Convenience & Carwash July_Aug 2017

JULY | AUGUST 2017

Canada’s most read Canadian owned and operated Convenience, Retail Petroleum and Carwash Publication CONSUMER TRENDS SUGGEST THAT CANADIANS ARE INCREASINGLY BALANCING THEIR BEVERAGE CHOICES WITH BOTTLED WATER

BOTTLED

WATER PAGE 11

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAR WASH

DOORS

PAGE 37

OVERCOMING FALSE PHASE SEPARATION ALARMS

FORECOURT

INSIGHTS PAGE 28

INTEGRATING

PET WASHES

INTO EXISTING CARWASHS PAGE 48

REPLACEMENT PLANNING AS AN ONGOING ACTIVITY

SEASONAL

WORKERS PAGE 24

QUALITY HEATS UP SALES

HOT

BEVERAGES PM41670539

PAGE 12

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HEALTHY

SNACKS PAGE 18

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Table of Contents Cover Story

Petroleum and Carwash

Industry News

Instore and Nutrition

11 37 32 12 Bottled Water – Consumer trends suggest that Canadians are increasingly balancing their beverage choices with bottled water

04

President’s Message – The meaning of association

05

Editor’s Message – Content designed to engage

Car Wash Doors – Answers to frequently asked questions

28

Forecourt Insights – Overcoming false phase separation alarms

41

Retail Recruiting – Embracing the retail recruiting evolution

07

WCSA Report

08

Washtalk – A new, fresh outlook for Gas King

NACDA Update – Don't miss the 2017 Summit in Quebec City

45

24

48

52

Car Wash Building Extensions - Upgrading equipment Pet Washes – Integrating pet washes into existing carwashes

October 17 – 20, 2017 NACS/PEI Show

18

Healthy Snacks – There are healthy snack options for everyone

22

Designing or Re-designing C-Stores – Keeping customers in mind

Seasonal Workers – Replacement planning as an ongoing activity Carwash Equipment – Beyond the catalogue approach

Upcoming Events September 26-28, 2017 NACDA National Convenience Industry Summit (NCIS), Quebec City, QC www.nacda.ca

Hot Beverages – Quality heats up sales

What’s New? McCormick Place Chicago, IL www.NACSShow.com February 20 – 22, 2018 WPMA Expo Mirage, Las Vegas www.wpmaexpo.com

April 26 – 28, 2018 The Car Wash Show 2018 Las Vegas, Nevada www.thecarwashshow.com

58 Industry Updates

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 3

Publisher’s Message

Association (noun) 1. a group of people having a common purpose or interest; a society or club.

2. the act of associating or the state of being associated… a mental connection of ideas, feelings, or sensations.”

Well this is exactly what our industry has across Canada.

The convenience, retail petroleum and carwash industries across Canada benefit from the regional convenience stores associations.

The WCSA (Western Convenience Stores Association) represents Western Canadian provinces from Manitoba west to BC and including the Territories. Ontario operators are represented by the Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA). Quebec is represented by the Quebec Convenience Stores Association (QCSA), the Atlantic provinces by the Atlantic Convenience Stores Association (ACSA).

These regional offices work hard to support and speak for retailers, including the chains and independents.

Many associations have a head office in Central Canada and staff in various locations throughout the country. By way of contrast, the convenience stores associations each have a voluntary board representing small, medium and large employers in their region.

Regional presidents handle the day-to-day affairs of the associations with a very small staff that in some instances is shared among the associations.

The regional associations are also affiliated with the Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), and the National Convenience Store Distributors Association (NACDA).

Our regional associations offer the industry a grassroots model ensuring that retailers in each region receive equal attention because the regional associations are working on behalf of their region alone.

Specific regional issues can be addressed and, if need be, the CCSA can be asked to step in and assist with lobbying efforts that could affect more than just one region. It is a bottom-up model, not topdown, and that is its key strength.

Without the regional and independent regional boards the issues and concerns of their unique regions would be dictated by people of other regions who are not familiar with or sensitive to these local issues. However, the key advantage of the national partner (CCSA) is that shared regional issues can be coordinated through the CCSA, which can also deal with federal legislation and lobbying that affects all regions. This is a unique and efficient model for representing the industry on the diverse range of issues that emerge across Canada.

Retailers from each region should consider getting involved with and supporting their regional convenience stores association.

Here’s to a great summer season and remember, your business is my business. please give me a call at 204-489-4215 or email me bjjohnstone@convenienceandcarwash.com.

Brenda Jane Johnstone Publisher

4 JULY/AUGUST

PUBLISHER Brenda Jane Johnstone bjjohnstone@convenienceandcarwash.com SALES Cody Johnstone Vice President, Sales 416-838-4674 codyj@convenienceandcarwash.com Brenda Johnstone 204-489-4215 bjjohnstone@convenienceandcarwash.com Cathie Fedak 905-665-6071 cathie@convenienceandcarwash.com MANAGING EDITOR Eva Chambers echambers@convenienceandcarwash.com DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA Eva Chambers echambers@convenienceandcarwash.com DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Doug Coates, Edge Advertising Keith House, Ad Production EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Ian Burton, Istobal Scott Findlay, Core-Mark Int’l Kim Hansen, MI Petro David Hoy, Peninsula Co-Op Andrew Klukas, WCSA Dave Watson, The Chamois & Convenience Store Ltd. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Angela Altass Meline Beach Barbara Bowes Eva Chambers Janice Desjardins Jim Goetz Kent Halliday Josh Hart Brenda Jane Johnstone Andrew Klukas Cameron Laker Pete Neil Dan Pecora Heather Steines Cheri Williams CIRCULATION James Gordon subscriptions@convenienceandcarwash.com WEBSITE www.convenienceandcarwash.com PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT No: 41670539 Return Undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department 543 Borebank Street Winnipeg, MB R3N 1E8

Editor’s Message

“The Convenience & Carwash magazine covers many topics and is an essential read for everyone in the c-store industry. I am constantly impressed on the level of engagement the magazine has with their platform to effectively cover important safety and security messages – they truly care about our industry.”

Content Designed to Engage

Since its inception, Convenience & Carwash Canada has continued to focus on content that engages and keeps readers coming back. I asked Brenda Johnstone, the publisher, why she offers such a vast variety of articles. Her answer was simple: “I wanted to provide owners and operators across the country with informative and educational articles to help them grow their business and to do better business. Many of our readers are independent and really want and need good solid information to help increase sales and make their stores the best in the area.”

Brenda is also familiar with publishing diverse kinds of magazines. She is the president of the Manitoba Publishers Association. Having a broader perspective of what works with a variety of magazines has helped her understand the evolving needs of readers.

You might think that highly competitive magazines in our industry are run by large publishing companies, with

Sean Sportun ICPS | Manager, Security & Loss Prevention Mac’s Convenience Stores l Central Canada

“Whether they have been in business for many years or are just starting

HERE IS WHAT SOME OF OUR READERS HAVE TOLD US RECENTLY. WE WANTED TO SHARE THEIR RESPONSE TO OUR DEDICATION TO CONTENT THAT DELIVERS THEM SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR BUSINESSES. a staff of editors and even photographers. However, you might be surprised to learn that Convenience & Carwash Canada is a small Canadianowned business that operates with limited staff while keeping our focus on great content. With the reader centric focus, advertisers seem to follow. I hope you enjoy this and future issues.

Please feel free to reach out with suggestions for content you would like to see in the magazine.

Eva Chambers, Managing Editor

up, Convenience & Carwash Canada Magazine is a great source of information for retailers. It is full of useful content and shows the publisher’s passion for providing meaningful information that helps retailers succeed.”

Andrew Klukas President Western Convenience Store Association

“I enjoy each issue of Convenience & Carwash Canada, and feel that they provide broad coverage of all of the segments within the convenience store, fuel retailing and car wash markets. It’s a complex market, with many different challenges and unique solutions, and CCC helps retailers stay informed.”

Darren Wight VP of Content & Media DeanHouston+

“At Jetz Car Wash we look forward to every new issue of Convenience & Carwash Canada. We love to stay on top of the latest technology in the carwash industry and there is no greater way to stay informed! The articles are eye-catching, detailed to be intriguing, and very well written!

Convenience & Carwash is our go to magazine!”

Convenience & Carwash would like to introduce you to our new advertisers.

Kelly Cheshire Jetz Carwash

J & J Display – page 23 PrOATein – page 21

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 5

W E N

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GMO

PEANUTS

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Division of

REGITAN.COM 6 JULY/AUGUST

U

WCSA Report

by Andrew Klukas

Many convenience stores make significant contributions to their local communities.

They support local and national charities, sporting teams and associations, youth activities, even international crises through activities like fundraising, car washes, donations, volunteer employees and barbeques.

They do so with little or no fanfare or recognition.

Consequently, governments overlook these contributions when making decisions that impact our industry.

The WCSA wants to make sure Western Canadian governments have a clear understanding that when they pass regulations that negatively impact our businesses, they are also indirectly impacting our industry’s ability to help their constituents. Although retailers do not expect recognition for their contributions, it’s nonetheless a story that needs to be told.

We will therefore be inviting retailers to respond in confidence to a questionnaire that will help us present the big picture. The goal is to quantify how important our industry’s contribution is to the communities it serves with the hope that government will better understand the critical link between a favourable business environment and our ability to support both communities and the broader economy.

Your information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to estimate the industry’s financial con-

tribution and put together the big picture about what you do for communities.

C-store Day is another way the WCSA is working to get the story out about the positive connection between convenience stores and their communities. On August 30 the WCSA, in partnership with the Canadian Convenience Stores Association, will launch Western Canada’s first event of this kind.

C-stores will host community leaders to volunteer for 20 minutes and work alongside store staff.

Municipal, provincial and federal elected officials will be invited to participate, as well as local law enforcement and business association support groups. Children’s Wish will provide wish balloons and customers can make a donation to Children’s Wish on that day. The program is designed to educate these leaders about the complexities of the industry and its commitment to responsible retailing while at the same time strengthening public perceptions of the industry.

As this is a new program we will launch it on a small scale in 2017 with the goal of expanding it in 2018.

This summer, the Government of Ontario will follow Alberta by proposing a minimum wage increase to $15 per hour. This will put growing pressure on other provinces to follow suit. In order to prepare for consultation with governments, the WCSA has developed a survey to find out how such an increase would affect your business.

Please take 5-10 minutes to help us tell the story about how your business would be impacted by an increase in the minimum wage. Visit www.thewcsa.com to complete the survey.

Your survey answers will be kept confidential and aggregated in order to provide the government with an understanding of the impact an increase in the minimum wage would have on convenience stores in Western Canada.

WCSA Exploring Partnership with Winflex to Help Retailers Save Taxes

Provincial cutbacks in healthcare services and restrictions placed by private insurers on what health and dental coverage their plans would pay for has forced them to constantly redesign their plans to keep up with the trend of rising costs.

What can small business owners do today to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs? The solution can be found within the Income Tax Act under Health & Welfare Trusts (HWT). What employers like about the HWT is that they control the cost of these plans by deciding how much to put in them on an annual basis. What employees like is that they get the flexibility to choose what they spend their HWT dollars on.

All traditional health, dental and vision costs are covered, as well as: 1. Insurance premiums paid by the employer/ employee or the individual’s spouse for private health and dental plans, and the 20% that is normally not covered; 2. Laser-eye surgery; 3. Orthodontics and Dental Implants; 4. Special Need Schools; 5. Dependent care in a nursing home; and 6. Services of a dietician, naturopath, RMT, chiropractor, acupuncturist, psychologist.

How Good are HWT’s from a Tax Perspective

Here is an example of a $5,400 dental expense, with client #1 paying in after tax dollars, and client #2 utilizing the HWT through their company.

Winflex is a third party administrator that specializes in HWT’s and group insurance, and operates a completely paper free online system for fast and efficient reimbursement of claims.

There is a 2:40 minute animated video on www.winflex.ca, or you can contact one of their friendly staff at 888-978-3458 or info@winflex.ca.

