I’ve been at it for about 4 years. I suggested to Kate that it would helpful for someone to do an article on credit card acceptance. I was thinking something that would show the top options that exist for car wash owners and list some common information about each. Cost, processor options, fees, ease of install, PCI compliance status, connectivity, etc. This was and still is a source of frustration for me. Operators spend a lot of money on credit card equipment and processing and we are left to figure out what is available and which option is best for our specific situation. We are at the mercy of the companies that produce and sell the equipment and they are all full of crap. Thanks,
Mike Hello, Mike! Yes, I agree that this is an important (and frustrating issue) for car wash owners. I am working on a expose for our next issue. If anyone out there would like to share their suggestions or frustrations or insights, please send them to me at debrag@sscwn.com.
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Looking Back to...
Fall
1999 Presenting some of the best, and most noteworthy headlines and excerpts
When the “Net” was New Cover Story: Self Serve Car Wash Marketing’s Greatest Hits: We mentioned the Paisner family’s Scrub-a-Dub chain earlier in this presentation. I said these guys seem to do everything right, especially their marketing and advertising. They have a tradition — a legacy initiated by the family patriarch Marshall — of creatively, humorously and boldly presenting the Scrub-a-Dub name and services to the public … as indicated by a few of their ad themes (below) … The Paisners define and hone the cutting edge. Case in point, they were among the very first to use the Internet as a marketing tool...and use it well. Here’s the Scrub-a-Dub Web home page. It’s a very designed site that provides information, services, coupons … and more …
East Coast Drought Industry News: Mid-Atlantic Carwashers’ Drought Survival Techniques This summer was a very precarious time for carwash owners in some states along the Eastern seaboard. Due to a prolonged drought (the worst in 100 years!) that depleted water reservoirs, Maryland enacted stringent governmental restrictions in August, that put carwashes at the very top of a “hit list” of businesses to be severely regulated or closed down — despite the fact that carwashes use much less water than a number of other businesses which suffered no governmental restrictions at all. … Back in Maryland — the fledgling Mid-Atlantic Carwash Association (founded only a couple years ago) and under the leadership of President Bill Bascom) sprang into action. Within the two days of the Governor’s decree, the MACWA had hired a registered lobbyist 8
• WINTER 2018
through whom they petition the government for a variance. An economic hardship case was made that an 80% reclaim threshold was terribly unrealistic and that as many as 5,000 carwash employees would lose jobs. ...An alternative water conservation plan was proposed and approved. Carwashes had to cut overall water usage by 10% plus reduce hours of operation; close down (on the perfect close down day) Tuesday; use nozzles with smaller orifices; and, in tunnels, reduce optional services such as undercarriage flush (no great loss in urban areas during the summer).
Stats from 1999 FYI: Tidbits of interested data from the ICA’s Cost of Doing (a Self Serve) Business Survey
• Self Serve washes in urban locations average
•
• • • • •
31% more gross annual sales than self serves in suburban and small city areas and 72% more than coin-ops in rural locations. Self serve facilities built in the 1990s average 10.6% more gross annual sales than those built in the 1980s and 53% more than those built in the 70s or earlier. The average coin-op wash sold a bit over 54,000 cycles in 1998. Coin-op customers typically require 2 cycles to complete the wash process. The most typical price for a start-up cycle is about $1.25. The average self serve wash site has almost 6 vacuums. Signs that limit responsibility for damage are found at only 55% of self serves, and just 87% post wash instructions.
WINTER 2018 •
9
SIZING BY DEBRA GORGOS, EDITOR debrag@sscwn.com
UP
THE SELF-SERVE SUMMIT WE HAVE KNOWN IT FOR DECADES. And, as the mere success of this publication proves year after year, the self-serve car wash industry is no wallflower. If fact, self serves are serious contenders, and viable options for customers’ car care budgets. Nowadays, self serves, as well as all of the owners and operators, deserve sincere, intelligent and substantial attention. Owners are upgrading, trying to maintain customers, maintaining equipment, calculating chemistry ratios, worrying about water regulations, and, on a daily basis, doing ev-
erything they can to keep their washes safe and secure. Realizing the prowess of the self-se industry, the Western Carwash Association (WCA) decided to put together a summit specifically for this particular car wash fragment. According to Kristy Babb, Executive Director of the WCA, one-third of its members are selfserve operators. And, when you consider the fact that the WCA covers Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, that is a large group of people. And, because of that, a
meeting of the minds was deserved. “The Western Carwash Association exists to serve its members, and about one-third of our members are self-serve operators. Providing a forum for self-serve operators to connect and exchange ideas is crucial to what we do,” said Babb. “We aim to provide top-notch education, but we know that so much of learning comes from networking with peers in the industry.” With that in mind, the Self-Serve Summit was born. The Summit took place prior to the Arizona Roadshow on November 14-15 at the Sheraton {continued}
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WINTER 2018 •
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SIZING UP THE SELF-SERVE SUMMIT Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Arizona. This first-ever, four-hour educational event was attended by nearly 50 individuals and consisted of two presentations and a hot topics panel discussion. Accounting firm Tull Forsberg & Olson presented on accounting best practices for self-serve operators, and WCA Board Member Sydney King led an engaging discussion on social media utilization. The event concluded with an interactive panel with self-serve operators Kimberly Berg of Citrus Heights Car Wash, Terry McDonald of Weiss Guys Express Wash, Mike Metcalf of Denny’s Car Washes, and Larry Nelson of Blue Cow Car Wash. Some of the topics covered included: 1. Spot free rinse maintenance 2. Mud collection 3. Wall cleaning 4. Line clogging 5. Security, and how to handle transients 6. Accounting 7. Social media utilization 8. Credit card pros and cons
“When planning a first time event, you can’t be sure how it will be received, however, we were pleasantly surprised by the turnout, which exceeded our expectations,” shared Babb. “Additionally, feedback from the event has been overwhelmingly positive. This proves that there is demand for self-serve focused events, and WCA plans to continue offering programming catered to this sector of the industry. With an impressive turnout and engaging interaction, the Self-Serve Summit was nothing short of a success!” And, for those of you who are not on the Western hemisphere and/or were not able to attend, do not worry, as we have the gathered all of the best talking points, key information, advice and intelligence that was shared.
February 25–27 2018 Arlington Convention Center - Arlington, Texas www.swcarwash.org 14
• WINTER 2018
{continued}
WINTER 2018 •
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SIZING UP THE SELF-SERVE SUMMIT
KIMBERLY BERG
SELF-SERVE SUMMIT PANELIST Kimberly Berg is the owner of the Citrus Heights Car Wash, located outside Sacramento, California. Prior to that, she spent 20 comfortable years in the corporate world, before making a radical shift and purchasing a self-service car wash in 2003. She enjoys the challenge of owning a car wash, and the unpredictability of each day and gladly traded in her manicured nails and high-heels, for gloves and work boots, and now enjoys a deep sense of accomplishment. Most days she can be found on-site, laughing with her customers, and taking care of her beloved car wash.
THE FOLLOWING PANEL QUESTIONS WERE ASKED: What do you do to maintain the spot free rinse?
1.
“I don’t have spot free rinse. I looked into it, but for every gallon of water it treats, you waste a gallon of water. Since I live in California, saving water is very important to me. I just replaced my old water softener with a new one from Culligan, that removes the calcium and water spots.”
How do you collect mud before it goes to the inceptors?
2.
“I have a steel filter basket in each of my 5 wash bays, and I empty it every day.”
How do you clean and maintain the Extrutech white walls in bays?
3.
“I don’t have Extrutech panels, but I have plastic IdealShield bollard covers. I have tried It Works, but prefer Kleen-Wall. As it has no HF acid.”
How do you keep lines and fittings clean on the air compressor?
4.
“I just purchased a new air compressor from Air Compressor Direct. I had it installed with an auto-drain, that automatically cleans the line every 45 minutes.”
Any special ways of handling transients on your property?
5.
“I have 17 HD video cameras, so I can monitor activity from home and live close by. When I’m on-site, I thank them for recycling, and cleaning up after themselves. I prefer to stay positive and reward good behavior. I have a good relationship with my local city police department and am prepared to process a ‘no trespassing’ ticket, if necessary.”
LARRY NELSON
SELF-SERVE SUMMIT PANELIST Larry Nelson is the owner and operator of two car wash locations in Skagit Valley, Washington, which is about 75 miles north of Seattle. One location consists of a 100-foot tunnel with 3 self-serve bays and 2 dog wash rooms, and the other site is a 5-bay with a new tunnel which is under construction. Nelson also sits on the Western Carwash Association Board of Directors 1.
“Several things were discussed, but it seems a lot of time was spent discussing credit cards in the bays and the pros and cons of counting up or down.”
2.
“Another big topic we talked about is the ever-increasing problem of keeping your site secure.”
3.
“A substantial portion of the Western Carwash Association consists of self-serve operators and it was nice that a few hours were devoted towards the self-serve business model. It seems that the main focus of carwash shows as of late is the express model. It was refreshing to devote some time to the self serve concept, especially for me because I own both express tunnels and self-serve bays.” {continued}
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SIZING UP THE SELF-SERVE SUMMIT 1.
“… I own two self-serve car washes, and I feel we need to stick together for support of the self-serve side of the car washing business, so I was very happy to attend.”
2.
“The WCA Programs and Seminars Committee discusses what topics are of interest to self-serve operators. Many times, how to handle social media for a car wash location comes up. I introduced Social5 to the WCA a few months back. I teamed up with the CEO of Social5, Rob Wellman, to do a presentation on social media and what it can do for car washes.”
3.
“It may be a strange a phenomenon to some, but the reality is that social media is here to stay, and even car washes need to be involved. I approached my presentation from the car wash owner’s stand point: There are many different platforms of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. and they each have a little bit different demographics. With that information, we discussed different options of appealing to each demographic by posting on a regular basis with photos, videos, and information that would appeal to the wash’s target audience. Reviews are always a hot topic, so we discussed the importance of addressing each review and keeping it positive and, when necessary to continue a conversation with a customer, to take it off line.”
4.
“We also discussed the online directories available out there for a customer when they are searching for a good or service they may need. These are the over 150 different Google, Bing, Yahoo, Yelp, Ask, and YellowPage directories. The majority of Internet searches are now conducted on mobile devices, and the more directories and social media platforms a business is on, the higher the ranking in the search result their company will be. The rules of the Google game are always changing, and it is important to keep your business active and responsive on as many directory and social media pages as you can in order to meet the directory search result demands.”
5.
“The audience was very interactive and had many questions and comments. I feel as though we connected a few dots for everyone, and that they left with some valuable information. It is always hard for any small business owner to keep up with all the company demands. Keeping up on social media pages and marketing through them can tend to fall to the bottom of the pile of things to do, or they are thrown to the ‘teenager’ to manage. I hope we instilled enough confidence in them that they went back to their washes and have engaged with their customers on social media with success.”
SYDNEY KING
SELF-SERVE SUMMIT SPEAKER: GET SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE GOOD SPRAY CARWASHES Sydney King is the owner and operator of The Good Spray car washes in Kaysville and Farmington, Utah. For the last couple of years, in addition to running her car washes, Sydney has been a sales advisor for Social5, which provides clients with the essential professional presence in the social media market. Sydney also serves on the Western Carwash Association Board of Directors.