CLIENT 1

CLIENT 2

Personal Marginal Tax Rate 46%

Yes

Yes

Health and Welfare Trust

No

Yes

$10,000

$0

$4,600

$0

Pre-Tax Personal Income for Procedure Tax Paid to CRA Corporate Deduction and Expense Cost for Procedure Savings

$0

$5,940

$5,400

$5,400

($4,600)

$,4600

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 7

NACDA

Don’t Miss Out On: The Industry Event of the Year THE 2017 SUMMIT WILL TAKE PLACE IN QUEBEC CITY AT HOTEL LE CONCORDE QUEBEC ON SEPTEMBER 26 TO 28. DON’T MISS OUT ON: THE CELEBRATION Set within one of Canada’s most historically significant cities, during a time when we celebrate our nation’s 150th birthday, the 2017 Summit will give us an opportunity to pause and reflect upon our industry’s past achievements while bringing us together to look forward to our future. Together, our industry has constructed a strong foundation upon which we continue to build a sustainable future. The 2017 Summit will provide relevant research, inspiring keynote speakers and networking opportunities that will offer insight into future opportunities, challenges and trends. Let’s build our future.

Together!

Don’t Miss Out On: New Research

Don’t Miss Out On: Networking Opportunities

Consumer decisions about where to go based on a quick trip need don’t necessarily happen in a defined or logical order. Instead, they happen at seemingly random times in a consumer’s day and, as such, it is critical to identify key needs and occasions driving this behaviour.

Leveraging their syndicated online tracking study of yesterday’s eating and drinking habits across all categories and brands as well as dayparts, Ipsos Marketing will conduct custom research for NACDA and CCSA. This will include a qualitative phase engaging consumers in five markets across the country via AppLife. Respondents will capture each occasion they consume a food or beverage and identify the who, what, where, when and why of the moment.

Kathy Perotta, vice president of Ipsos Marketing, will unveil this research project at the Summit providing valuable insights around key moments that drive quick trips to retail to uncover growth opportunities for the convenience channel.

Our program is packed with networking opportunities.

From a night out on the town on your first day, to oneon-one business development at the Trade Exchange, to celebration of the industry at the awards gala; you will have many opportunities to meet with retailers, distributors and manufacturers. Take advantage of lunches and breaks to build your relationships and meet new colleagues.

Check our website regularly at nacda.ca to see more speaker profiles. Register early as this is not an event to be missed!

Are you interested in sponsoring at the Summit?

Find our sponsor package online today at nacda.ca.

Quebec City, QC Sept 26 - 28, 2017

8 JULY/AUGUST

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 9

10 JULY/AUGUST

Water – A Cool Profit Centre In the midst of a Canadian summer, demand for all kinds of bottled beverages is rising. Consumer trends suggest that Canadians are increasingly balancing their beverage choices with bottled water.

Bottled water is a great choice for quenching thirst on the go, and new products in this

Jim Goetz is the president of the Canadian Beverage Association, the national trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute the majority of non-alcoholic refreshment beverages consumed in Canada.

Manitoba’s Recycle Everywhere program

British Columbia’s Return-It program

category are readily available to meet consumers’ changing needs.

Canadian convenience owners and operators can take comfort in the safety and sustainability of Canadian bottled water. As consumption of bottled water grows, the industry is conscious of its environmental footprint in all aspects of production and is committed to minimizing its environmental impact.

Based on statistics from Environment Canada and GlobalData market research, the bottled water industry uses only 0.009% of annual fresh water withdrawals. Although representing only this small share, the industry nevertheless remains committed to responsible water practices.

On the manufacturing front, bottled water production facilities are an efficient user of this resource. On average it takes only 1.3 litres of water to produce 1 litre of bottled water. This is nearly 27 times less than what is used to produce a cup of tea, or 108 times less than a cup of coffee.

Bottled water is packaged using PET plastic, or polyethylene terephthalate – one of the most environmentally friendly, lowcarbon-footprint packaging materials available. When recycled, recovered PET is used to make playground equipment, automobile parts, carpeting, fleece clothing, sleeping bags, shoes, luggage, and other plastic containers. Recovered PET bottles – which are

recovered at an average rate of approximately 75% in Canada – can also be recycled to produce new PET bottles in an energy efficient manner. On average, it takes 70% less energy to produce a bottle from recycled PET plastic than from raw material.

The end of the beverage container lifecycle is a constant priority for industry to reduce plastic waste and litter. Today, beverage containers in Canada are recovered at one of the high-

est national rates in the world (75%). The Canadian beverage industry has helped create several programs to increase this rate, such as the Return-it program in British Columbia and Alberta’s Love to Recycle initiative.

As at-home recycling programs are getting better, improvements are needed in public space recycling in Canadian communities.

Curb-side programs are hugely important, but are not enough to Continued on page 58

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 11

By Angela Altass

Quality Heats Up Hot Beverage Sales

Quality has become key to attracting and maintaining hot beverages sales.

According to the Euromonitor International report, Hot Drinks in Canada, the demand for healthier and

more interesting beverage experiences is growing, particularly among the younger generation.

Consumers will walk past 10 different coffee shops to get the best cup of coffee available, states Marc Rex, director, Canada, Fresh & Foodservice, Core-Mark International.

“Coffee builds consumer loyalty,” says Rex. “However, to be successful, it takes attention to detail and continued communication. Core-Mark offers a wide variety of coffee, cappuccinos, hot chocolate and tea.

We have turnkey solutions for all size stores and locations.”

Ensure there is dedicated space within the store for the hot beverage program, advises Rex. “Make sure there is room for consumers to specialize their beverage with the right creams or milk, flavours, toppings, etc.,” says Rex. “The flow of the hot

12 JULY/AUGUST

beverage station is important. Proper flow offers the right consumer experience. There’s nothing worse than tripping over the next person in line to prepare your beverage.”

Hot beverages continue to be a traffic builder for stores and are a foundation to a successful foodservice program, says Rex. “Consumers today expect and are looking for more variety and a top-quality product,” says Rex. “Featuring hot beverages to increase exposure and consumer awareness is crucial. Stores can do this by introducing seasonal hot beverages. Limited-time products refresh the offerings and lure hot beverage consumers during the slower dayparts. Ensure you have honey on your coffee station and there are some great coffee syrups, creams, etc. available for consumers to customize their beverages. These options can set convenience stores apart from other QSR locations.”

With gas being increasingly purchased right at the pump and the multitude of choices consumers have in terms of retail channels to meet their daily needs, it is paramount for convenience store owners to attract customers with compelling products that differentiate their offerings, create loyalty, and entice customers to come into their stores, says Shawn Patrick Hauck, national sales trainer, Van Houtte Coffee Services.

“It is imperative that the hot beverage area is visible when a customer enters the store as coffee is regarded not only as a staple item but an impulse purchase as well,” notes Hauck.

Appropriate lighting, well maintained equipment and the cleanliness of the coffee area are very important factors that contribute highly to the perceived quality and freshness of a convenience store’s hot beverage program, notes Hauck.

“With consumer palates becoming

more sophisticated, an increased demand for higher quality offerings and renowned brands are becoming increasingly sought out,” says Hauck. “Coffee drinkers are becoming more informed and conscious about the beverages they consume every day.”

Van Houtte Coffee Services provides different tiers of brands and program options for convenience store clients.

“With coffee being the second most traded commodity in the world after oil and gas, hot beverage programs provide significant margins to convenience stores that help offset other low margin categories, thus making coffee the leading SKU category in the food service industry,” says Hauck. “With 33 branches spanning from coast to coast, we can provide the consistency of service needed for larger, regional/national chains as well as smaller family operated convenience stores.”

WELL MAINTAINED EQUIPMENT AND THE CLEANLINESS OF THE COFFEE AREA ARE VERY IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE HIGHLY TO THE PERCEIVED QUALITY AND FRESHNESS OF A CONVENIENCE STORE’S HOT BEVERAGE PROGRAM, NOTES HAUCK.

YOUR COFFEE MADE YOUR WAY. EVERY TIME. Find the machine that allows you to engage with your customers, not your equipment. frankeamericas.com/coffeeA600 CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 13

HOT BEVERAGES QUALITY HEATS UP HOT BEVERAGE SALES

THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS MOVE

BY CONSUMERS, ESPECIALLY MILLENNIALS, TO SPECIALTY COFFEES, SAYS GREG ALFORD.

A good example of a complete hot beverage program for a convenience store would include at least two different blends of coffee, often one medium and one dark roast, paired with a rack of tea options, hot chocolate, espresso-based beverages, and a hot powdered specialty beverage offering, such as French vanilla flavoured cappuccino, suggests Hauck.

“Our convenience store clients have also experienced a great lift in sales when taking advantage of our seasonal/promotional SKUs that complement their regular offering thus leading to incremental It is interesting to point out and unsales,” says Hauck. derstand that coffee competes on its own Consumers are looking for a better cup against everything else within the hot of coffee – a darker, bolder roast, says Ian beverage category, says Hauck.

Woods, vice president, Harlan Fairbanks, which sells Boyd’s brand of coffee.

Coffee Remains Number One “A couple of our more successful coffees “Coffee remains the number one product are Red Wagon, which is 100 per cent orin terms of hot beverage sales,” says ganic, and High Rev, which is a very bold Hauck. “Although, consumers are now roast,” says Woods. “Hot beverage prodemanding more choice in this category grams are a must-have for convenience so the gap is closing between coffee and stores and it can’t just come down to other hot beverage choices. Extending the price. Every company out there has a cofhot beverage offering to a wider variety fee that is the least expensive but it’s imB:8.375” of options is something we have seen portant to find something that differentiT:8.125”our convenience accelerating amongst ates you from the rest of the marketplace.” store clientele with even more vigor in S:7.875” Coffee stations are often located torecent years.” wards the back of the store as they draw

For freezer door

For grab and go

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14 JULY/AUGUST

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Proud supplier to Becker’s in Ontario.

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 15

HOT BEVERAGES QUALITY HEATS UP HOT BEVERAGE SALES

customers through the store and the required equipment hook-ups are often located near a rear wall, says Woods.

“It’s always a good thing to try to have multiple cups,” adds Woods. “We have 12, 16 and 20 ounce cups and the nice thing is one lid fits all our cups, which reduces inventory requirements.”

There has been a tremendous move by consumers, especially millennials, to specialty coffees, says Greg Alford, business development manager, Canada, Franke Coffee Systems America.

“Last year marked the greatest rise in expresso drinking that we’ve ever seen in the industry,” says Alford. “Beverage and food have become very important in convenience and the strive for quality has really been central to that. It seems that the only thing that is successful is a well-made drink with fresh ingredients. Coffee that is not good is not selling anymore. Consumers are far too educated to accept a coffee that is not fresh.”

Convenience stores are showing interest in higher end coffee and hot beverage machines, says Alford.

“People are looking at the machines with a digital user interface,” says Alford. “We’ve always had machines that were easy to operate with self-serve panels but when we started to use a tablet user interface, that’s what really unlocked self-serve. Today’s consumer embraces it very easily. The ability to customize a beverage with an extra shot of expresso or a double shot of vanilla, has also become really attractive to consumers. Being able to do that sometimes establishes a location as a favourite place because the customer is getting control over his own drink.”

The tablet interface also provides the operator with visual instructions on proper machine mainte-

THE ABILITY TO CUSTOMIZE A BEVERAGE WITH AN EXTRA SHOT OF EXPRESSO OR A DOUBLE SHOT OF VANILLA, HAS ALSO BECOME REALLY ATTRACTIVE TO CONSUMERS.

nance and alerts the operator on such things as when grounds need to be emptied or machine cleaning is required.

Convenience store chains have been working hard to improve their hot beverage programs, says Daren Trey Schwengler, president, SBS Food Equipment & Specialty Beverage Solutions.

“Quality is becoming a much higher priority,” says Schwengler. “The hot powdered cappuccino machines business is shrinking every year. People want variety but they want quality. The challenge is for the smaller mom & pop stores because the cost of a onestep expresso machine can be quite prohibitive. I’ve seen some operators going to the pod style machines, which I think is a mistake because the cost is significantly higher but they’re not able to charge much more to the customer.”

Ten years ago, it was difficult to have success with a fully automated expresso machine but the newer technology in these machines is being readily embraced by consumers, says Schwengler.

“We have machines that are super easy to use, such as the WMF 1500,” says Schwengler. “We also have innovative ideas like Delice, which we import from Italy. Originally meant for hot chocolate, it has evolved to be a great unit for chai. We also have hot towers where you push a button and they dispense water at the right temperature for different types of tea.”

If you are serving poor quality coffee, people will walk right past your store to go to a micro coffee shop and pay more money for a high-quality beverage, says Schwengler, who feels that with rent-to-own and financing options, the ability to start a high quality hot beverage program is more accessible than ever.

“With hot beverages, do it right or don’t do it at all,” states Schwengler. “If it’s not done right, it’s just a waste of space. Gone are the days of having a brewer sitting there with some creamer and sugar containers and a few Styrofoam cups. It’s time to embrace higher end product and charge more.”

SPECIALISTS IN BRANDED COFFEE PROGRAMS FOR C-STORE

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. Free coffee equipment placed on an on-loan basis . Marketing support material: murals, menu boards,

hanging signs, branded cups, and outdoor/window signage . On-loan accessories to enhance your coffee program . Equipment service & maintenance . Tiered pricing for coffee options suitable for all budgets . Variety of equipment options for all your coffee needs vhcoffeeservices.com 16 JULY/AUGUST

Amongst our numerous media partners

15 – 17 May 2018, Stuttgart, Germany

Exhibit at the leading retail petroleum and car wash trade fair in Europe With 425 exhibitors from 36 countries, and more than 15,000 attendees from over 110 nations, UNITI expo is the leading European trade fair for the retail petroleum and carwash industries.

Benefit from this unique platform: exhibit your products and present innovations to a global audience, explore promising markets and discover new business opportunities.

Call our team on +49 7721 98 30 60 or e-mail uniti-expo@com-a-tec.de to secure your booth.

Forecourt design by Circle

›

www.uniti-expo.com UNITI expo 2018 cooperation partners for on-the-go Consumption

Organized by UNITI-Kraftstoff GmbH in cooperation with WDM management consultancy and com-a-tec GmbH. CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 17

HEALTHY SNACKING IS A WAY OF LIFE – 2017 Convention October 17–20 Trade Show October 18–20

20

Bar None! by: Meline Beach

PrOATein Bars

McCormick Place • Chicago, Illinois “Health bars can certainly satisfy Calling generations X, Y, Z, your sweet tooth without the guilt, baby boomers, busy moms, but picking the right one for your students, outdoor enthusiasts needs is always important,” says Jiries or fitness fanatics – there’s a Rabba, who cites obesity statistics snack bar made especially for you. and other health-related risks and That’s right! The healthy snacks concerns as driving forces behind category is bigger than ever with PrOATein’s product line. As co-owner a variety of products to choose of the Toronto-based nutritional food from. As eating patterns have company, Rabba is committed to changed from three main meals to providing consumers a product that is all-day snacking, busy consumers healthy and reasonably priced. are eating on-the-go. Healthy As not all bars are created equal, snack bars fit the bill and is a Rabba breaks down the category into category worth over $1 billion in three areas: energy, nut and protein, Canada. Their taste, nutrition with each one serving a specific purfactor, convenient portion size and pose and clientele. Whether it’s to fuel portability appeal to today’s busy a workout, satisfy a craving or repair consumer. and rebuild muscle, healthy snack bars have secured their place in today’s diet.

Convenience & Carwash Canada “Innovation is constant in this catspoke with four niche snack bar egory,” says Rabba. “While food-remanufacturers to gain a better lated fads may come and go, the genunderstanding of the category eral mindset of consumers looking for and their product offering in this healthy options will continue to rise as competitive space. will new flavours and line extensions with the healthy snacks market”

B

2017

MCCORMICK PLACE � CHIC AGO, ILLINOIS Convention OCTOBER 17–20 Trade Show OCTOBER 18–20

SoLo GI M CNutrition CORMICK PLACE,

CHICAG

“Portability and healthy ingredients are CONVENTION two factors that must coincide,” says OCTOBER 17-2 Chantel Popoff, president of SoLo GI Nutrition. “Functional value in terms TRADE of higher amounts of protein and SHOW fibre versus traditional nutrient-void OCTOBER 18-2 candy bars, are what health-conscious consumers are after.”

Based out of Kelowna, SoLo prides themselves on providing snack bars that balance lower glycemic response with exceptional taste.

“Healthy snack bars are intended to provide energy and satiety between meals to prevent people from becoming ‘hangry’,” says Popoff. “Consumers enjoy our SoLo bars because they provide balanced nutrition and long-lasting energy with high amounts of protein and fibre, leaving people satisfied for up to 3-4 hours.”

As the nutrition factor is what sets healthy bars apart from other snack foods on the market, healthy snack bar manufacturers prefer they stand out from the rest in a retail setting.

“Energy and healthy snack bars should be merchandised separate and apart from traditional chocolate bars and candy,” says Popoff. “Clear signage, C C O R M I value C K Ppricing LACE, CHICAG strong shelfMplacement, and promotional combinations with beverages can help incentivize customers and drive incremental volume.”

C

20

CONVENTION OCTOBER 17-2

18 JULY/AUGUST

TRADE SHOW OCTOBER 18-2

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pei.org/show CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 19

By Tsideldel Red Stone (The Alexis Creek First Nation)

ENERGY DRINK Wild Forest Inspired . First Nations Knowledge A Refreshing Tradition

crazyhorseenergy.com GO WILD! GO WEST!

20 JULY/AUGUST

For more information and to order call United Distribution Network at 1-888-412-8684 or email Crazy Horse directly at sales@crazyhorseenergy.com Visit us @www.crazyhorseenergy.com Certified Canadian Aboriginal Business

HEALTHY SNACKING IS A WAY OF LIFE – BAR NONE

HoneyBar “We use a touch of honey and we’re proud of it,” says Jeff Mains, CEO of HoneyBar. “Our products cater to consumers who want a more natural bar that is bound together with natural ingredients.”

The Ottawa-based company prides itself on using non-genetically-modified ingredients, including naturally sourced honey, in a certified nonGMO manufacturing facility, which according to Mains, is a very difficult but important specification to hold up to. Their products are also dairyfree, soy-free, gluten-free and vegetarian.

Its newest product featuring quinoa and cranberry has reached top three in sales within one and a half years of its launch. HoneyBar’s Sweet & Salty and Trail Mix bars rank first and second respectively.

“Quinoa, as an ingredient, has resonated well with younger consumers,” says Mains. “As ingredients go through different lifecycles, we’re mindful of incorporating functional ingredients in our innovation pipeline.”

He adds that their products deliver superior retailer margins, as well as, sampling and couponing are viable consumer engagement options that help boost sales and build loyalty within the C&G channel.

Clif Bar As one of the more mature brands, Clif Bar first launched in Canada in 1996. The California-based company dominates the US snack bar market and prides itself on its nutrition factor, designed to give you energy and support an active lifestyle.

“It’s not a snack you’d eat sitting in front of the television,” says Serena Ingre, international communications at Clif Bar, which is also the maker of Builder’s Protein, CLIF Kid Zbar, and the new CLIF Nut Butter Filled energy bar launched earlier this year.

“Nut butter is a healthy fat with a slow release of energy,” says Ingre. “It’s an ingredient that’s trending with healthconscious consumers.”

Not for the sedentary, Ingre describes their target audience as athletic – people who are active, love the outdoors and are adventurous. Which is why Clif Bars sponsor sporting events.

“We strive to reach people at their point of passion,” says Ingre. “However, pop-up programs also work well in the C-store channel.”

A perceived health benefit – whether that be organic, vegetarian, high fibre, low-carb, high-protein, low-fat, all natural, or otherwise – is what sells. As the category continues to grow with ongoing innovation, C&G retailers have the opportunity to participate. The key is to know your customers and offer the right variety of healthy snack bars to meet their needs.

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 21

By Janice Desjardins

Designing a convenience store must always start and end with the customer.

Who is your customer?

What is their demographic?

What are the key items that you would like to sell?

How would you like to sell to your customers?

What’s Important When Designing or Re-Designing a C-Store?

When designing or re-designing a convenience store, open layout. Do not overcrowd with too many products. Keep spending a lot of money on high end fixtures and expensive the entrance area open and free from product, this makes the store designs doesn’t always equate to better ROI. Strategic store a lot more inviting. Choosing the correct lighting as well and practical planning is way more important. Always pick as positioning them to highlight important sections of the a company that is well established with a great track record. store is also important. Visible signage for easy navigation is Remember each store layout must be unique and different also becoming more and more popular. Flooring has also bebased on the positioning, size and layout of the store. come essential with fantastic vinyl options that look like exHowever, some of the generic strategies to keep in mind pensive flooring. when planning a store would be to place essential items such With regards to fixtures and effective merchandising soluas milk, bread, pop etc. at the far end of the store. This allows tions, the expandable wire trays and pusher tray system are the customer to walk through the entire store and find other becoming more popular in the convenience store segment. things that they might need or want. Another rule of thumb Some of the new EWT systems like ours not only faces the is that customers in North America tend to move in a counter products but also increases the number of facings by over 25%. clockwise direction through the store. This makes the area just Another new solution that is popular in the United States that by the door to the right a premium real estate and should be we predict is going to be coming to c-stores in Canada soon kept for high profit items. Planning the store design with this are the shelf edge lighting. These low energy and inexpensive in mind can be beneficial.

LED lighting solutions can really enhance the product and grab C-stores can be made visually appealing by having a clean customer attention. Alternatively, shelf toppers such as shelf 22 JULY/AUGUST

talkers, aisle invaders, wobblers, clip-strips and the counter to drawers inside the cash counter. The sign holders are all inexpensive ways to catch the checkout counter is also very important. Having a customers attention and inform them about your clean design with a large countertop for additional promotions. products, lotto machine, cash register etc. and havSlatwall isn’t something new, but we have noticed ing lots of shelving built into the front and side can a trend where more and more customers are us- further enhance impulse purchases. Custom deing it effectively to sell and merchandise products. signed gondolas are also trending especially among Whether it be a free standing four-way slatwall unit national chains where they want a recognizable and or an entire side wall comprising of slatwall, you can consistent design and branding throughout all their use hooks, baskets, acrylic bins and shelves to effec- stores. tively merchandize a whole array of different prodIf you are concerned about theft and security in ucts. Machined aluminum inserts on your slatwall your store plan to use low shelving at the front of the not only increases the life of the slatwall but also store by the window so you can have a clear sightgives it a premium look and feel. line to the window. Angling the shelving so you can We are seeing a lot more convenience stores lean- see down the aisle from the checkout counter is also ing towards a higher end bistro style design. More good. Make sure to install convex security mirrors and more custom work to make the store stand and security cameras with clear visible signs to furout. Recently, we have also seen c-stores moving ther deter theft. the cigarettes from cabinets on the wall behind

Janice Desjardins leads the design team at J&J Display Sales and has been working with the company for over 20 years. She graduated with Honors from Sheridan Colllege’s Interior Design Program and won the Global Group of Companies Award for excellence and achievement.

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“So, Your Seasonal Workers are Leaving...

NOW WHAT?”

by Barbara Bowes

Congratulations, you’ve had a great season!

In fact, the seasonal workers you selected this year have been top notch and you are patting yourself on the back for doing such a good job of recruitment and selection. They were reliable, always on time and always provided good service.

But, as the old saying goes, “all good things must come to an end”; your workers are returning to university and/or moving to a full time job. So, now what?

Actually, this seasonal shift of workers is no surprise since it happens year after year. But what it means is that managers/owners need to be engaged in “replacement” planning as an ongoing activity. Replacement planning usually means always having someone ready to act as a “backup” in case of emergencies. However, in the case of seasonal workers, replacement planning means always being on the “lookout” for potential employees who can take over the responsibilities if needed.