TULL, FORSBERG & OLSON P.L.C.
SELF-SERVE SUMMIT PRESENTER: BOTTOM LINE ON ACCOUNTING FOR SELF-SERVE OPERATORS Tull, Forsberg & Olson, P.L.C. is a certified public accounting (CPA) firm which provides accounting, audit, tax, litigation, consulting and advisory services. The firm is based out of Phoenix, Arizona.
1.
“We have a great relationship with Weiss Guys Car Wash and they offered us an opportunity to present at the car wash summit. The goal of the presentation was to help small business owners to understand entity structures, ways to minimize tax liability and keep personal assets protected from creditors.”
2.
“Business owners need to understand their situations when they set up a business entity structure. Two critical factors benefiting from forming a legal business entity are: Tax treatment and liability protection. There are pros and cons in each entity type. If you are not sure, seek for professional advice.”
3.
“Business owners need to ask themselves what is this entity going to do for me? Is it going give me the tax benefits and the liability protection that I’m hoping for.” {continued}
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SIZING UP THE SELF-SERVE SUMMIT
STEVE TOLOPILO
SELF-SERVE SUMMIT PARTICIPANT Steve Tolopilo is operator of Denny’s Car Wash, a chain of six washes located north of Los Angeles, California. The washes include self-serve bays, self-serve vacuums, one includes a tunnel, and a few offer ice machines. Steve is also a member of the Western Carwash Association. 1.
“Some consistent issues for the self-serve industry surround maintenance, cleanliness, security and equipment upgrades. The Q & A panels provided great opportunities to share and discuss creative solutions to these issues.”
2.
“Growth, as in any business, is critical. It was helpful to consider some best practices of accounting that were presented by the firm, Tull, Forsberg & Olson, as well as useful marketing strategies through Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and social media ads.”
3.
“As an operator I’m always encouraged to be in the same room with colleagues as we discuss solutions to changing legislation and advancements in technologies.”
4.
“My personal goal, as a self serve operator, is to be forward thinking and consider how we should plan for any possible near- and long-term changes.”
5.
“A key area that I’m paying attention to is consumer spending habits. How will technology drive the different ways our customers interact with our services. We need to be prepared to respond to demographic shifts. For example, our existing customer base will change year by year and millennial consumer habits will inevitably shape the industry.”
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EQUIPMENT TIP
Nozzle tips The following tip has been provided by KleenRite (www.kleen-ritecorp.com): Replacing your worn spray nozzles will save you money! It won’t always be easy to tell when your nozzles need replaced, but the quicker you notice signs of wear, the better. Nozzle performance issues can waste thousands of gallons of water and chemicals. Normal wear can erode interior parts of the spray nozzle, which can cause an increase in flow, decrease in pressure, and irregular spray pattern. Depending on your frequency, you can check for signs of wear after every couple shifts or every couple months. Take time to make a nozzle inspection program and document what you find. To identify worn nozzles, look for an increase in the flow rate and the spray water drop size. As interior parts deteriorate over time, liquid flow increases and spraying pressure decreases. You may also see streaks in the spray pattern. Check the old nozzles against an identical new nozzle. Use a measuring cup to catch the amount of water coming from the old and new nozzle during the
same time frame and at the same pressure. Once the old nozzle delivers more water than the new nozzle, you begin paying for excess water, chemical, and wastewater disposal costs. There are several ways to extend the life of your spray nozzles. Harder materials provide longer wear life. Stainless steel offers good abrasion and corrosion resistance. Operators should also add line strainers or change to spray nozzles with built-in strainers. The screen mesh traps larger particles and prevents debris from entering the nozzle orifice. This protects against orifice deterioration and clogging. Decreasing the spraying pressure may also help reduce the wear and corrosion rate. Nozzles spraying abrasives at high pressures will wear faster than those spraying at low pressures. Even with proper maintenance, you will inevitably need to change your nozzles at regular intervals. When you compare the replacement nozzle cost to the excess costs for water, chemicals, electricity, and wastewater disposal, you will end up with big savings.
BUSINESS TIP
THE 24/7 OPERATOR ROUNDTABLE 24
• WINTER 2018
Resources galore Whether you’re an old dog or a new one, it’s important to stay sharp with all of the different small business developments, hiccups and tips that can possibly interfere or enhance your business. One major resource available to all of you is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Along with countless articles and updates on governmental regulations, the SBA also offers up lots and lots of free seminars, and classes, both online and in actual classroom settings. Visit sba. gov to find out which are available and you can narrow down the locations by mileage, if you want a person-to-person setting, and subject, or you
can search by format and see the list of available webinars. Some of the classes already offered this year have covered how to finance your small business, how to fix your credit score, risk management, and marketing with social media. If you’re limited with your time availability, the SBA also offers courses that are available at any time. Acrobat Reader and Aadobe Flash Player are needed to access these. The courses can be found by visiting SBA.gov and then clicking on the Learning Resources tab at the top of the homepage.
MARKETING TIP
Hit a homerun! America’s favorite pastime is alive and well, as well as its little league version. And, other youth-based afterschool sports, from soccer to hockey, are doing great, too. How great? you might be asking? Well, according to WinterGreen Research, youth sports in the United States is now a $15.3 billion industry. Therefore, it might be worth your while, and your advertising budget, to consider sponsoring a local team. Those shirts and uniforms, emblazoned with your car wash name and logo will be seen by parents, fans, umpires, referees, grandparents, coaches and players. Plus, it can also build loyalty with those grateful for the donated money. Another idea is to buy and/or rent a fence sign or “billboard” at the local ballpark. They are also available for advertising at local skating rinks, basketball courts and soccer fields. Another thing to consider is that because a lot of local youth groups are registered as non-profits, a sponsorship would be considered a tax write-off. If you have a local AA baseball team there are many marketing ideas for that arena. Consider advertising in the programs, on a field sign, or maybe man a booth at the stadium in which you hand out flyers and giveaways or host a raffle. Another idea is to sponsor an inning and have your business’s name broadcasted out by the game’s announcer. This might also be heard if the games are broadcast on the local radio stations. You can also sponsor an entertainment segment in between innings. Better act now though as Spring training is already underway and Spring is just around the corner.
PROPERTY TIP
Curb enthusiasm There is something to be said for curb appeal. A study by retail researcher Morpace found customers will in fact avoid a business because of its outward appearance. And, according to retailcustomerexperience.com, “One-half of consumers (52 percent) have avoided a business altogether because it looked dirty from the outside. These consumers form an opinion of a business based on physical presence, which heavily influences their decision to shop at a location. Nearly all shoppers (95 percent) say that exterior appearance is important in their selection of a place to shop.” The following are some of the tips you can follow that will make your property more inviting: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
FREE: Get rid of weeds. FREE: Clean up all signage. FREE: Get rid of any cobwebs. FREE: Rake up dead leaves. FREE: Pick up all litter. $: Add fresh paint to bollards. $: Spruce up grassy areas, add grass seed. $: Powerwash the outside, pavement and curbs. $: Clean up and enhance your lighting fixtures. $$: Fix any pot holes. $$: Repaint worn out or faded surfaces. $$: Got extra money? Try some mulch, edging, and landscaping. Add ($) annuals, ($$) perennials, ($$$) shrubs/trees. $$$: If your sign is looking worn out, replace it. $$$: Re-pave your driving surfaces.
BRIGHT BRIGHTBAY. BAY.HAPPY HAPPYCUSTOMER. CUSTOMER. Waterproof LED Lighting | Available at at Kleen-Rite Waterproof LED Lighting | Available Kleen-Rite 800-285-6780 | www.ggled.net | sales@ggled.net 800-285-6780 | www.ggled.net | sales@ggled.net WINTER 2018 •
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INNOVATIONS
Bright New Ideas, Products & Services For Self Serve Car Washes
Motorcycle Wash from Bike Spa Bike Spa is a value added to your business and will attract a huge new market to you. The Plug N’ Play is one unit, assembled, and no infrastructures are needed. Simply connect the water in/out, electricity and air compressor and you can start. The machine can be mobile, and you can take it on a trailer to race tracks, to clients and to trade shows (there is a water tank inside the machine, stand alone) It is also eco-friendly.
Triple protection options from Hydra-Flex To help their installed base of customers, Hydra-Flex is announcing three new solutions that provide better protection against corrosion. If you continue using stronger solutions, they would encourage you to look at these three options: Composite Injectors - Color-coded, composite injectors are available in PC1, PC2, and PC3 options. These new injectors were developed to stand up to the most aggressive, yet common, car wash chemicals. Kynar® Hydra-Cannon Valves - This accessory is PN 1002237. XD Panel Drip Shields - Even for the most organized and careful operators, accidents and spills in the backroom are inevitable. To prevent this from damaging other components on the XD panel, Hydra-Flex has created a drip shield to be installed below the chemical mixing manifold. The retro-fit is PN 1002810.
E-Learning System from Innovative Control Systems
Mobile Bookkeeping from AutoMobile Technologies This mobile invoicing software will more than pay for itself by eliminating bookkeeping and administrative expenses. If you have a group of employees who earn an average of $28 per hour and you increase their productivity by streamlining operations, reducing mistakes, and automating your processes, you can regain a total of 8 hours per week per person through software technology. Plus, add in the savings from the elimination of paper forms, reduced transportation or postage to deliver invoices and statements, the elimination of lost or illegible invoices, and slow customer payments from inefficient bookkeeping processes, and you will be able to see a quick return on investment.
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• WINTER 2018
Innovative Control Systems (ICS) has launched the full service module of its E-learning training system, a powerful, interactive training tool designed to help full service operators successfully manage and grow their car wash organizations. “ICS’s E-learning training system is an online, mobile-enabled training platform that unlocks the full potential of ICS’s WashConnect car wash management system giving full service operators the ability to create their own in-house subject matter experts,” said Jason Sears, Communications Manager for ICS. “And we are offering it to ICS customers completely free of charge.” ICS’s E-learning system can be utilized anywhere to provide car wash team members with valuable training. The 15 courses included in the E-learning training system cover a wide range of topics, including; Promotions, Fleets, Cash Management, and Wash Clubs. Training is selfpaced and self-guided to give users the specific car wash knowledge that they need to be successful in their roles; whenever they need it, wherever they need it. ICS’s E-learning system also gives owner/operators the ability to monitor their employees’ training progress; see when employees log in, see when they complete courses, and view their test scores, all in real time from any device.
®
CAR WASH
NEWHORIZONS
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CUSTOM GLASS CAR WASH STRUCTURES
Automatic, Tunnel, Self-Serve Buildings
Extensions, and Canopies!
PERFECT FOR YOUR OUR SELF SERVE BA BAY All Paws Pet Wash is pleased to offer you two ways you can get more usage from your self-serve bays! Providing your customers with extra services and creating more revenue for your business.
Option 1: Flip-Tub
We are seasoned builders of glass car wash buildings, we also build custom options like kneewall upgrades, equipment rooms, additional vacuum bays and extensions. Automatic
Tunnel
69in
Self Serve
81.25in
• Fully Customizable - over 80 colors to choose from • Functional Buildings • Cost Effective • Low Maintenance • Fast Construction • Beautiful Glass An extension from New Horizons will add new life to your old structure. A larger building not only improves your car wash’s performance, it also gives you more flexibility with the types of car wash equipment you can use. Or, use it to turn a self serve bay into an automatic bay!
Tunnel Extension
Double Extension
12in
Our Flip-Tub station was specifically designed to maximize the usable area in self-serve car wash bays. It allows a vehicle to fit in the bay, while the tub is in its flip-up position. When the user is ready to wash their pet, the tub is placed in the flip-down position and the unit is ready for use.
Option 2: APW Option A & A-Stainless Steel
Converting a self-serve bay into an enclosed pet wash station is easier than you think and an excellent way to generate additional revenue while expanding the services your business offers.
70in
Extension
**NEW PRODUCT** New Horizons is pleased to announce our latest product. Pay Station Canopies the perfect addition to all car wash businesses! Made to the same high standards as our car washes and customizable to match a new or existing structure
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grooming shop or pet wash business!
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For half a century, CCSI International, Inc. has manufactured and distributed wet environment structures and retractable roof systems to both residential and commercial customers. Our attractive products are built with corrosion-resistant aluminum frames and shatter-proof safety glass, to withstand the harshest weather conditions. Operating out of our state of the art facility in Garden Prairie, Illinois.
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FUN & GAMES 1. What’s the difference?
ANSWERS ARE BELOW.
2. Can you name this movie?
Think these pictures of a self serve car wash are the same? Think again! There are six differences. Can you spot them all?
3. Maze...
Answers #3: 3. Footloose (1984) Answers #1: Bollard added. Tree added. Pavement line is removed. Dimond pattern on wall is different color. Agricultural is changed to Architectural. Dumpster is different color
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• WINTER 2018
The Elite Pro™ is an industry leading self-serve system sure to blow the competition away and produce cleaner vehicles from your car wash business. Consumers feel more value and enjoy better cleaning power as a result of the Elite system’s Advanced Product Delivery, which gives car wash operators the ability to customize the delivery pressure for all functions.
The Elite Plus enables you to add value and create efficiencies with the most powerful and flexible options available in self-serve car wash equipment. It’s 5 Hp Direct Drive Motor controlled by the Smart Logic VFD Controller, offers impressive flexible Product Delivery to your car wash bay and new services that your customers will enjoy!
Standard Options:
Standard Options: True One-Bay, One-Pump Design Modular Design Flexible Multi Pressure Delivery 5 Hp 3 Phase Direct Drive Motor & Pump 9 Delivery Functions Standard (Rinse, Soap, Wax, Pre-Soak, Tire/Engine, Foam Brush, Foam Wax, Spot Free & Bug & Tar) Direct Inject, Tank-Less Design Pre-Plumbed HOT, COLD & Spot Free Water Connections Efficient Purge Chemical Change Over Multi (3) Boom Ready Retro Fit Ready-Easily Adapts to Any Car Wash Industry Standard Parts & Controls *Plus Smart Logic VFD Controller
One Bay, One Pump Design Integrated Design-Up to 6 Bays Per System Flexible Multi Pressure Delivery 5 Hp 3 Phase Direct Drive Motor & Pump 9 Delivery Functions Standard (Rinse, Soap, Wax, Pre-Soak, Tire/Engine, Foam Brush, Foam Wax, Spot Free & Bug & Tar) 9 Individual Solution Tanks-Gravity Feed to Pump Pre-Plumbed HOT, COLD & Spot Free Water Connections Efficient Purge Chemical Change Over Multi (3) Boom Ready Retro Fit Ready-Easily Adapts to Any Car Wash Industry Standard Parts & Controls
BOOMS & AIR BOOMS with Assembly Packages
Standard
Air Booms Features: • • • • • • • •
Standard Short Hull 10 Position Rotary Switch with Coin Acceptor, Digital Display & Bill Validator Short: 8”D x 101/4”W x 143/4”H Long: 8”D x 101/4”W x 207/8”H
For Vacuum or Drying Optional Electrical Connections Ceiling Air Boom 180° or 360° Rotations Polished Stainless Steel Tough Design High Quality Machining Self Lubricated Ball Bearings Wall Mount Air Boom Ready-To-Use
Deluxe High Security Deluxe High Security Short Hull 10 Position Rotary Switch with Coin Acceptor, Digital Display & Bill Validator Short: 8”D x 101/4”W x 143/4”H Long: 8”D x 101/4”W x 207/8”H
Premium High Security Premium High Security Short Hull 12 Push Button Select with Coin Acceptor, Digital Display, Bill Validator & IDX Smart Card
Ceiling Boom Z-Series Features: • • • • • • • •
360° Rotation Polished Stainless Steel Tough Design Self Lubricated Ball Bearing High Quality Swivels Included Insulated High Pressure Hose Hose Protection/Tension Relief Ready-To-Use
Committ
ed to
Quality. You.
Committ
ed to
Ceiling Z Boom
Short: 8”D x 12 ”W x 16 ”H Long: 8”D x 123/4”W x 223/4”H 3/4
3/4
1-800-528-5733 2928 www.hydrospray.com 2928 Washington Avenue Clearfield, PA 16830 WINTER 2018 •
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Self Serve Shoutouts In each issue we will give a shout out to a car wash which got a positive Yelp! review. In this issue, we say “congrats” to the following locations for getting 5-star reviews:
Kingsgate Car Wash of Kirkland, Washington Keep It Kleen Car Wash of New Port Richey, Florida
Crystal Springs Car Wash of Chandler, Arizona
Tom & Jerry’s Car Wash of Watervliet, New York Just Wash It of North Salt Lake, Utah
Joe’s Car Wash of Houston, Texas
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• WINTER 2018
Security Solutions for the Car Wash Industry
FACTORY AUTHORIZED SALES & SERVICE CENTER Cam Locks • Inner Cylinder (Pop-Out) Locks
Restricted • Commercial Medeco Biaxial Keyways Re-keying to customer specifications Key duplication • Master keying Factory-direct Pricing
Threaded Extension Locks • T-Handles • Padlocks Hasps • Switch Locks • Plug Locks • Safes MEDECO • FORT • AMERICAN • ABUS • MASTER • ABLOY SARGENT & GREENLEAF • CHICAGO • WILSON-BOHANNAN
Competitive Prices
48-hour Turnaround
Fast, Courteous Service
Immediate Shipping from Inventory
800-777-6310 | Fax 972-775-6316 www.ralock.com | sales@ralock.com 3570 N Highway 67 | Midlothian, TX 76065 WINTER 2018 •
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SS SNAPSHOT From coast to coast, we are profi ling different self serve car washes and will showcase photos, business information, methods of advertising and what sets them apart from the competition.
LOCATION:
Bardstown, Kentucky
NAME OF OWNER(S): Pat Hall NAME OF MANAGER(S): Pat Hall TYPE OF CAR WASH:
Self-Serve with 3 In-bay automatics
NUMBER OF SELF SERVE BAYS: 7
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BUSINESS INFO YEAR IT OPENED: 1996. Was originally built as 4 SS bays with 2 touchless automatics. In 2006, 3 of the 4 SS bays were extended to 60’, making them tandem bays, increasing the # of SS bays to 7. Another automatic bay was added at this time as well. A friction/brush auto was installed in the new auto bay.
HOURS/DAYS OF OPERATION: 24/7, 365
METHODS OF ADVERTISING: None
TOKENS ACCEPTED? Yes, I dispense and accept tokens, but not exclusively. I also dispense dollar coins in a different changer as well as dispensing them for change in the automatics.
DO YOU OWN OTHER LOCATIONS?
IF YES, HOW MANY AND WHAT TYPES OF CARWASH(ES) ARE THEY? I have 3 other locations. 3 SS and 1 touchless auto, also in Bardstown, Ky. 3 SS and 2 touchless autos in Springfield, Ky. 4 SS and 1 touchless auto in Lebanon, Ky. 34
• WINTER 2018
Non-acid Wheel Cleaner
Earth Friendly Wheel and Tire Cleaner This non-acid Wheel and Tire Cleaner concentrate cleans quickly and safely. Car Choice® Formula 560 WTC delivers maximum cleaning power to tires and wheels. Just spray it on (wet or dry) and rinse — no scrubbing required. You’ll get confidence to clean chrome, aluminum and magnesium without damage. And like all our Green Line Solutions™ products, it’s right for the environment. No hydrofluoric acid or other caustic agents. Formula 560 WTC cuts dirt, road film, brake dust and grease fast. Put it to work in your operation. Car Choice ®. “If your car could choose.”
Cuts dirt, road film, brake dust and grease. Fast.
Warsaw Chemical Co., Inc. P.O. Box 858, Warsaw, IN 46581 Phone: 800-548-3396 Fax: 574-267-3884
warsaw-chem.com
WINTER 2018 •
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• WINTER 2018
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BUSINESS HISTORY HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE CAR WASH BUSINESS? My dad ran a Shell service station from 1956-1976. In 1969 he convinced them to build one of those “new 25¢ car washes” behind the station. In 1973, he and a partner built another wash on the other side of town. After he was “encouraged” to leave the Shell station he built a store next to the newer car wash and sold lawn and garden equipment. Two years later I went to work with him. In 1985 he encouraged me to buy out his partner. At 27 years old and living hand-to-mouth, I didn’t think there was any way I could. He chatted with his partner, a great guy that I feel wanted to give me a break. He priced it reasonably, so I went to the bank and talked to the president (also one of my dad’s fishing buddies), gotta love small towns. Long story short, they lent me 100% of the money and my lifepath was set. In 1990, a partner and I built a wash together (with my dad’s blessing). It was a 4 bay SS in Bardstown, Ky. In 2004, one SS bay was converted to an automatic. In 1991, we built another one. This one in Lebanon, Ky., 4 SS/1 auto, which was our first with an automatic. In 1996, we built the Car Pool (the one profiled here). This is by far our best performer. In 2001, we bought an existing wash in Springfield, Ky. It was a 3 bay SS/1 auto. We remodeled it and installed 2 autos. Also in 2001, the original wash I bought from my dad’s partner was closed and torn down. I bought out my partner in 2008 and have been the sole owner since. WINTER 2018 •
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BUSINESS FUTURE WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS FOR THE WASH? I am 60 years old and putting the word out that I want to sell my washes and hope to retire at 62. If any of the SSCWN readers are interested, my phone # is: 502-827-4555.
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• WINTER 2018
WINTER 2018 •
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The Ins & Outs of Insurance How to find the best insurance coverage for your self serve car wash By Jessica Rhodes
Insurance is important for every business, but few have the wide-ranging concerns of a car wash. From property insurance to liability coverage to everything in between, car wash owners need to make sure their policy is perfectly tailored to them. Choosing the correct insurance package starts
with finding the right agent. Certain companies, from big corporations like Allstate to small-town insurance brokers, won’t take on high liability businesses like car washes, according to an Allstate agent in Amsterdam, New York. It is best to choose an agent that has experience creating policies for
WHAT’S COVERED?
right to sue their employer for the injury. This is beneficial to both your employees — who are protected financially and medically if they become injured — and your business — which is protected from being sued for negligence.