There are a number of HR strategies that can be applied to help ease the departure and replacement of seasonal workers. These include the following:

1 3 SHARE YOUR INTENTIONS – let your seasonal workers know about your hiring projections and let them know that you would be looking for someone as valuable as they are. Ask them to be sure to let you know their departure dates so that you can accommodate them while ensuring business continuity.

REVIEW YOUR JOB DESIGN – the departure of an employee should always be seen as an opportunity to review your job description and determine if the current job design is still fitting properly.

Could some tasks be dropped or transferred to another position? Is it time to increase tasks and create a full time position?

2 4

STAGGER DEPARTURES – in order to take the pressure off, the manager might consider staggering the leave dates of the seasonal employees. This not only extends the seasonal help timeframe but also creates more time to review the work schedule, restructure priorities and engage in a replacement recruitment process.

24 JULY/AUGUST

CREATE A FULL TIME POSITION – once you have reviewed your job design and received feedback from your seasonal employees, you might consider restructuring the job into a full-time opportunity.

This could be offered to your seasonal worker if school is not a factor and/or you could recruit a new employee.

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Core-Mark delivers! The typical convenience store

receives merchandise from not only a traditional wholesaler but also a wide variety of Direct Store Delivery (DSD) vehicles. This DSD-focused model requires that convenience store operators spend a significant amount of resources checking in vendors and processing invoices - both of which increase cost.

Core-Mark’s Vendor Consolidation Initiative (VCI), unifies this fragmented process via our multi-temperature platform, which includes refrigerated docks and tri-temperature trailers. This platform, coupled with our high frequency delivery model, enables Core-Mark to deliver a full array of products - including and most importantly Fresh items - that enable operators to stay competitive and relevant in today’s ever-changing c-store retail space.

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 25

SEASONAL WORKERS ARE LEAVING, NOW WHAT?

5 8 DEVELOP A TALENT POOL – keeping a list of former seasonal workers you can call upon is very effective because these individuals are already trained and groomed in your policies and procedures and can step into the work quickly.

Your talent pool could also include the names of individuals within your social circle who have recently retired. There are many millennial retirees looking for a meaningful part-time work.

GIVE CUSTOMERS CONSIDERATION – seek out customers who regularly attend your business and purchase from you. These are the people who appreciate the nature of your business. If you think about it, there is probably one of these loyal customers who has earlier indicated an interest in working for you.

9 6

APPROACH LOCAL EDUCATORS – educational institutions both at the high school as well as college levels are always seeking student internship opportunities. Some of these internships range from six weeks to several months as students get credit for their involvement. Contact the guidance and/or employment counsellors and share the nature of your opportunity. Focus on the benefit a student would gain from working at your location.

CONDUCT AN EXIT INTERVIEW – take your employee out for lunch or do something special as recognition for their good work during the season. Use this as an opportunity for feedback on what the employee has gained through their employment and ask what improvements could be made to create a better experience.

If your employee is a younger person, inquire what particular workplace traits would be of interest to someone of similar age.

10 7 ASK FOR REFERRALS – sometimes the social network is the best way to find a new employee. Ask for employee referrals and perhaps offer a bonus if the potential new recruit stays with you for at least six months. Seek out some of your favourite vendors and ask them to make a referral to a potential employee.

26 JULY/AUGUST

KEEP IN TOUCH – finding good employees is often more about relationships than it is about job advertising. Keep in touch with former seasonal workers and help them when and however you can.

This relationship may well bring you referrals in the future and/ or provide you with references. In many cases, this seasonal worker will want to return themselves. If they are a good employee, always leave the door open.

However, success in applying these subtle HR recruitment strategies will also depend on the application of other important HR factors. These include ensuring that you offer a professional work environment that is friendly and collaborative. It also means creating an environment where there is a good orientation and ongoing support as needed. It’s about ensuring strong teamwork and positive interpersonal relationships within the workplace. If there is a conflict, it needs to be dealt with quickly and fairly.

It also means having good human resource and operational policies as a guide for employees to know what to do and how to make decisions. Workers whether they are seasonal or not, need to have clear guidelines for their behavior, especially as it relates to general customer service as well as dealing with difficult customers. If there are training or other special celebratory events being held during the time your seasonal workers are with you, then be sure to include them in the event.

Keep in mind that your seasonal employees will become the grapevine of communication regarding how you treat employees and what it is like to work for your company. They are the ones who can recommend and/or provide a reference for a new potential employee. Treating them well is a good marketing strategy, in fact, your seasonal employees may well be your lifeline to finding their replacements.

As suggested earlier, don’t wait until the end of the season to start thinking about “replacement” planning whether it’s for the anticipated departure of your seasonal employee and/or the need to seek potential candidates for your next season. Applying any and/or all of the basic strategies mentioned above will serve you in good stead in saying goodbye to your seasonal employee and welcoming individuals for new opportunities.

Barbara J. Bowes, FCHRP, CMC, CCP, M.Ed is president of Legacy Bowes Group, a leading human resource consulting firm in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She can be reached at barb@legacybowes.com

Washworld’s Dynamic Duo Washworld’s Razor® touch-free and Profile® soft touch are your one - two punch for effective and profitable cleaning. Quality stainless steel construction, ease of maintenance, loads of standard features and incredible options...Washworld Razor and Profile are the complete package and the sure way for a faster return on investment.

Check out Razor’s eye catching light display, selectable Mirror Detailer, and updated Washview® HMI screen interface with the capacity to e-mail wash counts and alerts to Smart Phones and tablets...all standard on Razor. For additional wheel cleaning that will keep your customers coming back, it’s Washworld’s optional Power Tower®! The 36” high tower features stainless steel zero degree rotating turbo nozzles.

Washworld’s Profile® is the soft touch wall mounted system that’s the talk of the industry. Combining Washworld’s advanced technology used in our touch-free systems with the latest in washing materials, Profile is the answer to growing your car wash business. Profile MAX also offers the optional Washworld’s Power Wheel Detailer™ in a touch or touch-free version.

Give us a call to put our Dynamic Duo to work for you!

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FORECOURT

IN SIG H TS

OVERCOMING

FALSE PHASE S E PA R AT I O N ALARMS

WITH MORE ETHANOL ENTERING THE SUPPLY CHAIN, FALSE PHASE SEPARATION ALARMS POSE A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE FOR CANADIAN FUEL RETAILERS. UNFORTUNATELY, FALSE ALARMS SOMETIMES PROVOKE OPERATORS TO MAKE SHORT-SIGHTED COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS THAT ULTIMATELY PUT STATION EQUIPMENT, CUSTOMER LOYALTY AND PROFITS AT RISK. THANKFULLY, NEW EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS ARE MAKING FALSE ALARMS A THING OF THE PAST.

BY PETE NEIL / OPW FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

28 JULY/AUGUST

Understanding Ethanol’s Role

Phase Separation Layers: It takes very little water to cause phase separation, a process that can lead to four distinct layers of inventory inside the tank. Image courtesy of OPW Fuel Management Systems

Aqueous Ethanol Float Sensor: OPW’s Aqueous Ethanol Float Sensor continuously monitors fuel quality, providing real-time, thermal-corrected density readings. Image courtesy of OPW Fuel Management Systems

Water Entering Spill Container: Water can enter the tank through the spill container during fuel delivery.

Water intrusion in tanks containing ethanol can lead to phase separation.

Image courtesy of OPW Fuel Management Systems

When enough water mixes with ethanol-blended fuel, the ethanol absorbs the water molecules. The water-saturated alcohol molecules become too heavy to remain suspended in the gasoline solution.

They drop to the bottom of the tank, creating layers of different mixtures of product, including an alcohol and water (aqueous ethanol) layer. This process is known as phase separation, and needs very little water to occur. Although Canada only requires gasoline to contain an average of 5 percent of ethanol, 10 percent ethanol-blended gasoline is widely available. The more ethanol, the greater the opportunity for phase separation.

Phase-separated fuel damages automotive engines, dispensing equipment and a station’s reputation. When phase separation occurs, the aqueous ethanol layer is often near the pump’s in-take tube, putting it in prime position to be dispensed. In the short-term, stations lose revenue due to pump downtime, inventory loss and the expense of purging contaminated fuel from a fueling system and then disposing of it. In the long-term, stations lose sales when word gets out they sold bad gas.

RAISING THE BAR ON PHASE SEPARATION DETECTION

Eliminate False Phase Separation Alarms with OPW’s Aqueous Ethanol Float Sensor • Monitors water levels, beginning at 5/16’’ – an industry best • Provides the earliest detection of phase separation • Accounts for thermal changes within the tank, eliminating false alarms • Detects phase separation in ethanol blends up to E85 Water Entering Riser Cap: Water can enter the tank through a bad riser cap or service fitting. Water intrusion in tanks containing ethanol can lead to phase separation. Image courtesy of OPW Fuel Management Systems

To Learn More, Visit www.opwglobal.com/aef or Contact a Sales Rep in Your Area.

www.opwglobal.com

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 29

FORECOURT OVERCOMING FALSE PHASE SEPARATION ALARMS

SOME VEXED OPERATORS DISABLE THE SYSTEM’S SAFETY CHECKS TO PREVENT THE FALSE ALARM FROM TRIGGERING A SHUT DOWN.

Battling the False Alarm pump bad gas into a customer’s vehicle.

Some in-tank monitoring devices only use a float to detect phase separation. This weakness results Monitoring Advancements in false alarms. Here’s why: Fuel density is affected Early detection is critical to counteracting phase by temperature, and floats can’t accurately account separation. Thankfully, smarter phase separation monitoring devices that are based off of density for this.

For instance, fuel inside a UST is subject to tem- readings are being introduced.

New aqueous ethanol float-sensor solutions meaperature swings during deliveries. On warm days, fuel inside a tanker heats up. When that warm fuel sure water levels as early as 8 mm (5/16") (traditional is added to the cooler fuel in the UST, this tempera- devices don’t detect water until 19mm (3/4"). These ture fluctuation frequently triggers an alarm. In new devices also utilize a sensor to continuously most cases, the fuel quality is actually within an monitor fuel quality, which provides real-time, theracceptable range, but the monitoring system can’t mal-corrected density readings that accurately acmake the distinction. As a result, the system shuts count for temperature changes inside the UST. In addition, compatible tank gauges can be programmed the pump motor down.

Inoperable pumps lead to irritated customers and to activate an alarm at specific density thresholds. frust rated site operators. Some vexed operators dis- These innovations not only eliminate false phase sepable the system’s safety checks to prevent the false aration alarms, they enable operators to intervene in alarm from triggering a motor shut-down. This is a time frame that provides maximum operational upan extremely risky stop-gap that should be avoided. time in the event that phase separation does occur.

Inevitably, a system stripped of its safeguards will

Pete Neil is the Global Product Manager at OPW Fuel Management Systems, based in Hodgkins, IL. Neil has considerable expertise in tank monitoring equipment solutions. He can be reached at pete.neil@opwglobal.com. OPW is leading the way in fueling solutions and innovations worldwide. OPW delivers product excellence and the most comprehensive line of fueling equipment and services to retail and commercial fueling operations around the globe. For more information about OPW, please visit www.OPWGlobal.com.

Since 1924

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Candies, Nuts and Trail Mixes Maximize your profits with over 100 everyday, best-selling Cottage Country candies, nuts and trail mixes, packed fresh and delivered fresh, from our truck to your store!

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www.pdmclaren.com 30 JULY/AUGUST

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.

Copyright 2017 PDQ Manufacturing, Inc., part of OPW,

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 31

pdqinc.com | 800.227.3373

by: Cameron Laker

Retail Recruiting for Unpopular Positions There is something familiar about a convenience store (unofficially coined “c-stores”). Open early and closing late, the c-store was a regular stop throughout our lives for snacks and other daily staples. There was always a person behind the counter that greeted you with a friendly hello. Over time, you would get on a first-name basis with him or her and they would learn the newspaper your read or the type of gum you prefer.

You would get used to a familiar face and then one day the person was replaced by someone new. But that someone was 32 JULY/AUGUST

as friendly as the last and the casual relationship started its cycle again.

Retail Evolution

Today, the hyper competitive retail landscape is dominated by giants, such as Costco and Walmart. Yet, the c-store is resilient and rugged, and refuses to fade into history. Through the ongoing e-commerce revolution and anything-delivered-toyour-door service uprising, the c-store weathers the economic

storm and marches on. They are still the most popular stop for slushees in the summer and for a pack of gum on the go. But inevitably, they have evolved and have melded with gas stations and fast food franchises to present a new, but familiar, and friendly environment that faceless retail behemoths cannot.

As c-stores have evolved, so has the world of the modern job seeker. Like never before, retail recruiting for c-stores has become one of the most unique challenges today. Most high schoolers that venture into the workforce target fast food chains and large supermarkets knowing that there are constant opportunities and their group of friends. And fresh university graduates likely never even glance at a job posting for a c-store which cannot offer benefits, opportunities for growth, and a someday corner office. Indeed, the lower pay and atypical shifts of a c-store are not the most appealing, but somehow there is always a friendly face that offers a smile as you walk through the door.

Any c-store owner or manager knows that the demands of running a location is a never-ending marathon. Many products are delivered, but there are always items that require hands-on shopping or

may be on a fire sale at a larger retailer.

Then the products have to physically be placed on the shelves, and technology has yet to invent self-replacing items.

Some items such as coffee and hot dogs require constant restocking and there is always the challenge of maintaining a high level of cleanliness to keep customers walking through the door. After inventory is taken and spilled coffee is cleaned up, where is the time for retail recruiting?

Are the managers that make a c-store successful always the right people to conduct recruitment? And when there is finally time to start thinking about hiring, where are the job seekers that will fill such an unpopular position? Are cstores doomed to always recruit out of desperation and have to settle for low quality employees?

The most important factor to today’s

hourly job seeker is being hired quickly.

Essentially, when a store manager finally finds the time to sift through resumes and conduct interviews and hopefully conduct at least 2 reference checks, they must make a snap decision to ensure that they end up hiring the best candidate they can find. Clearly a daunting task for any store manager above and beyond their daily responsibilities.

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR TO TODAY’S HOURLY JOB SEEKER IS BEING HIRED QUICKLY.

Retail Recruiting Evolution

It might seem impossible on the surface, but there is hope for c-stores to recruit without lowering standards and having to settle.

One of the answers is to look beyond the outdated “Help Wanted” sign and to embrace the power of the internet.

While a typical c-store position is not high on the list of job seekers, your job can offer unique benefits that larger

Since 1924

P.D. McLAREN LIMITED

Cleaning Cars Across Canada

Surrey 604-371-3732 Calgary 403-287-1633

Burnaby Toronto 604-437-0616 905-428-8403 Burnaby 604-437-0616 Calgary 403-287-1633 Montreal 403-287-1633 514-791-6398 Calgary

www.pdmclaren.com CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 33

RETAIL RECRUITING FOR UNPOPULAR POSITIONS

retailers cannot. For example, the hours of a c-store can be offered in a far more flexible form than what large retailers demand, appealing to hardworking and motivated individuals looking to maximize their downtime. A good percentage of c-store staff can be filled with qualified individuals that already have jobs, but do not get all the hours that they want or need. Wording the job posting and contract the right way can be a simple and powerful way to attract great candidates that already possess excellent customer service skills and are motivated to put more in their bank accounts at the end of every month.

Another viable answer is to connect with Employment Services agencies that are sponsored by government or non-profit organizations that offer free training and job search skills for immigrants and the general unemployed public. These agencies can be an untapped source of strongly motivated job seekers

from demographics that often get overlooked, such as seniors, persons with disabilities, or new immigrants with a strong work ethic that simply need assistance in connecting with jobs in an unfamiliar internet-driven world. The majority of hourly employees are under 25 years old, 33% are 25-44 years old and a full 28% are 45 or older!

The fact that they are inexperienced in writing a glowing resume or have lesser computer skills does not mean that they don’t have a strong work ethic or motivation. In the fast-paced modern world, c-store positions are one of the few jobs that still exist that do not require a minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute. While large retailers might only look to hire superstars with the best resumes and experience, it is absolutely possible to build a strong team in your c-store with undrafted hidden gems.

The truth of retail recruiting is that no matter how and where you look, the most

valuable commodity is time. While most c-stores might believe it is simply too expensive to even consider Recruitment Outsourcing, consider how much you will need to spend on placing just a few job postings on the most popular job posting sites. Add to that the time required to sift through the resumes fast enough to contact and catch the best candidates and try to quantify how much that time is worth not only to one owner/manager, but all the owners/managers in all your stores.

Cameron Laker co-founded Mindfield in 2005 and since then has developed recruitment solutions and strategies for more than 100 hourly employers. Cameron leads the company strategy and drives innovation around how Mindfield uses technology and innovative tactics for engaging the candidate market. He has a diploma in Integrated Management Studies from BCIT and is a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO).

Cameron.laker@mindfieldgroup.com, 604.899.4473 x 7020

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Go to www.wpmaexpo.com/ to register online, or call 1 (888) 252-5550 for information

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34 JULY/AUGUST

WPMA

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Car Wash Doors: Answering Your Questions

by: Josh Hart President of Airlift Doors

1) What are the main differences between a polycarbonate door and a vinyl roll up door?

We all know the basics of car wash doors and some of the advantages that they offer versus traditional commercial doors. Rather than offering another generalized summary of these benefits, I thought I would get a little more specific on some critical topics.

After another year of exhibiting at trade shows I thought it would be fitting to share with you some of the most frequently asked questions that we get while exhibiting.

There are many types of doors available in the market, but only two styles that have been designed for and have succeeded in the car wash application. The first style and the most popular over the last few decades has been the overhead polycarbonate style. The other style is a vinyl roll up door. Vinyl roll up doors have been around forever, but have only been modified and used in the car wash market for the last 9-10 years. Both style doors have clear panels to allow natural light into the bay and both are constructed of corrosion resistant hardware to survive the tough environment. The big differences come down to a few key items.

Speed: A polycarbonate door with a pneumatic opener will operate at speeds up to 18” per second. This was a big step up from electric openers which would only get operation speeds of around 8-12” per second. However, the vinyl roll up door will operate at speeds of up to 34” per second giving it a slight edge over overhead style when you are opening and closing the door after every car.

Security: The edge definitely goes to the polycarbonate door in this

category. The polycarbonate used in the sectional overhead doors has an impact resistance 200 times that of a glass panel. It can take impacts comparable to that of a steel door, but does not leave dents to show for it. Paired with a pneumatic opener that holds pressure from the operator on the door in the closed position it is very difficult to break through or lift up this style door. The vinyl roll up door on the other hand offers no security level whatsoever. You can easily lift the door up or cut through the vinyl to gain access to the bay.

R-Value: This is a category that does not easily provide a clear cut winner.

Your typical polycarbonate door will offer an R-value around 3-4 where a vinyl roll up door does not have a registered R-Value. However, by operating the vinyl door up to twice as fast you can retain much of the heat in your bay that escapes when the doors open and close.

Knock Out Ability: The edge here goes to vinyl roll up styles. Most are designed with the ability to break out of the tracks when impacted and have a reset feature that will pull the door back into the track on the next cycle. The polycarbonate doors will CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 37

CAR WASH DOORS ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS

most likely suffer damage on impact and will require replacement panels to fix the door. Therefore, with roll up doors you suffer less downtime if your door is impacted and avoid the repair costs to replace the door panels with overhead doors.

Overall Dimensions: A polycarbonate overhead door will roll back into the bay and sit above your equipment.

The vinyl roll up doors roll up on the shaftline above the door opening. It is important to complete engineering forms to provide bay dimensions as well as equipment dimensions to determine which style door will fit best in your bay.

2) Why are car wash doors more expensive than standard garage doors?

Often times people come up to us and tell us that they have a bid on doors from their local door company that is lower than the bid they received from us and wonder what the main differences are.

There are many different manufacturers of polycarbonate doors and vinyl roll up doors that sell products to the commercial and industrial market.

However, there are very few that specialize in the corrosive car wash environment. Although the doors may look similar at first glance, it is important to look at the hardware options that have been quoted. Our top selling carwash door packages include hardware such as stainless steel or plastic hinges, solid stainless steel shaft, e-coat door drums, 38 JULY/AUGUST

stainless steel cables, stainless steel 4) What sizes do you offer? bearings and bearing plates, plastic or We can custom build doors to any size stainless steel 3” track, and stainless to meet the openings. The maximums steel and plastic rollers. These are items are 24’ wide x 18’ high for polycarbonate that are designed specifically for the car doors and 14’ wide x 14’ high for vinyl roll wash market and not available from up doors. most door manufacturers.

Although the initial cost is slightly 5) Who installs, maintains, and higher, the correct package will outperservices your products? form most standard door packages by 2-3 As a manufacturer, we rely heavily on times overall lifespan and greatly reduce distributors to perform these services. the overall maintenance cost during this As we design and manufacture products time period. specifically for the car wash market, a large percentage of our distributors 3) What options do I have for are car wash equipment distributors. controlling my doors?

There are many advantages to having There are numerous ways to control your one distributor to take care of your car doors. All style doors can be manually wash equipment and your door and operated and opened and closed by hand operator equipment. Utilizing the car or you can add an operator to make them wash distributor to install the doors automatically operated. If you choose to is a big benefit as in most cases the car add an operator, our doors can be opened wash equipment will control the doors. and closed off of the buttons provided Therefore, these companies are very with the control panel. You can also knowledgeable on both sides and how the add features such as additional buttons, equipment will interact together and will remotes, keypads, photo eyes, loops, make sure that they are communicating motion sensors, and timers to control properly after installation. On the when the doors open and close. However, maintenance end, they can combine most automatic car wash equipment a maintenance program and perform packages have door control options as routine maintenance on all equipment in well. It is wise to check with your car your wash when they are on site. Finally, wash supplier to see what capabilities if you have a service issue you do not they have before you add controls that have to try to determine if the problem may be unnecessary or repetitive. The is coming from the door controls or the door control box should be set up to take car wash controls as one company is signals from any external source and can responsible for both elements. be customized based on your specific application.

6) How quickly can I get product.

There is a lot of customization in the car wash industry when it comes to door packages. Therefore, most manufacturers do not stock complete packages. One customer may prefer plastic hinges where another wants stainless steel. There are many other choices and options with door packages so you want to be sure you have discussed your application with your distributor or the manufacturer to ensure you have the right components for your specific wash. Once you have determined the appropriate package you should expect a complete door order to ship within a 2 week timeframe.

Individual parts or replacement parts should be readily available and will either be stocked by distributor or ship from the manufacturer within one day.

7) Why would I use a weighted counterbalance system over torsion springs?

Torsion springs are a very common in the door industry. However, the maximum cycles you will get from torsion springs is around 100,000 cycles. To get this cyclage, the springs must be greased regularly and can be difficult to maintain.

Furthermore, once your springs break, it is almost impossible to replace the springs without replacing the entire shaftline. The Strapeze counterbalance system is a nylon strap with stackable weights that mounts outside of your end bearing plate. The system averages around 500,000 cycles before the strap needs to be replaced. Replacing the strap is very easy and cost effective and does not require replacing the entire shaftline.

The Strapeze counterbalance does not require any maintenance.

up on drums to open and close the door.

By attaching directly to the door rather than turning the shaft like other style openers, you will not jump door cables if the door stops short of its full travel for any reason as the door and operator will always be in sync.

The preferred operator for the vinyl roll up doors is an electric operator option. The roll up doors do not have cables and therefore can be operated with a jack shaft opener. Electric openers used in the carwash market should be completely sealed and modified to have stainless steel internal components and coated windings to survive the harsh environment.

9) How do I open my doors in case of power failure?

All of the pneumatic control boxes come standard with an emergency open option built in. There is always air in the system so even in the case of power failure the

Josh Hart grew up in this family business, but has been on board full time since 2001. He has spent time in a lot of different roles but has specialized in sales until recently focusing more on the financial side of the business.

PUDO Pick Up. Drop Off.