To start, any policy for a business with employees needs to include property insurance and worker’s compensation. Commercial property insurance will protect your building and any personal business property from: ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Fire Theft Vandalism Weather events and business disruption, and Equipment and machinery breakdowns
For unmanned self-serve car washes, it is especially important to be protected from theft and vandalism (security systems and cameras also help with these concerns). Workers’ compensation is a required insurance that all businesses with employees must purchase. This insurance provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee’s
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• WINTER 2018
THE IMPORTANCE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE
But perhaps the most important facet of a car wash insurance policy is liability insurance. “[Any car wash] would have to have a business policy that would give them liability coverage,” Jenny Rulison-Fisch, a State Farm Insurance Agent in Perth, New York, emphasized. Commercial general liability coverage protects you from claims related to bodily injury (either employees or customers) or property damage caused by your equipment or employees. If an employee or customer slips and falls in the wet, soapy environment, if an employee sues for wrongful termination or harassment, if a customer
car washes and understands the multifaceted liability, equipment and employee issues that might arise in your business. Ideally, owners should visit multiple insurance agents, comparing to find out which is well versed in the specific issues pertinent to a car wash.
vehicle is damaged by your employees or equipment, your business is protected by liability insurance. As the type of business where one of your customer’s most expensive possessions is interacting with your employees and machinery, leaving an open window for human error or machinery malfunction, liability is especially important. Liability insurance will pay out on behalf of the carwash owner (the insured) for loss arising out of legal liability to others (employees or customers). “We have a lot of claims that come through to us where people go through a car wash and a piece of the car wash comes off and damages the car,” said Rulison-Frisch. “They want to put it against the car wash insurance, not their own [car] insurance.” Rick Vertucci, owner of Rick’s Robo Car Wash in Amsterdam, NY, also stressed the importance of liability insurance. Vertucci’s car wash has three touch free bays with automated tellers and two pro-touch friction washes with tellers and brushes, with one self-serve bay. {continued }
A LEADING MANUFACTURER OF CONTROLS, INCLUDING DIGITAL TIMERS FOR THE CAR WASH INDUSTRY.
CONTACT YOUR DISTRIBUTOR
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WWW.DIXMOR.COM 1-888-234-9667 FOR A DISTRIBUTOR IN YOUR AREA. WINTER 2018 •
43
The Ins & Outs of Insurance The one thing Vertucci recommends for every car wash owner is “just to make sure you have enough liability, that’s the big thing. In case someone gets hurt, or God forbid, something catastrophic happens, like someone drives through your wash and takes out one of your machines.” Vertucci’s father started a car wash, the first in his area, in 1967, with two robo washes and one exterior automatic. Working with his father since he was a little kid, Vertucci has 50+ years of experience and has seen first hand the type of incidents that can unexpectedly befall a business. “I remember one instance where a man had a stroke,” said Vertucci. “He had no feeling in one side, and he actually floored the car and went flying through the tunnel. He sheared both wrap around brushes off, took both rocker panel brushes out, and smashed the car that was going through the dryer exiting the car wash.” Fortunately in that instance, the car owner’s insurance paid the damages, but Vertucci’s insurance still played a part in negotiating that liability.
sphere (although even Southern states experienced frigid temperatures and snowfall this past winter), Vertucci also cited specific cold-weather concerns, namely ice on the bay floors. “Most car washes have floor heat — radiant heat that prevents ice from forming on the concrete,” he said. But with the extremely cold weather recently hitting parts of the U.S. with below zero temperatures and an even colder wind chill, the radiant heat often can’t keep up with thawing the ice on the bay floors. “So you have to make sure you’re constantly salting the vacuum areas, the exits to the washes where you get a lot of water coming off the cars. Say a pickup truck exits the bay, the back deposits a lot of water on the bay or by the vacuums,” Vertucci explains. “Somebody walks up to the change machine and they fall on their keester. I’ve had a couple people fall. Thank goodness they haven’t sued.”
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION…
Commercial property insurance, general commercial liability and workers’ compensation are the most important elements in an insurance policy for a car wash, but some brokers also offer more specialized coverage.
With a car wash located in the Northern Hemi-
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• WINTER 2018
FINDING THE ‘PERFECT PACKAGE’
Trusted Choice recommends looking into business interruption coverage, equipment breakdown coverage (often referred to as boiler and machinery coverage), and garagekeepers liability insurance. Business interruption coverage provides coverage for lost income and pays for continued expenses if you experience a weather-related or other type of business interruption. This is especially important if you are in an area where your business fluctuates seasonally, as an interruption during your busiest season could be disastrous. Another specialized insurance policy that some companies offer is equipment breakdown coverage. This supplements your business property insurance and covers certain costs associated with accidental breakdown of machinery or equipment and the resulting property damage or loss. As a business that is entirely reliant upon machinery, this can be a great source of security for a car wash. This typically covers breakdowns resulting from power surges, motor burnout, machinery malfunction and sometimes even operator error, and can cover machinery from mechanical and electrical equipment to computer systems. This policy even applies if you lease your building and equipment. If you offer extra services such as oil changes or car detailing at your car wash, where employees
The Ins & Outs of Insurance get behind the wheel of a customer vehicle for any reason, you should also have garagekeepers liability insurance. This coverage is not included in a standard commercial liability policy. Your options will vary depending on the insurance agent you visit, but just be sure to find one that is familiar with the unique concerns of car washes and your geographical location. Be sure to include commercial property and liability and workers’ compensation in your package, in addition to any other specialized coverage your broker offers. Whatever package you decide on, review your insurance limits. Know the value of your business and machinery, and the general costs of daily operation and equipment replacement to compare to the insurance limits on your policy. Even with a great insurance package, you don’t want to get stuck with a major issue that is only partially covered.
THE BIG THREE
The three most important elements in a car wash insurance policy are: ✔ Commercial property insurance ✔ General commercial liability, and ✔ Workers’ compensation
BEFORE YOU BUY
It is important to be prepared before making any insurance buying negotiations. Some of the things that you know before any consultation include: ✔ The value of your business ✔ The value of your machinery ✔ The general costs of daily operation, and ✔ The general costs of equipment replacement
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It turns out that the concept of insurance dates back 5,000 years, according to esurance. In fact, it started out in ancient China in 3000 BC because merchants were losing their commodities in shipwrecks. Hundreds of years later, around 1790 BC, good ‘ol King Hammurabi of ancient Babylonia coined the “eye for an eye” proverb and introduced the “bottomry” theory in which merchants were allowed “to finance their shipping through loans from
Jessica Rhodes is a freelance writer, public relations specialist and blogger living in Upstate New York.
In-Bay & Tunnel Delivery Systems
lenders. These loans were paid back, with interest, only after the safe arrival of the goods. But if the merchandise was lost in transit, they didn’t have to pay a dime,” according to esurance. It was centuries later when insurance was brought to America, thanks to Benjamin Franklin. In 1751, “Franklin helped pioneer the concept of fire insurance through his Philadelphia Contributionship, allegedly stating that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ This was also the guy who said “‘A penny saved is a penny earned.’”
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• WINTER 2018
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INDUSTRY DIRT RANDALL GERARD COLEMAN 12.19.1959 - 11.15.2017 By Debra Gorgos I first met Randy Coleman in 2008 when I worked for Professional Carwashing & Detailing. He was kind, funny and seemed to have a sort of vigor and charm that was profound and appreciated. I never heard a single negative word about him. Randy got his start in the carwashing business thanks to his father, Jim Coleman, who owned a car wash and later founded the Coleman Company in 1966 in Houston, Texas. Jim’s seven children were always involved in the business, even as children. Randy, the third oldest son of Jim (and his wife Lorraine) began in the sales department in 1980 and eventually took over the sales department and its team, becoming the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Randy has two sons, Spenser and Everett. After more than 30 years with the company, Randy left in 2011 to tend to his family ranch and to travel and spend time with his family. Randy’s sister Annette posted the following to her Facebook page: It is with great sadness and a heavy heart to announce the passing of our brother, Randy on November 15, 2017. He was 57 years old. Randy enjoyed a celebrated and grand life for many years. He adored his two sons Spencer and Everett and he loved them more than life itself. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling. He grew up in the carwash business, alongside his dad, brothers and sisters, and was most comfortable in the sales and marketing side, strategizing with distributors and customers alike. Anyone that met Randy, loved him. He had a great sense of humor and had a zest for life like none other! However, in recent years Randy struggled with life issues including some health issues. He is now resting in the arms of Jesus. Luke 23:43 - “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise” Go Rest in Peace with God, my brother Vaya Con Dios Compadre
Everyone here at Self Serve Car Wash News is sorry to hear of Randy’s passing. Our deepest sympathies go out to Randy’s family and friends. 48
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Happenings In & Around Self Serve Carwashing
Kleen-Rite gifts over 5,000 toys to Toys for Tots The 2017 Lancaster County-based Toys for Tots distribution center was held at KleenRite Corp’s headquarters in Columbia, Pennsylvania, during the holiday season. Dedicated community members, veterans, and Kleen-Rite employees volunteered alongside the Marine Corps for five days in December and were able to give away over 5,000 gifts. Every child who benefited from the Toys for Tots program also received a book, a stocking stuffer, a plush animal toy, and three additional gifts. Families were also given a puzzle and a board game to play together.
Kleen-Rite employees also set up a Christmas tree covered in angel-shaped tags representing a local child’s gift wish for the year. Employees then took a tag and fulfilled that child’s wish. A total of 42 children benefited from the KleenRite Christmas tree. And, Kleen-Rite didn’t stop there. Also, in December, the company, which collects food throughout the year for the Pennsylvania Food Bank, stepped up its efforts and collected more food than usual, gifting many families in the area a joyous and happy holiday.
Mark VII Partners with Wash-n-Shine Mark VII Equipment Inc., the North America subsidiary of WashTec AG of Germany, has partnered with Wash-N-Shine Car Wash Systems, a press release reported. The partnership will allow for Wash-N-Shine to sell and service Mark VII products in Kentucky, eastern Indiana and southwestern Ohio. “We see significant growth opportunity in this market,” said Rob Raskell, Director of Distribution for Mark VII.
“Wash-n-Shine has an excellent reputation for serving the needs of carwash operators and we look forward to doing great things together.” “I’m excited to be able to offer Mark VII carwash systems to our customers,” said Mark McAdams, owner of Wash-N-Shine. “They are a high quality equipment manufacturer and their diverse product line is a great fit for our market.”
CSI® appoints new Lustra® Key Account Manager Cleaning Systems, Inc. (CSI) of De Pere, Wisconsin, announced the hiring of Sean McBride to the position of Lustra® Key Account Manager. McBride spent the past 12 years with Belanger, Inc., holding both product manager positions in both the tunnel and in-bay segments, as well as managing national/key accounts throughout North America.
Dave Krause, President and CEO of CSI stated in a press release, “We are excited to add Sean to an already strong team and look forward to having our customers receive added value through the experience and insights he brings. He adds an additional dimension to our group with his extensive equipment and operational background.”
NCS partners with Hi-Performance Wash Systems National Carwash Systems (NCS) has partnered with Hi-Performance Wash Systems, a Rocky Mountains company that develops custom conveyorized tunnels, in-bay automatic and self serve car wash systems, Petrol Plaza reported. HPWS, a full service distributor, “will continue to represent existing suppliers and add to its current portfolio NCS products and services, including MacNeil and Ryko car wash systems, CleanTouch Service and CleanTouch cleaning
fluids,” the press release stated. Michael Gillen, CEO of NCS, stated that the company will continue to seek strategic partnerships that expand its car wash system, system maintenance services, and cleaning fluids sales. “HPWS’s success in the Rocky Mountain Region is in alignment with our culture and objectives; we’re thrilled to have Hi-Performance Wash Systems join the NCS family,” he stated.