A NEW REVENUE STREAM INCREASE FOOT TRAFFIC FREE TO REGISTER To learn more visit:

8) Why would I consider pneumatic openers vs. electric?

Either style operator can be used on the polycarbonate overhead or vinyl roll up doors. With polycarbonate door pneumatic openers have been the most popular style. These openers are constructed of aluminum or stainless steel so they are completely corrosion resistant and are designed to open and close constantly without heating up or burning out. The other advantage is that they can be attached by a bracket from the opener directly to the door. All overhead doors utilize cables that wrap

system will be able to cycle once by hitting the open button and allow a customer to get out of the bay.

For a roll up door with an electric opener, you have two options. A roll up door can operate without a counterbalance system due to its lightweight structure.

However if the power fails, the only way to manually override the system is to physically turn the drive shaft on the motor.

This requires taking off the cover and using a tool or a drill and socket to manually open the door. The other option is to add a counterbalance system. By adding this system operators that we provide have a pull cord release rope provided with the motor. If you lose power, you simply pull the rope and disengage the motor and the door will open with the help of the counterweight system. Once power is back on, you pull the other rope and re-engage the motor and the door will now work off of the controls once again.

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Pick it up. Drop it off.

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 39

40 JULY/AUGUST

by: Brenda Jane Johnstone

A New, Fresh Outlook for Gas King With our new car wash upgrade we will be selling a prepaid wash card known as the Clean Card and our future plans include allowing organizations to sell Clean Cards as a fundraiser.

Gas King has been in business for more than 32 years, during which time they have been recognized as an avid community supporter. For many years, the company has received the Lethbridge Sun Times Best of the Best Award for car washes.

“Although we think our locations have the same look and feel as the large gas chains, our customers know that we are a local company,” says Brent Morris, president of Gas King.

He further states that their customers support them because they know that Gas King supports their community in many ways.

“We have been a proud supporter of WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes, WMBL Lethbridge Bulls and a variety of local golf tournaments,” says Morris. “We have been a long-time supporter of Lethbridge’ s summer fair & rodeo, Whoop-Up Days and sell tickets to this and other local events.” A popular attraction during Whoop-Up Days is the

Gas King Stage which hosts many Canadian bands during the five-day fair.

Morris says their Charity Car Wash fundraising program gets great support each summer. This program allows organizations to use a self-serve car wash bay to hand wash vehicles and raise money for their worthwhile causes.

Considering all the charity causes that Gas King supports they are undergoing a project that will see each of their five carwash sites undergo an upgrade and facelift.

“Washtech from Calgary was chosen by us as the installer of the Exact One equipment as we had used Washtech in the past and liked their work,” says Morris. “They had also done many installs of Exact One equipment so we were very confident in their ability to install the equipment with minimal downtime.”

Undertaken by Washtech of Calgary, the existing coin boxes were removed and replaced with new Exacta brand

FINAL UPGRADES FOR EACH OF THE GAS KINGS WASH SITES INCLUDE THE WASHTECH FOAMING CONDITIONER MANUFACTURED BY WASHTECH SPECIFICALLY FOR GAS KING SITES. CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 41

WASHTECH A NEW, FRESH OUTLOOK FOR GAS KING

touchscreen payment system. At the time that this article was written, the three Lethbridge locations and one of the Medicine Hat sites were completed. The fifth location, which is in Medicine Hat, will be completed later this year.

Kevin Turner, president of Washtech Vehicle Wash Systems is proud that they were able to “pretty up” each of these sites and help Gas King integrate systems such as Exacta Car Wash Systems, allowing to use a variety of ways to pay for their wash… including credit cards, their King Card rewards card and the Gas King charge card.

Kevin Turner, president of Washtech Vehicle Wash Systems of Calgary stated that some of the Gas King sites used different coin boxes. Gas King wanted the pay stations standardized to allow for an easier, smoother experience for their customers and worked with Washtech to replace the old coin operated coin boxes with the new Exacta Touchscreen Bay Master touchless, coinless payment system.

“With our new car wash upgrade we will be selling a prepaid wash card known as the Clean Card and our future plans include allowing organizations to sell Clean Cards as a fundraiser,” says Morris.

As a big supporter of local business, Gas King started a great partnership with the KickBack loyalty card network from Idaho in 2007.

“It has been a great 10 years of giving our customers points on almost all of their purchases, which they can spend just like cash back at our locations on anything we sell,” says Morris. “In 2011, we branded our program King Card but we still remained on the KickBack network” Doug Garratt, president of Exacta confirms that Gas King is one operator who is strongly into gas, c-store and car washing. Gas King has an extensive charge card and loyalty card (King Card) base so accepting these cards in the bays was important to them. Their InfoNet POS system in the store has been integrated to accept these cards for years. The upgrade on each of the four Gas King sites was completed with the goal of integrating these existing programs with the Exacta program of credit card and gift card, enabling customers to earn points on car washes right in the self-serve car wash bays. They were also looking for a modern look and feel to their self serve wash and therefore put in the Exacta Color Touch Screens with a custom look and feel that Gas King designed with Steve Sinclaire of Sinclaire Design Associates in Calgary. Overall, they 42 JULY/AUGUST

are working towards a better service and convenience for their customers, both old and new.

The final upgrades for each of the Gas Kings wash sites include the Washtech foaming conditioner manufactured

by Washtech specifically for Gas King sites, the upgraded payment systems by

Exacta along with spot free rinse and DynaVac vacuums in each bay and dryers.

Social media is something that Morris knows is important for keeping current with their customers. Gas King’s URLs include gasking.com and mykingcard. com.

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 43 info@vacutechllc.com

44 JULY/AUGUST

By Cheri Williams

Car Wash

Building Extensions Your Best Option for Profitable Equipment Upgrades Have you noticed a loss of sales due to new car wash competition in your area? Many vehicle owners are attracted to the new technology offered in the car wash industry today.

In order for aging car wash businesses to compete in today’s market, equipment and building upgrades may be necessary; however, upgrading car wash equipment and structures requires a substantial financial investment. Some owners may feel that their equipment choices are limited due to the size and configuration of their current building.

Fortunately, that is not the case.

A few key things to consider when choosing to make structural changes and equipment upgrades to your existing car wash are: • Budget • Location/Car counts • Space requirements

BUDGET

In addition to the new equipment package chosen, owners also need to budget for any necessary building modifications and site work. Building modifications can range from a complete teardown and rebuild, to costly additions to the existing structure, to a simple building extension. The cost of new equipment is substantial and the range of options is vast. It’s not unreasonable to expect price tags of $300,000 and up - way up! Building modifications can inflate the overall project budget by a large percentage leaving owners feeling like making needed upgrades to their facility is not an option. This is where a building extension is a great choice. The costeffective and time-saving option of a building extension leaves significantly more money in the budget to invest in equipment upgrades and helps the owner reach profitability faster.

LOCATION/CAR

COUNTS

Location and car counts may play a factor when choosing to upgrade car wash equipment and how best to modify the existing building, if at all. For example, an owner with a car wash building that contains self-serve or in-bay automatic washes that is in a location of highvolume car counts, may consider upgrading one or more bays to tunnel washes. In a high car count location, one potential negative of a self-serve or in-bay automatic car wash can be the wait time. Once a car is in the bay and the wash cycle begins, no other car can enter until the one before it is finished. If there are too many cars stacked up waiting outside the bay, customers tend to get impatient and either leave, or drive by and go elsewhere. In contrast, a tunnel wash moves vehicles along a conveyor at a steady pace and can accommodate multiple cars at the same time, relieving wait times and increasing profits. The purpose of this article is not to endorse one type of car wash or equipment over another, but give food for thought when choosing which is the right option for individual locations.

SPACE

REQUIREMENTS

If upgrading the car wash equipment requires adding square footage to an existing structure and location, one option is to add an extension, provided the current site CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 45

CARWASH BUILDING EXTENSIONS

EXTENSIONS CAN PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE NEW EQUIPMENT, MAKING THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVERSION FROM SELFSERVE .

can accommodate the extended building. the changes needed. The size of each Extensions can be custom-sized to fit extension project will be based on the the shape of an existing building and needs of each individual location. can typically be installed in a day once the site is ready, as opposed to months I N C O N C L U S I O N of construction time with a rebuild or Blowing the budget on costly construction building renovation. When added to just isn’t necessary. Reinvest that money both the entrance and exit sides of the back into the business. A durable, nobuilding, extensions can provide the rust aluminum and glass extension additional square footage needed to can be attached and sealed right to the accommodate new equipment, making existing building. Adding roll-up doors the possibility of conversion from self- and lighting provides a secure, attractive serve or in-bay automatic washes to looking addition at a fraction of the cost of tunnel washes a reality. An example of a rebuild or renovation. Easy engineering this could be a in-bay automatic car wash paves the way for a quicker municipality building that is currently configured with approval process. The installation is a 40 ft. car wash bay and the owner wants quick – an extension can be put up in a to upgrade to a 72 ft. car wash tunnel. By day. Some building extensions can even either adding a 32 ft extension to the be purchased as kits and shipped to the entrance or exit side of the bay, or by business location ready to be installed by splitting the square footage needed and a contactor of the owner’s choosing. So if adding 16 ft. on each end, the building the situation calls for it, update, upgrade, is quickly modified to accommodate and stay competitive!

Cheri Williams is director of Marketing & Sales with Shinn Buildings, LLC. Cheri can be reached at cheri. williams@shinnbuildings.com and www.carwashextensions.com.

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 47

By Heather Steines

Pet Washes for those Wagging Tails It is probably safe to say that there are a few industries that will remain steady, no matter what the economic climate. Let’s face it, as a whole; we love anything to do with babies, marriages, pets, etc. These industries are not going anywhere soon. The question lies then, how do we couple booming industries, such as these, with the carwash industry?

One simple way is by integrating a self-service pet wash into your new or existing carwash.

But, why pet washes? Can we say it all together? Four-legged friendly! Four-legged friendly! Four-legged friendly! The pet wash industry is soaring. Today we are noticing that the simple novelty of a pet wash has morphed into a bonafide industry of its’ own. It really isn’t a wonder though. According to the American Pet Products Association it is estimated that Americans will spend $69.36 billion on their pets this year with $5.76 billion allocated to grooming alone. In 1996, it was estimated that Americans spent $21 billion on their pets. This means that the pet industry has increased nearly fifty billion dollars in just over twenty years. That is a whole lot of quarters! Way more quarters than the general spending economy is increasing as of late. All this to say pet washes are a good thing.

At this very moment, we are witnessing the toddler stages of an entirely new carwash industry. It was that perfect storm of bad economic conditions, which propelled the downfall of the carwash industry back in 2008 that is now driving the success of the self-serve pet wash industry. Perhaps now more than ever before, consumers are being conscious of the value given for a particular service compared to their money spent.

Despite this though, we still love our furry friends. Enter selfserve pet wash station: a budget friendly, economical, albeit fun way to care for your pet.

48 JULY/AUGUST

Pet washes have evolved over the past half-decade. More and more, pet washes are less of an addition and more of an integration. With time comes experience and with experience comes optimization.

Pet wash manufactures have learned a thing over or two over the past few years.

Now many are offering units that comply with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) design standards. This design standard is making the process of installing them in your local communities much easier. Now, more user friendly options such as credit card readers are commonplace.

This type of optimization has opened new markets, such as

MOST MODELS ON THE MARKET TODAY ARE OUTFITTED WITH EQUIPMENT THAT IS BOTH SAFE FOR THE PET AND CONVENIENT FOR THE CARWASH PATRON. THIS EQUIPMENT MAY INCLUDE SPECIALLY DESIGNED TUBS AND SPRAYERS, AS WELL AS PET SPECIFIC SOAP INTEGRATED MUCH LIKE SELF-SERVICE CARWASH EQUIPMENT.

alongside carwashes. Optimization has encouraged refinement, too. As such, pet wash models are now available in all shapes and sizes. The most common, though, tend to err on the side of compact and modular. There are a couple of self-service pet wash models that are worth discussing in light of the carwash industry.