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EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT ... Presenting the news stories featuring self serves car washes
SBA official speaks out on Trump’s Tax Reform initiative On November 29, 2017, U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) Administrator Linda McMahon reacted to the speech given by President Donald Trump in St. Charles, Missouri. In the speech, Trump was pitching his tax reform plan. McMahon released the following statement in its wake:
from tax cuts to reinvest in their businesses,
“In my role as SBA Administrator, I’ve been
the President, and Congressional leadership
resulting in more jobs for hard working Americans. America was built on the backs of our entrepreneurs; reforming the tax-code will help to revive that entrepreneurial spirit and spur further economic growth. I want to commend
traveling across the nation meeting with small
for their efforts and vision, and look forward to
businesses owners, so that I can better advocate
seeing it cross the finish line.”
on their behalf back in Washington. I consistently hear the same message: they want cuts to the current tax rates and a simplified code, so they can better utilize the time currently spent preparing their taxes. I also hear from owners that they would use any money gained
264,759 veterans received free washes thanks to Grace for Vets The numbers are in for 2017 and it looks like 264,759 washes were gifted veteran on Veterans Day, thanks to Grace for Vets, the non-profit program which brings together professional carwashers in four countries to wash veterans’ cars for free. According to the organization, 3,374 locations participated in the one-day event. Back in 2010, Mike Mountz, founder of Grace for Vets and chairman of the board of the organization, told Self Serve Car Wash News, “This day is not about the carwash operators who are providing the free washes, “it’s about honoring and recognizing those that have and are serving and protecting our country.” When the initiative first began in 2003, one chain gave out 222 washes at three different locations. The following year, in 2004, two different car wash companies covering 13 different locations washed 1,053 cars. The total amount of free washes given out to veterans, between 2013 and 2017 is now at 2,023,661. 50
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Then on December 20, McMahon released another statement after the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1). “As the first major update to the tax code since 1986, passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a monumental achievement that can serve as an inspiration for every American who has
Self Serve Near Me site lists locations of nearby washes
Customers looking for a nearby self serve car wash are in luck, thanks to a new website called: Self Car Wash Near Me. The site includes detailed information on how well people can use these services to take care of any needs that they have for keeping their cars protected, the Digital Journal reported. It also asks visitors to Google the words: self serve car wash center near me, to find out nearby locations. Upon visiting the site, it is unclear of whether the site played a role in narrowing down the list of self serve locations via Google. According to the story, “Self car wash centers have become popular as they allow people to take control of the car wash experience. People can place a better focus on various spots on their cars when using such a service.” The site, found at http://selfcarwashnearme. net/, also includes information on how to care for a vehicle’s paint, dent removal and how to properly wash a car.
ever dreamed of opening a small business. As I’ve traveled around the country, small business owners have repeatedly told me that they want lower taxes, less burdensome regulations and a simplified tax code. The bill as passed today successfully delivers in these areas and upholds the commitment that the President made to the American people to promote pro-growth economic policies. I am confident that small business owners across the country will see increased opportunities for the development and expansion of their businesses in the upcoming years as a result of this important legislation. I applaud Congress for their hard work and thank President Trump for placing such a high priority on issues that matter to small business owners.”
Father says, ‘Get out of my car wash’
“
I’M JUST SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE TAKING MONEY FROM THEM”
Well, he didn’t exactly go Gran Torino on the perpetrators, but one father in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is taking matters into his own hands after his daughter’s car wash keeps getting robbed. According to koko News 5, coin boxes are broken into almost every night. Chuck Dahlgrem, who daughter and son-in-lawn own the car wash, said enough is enough and he started going to the wash in the middle of the night to try and catch the thieves. “I’m just sick and tired of people taking money from them,” Dahlgrem said in the story. “They are totaling this car wash.” Dahlgrem said crooks have also used sledgehammers to try and break into the car wash’s office. On a Saturday in January, he caught two thieves stealing coins from the vacuum machines and was able to call the police who were then able to find and arrest the thieves. To read about criminals caught due to surveillance systems, turn to page 80.
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HISTORY BUFF
Who is Percival Everett? If any of you offer up a vending machine or machines to your customers, you have Percival Everett to thank. Turns out our awesome-monikered man invented the vending machine back in 1883. Well, that’s not entirely accurate, he really only invented the coin-operated vending machine available for mass marketing. But, still, give a shout out to Percival the next time you’re counting your vending profits. If you want to go back even further into the depths of vending machine folklore, it might be a Greek mathematician by the name of Hero of Alexandria whom you have to thank. According to Greek and Egyptian legend, HoA invented a holy water dispensing device in Roman Egypt. But, wait, it so happens that he also invented a fire engine and…. Heron’s Fountain, which is “an instrument that used air pressure to produce a jet of water,” according to Explorable.com. So, wait, forget Percival and thank Hero of Alexandria, because he might have also made self serve car wash-
ing possible. But, getting back to the vending machine, a few hundred years after holy water was offered up in Egyptian temples, a few other vending options came about, offering everything from tobacco to books. But, it wasn’t until good ‘ol Percival came around and decided to invent one a bit more commercially viable. His first machines were made of cast iron and quite large, and were used to vend envelopes, postcards and notepaper at railway stations and post offices, ThoughtCo. reports. Percival also kept any users from losing money by developing a feature on all machines in which a block was put in the coin slot if certain items were out of stock. He also installed “weighing scales” to hinder the use of slugs, The Vending
Machine reported. The machines were popular throughout London. In fact, over 100 were installed throughout the city. The United States didn’t join the vending machine market until 1888 when the Thomas Adams Gum Company came up with machines which dispensed Tutti Fruity Gum. Today, the United Statesbased vending machine industry is worth a whopping $7 billion, according to a 2017 state of the industry report by IBISWorld.com. So, thank you, Percival Everett and Hero of Alexander, for bringing this additional profit center to the self serve industry.
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• WINTER 2018
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TRICKS TRADE Presenting some of the best discussions from the Self Serve, IBA and General Discussions sections of Auto Care Forum. To view more posts discussing some interesting and common problems as well as some of the best and brightest solutions, visit AutoCareForum.com (Note: Some posts feature minor edits for readability.)
Who only accepts $1 coins? FROM WASHZONE: Has anyone used dollar coins only in self serve bays and vacs and how many minutes per dollar? CHAZ: I dispense only dollar coins from my changer. I accept quarters and dollar coins in all equipment and also C/C in self serve and IBA. Vac $2 for 6 min. S/S $3 for 4 min. PGRZES: Only problem I see with accepting only dollar coins is people don’t generally carry dollar coins. If you dispense them as change and they get say $5 worth of them and they use them all, but could use another minute to rinse, they may not walk back to a changer for more, but if they can grab 2 more quarters out of the ashtray for more time they are more likely to do that. I dispense tokens and love it. I make .75 on unused coins, I accept quarters, dollar coins, tokens, bills and credit cards. The more ways to get the $$$ that people have on them is the goal. I run my triple foam gun and foam brush really heavy so it takes a while to rinse. Very rarely will you get a complaint about too much soap!! But
run light and everyone complains. RANDY: I wouldn’t use dollar coins because of the threat of someone breaking into the equipment, equipment room or pulling the changer out of the wall. I had a friend of mine who had his changer pulled out of the front wall with a stolen wrecker. He had 2” angle iron welded to the changer from the ceiling to floor and from side to side. The whole front of the car wash came out with the changer. He got it all of video. 45K in damages. I.B. WASHINCARS: I have 4 washes and dispense dollar coins and tokens, no quarters. We probably deposit $2000 in quarters every week, all carried in by the customers. There’s no way I would not accept quarters. SWAMPDONKEY: I’ve been dispensing $ coins and wouldn’t quit them, usage is double versus quar-
ters. Cash at the meterbox is also higher than quarters. My bank orders dollar coins in every 2 weeks for me and I don’t pay a premium for the service. MEP001: I had planned on putting dollar coins in the auto cashier hopper for change, then found out that all the banks here charge for them, up to $35 for 500 coins. I had initially set up everything to take them, but I don’t think I’ve gotten 100 from customers in 13 years. JEFF_L: Thought about it, then thought tokens might be better but wonder about any negative feedback that might happen. Been getting quite a bit of “quarter buyers” lately. I dispense only dollar coins in the auto cashiers. Users there typically carry 20s.
Do you stay open in freezing temps? FROM MDROST1: I have two questions. The first question is for IBA (I have a 360plus) owners: Do you have a low temperature that you set to close your IBA from use? If yes, what is your temp? I live in Michigan and we are going to have some sustained cold 0-10 degrees. Question 2 is for SS owners:When weather gets nasty, do any of you shut a few bays down to redirect cleanup and lower maintenance when things are super cold, snowy and slow? WASH4ME: We leave 2 of 6 ss bays open always. I figure if I can just pay the gas bill that’s enough to stay open. High Velocity we close at much below 15 degrees. KENTADEL: I will shut my IBA bay down if the high temp for the day is under 15 degrees and low is 5 or lower. As for the self service bays, they stay open 24/7. SOAPY: 0 degrees for the autos, always open for self service. 2BIZ: At -15° or colder I close all bays down....When temps hover around zero, depending on many days it stays there, I close down 2-3 of my 4 bays. Above 15°, all bays are open. When I close down any of the bays, I cover the pits with a 2 x 12 wrapped in a plastic tarp held down with old soap jugs filled with water. So far this has deterred anyone from stealing my boards! When I shut the weep off to any of the bays, even with floor heat, the pits will freeze quicker without water flowing....Freezing pits concern me more than what it 56
• WINTER 2018
takes to stay open. RANDY: When it gets down to around 15 degrees here at night (and it doesn’t get up above freezing during the day) we get very little business so we shut down the car washes. None of the car washes here have floor heat. We pull the guns and foam brush handles, turn off the water and power to the equipment, pump windshield washer fluid into the systems and call it good until it warms back up. Anymore I hate to be outside in the cold weather. It’s just not worth the effort to fight the ice and cold to stay open for what little business we do. i think I was shut down 3 days last winter, so I don’t think I lost too much business. RUDY: Rarely close completely. Touchless autos are closed below 10F....open above 10F. I might close the self serves if it goes below 0F. NEVER turn off the floor heat...even if closed. This prevents the concrete floors from heaving. It makes no sense to save a few
hundreds on gas, just to pay thousands to repair the floors. It’s one of those situations where you, “Take out your checkbook, and simply pay....” JEFF_L: Self serve, I stay open. Figure if I’m going to pay to keep my equipment from freezing, then might as well get some business. Automatics, close 15 degrees or lower. Mainly to just keep the heat trapped in the bays with the doors closed. CHAZ: The only time I’ll close my automatic for extreme cold is during the overnight hours....that’s only to avoid a middle of the night cold temp because someone has done something stupid like staying in the bay to detail while the door is open. During daylight I’ll get some cars through when’s it’s cold, even if I lose some heat when the door opens ....I say I’m always open and I want to hold true to that as much as I can.... no point in giving a reason to shop elsewhere!