One of the more original designs for pet washes are self-service kiosk buildings. This type of pet wash is about the size of an average parking space. Essentially, this pet wash design is a small building that is self-supported. Though, modular in nature, this type of pet wash is perhaps the most permanent pet wash design available on the market today. Pet washes such as these are often placed adjacent to carwashes. Utilities are then typically run to the pet wash from a carwash owners existing infrastructure. Most models on the market today are outfitted with equipment that is both safe for the pet and convenient for the carwash patron. This equipment may include specially designed tubs and sprayers, as well as pet specific soap in-

tegrated much like self-service carwash equipment. This type of unit is unique in the fact that many manufactures are marketing them as year round amenities. Advancements in heating and cooling systems within this type of model now allow carwash owners to offer comfortable self-service grooming no matter what Mother Nature throws their way.

A second self-service pet wash design that is gaining popularity is a walk-up unit. This type of unit is integrated into the infrastructure of a carwash. Often, carwash owners will build an awning, much like that of a bank of vacuums, to protect the unit. Other times, carwash owners will integrate the unit directly into a carwash bay. Walk-up pet washes offer many of the same features as a kiosk building with much less infrastructure needed. Industry wide, these types of units tend to be an economical choice.

On average, the cost associated with a walk-up unit is 60% less than a typical kiosk unit.

The trendiest, most compact pet washes though, lean on one of the newest industry advancements. Leaning

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 49

PET WASH FOR THOSE WAGGING TAILS

on that whole notion that less is more, compact varieties seem to be hitting the market every day. Some of these compact versions actually fold into place.

This type of design ticks the adaptability mark and seems to have been created with self-serve carwash owners in mind.

These types of models can be placed virtually anywhere, but its unique design is ideal for use in self-service carwash bays. The trim nature and fold down tub require minimal floor space. Self-service carwash bays can now easily double as pet wash bays, too. Pet wash manufactures are certainly keeping owners and operators in mind as they continually redefine today’s pet washes.

There are many great options for pet washes. Manufacturer’s truly have done an outstanding job understanding the needs of carwash owners and have adapted their product to best suite those needs.

Pet washes have been found to be unique and practical add-ons for carwash owners. It is no secret that this type of addon attracts new pet owning clientele to your location. Suddenly, your carwash location becomes a one stop shop. A carwash owner can expect to have a steady additional income from their pet wash.

Pet washes are a feel good, safe bet for great exposure. I think it has something to do with that wagging tail, or maybe it is those melt your heart doggie eyes?

Whatever it is, people and media alike are suckers for pets. As carwash manufactures, cultivators, and industry experts, our blood gets pumping over a new carwash bay. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case for our customers. Social media tells us so. An informal Instagram search tells us that the hashtag #carwash results in 1,889,507 photos.

Compare that to the 18,779,647 results for the hashtag #ilovemydog. These numbers are just a silly, albeit important, example of what people are getting excited about. Channeling this excitement to profit our carwash ventures is what is important here. Pet washes may be just the thing to get you there.

Heather Steines, Executive Vice President, All Paws Pet Wash.

Since 2009, All Paws Pet Wash has been the leading manufacturer of modular pet wash units. All Paws Pet Wash strives to be on the cutting edge of the selfserve pet wash industry. Here’s to a Tail Waggin’ Good Time!© www.allpawspetwash.com 800-537-8231

50 JULY/AUGUST

Protecting What Matters Most A Guide to Selecting the Best Fueling Equipment for Your Business and the Environment.

Kent Halliday Director Fuel Markets Canada ZCL Composites Inc.

W

hat does environmental risk management look like for c-store owners in 2017? With many provinces and industry associations calling for stricter regulations around spill response and preparedness, retail fuel leaders are looking for ways to make sure their business stays ahead of these potential changes. For Kent Halliday, Director of Fuel Markets for ZCL Composites Inc. it’s about staying informed and focusing on quality.

“It’s the best way to protect the things that matter most – your employees, your investment, and the environment,” says Halliday. The proactive choice doesn’t necessarily mean adding cost to retrofit your operation, but it does mean making smart decisions and investing in the right equipment that will deliver the best value over time.

With over 27 years of experience working with petroleum retailers in North America, Halliday knows that c-store owners need a solution that will last. “The lifespan of a product depends on several factors, and one of the biggest considerations is corrosion resistance, which is a feature of all FRP (fibre-reinforced plastic) composite tanks.” Once properly installed, the tanks require little to no ongoing maintenance, reducing the risk of expensive maintenance, repairs, or premature replacement.

Costly maintenance, unexpected fines, and equipment replacement can all eat into your bottom line, says Halliday. “It adds unnecessary pressure to your operations and is a massive source of stress for business owners. Doing your research and selecting the right, high quality equipment and service options puts you and your business that much farther ahead, and provides peace of mind.” Incident prevention and preparedness are absolutely essential when it comes to protecting the environment from leaks, spillage, and effluent runoff.

“If something fails, you can have a serious problem on your hands.”

However, making the right choice isn’t always easy – after all, not all leak monitoring systems are created equal. From dry to hydrostatic to vacuum tank monitoring systems, c-store owners have a number of options available to them. Double wall tank design is standard for all fuel storage tanks ZCL produces – the brine-filled, hydrostatically monitored interstitial space between the tank wall allows for precise, continuous monitoring that is unaffected by fluctuating temperatures, a key in Canada’s all-weather retail fuel industry.

Investing in high quality effluent capture systems is another way some retail c-store owners are protecting the environment and preventing fuel site runoff from ending up in local rivers and streams. Currently, ZCL offers the only oil water separator in Canada that is fully ULC listed, designed to meet the highest standards for sustainable, environmentally safe management of stormwater run-off.

Finally, it is important to remember that fueling equipment is only as good as its installation, advises Halliday. Hiring experienced, knowledgeable petroleum contractors who adhere to correct equipment install guidelines can make all the difference. “It can dictate whether a product lasts you thirty plus years or starts showing signs of trouble in only a few months.”

If unsure, always remember to consult your local standards and safety organization for petroleum contractor recommendations.

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 51

Going Beyond the Catalog Approach for Car Wash Equipment

by Dan Percora

BRUSH MANUFACTURER WILLINGNESS TO CUSTOMIZE A RANGE OF OPTIONS IS HELPING OPERATORS ADAPT TO MARKET CHANGES AND OPTIMIZE THEIR PROCESS

52 JULY/AUGUST

In the conveyor car wash industry everyone wins when car wash owneroperators can thrive by offering customers a better wash while still maintaining a healthy profit margin.

Yet as vehicle dimensions change and people further customize their cars and wheels, the standard catalog options are often not enough to get vehicles clean without taking additional time, labor, and resources. While modifications to standard catalog equipment options can accommodate these changes, traditionally most manufacturers – particularly those overseas – are not willing to do this.

However, some North American brush manufacturers are aiming for a more collaborative approach with operators.

This includes customizing a wide number of options, such as special colors that correspond with your logo, foam taper and length, cloth taper and length, or filament taper, length, width, height,

longevity, and even mounting capability.

These allow an owner to accommodate market changes and provide a superior wash while enhancing the bottom line.

Cleaner Wheels for Less

For Earl Weiss, owner of four conveyor car wash locations in Chicago, IL, one of the biggest challenges is cleaning wheels when dirt and brake dust gets into the nooks and crannies and typical cloth or foam material does not sufficiently get it out.

“If you run a low price exterior wash, it really hurts your profit margin to spend an extra 20-30 cents a car for high pressure water and cleaning solutions, plus the cost of electricity and equipment, just for the wheels,” says Weiss.

Weiss believes he has found a better, less costly approach to clean wheels that uses his existing equipment with some modification from his supplier.

He has customized his rocker panel,

CARWASH GOING BEYOND THE CATALOG

side, and wrap around brushes, substituting filament for cloth in a number of areas, such as on the bottom 10" for lower details, and on the bottom 20" for van high side brushes.

“Using equipment rotating in opposite directions, I clean the wheel about four times with filament,” says Weiss. “I get a nice clean wheel at a much lower cost than using high pressure water and cleaning solutions.”

The key to this, says Weiss, is how his supplier figured out a way that allows filaments to easily slide into the c-channel core that secures cloth and foam to his rocker panel, side, and wrap around brushes.

“The filament pieces slide in and out so I don’t have to change brush cores,” says Weiss. “I just tell my equipment supplier the length and height of filaments I want, and I get them. I’m experimenting to find the best combination of filament and cloth.”

Weiss encourages other car wash owner operators to think “out of the box” by going beyond standard brush options.

“Car wash equipment manufacturers may think they have the latest and greatest, but until it is put into operation they don’t really know what the issues will be,” says Weiss. “I’ve found that customizing my brushes and filaments gives me the flexibility I need to optimize my wash process.”

To reach higher on tall vehicles, which have grown taller in the market, he also requested a taller rocker panel brush. This required a longer custom brush core and an adapter plate. “Our original rocker panel brush was 21" high, and the ones we use now are 26" high,” says Biagi.

When he noted that his high volume operation was wearing out rocker panel brush cores too quickly, he contacted his brush manufacturer to see what could be done to lengthen life.

“They created a core with a special coating that has extended our brush core life by at least 50%, and we haven’t changed it yet,” says Biagi.

He again sought the help of his brush manufacturer to handle the faster wear at the bottom of his wrap around foam brush cores, due to the many vehicles with trailer hitches going through his washes.

“The bottom part of the brush core was wearing out twice as fast as the top, so they made us a two piece core,” says Biagi.

“This makes it easy to replace the bottom part separately to further lengthen core life.”

“THEY CREATED A CORE WITH A SPECIAL COATING THAT HAS EXTENDED OUR BRUSH CORE LIFE

BY AT LEAST 50%, AND WE HAVEN’T CHANGED IT YET,” SAYS BIAGI.

Getting into Tight Spots

When Doug Seniw, co-owner of Prairie State Express Car Wash, an exterior express car wash in Custom Cleaning Coverage As maintenance manager for the Boise, Idaho Chicago, IL, sought a better way to clean vehicle region of Mister Carwash, the largest full-service nooks and crannies, which have become more car wash chain in the United States, Tim Biagi is common with modern styling, he turned to his brush manufacturer. always looking to improve operations.

“On automated equipment, the wider cloth and To optimize cleaning for a variety of challenging vehicle types, Biagi experiments with the taper of foam slits just don’t clean well because they don’t certain brushes and with cloth and foam lengths. get into tight spots, such as car styling grooves or Instead of the stepped brush filaments common in under and around side mirrors,” says Seniw. “There the industry, which resemble “stair steps” and leave are a lot of missed spots.”

Seniw requested custom narrow cloth and foam a coverage gap between each “step”, he prefers tapered brushes from his brush manufacturer, which slits for his tall side cloths, lower detail cloths, and he feels provide better cleaning coverage over ve- wrap around brushes.

“With the thinner slotted strips our brush suphicle surfaces.

“We may change the taper on the upper part of a plier provided, we’re cleaning nooks and crannies wrap around or van brush, so the brush taper bet- much better,” says Seniw. “Our mirrors, bumpers, ter fits the contours of the vehicles we clean, which and license plates are cleaner. We clean it once, we have become more aerodynamic and less boxy over clean it right, and we get no customer comebacks the years,” says Biagi. “We change cloth or foam or touch ups.”

As operators work with manufacturers that cuslength to better clean the tops of taller vehicles like vans, trucks, or SUVs. Our supplier will modify tomize brush and filament options to suit these brush taper as well as cloth and foam length to our changes, they will not only wash vehicles better and more efficiently, but also more profitably. specifications.”

Dan Pecora is the owner of Erie Brush & Manufacturing (eriebrush.com). In business since 1948, Erie Brush provides car wash owners with brushes and auto detailing supplies made in the United States. Pecora has over 50 years of experience in the industry and he and his father Carlo opened the first exterior car wash in Wisconsin in 1962.

For more information, call 800-711-3743 (ERIE) in US, 773-477-9620 internationally; Fax 800-798-3743 (ERIE) in US, 773-477-6030 internationally; email sales@eriebrush.com; visit www.eriebrush.com; or write to Erie at 860 West Fletcher St., Chicago, IL 60657.