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TRICKS TRADE Should I add spot free rinse? JASON STUDER: I have a four bay self serve that has never had spot free rinse, not many if any near me have spot free. Just a few questions: What pressure do you suggest running it at? I have had one company say low pressure like presoak, and another says high pressure like your normal rinse? What % of customers use it and for how long? What is the cost to maintain and operate? Trying to do the math to see if it’s worth the investment. LOEWEM: 1. Mine is set to run at lower pressure around 150 PSI. Have never seen it run at high pressure. 2. 75% or more use it. 3. Not much maintenance needed. Change the prefilter a couple/few times each year, change the membranes every couple of years, change the carbon filter media every five years. I think some maintenance depends upon the quality of your water. The membranes are expensive. MEP001: I would run it at “low pressure” about 200250, or medium pressure, about 450-500. The latter takes a big pump and is much more expensive. You can get 250 with a 2500 series Procon and 3/4 HP motor and still use Kip solenoids with a 3/32” orifice. I like the 450 psi range, and I believe the customers do too. I can’t quote an exact number, but somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 of them use it. I’ve watched people go around for 4-5 minutes at a time. Smart people who use it after rinse to push off the dirty water still use it a couple minutes. I would not deliver it to the bays at high pressure. You don’t want your customers using it instead of regular
Keep coming!
rinse, you want them to use high pressure rinse and then spot free. It would be very inefficient for you otherwise. Cost to maintain can be very low depending on a lot of circumstances. If everything else is kept up, membranes should last at least five years. I prefer to change the carbon filter media with the membranes, or at five years, assuming it’s sized properly to the system. I have seen them undersized and need to be refilled every year. Cost of operation depends on the efficiency of the unit as well as whether you capture and reuse the reject water. Best efficiency units will reject one part for every part of product. In my experience, an RO system set up for 1:1 and recirculating part of the reject will have a higher production rate and longer membrane life. It’s worth the investment. Every self serve car wash should have it. GETNBUSY: I’m sure you already have, but the first thing I would do is check my water to see what I’m working with. My area has pretty darn good water so a spot free setup is not necessary. I put it in anyway a few years ago and have found that my customers really don’t use it. I guess because we don’t need it. So don’t put it in
just to add a feature or take up a spot on the switch. There may be a reason nobody has it. GREG PACK: I would go with lower pressure, but use bigger solenoids. I had a a Pur-clean system that was plumbed with a 1/4” solenoid manifold. I started having intermittent problems with one bay, so converted to individual 3/8” solenoids. The flow difference was very noticeable, enough where I won’t ever use a medium pressure setup again. In a previous life I was a firefighter. We studied hydraulics in apparatus operator courses. The take home from those courses is every time you did something to a stream of water- squeeze it into something smaller, split it, even just change its direction with an el, there was a resultant change in pressure that had to be accounted for with an adjustment in pump pressure. As a rule of thumb, bigger is better from one end to the other. I figured the larger solenoid had to help, but I was pleasantly surprised it helped as well as it did. The flow went from being marginal to quite adequate for SFR usage.
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Foreign O 1 Year (4 issues) $49.85 O 2 Years (8 issues) $89.95 O 3 Years (12 issues) $119.95 Subscription information (Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required): First name:*_________________ Last name:* _______________________________ Business name: _______________________________________________________
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Call toll free at 888-881-5861 or email us at sscwn@pfsmag.com.
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The MICROCOIN ® QL is a high speed, multi-coin, field programmable electronic coin acceptor that can be used in many applications in your car wash including your: WASH BAYS AUTOCASHIERS VACUUMS FRAGRANCE MACHINES CHANGE MACHINES Its features are many. Here are just a few: Quick Learn™ On Board Programming Single and multi-coin programming Programmable for Multiple Currencies Programmable for up to 12 different coins Universal size - one size fits all High speed, multi-coin acceptance up to 10 cps New, revolutionary coin discrimination techniques Highly critical and unique coin path design which virtually eliminates the possibility of coin jams. Maximum fraud coin rejection For more information on the MICROCOIN® QL contact Hi-Performance Wash Systems or one of the distributors listed below. Advanced Car Wash Systems – GA JE Adams – IA National Pride Equipment – OH Auto Wash Concepts – CA Jim Coleman Company – TX Ryko – IA Dultmeier – NE Kleen-Rite – PA U-Wash Equipment – IL Etowah Valley – NC Laurel Metal Products, Inc. – IL Water Conservation Services – CA Fragramatics – AR Mark VII – CO Windtrax - KS
3901 East 41st Avenue 800.922.1313 (Toll Free) Denver, CO 80237 303.322.2232 (Local) www.hpws.com WINTER 2018 •
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Cwguy.com’s
‘Random Thoughts’
Marketing & promoting your car wash By Eric Wilson
A lot has changed in the social media market… I mean the President even uses social media along with conventional media companies. If you engage in social media in any way you should realize how things have changed over the years. When thinking about how social media has changed, I always think back to 8-10 years ago when I was on a car wash association panel about website and social media advertising. There were three guys on the panel. The first member managed an advertising firm that basically sent bulk mail and sent emails. Another advertiser talked about how he used websites and social media and he was always speaking at meetings and even started a podcast. I was the last speaker and I mainly did websites. But, at the time I had also setup multiple Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, website feeds and other advertising schemes in general, along with advertising on Facebook and Google. The first guy just talked about managing the advertiser, which had good ideas, but they were dated plans which you could actually do without having a web presence. In fact, companies for years have sent bulk mail and used email services to send coupons. Constant reminders are never a bad idea. (I have setup and sent bulk email before…. You should also watch out. There are lots of rules and it is easy to get your emails flagged as spam.) There are also services you can use to 60
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help with this. (Usually monthly to offset a lot of the tedious workload.) This is just more old school “social” media, but in some ways it could be more effective for unconnected customers. The second guy was mostly selling himself and his company’s product… But, it was basically the same message I was speaking about. You need a strong base of information (your website with all of your information) and also a constant stream of “social” information. Then you need to have a way to give your customers constant information… “Social” information (maybe they will share it). Constant information about your products, new updates, coupon or discount etc. When we fielded questions from the attendants the main questions where:
Which social service to use? and
What type of content should be posted? Eight to 10 years ago we were just discussing
Facebook and Twitter and both services were basically free for your follower to see your content. The problem then and today is the same: Picking the best service to achieve your goal. Just like paying a bill... Do you mail a bill with a stamp via USPS or use online banking? When communicating with a friend or colleague do you mail them a letter, fax, scan, instant message, sms, call or email them? Certain services are better than others to communicate information to your customers. You would not fax a requested phone number to someone? You would probably text it to them. The big difference here is you want the “social” aspect from these services to work for your business. While things have changed with Facebook and you’re interacting with your followers, it is not at all the same as it used to be. Now, if you want all your followers to see your post you need to promote it. Building your brand on Facebook is great, but you cannot communicate with your customers unless you advertise to them. Combine that with the increase in content in Facebook user’s feeds. Along with the additional functions Facebook has {continued}
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Cwguy.com’s ‘Random Thoughts’ added such as places pages, forums, a Marketplace, Videos, Facebook Messenger, Job listing and a send money function, etc., Facebook can be a hard platform to tackle, but Twitter will post all posts in your followers’ feeds. So, basically, Twitter will not change the order of tweets/posts so that no one will see your tweet/post. There are also other social media players today. Instagram, which boasts a 58% higher engagement then Facebook and 2000% higher than Twitter. Like I have always said about anyone that comes to me and wants a website: “Everyone loves pictures”. (In fact I would follow my own blog just because I love seeing other car wash pictures.) Snapchat boasts that 41% of all 18-34 year olds in the United States will interact with their application. Instagram and Twitter could all be utilized for an array of advertising and promotions. I have talked to clients about lots of different options on getting customers to share and to offer discounts. I have also seen some at different car washes. Facebook would also fall into this as a great social platform, but only if you were planning on advertising on their platform. So in today’s social media market you need to decide what your plan is. Do you want to spend money on advertising? If yes, you might want to
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stick with Facebook and go down that path with your social media plans. If you have no plan on spending money on social media, you might want to think twice about spending large amounts of time on Facebook. I would definitely try other social platforms and think about posting the same information to multiple locations. I also have always believed in one principle: You should own your own data. When you post anything to any network: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat, it can be removed or changed at any time. I believe anyone that creates content for any site should also post your information on your own website. Create a blog which contains your social media post. So when Facebook or any of these companies go out of business you will still have all your pictures and content. (Now I am sure this does not seem possible, but just look at myspace.com. They failed because of ads and clogging feeds with unrelated information. Just a thought.) If you have anything to add just let me know.
Eric
cake@cakebuild.com Eric Wilson is a self-serve car wash owner who also blogs online on the popular and very funny website, http://cwguy.com/.
Don’t Forget About Google+ Another tip when it comes to social media: Participate enough to get your information out there. I hate to say it, but I like Google+, which I believe is better than Facebook. Register your business, information, address at different places even if you do not use them or like them. You want your business to be seen by the most people and the easiest way by your customer. This is where a website comes into play. Having a website helps when people do Google searches from their phones or at home. This is also why a website should be your central location for all your information. Websites also help when people talk to their phone and asks their phone where your car wash is. Can Google find your location? If it cannot, neither can a potential customer.
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Association News 2018 CALENDAR & Calendar OF EVENTS FEB 25-27 MAR 11-12 APRIL 3-4 APRIL 26-28 MAY 15-17 JUNE 18-20 SEPT 16-18 SEPT 20 OCT 1-3 OCT 30 -NOV 1 NOV 2 66
SOUTHWEST CARWASH ASSOCIATION EXPO Arlington, TX www.swcarwash.org
BATON ROUGE ROADSHOW (SECWA) Baton Rouge, LA www.secwa.org
35TH ANNUAL PRODUCTS SHOW Heartland Carwash Association www.heartlandcarwash.org
THE CAR WASH SHOW (ICA) Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV www.carwash.org
UNITI EXPO Stuttgart, Germany www.uniti-expo.de/nc/en/homepage.html
MIDWEST CARWASH ASSOCIATION 2018 EXPO Battle Creek, MI midwestcarwash.com
SECWA EXPO & CONVENTION Birmingham, AL www.secwa.org
20TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING Connecticut Carwash Association wewashctcars.com
NORTHEAST REGIONAL CARWASH CONVENTION Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ | www.nrccshow.com
CAR WASH SHOW AUSTRALIA Melbourne, Australia www.acwa.net.au
NEW YORK STATE CAR WASH ASSOCIATION FALL CARWASH TOUR & MEMBERSHIP MEETING Clarion Hotel at The Century House, Latham, NY | nyscwa.com
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2018 SCWA Expo will feature former SEAL Team 6 leader as keynote.
The upcoming Southwest Car Wash Association Expo and Convention, being held February 25-27, 2018, at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas, has booked former SEAL Team 6 member, Rob O’Neill. O’Neill is famed for being the man whose fatal shots killed Osama Bin Laden during a special ops raid in May 2011 in Pakistan. He is also the author of The Operator, a book describing his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, his life as a Navy SEAL, and what went down when Osama was found and killed. O’Neill is also the co-founder of Grateful Nation, a group which provides support to veterans of special ops as well as to their family members.
The keynote address will take place on February 26 at 10:30 a.m. A CEO Forum will be held the day before on February 25 at 12 noon. The forum will feature Paul Fazio of SONNY’s the CarWash Factor, David Begin of Wild Blue Car Wash, and Bill Martin of Metro Express Car Wash.The forum will focus on where the industry is headed and what challenges lay ahead. The SCWA revealed that all 315 of the exhibit booths have been reserved and it is looking to be a successful show in terms of attendees. To find out more about the Expo and Convention, and to learn about the other educational sessions, visit https://swcarwash.org/.
New England Carwash Association honors Adam Korngold; hosts Fall meeting Adam Korngold, CEO and Founder of Washify Services and owner of Wave’s Car Wash, was honored by the New England Carwash Association (NECA) with the “You Make it Happen!” award last November. Korngold joined the NECA in 2006 after graduating from Boston University in order to learn “all he could about operating a carwash business,” according to the NECA. “By 2008, NECA invited him to join the Board of Directors as an operator director. He quickly moved up to the Treasurer’s position in 2009 and served in that role through 2010. He then served as an operator VP in 2011-2012 and as President in 2013-2014, the youngest NECA president in recent memory. He has done so much to attract younger industry members and to move NECA into the digital age including developing carwashgifts.com and washforacause.” In April 2011, he staffed a NECA Earth Day exhibit along with members of the New England Water Works Association, and in October, 2011, the NECA named him The Most Distinguished Person. To read more about the award as well as more of Korngold’s achievements, visit http://www.newenglandcarwash.org.
Last November, the New England Carwash Association (NECA) held its Fall, Dinner, Program meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Woburn, Massachusetts. According to newenglandcarwash.com, topics included: • Whether signage with disclaimers protects you • How to respond to frivolous claims • What may happen if you experience a cyber attack and how the right insurance coverage can help • Who is responsible in a variety of accident situations (the carwash? the manufacturer?) • Safety training procedures to prevent and if an incident occurs, limit liability whether an employee or customer is injured • The absolute need for complete and accurate documentation A panel discussion was also conducted including Joel Sowalsky, Esq., partner in Daily General Counsel PLLC, Mike Benmosche, National Car Wash Program Specialist, Risk Management Department for Car Wash Insurance Program by McNeil & Co., Inc. and Peter Beames, Acct. Exec., National Carwash Insurance Program for NBT-Mang Insurance Agency, LLC.
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Association News & Calendar ICA and Australian Carwash Association form partnership; details announced for 2018 Car Wash Show™ The International Carwash Association (ICA) and the Australian Carwash Association (ACWA) are joining forces to, “support their members and the growing global car wash market,” a press release reported. . The ACWA’s biennial convention will now be known as Car Wash Show Australia, joining the list of the ICA’s other tradeshows, including the annual Car Wash Show® and Car Wash Show Europe™. “We are incredibly excited about this new partnership, and the potential it holds for supporting the growth of the global car wash industry,” ICA Chief Executive Officer Eric Wulf stated in the press release. “Developing mutually beneficial partnerships with allied associations is a key component of our strategy, and this agreement will build upon the success we’ve achieved with the Automotive Oil Change Association, BOVAG (the Dutch car wash association) and Western Carwash Association.” The first Car Wash Show Australia under the new partnership will be held October 30, 2018, in Melbourne. The following shows will be held on even-numbered years while the European show will take place on odd-numbered years. “This will allow us to tap into the energy of the rapidly growing global car wash industry,” ACWA President Craig Campbell stated in the press release. “We have had continued growth and success with our Australian expo for a couple of decades now, and this partnership will allow us to take it to the next level, adding global attendance, experience, and educational content whilst maintaining a local Aussie flavour.” Details are being released regarding The 2018 Car Wash Show™, which will be held April 26-28, 2018, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
SEMINARS WILL INCLUDE: Emerging Leaders Seminar and Reception; and the New Investor Seminar and Reception. Educational Session topics will include: For more updates, visit www.carwash.org ----> AOCA Education Session ----> Creating the Perfect Customer Journey ----> Unlocking the Keys to Authentic Leadership for Owners/Operators ----> What Big Brands Know That Creates Brand Loyalty for Multiple Locations ----> Advanced Technology for Car Wash Industry ----> Ahead of the Curve: Short-term and Long-Term Economic Forecasts ----> Fundamentals of Express Carwash Success: Blue Ocean vs. Red Ocean Site Selection ----> How to Create a Total Online Presence ----> Roundtable for Site Managers ----> Self-Serve Operator Chat ----> Unlocking the Keys to Authentic Leadership for Site Managers ----> What Big Brands Know That Helps Smaller Businesses Stand Out ----> Maximizing Monthly Plans to drive Profitability ----> Motivating and Marketing to Millennials ----> Panel: Looking at the Trends in the Full/Flex and Exterior/Express Exterior Segment ----> Peer-to-Peer: Successful Marketing Ideas ----> Self-Serve Roundtables ----> Dealing with Difficult Customers and Situations ----> How to Earn $20 or More On Your Top Exterior Package ----> Keeping Your Self-Serve Car Wash Competitive ----> New Car Technology - What You Need to Know Now ----> The Changing of the Guard: Shifts in Leadership and Workforce ----> Communicating Trust in the Digital Age ----> The Single Best Strategy to Win Every Customer in 2018 ----> What Gets a Customer to Try Your In-bay Automatic? Why do They Come Back? ----> New Investor: The Real Numbers and 7 Pitfalls You Must Master ----> Panel: Looking at the Trends in the Full/Flex and Exterior/Express Exterior Segment ----> The Consistent Company: Building an Engaged and Trustworthy Culture Across Sites ----> The Customer of the Future - Will Tomorrow’s Customers Be YOURS? ----> Trends in Attracting and Retaining Good Entry-Level Employees in the Car Care Industry
Western Carwash Association names 2018 Board of Directors Along with hosting the Self Serve Summit in December 2017 (see Cover Story), the Western Carwash Association (WCA) also named it new board of directors. The new appointees are: PRESIDENT MARLA MAYER Operator, Weiss Guys Express Wash Phoenix, Arizona VICE PRESIDENT JASON ANTHONY Operator, 7 Flags Car Wash Vallejo, California SECRETARY/TREASURER MATTHEW ANDERSON Vendor, Petra Soap Sacramento, California 68
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DIRECTORS: GREG BOMGAARS Operator/Vendor, Suds Factory/ Wash N Gloves/ Car Coaster Lone Tree, Colorado CHRIS J. BUSCAGLIA Operator, Zoom Car Wash Stockton, California CRAIG CELENTANO Vendor, Qual Chem Akron, Ohio
CHET COX Operator, Get N Go/Washworks Henderson, Nevada
PATRICIA KNOTT Operator, Green Forest Express Car Wash Hawthorne, California
LARRY NELSON Operator, Blue Cow Car Wash Anacortes, Washington
RICH HAYS Vendor, DRB Systems Akron, Ohio
AL LAM Operator, Redwood City Car Wash Redwood City, California
DAVE PATCH Vendor, Zep Vehicle Care Eagan, MN
SYDNEY KING Operator, The Good Spray Car Washes Bountiful, Utah
MARK MIKESELL Operator, Country Corner Car Wash/ Snake River Rapid Wash Idaho Falls, Idaho
STEVE TOLOPILO Operator, Balboa Car Washes, Inc. Camarillo, California
Replace or upgrade your ACW. Installs inside an existing ACW cabinet! Accepts Cash, Coins and Credit Cards The most economical 24hr Automatic Entry System! CryptoPay provides secure credit card processing that ‘Simply Stops Fraud’ Features CryptoPay Consolidation reducing Merchant Fees Compatible with CryptoPay In-Bay credit card system*
PayStation Features: l 4 - Selection Large backlit LCD display and voice prompts. l Accepts cash, coins and credit cards securely with CryptoPay! l Connect this Paystation CryptoPay to your existing CryptoPay system or add CryptoPay to your In-bay boxes for one complete credit card solution*. (*CryptoPay Coordinator is required for each car wash location) l Program up to 25 discount codes. Add an “optional” 2nd hopper to vend a bonus token that can be redeemed for a free vacuum or a discount on your next car wash purchase.
CryptoPay Security: Prevents credit card data from being ‘in the clear’ and at risk by encrypting the credit card data at the moment, and point, of the credit card swipe. CryptoPay provides secure credit card processing that ‘Simply Stops Fraud’. CryptoPay Consolidation: Reduces merchant and credit cards fees which are essential for small ticket purchases. Here’s an example of CryptoPay Consolidation: Imagine that a customer visits your carwash. He swipes his credit card at the PayStation and purchases an $8.00 wash. Ten minutes later swipes his card again at the vacuum, and is charged $1.00. CryptoPay combines these two charges into one $9.00 charge that is submitted to the credit card company, which results in only one merchant fee for the purchase. CryptoPay GoGreen Receipt Service: Allows your customers to get their receipts from credit card purchases made at your car wash. Receipts are available online 24/7, two hours after last usage. It provides end-to-end encryption delivering receipts safely online. American Changer Corp.
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www.manniwashsystems.com
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Clean cars! Better than any other touch free Available to fit in existing bays easily Simplicity of operation Extensive use of Stainless Steel Highest quality components throughout High production – you wash more cars Will STILL be running when you make your last payment UL approved electrical throughout
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High volume car washes that can deliver clean, shiny cars need to be a “WORK HORSE”, and that is what the TURBO WASH is often called. In fact, there are more units of the TURBO WASH basic design that are 10, 20 even 30 years old that are still out there washing cars. What other manufacturer can make that statement?
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OPEN FOR BUSINESS
PORTLAND, MAINE
MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN McCOOK, NEBRASKA FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS
DALLAS, TEXAS
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
FRANKLIN, TN A third MILES car wash is now open in Tennessee, with two other locations in the Franklin area. A company press release states that new location will provide advanced car wash services, in addition to complimentary self-serve vacuums, towels for wheels, body and windows, as well as cleaning chemicals for customers seeking a more detailed service. “Since we opened our first location ten years ago, we have been able to determine the unmet needs of the consumer and clearly pinpoint what our customers are looking for,” Miles Johnson, founder of MILES, stated in the press release. “This new location offers a range of services – a fast wash for those busy customers who are in a hurry, in addition to 20 complimentary vacuum drops and cleaning supplies – an offer not found at any other carwash. The newest MILES Express will continue to surpass the typical car wash experience.”
MANITOWOC, WI JACKSONVILLE, FL After the Goo-Goo car wash chain was sold to an international corporation, Tom Buckner, who owned GooGoo washes, decided to branch out on his own with three new washes, which he is calling: Scrubbles, the Daily Record reported. “I came out of the Goo-Goo world into my own,” he said in the story. “We are going to operate our own brand in Jacksonville.” Buckner also has three other locations in the works. When IMO acquired Goo-Goo there were 53 express locations in seven states. Goo-Goo’s eight self-serve car washes were not involved in the acquisition. Buckner said his Scrubbles washes will offers selfserve and full-serve options.
DALLAS, TX Zips Car Wash now has 100 locations thanks to its recent acquisition of the Jett Express Car Wash in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the NB Herald reported. “We are thrilled to grow into Dallas-Fort Worth and feel like this is just the beginning of a great adventure for us in this part of the state,” Brett Overman, Founder and Chairman of Zips Car Wash, said in the story. “We plan to bring the Zips Way culture, Unlimited Wash Clubs and eventually more stores to the area,” he added. In 2017 alone, Zips Car Wash acquired around 50 stores. “Zips was the right company to sell to,” former President of Jett Express Wash, John Unangst, said in the story. “They are so organized and professional, and as I have met more of the team, their awesome personalities confirm for me that Zips is one of the few companies that will work hard to improve on what I’ve already worked so hard to build.”
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Satori’s Star Wash, a touch-free/self serve car wash is now open for business in Wisconsin. Owned by Satori’s Auto Service, the wash is open 24/7, the Herald Times reported. Satori’s Auto Service also offers up a full-service mechanical repair shop, an auto body and collision repair center, and a Hertz Auto Rental office.
MCCOOK, NE Work is underway and soon B Street Auto Spa will be open for business. Owners Josh and Kristen Cherry have been transforming an old Automotive Sales and Service building to build a mega car wash facility, the McCook Gazette reported. The wash will feature two drive-through wash bays, a large bay that’s big enough for large equipment, a car detailing bay, a pet wash and a vacuuming area.
PORTLAND, ME Chris Tyll has been busy renovating the old Bay Harbor Car Wash and now, the wash, now called the Crystal Clean Car Wash, is open for business. The car wash now offers a dog wash and a self-service car wash, detailing service and fully automated car/truck wash that can handle commercial vehicles, according to The Forecaster. Tyll, a former Navy SEAL, is making sure all of the products offered at the car wash are biodegradable, and installed LED lights and a high-efficiency natural gas boiler. The wash’s motto is, “Your car, our planet, spotless,” he said in the story. Four self-service bays, and two “super bays” including an extreme pressure wash ideal for boats is also offered.
SAN ANGELO, TX A new Champion Xpress Car Wash is now open, and it is the third location in San Angelo. The washes are created jobs as up to 40 people will be employed at all three locations, San Angelo Live reported. “We have flexible schedules and we’re able to work with students who want to work part-time, even during school breaks. We’ve worked with students in every community we’re in,” Wagner said in the story.
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FUNNY BUSINESS Presenting stories of car wash hilarity, foolishness and mishaps from your fellow owners and operators. Got a funny story to share? Send them in to Editor Debra Gorgos at debrag@sscwn.com or post them at AutoCareForum.com
Of Man & Dog… BY MJWALSH (USERNAME ON AUTOCAREFORUM.COM), OWNER OF 6 BAY SS W/LAUNDROMAT We did have some huge show horses on a few separate occasions in our SS RV-Truck bay which was both exciting & interesting. In our SS dog wash we had some miniature horses that were scheduled for a local TV show that same day ... no no ... not incognito disguised Great Danes either... again both interesting & exciting. Before we got the wild idea of putting in our SS dog wash ... there was a guy who would wash both his vehicle & his medium sized hunting dog during the winter time in the closed doors of one of the SS bays. Since we used & still do use the type of gun that actually has variable pressure (one of Cat or KR’s specific partially dump as the gun is squeezed more or less) the dog was in no danger. The funny part was the middle-aged gentleman got down on his hands & feet like a dog & made like a dog shakes when wet. Then he himself would run around our 33’ x 20’ bay ... he would keep repeating the 2-step ritual until he knew the dog had shook & then ran mimicking his master to get dry enough to get in his master’s vehicle. Who needs a blow dry &/or towels with a technique like that!!! Keep in mind this was not a one-time occurrence ... so it must have been an effective way for the master to improvise enough so his dog would become in a dry enough state. I suppose the dog might have done it on his own, but the master apparently wanted to hurry the process up a bit.
FROM THE ARCHIVES…
Taking it back to Spring 1995
AS TOLD BY ALBERT WAKSMAN, OWNER OF SPARKLING WATERS OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.
We all know you see some funny and horrible things at your car washes. Please feel free to vent all about it to us and your story could appear in SSCWN. Share your story with Editor Debra Gorgos and contact her at debrag@
autodetailingnews.com.
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DARWIN CARWASH at the
The investment in security cameras pays off for carwash operators
(and the readers of SSCWN) with these mostly frustrating, sometimes funny -- and always cautionary -- stories of Darwins Caught on Camera. Images of these criminals and/or their vehicles were given to police and the press. Many have been caught thanks to the prowess of security cameras.
Clown mask. Those two words alone should let you know this is a creepy crime story… Actually, I am not quite sure when the whole clown phobia started. Was it the movie It? Poltergeist? Killer Klowns from Outer Space? What about the nice clowns, like, Ronald McDonald? Anyway, this starts out with a car wash employee in Ocala, Florida, calling the police after he spotted a man wearing a sweat suit and a clown mask. Maybe this wouldn’t have been suspicious if it were Halloween, but instead, it was December 27. The “clown” then fired shots into the car wash. A car wash customer then fired shots back at the “clown.” The customer was not seriously hurt and was not charged with a crime. The “clown” then fled on foot and there is no word on whether he was wearing oversized red and squeaky clown shoes, which could really slow a person down and also make him or her a moving target. Another customer chased after him and when police arrived, they were able to find and apprehend Kourtland Dukes, thanks to a trail of blood.
Also in Ocala, in a completely separate incident, another dumb criminal was caught after he fell asleep inside of a bay. A 37-year-old was found unresponsive inside of his running car inside of the car wash, and police had to break open the window to get him out. According to Ocala.com, police found a syringe “in plain view” in the man’s right front pocket. Upon further investigation they also found a plastic bag containing 14.5 grams of methamphetamine and a scale was found in another pocket. How large were this guy’s pockets?! The man seemed out of sorts, according to the police report. He also said he was unaware of the syringe, but denied being a diabetic. He also said he wasn’t aware of the meth-
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amphetamine and the scale either. Good luck with that defense, buddy. And, not that I want to give criminals any advice, but if you’re doing to drive around with drugs and needles in your pocket, take a Red Bull or have a cappuccino or something and stop getting high on your own supply.
Police in St. Clair, Minnesota, are trying to find a man who emptied the coin boxes at the Blue Water Auto Wash on the night of January 14, the Times Herald reported. The thief might also be the man who robbed the same car wash in May 2017. A woman, dressed in a red hat accompanied the man. The man is described as white, heavyset and wearing a blue or green flannel coat. Footage of the incident, as well as the couple’s car (a blue or gray four-door Toyota with a rectangular white sticker in the window) has been released to the public. The car wash owner has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. So, the clues are: Red hat, blue or green flannel coat, and a white rectangular sticker in the window. My guesses are: Carmen Sandiego, one of the Darryl cousins from Newhart.
Across the pond in London, two men were caught on camera and later arrested for breaking into a coinbox, the Beacon Herald reported. Both men are 41 years old and police believe they also stole coins from a nearby laundromat. This incident is apparently nothing new to The Big Smoke as a vending machine at a nearby Little Falls Car and Pet Wash was robbed twice last year. Now, in a twist of fate, turn to page XX to see where I wrote about the city of London and its significance to the vending machine.
Police in Columbia, South Carolina, have released surveillance footage of a group of thugs breaking into a car wash using a stolen van. The incident, which took place December 10, occurred around 10 p.m. at the Sparkle Car Wash. The thugs drove the van right through the wall and were able to steal the entire ATM machine. They also caused major damage to the wash. Now, here is a thought: Why don’t ATMs have tracking devices? If they don’t then maybe they should? If my el cheapo phone can be tracked after I have left it behind, I am sure the same technology could be used on an ATM.
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I wish I was allowed to swear in this publication because there are some choice words I would like to use to describe the man in this crime story. On a Saturday afternoon in January, in broad daylight, a man opened fire at a Seattle car wash, causing a father and son to duck for cover. The target was apparently a woman who was waiting to use the car wash, Q13 Fox reported. Ret. Det. Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound, said in the story, “The victim in this case was seated in her vehicle, going through the car wash. The suspect you see on the video went around and confronted her. You don’t see the actual shooting, but [he] shot 10 to 12 rounds through the windshield, at the victim. Fortunate in this case, the victim actually heard the first shot, ducked and was not struck, but you watch this video and you’ll see a gentleman holding his child, bringing him around the front of a car. He obviously heard or saw the shooting, he’s ducking the child out of harm’s way and you’ll see a suspect run past him without looking at him. He then brings his child around and stuffs him into the car to get him out of there.”
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Up North in Canada, thieves stole cash from a coin machine at Skogies Car Wash in Kelowna, British Columbia. The inci-
Police in South Strabane Township, Pennsylvania, are looking for a man who tried to steal money, but instead took
dent, which was reported by Castanet.net took place in the early morning hours of November 13, which, as a side note (which has nothing to do with the crime story) is also Remembrance Day in Canada. Surveillance footage shows a man climbing onto the roof of the self serve bay the day before, but he was apparently spooked and ran away. That same returned to the wash hours later and this time was able to access the car wash through the roof by chopping a hole and swooshing on through. The man then pried open the change machine which he then destroyed. The machine is valued at $30,000.
off with Slim Jims and cartons and cartons of cigarettes. The incident took place around 12 noon on January 19, at a BP Station’s convenience, according to the Observer-Reporter. Now, I know crime isn’t funny, but I chuckled a little when I read that the man approached the store manager and said: I want your money and I need Newports. The manager acted like she didn’t know how to open the register, and during this time, the robber kept putting more and more Newports into his jacket. “Store surveillance shows the robber entering the store at 12:14 p.m. A minute later, he packed up a pack of Slim Jims beef snacks and puts those in his coat pocket before walking behind the counter and taking packs of cigarettes. He is then seen taking cartons of cigarettes before leaving through the door closest to the car wash,” the story reports. A similar incident took place a week earlier at a different BP Station. This time it involved three men, one of whom stole Newport Gold cigarettes. Hey, dude, it’s called NicoDerm CQ. I suggest you look into it.
I always thought of Canada as the friendly, no-drama nation, but another robbery took place at another car wash in Norfolk, Ontario, which is about 4,000 miles from Kelowna, so at least we know it wasn’t a serial robber. This crime took place on January 16 in the early morning hours, according to the Simcoe Reformer. The suspect broke into a vending machine at Crystal Car Wash and removed an undisclosed amount of money. The incident was caught on camera and footage has been released to the public.
Well, it looks like thieves are widening their arsenal of tools as this time, a thief used a grinder to break into a car wash in Ringgold, Georgia. According to WTVC, on December 14, 2017, between 4:30 and 4:45 a.m. a burglar “used a grinder and entered the car wash …The burglar destroyed a $4,000 coin changing machine” and stole the money inside. A surveillance camera got some good footage of the burglar’s vehicle and police posted it to their Facebook page.
Another day, another car wash and another attempted theft of an ATM machine. This time, it took place at a car wash in Tuolumne, California, on January 11. According to The Union Democrat, three people were in Toyota pick-up doing donuts when it suddenly stalled inside a car wash bay. Footage then shows three people getting out of the vehicle and wrapping a large chain around the ATM machine and attaching it to the other end of the chain to the truck. However, the vehicle’s engine died and the trio then fled on foot. Later on, around 1:45 a.m., police found a woman resembling the woman seen on the surveillance footage. The two men have not been caught. Narrie Alfaro, 45, has since been booked on suspicion of criminal conspiracy, receiving a stolen vehicle, vehicle theft, attempted grand theft, vandalism, and misdemeanor charge possession of burglary tools. Moral of the story here is to fill your get-away vehicle with plenty of gas before a heist and to also to better use your time planning a better escape route instead of doing parking lot donuts.
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