54 JULY/AUGUST

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Continued from page 11

WATER A COOL PROFIT CENTRE

WHEN BOTTLED WATER IS UNAVAILABLE, 63% OF CONSUMERS WOULD CHOOSE TO DRINK ANOTHER BOTTLED BEVERAGE, COMPARED TO ONLY 16% CHOOSING TAP WATER.

make recycling as easy and accessible as it needs to be to reduce material headed to landfill.

To address this discrepancy, the beverage industry and its partners launched an innovative new program in Manitoba called Recycle Everywhere, which is a standout among public space recycling programs. Run by the not-for-profit Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA), Recycle Everywhere marks North America’s first permanent, province-wide, away-from-home beverage container recycling program.

Since the program’s 2010 launch, Recycle Everywhere has raised Manitoba’s beverage container recovery from 42% to 70%, an increase of 28 percentage points. This means that 67% more containers were recycled in 2016 than in 2010.

Some communities concerned about plastic waste have considered banning the sale of bottled water. However, removing one product from the marketplace does not reduce overall waste. This can be seen from a study reported in the American Journal of Public Health on a ban at the University of Vermont, which concluded that, “the bottled water ban

did not reduce the number of bottles entering the waste stream from the university campus.” In addition to not having the intended environmental effect, the study also showed a clear trend of beverage substitution, as consumers chose to purchase other types of bottled beverages when bottled water was removed.

Additional research shows that when bottled water is unavailable, 63% of consumers would choose to drink another bottled beverage, compared to only 16% choosing tap water.

When consumers choose to hydrate, modern product choices are nearly endless. Beverage manufacturers are responding to consumers’ evolving preferences, as consumption of sugars from beverages has decreased by 20% per capita since 2004. The modern beverage market in Canada has nearly 50% of products with reduced calories, and bottled water is an important part of this mix.

New varieties of bottled water are rapidly coming to market. Whether its regular, sparkling, flavoured, or vitaminenhanced, there is a bottled water option to meet every consumer’s taste profile.

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Set within one of Canada’s most historically significant cities, during a time when we celebrate our nation’s 150th birthday, the 2017 Summit will give us an opportunity to pause and reflect upon our industry’s past foundation upon which we continue to build a sustainable future.

The 2017 Summit will provide relevant research, inspiring keynote speakers and networking opportunities that will offer insight into future opportunities, challenges and trends.

Let’s build our future. Together!

This year’s guest speakers include:

Tony Chapman: From "Mass to My": How to Get From Being One of Many to Becoming "My" Convenience Store

Kathy Perrotta: The Need for Speed: Sizing Up Quick Trip Moments and Delivering Solutions

Hôtel Le Concorde Québec September 26, 2017 to September 28, 2017

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 57 Register here: https://nacda.ca/events/registration/

What’s New

ISTOBAL boosts growth and faces new business challenges with a new image.

ISTOBAL, the Spanish leader in car wash and car care solutions for the automotive sector, boosts growth and faces new business challenges with a new corporate image. The company has redesigned its brand to support its expansion plan for the coming years which includes, as goals, international growth, high technology focused on product quality and reliability, and being close to consumers with efficient solutions and a pleasant user experience.

Yolanda Tomás, the company’s CEO for Product Development & Marketing, explained that “the change responds to our group’s need to ensure effective communication at a multinational level, and increase the knowledge and recognition of the ISTOBAL brand among our customers, employees, and consumers”.

The main expansion targets for ISTOBAL in the next few years include boosting growth in the US – where the company hopes to consolidate in the short term, to continue investing in Italy – currently the group’s second largest export market- to strengthen its presence in Germany, and to increase activity in South America.

The strong internationalisation strategy deployed to date has enabled the company to position itself internationally as the second European company in the industry. With 10 subsidiaries in Europe and America (in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Serbia,

the United States and Brazil), the company is present in more than 75 countries worldwide, and its sales abroad account for 80% of its turnover.

ISTOBAL’s growth plan places the emphasis on the application of the latest technologies in the market. To that end, the company will continue investing in R&D. This budgetary item has increased more than 50% over the past five years based on the company’s commitment to developing more effective and reliable car wash solutions with a focus on quality.

“The main challenge ahead is to be able to adapt to technological changes; our efforts are focused on interfaces, communications and connectivity to improve the user experience when customers use our equipment”, underlined Tomás.

Being close to end users to identify their needs and improve their car wash experience is the third key axis for the company to continue growing.

In this regard, Yolanda Tomás stressed that “the company’s new mission and new values are reflected in the corporate image change and the concise but strong message we want to get through to all of our audiences: ISTOBAL is at your side, caring for your car.”’

For more information or to see the full press release, visit www.istobal.com

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58 JULY/AUGUST

Gilbarco Veeder-Root Acquires Orpak Systems Purchase Extends Gilbarco’s High Growth Markets Portfolio GREENSBORO, N.C., May 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gilbarco Veeder-Root has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Orpak Systems Limited, subject to customary conditions to closing. Headquartered in Bnei Brak, Israel, Orpak delivers extensive technology solutions to oil companies and commercial fleets. Orpak has over twenty-five years of experience and a global track record of successful innovation and adaptation to diverse customer needs in emerging markets. Orpak will join forces with Gilbarco VeederRoot’s retail and commercial fueling operations, allowing the combined company to offer the most innovative and comprehensive suite of systems for retail and commercial fueling operations.

The acquisition signals Gilbarco’s commitment to expanding its presence in high growth markets and to leveraging Orpak’s technologies relative to automating station and fleet management systems. “Orpak is an important part of our future growth engine. The Orpak team brings valuable expertise into the Gilbarco Veeder-Root family, allowing us to accelerate technology advancements,” said Martin Gafinowitz, President, Gilbarco Veeder-Root. “They also bring a team of highly skilled associates, a quality operation and a strong portfolio of customers that we look forward to serving.”

Orpak President and CEO, Shay Bakfan, noted, “Gilbarco has been an important Orpak partner for many years. This merger is a step forward for Orpak and an excellent opportunity to increase our reach through Gilbarco Veeder-Root, bringing our unique value to more markets.”

Gafinowitz added: “Orpak helps Gilbarco Veeder-Root solidify its position as a technology leader. I look forward to working closely with Shay and the Orpak leadership team to help us achieve our goals.”

Orpak will become part of Gilbarco’s organization, in a new division that will maintain the Orpak name.

The division will continue to operate from its existing facility in Israel and subsidiaries around the world.

To see the full press release, please visit www.gilbarco.com.

The Secret is Out May 17, 2017 - Saanich Peninsula based company, BCHAZMAT Management Ltd (BCHAZMAT) hires long time Victoria marketing and PR professional, John (Mtn Man) Espley, to be their new (and first ever) Director of Marketing & Communications.

Although a successful business since 1996, BCHAZMAT has been relatively unknown outside of key business or government circles. “it’s time to grow and get the word out concerning all the services and products we offer,” said Dave Rogers, president.

Up until February of this year Espley worked for Accent Inns / Hotel Zed and after 29 years found it time to look for a new challenge. “I was blessed to have a few options and going to work for BCHAZMAT seemed to be the perfect fit. Their business is so diversified and different than anything I’ve done before. They have the same values around supporting the community as I have and I’m really excited and looking forward to promoting their great products and services,” said Espley.

Espley and Rogers met through the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and then again through several community events they both supported.

“We knew we needed someone strong and connected to help us grow our business. It doesn’t hurt that he’s also willing to get in and get dirty when it’s all hands-on deck for a clean-up,” said Troy Archibald, Operations Manager.

Espley is a past chairman of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, past president of Sales and Marketing Executives of Victoria, held a “with distinction” certification with the Canadian Professional Sales Association and thanks to Accent Inns, has been extremely active in community support for many years.

Espley’s first official event will be representing BCHAZMAT at the BC Chamber of Commerce AGM which is being held in Victoria this May 2017.

Franklin Fueling Systems Appoints Jay Walsh as President MADISON, WISCONSIN USA - Franklin Fueling Systems announced today that Jay Walsh has been promoted to the role of President, Franklin Fueling Systems. In this role Jay will be responsible for leading the company and its employees based in 20 different countries throughout the world. Prior to this promotion, during his 22 years with the company, Jay held positions in technical service, sales, and product management.

Most recently he held the role of Executive Vice President.

“My focus will remain on our commitment to providing products and services that protect human health and the environment, while delivering the lowest total cost of ownership to our customers,” said Jay Walsh upon the announcement. “As the leader in underground petroleum equipment, Franklin Fueling Systems will continue to build upon our mission to provide total system solutions to our customers worldwide.”

In addition to this appointment, Franklin Fueling Systems also announced that John Adrian has accepted a promotion to Senior VP, Sales, Americas/EMEA. In addition to overseeing sales for the Americas, John will use his experience and managerial expertise to assume sales responsibility for the European, Middle East and African markets.

Tony Hsu has also accepted a promotion to VP Sales, Asia.

Tony’s vast experience and sales success in Asia Pacific markets will now be broadened to provide managerial support to the China market.

For more information or to read the full press release visit www.franklinfueling.com

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 59

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MONEXgroup and AIR-serv Partner to Launch Canada’s First Contactless Only Payment Solution at Tire Inflation and Car Vacuum Machines Nationwide Toronto, Canada – MONEXgroup and AIR-serv are pleased to announce the roll-out of Canada’s first Contactless Only Payment Solution at over 7,000 Tire Inflation and Car Vacuum machines – located at gas stations nationwide.

The innovative payment interface eliminates the need for coin, which has traditionally stymied users. Drivers can now pump their tires or vacuum their vehicles with the speed and convenience of secure payments that are as simple as a Tap. The new contactless payment acceptance technology is already installed in 550 locations between Ontario and Quebec, and is scheduled for full national deployment over 2017-2018.

Commenting on the successful introduction of the Contactless Only Payment Solution to its self-serve Tire Inflation and Auto Vacuum machines, Frank Merrill, Executive Vice President at AIR-serv Canada, states “This is a feature that we knew we had to have as fewer Canadians are carrying coin. MONEXgroup was the company that spearheaded the Tap Only solution and got it approved. We’re seeing an increase in usage of the equipment, and in customer satisfaction level”.

Ozzy Ersoy, MONEXgroup’s Corporate Relationship Manager, adds “We are thrilled to be able to partner with AIRserv to successfully launch a groundbreaking Contactless Only payment solution that meets their high standards for performance in extreme conditions and ultimately benefits their customers with a seamless purchasing experience”.

MONEXgroup’s revolutionary unattended Contactless Only Payment Solution is the first of its kind in Canada as it is fully PCI certified for Tap Only transactions with support for Visa payWave, MasterCard Tap & Go, Interac Flash, and Apple Pay. There is no need for coin, chip & pin, swipe or insertion. Payments are instantaneous and effortless via contactless enabled credit or debit cards, or a mobile device.

The Contactless Only Payment Solution is advantageous for unattended vending machine or kiosk operators as the shift away from cash and coin continues to accelerate. Ruggedized weatherproof and indoor versions of terminals are available.

For more information or to see the full press release visit www.monexgroup.com

Mac’s Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Positively Speaking to youth Through Their Positive Ticketing Program Operation Freeze/Operation Heat (Toronto, ON) – Mac’s Convenience Stores (Mac’s) is celebrating 10 years of working with Police Services and Crime Stoppers Programs across Ontario to recognize positive youth behavior, which has also reinforced that “doing the right thing” is also the “cool thing to do.”

This youth initiative, dubbed Operation Freeze and Operation Heat, provides police officers the opportunity to engage in the “positive ticketing of young people” who are observed doing random acts of kindness or exhibiting positive behavior in the community. The “ticket” is actually a coupon valid for a free small Froster during the Spring/ Summer months and a Hot Beverage during the Fall/Winter months at all participating Mac’s stores across Ontario.

In addition to recognizing good behaviour by youth, positive ticketing offers opportunities for officers to interact with youth in a positive manner - some officers may again use the coupons to recognize youth for wearing bicycle helmets, doing good deeds, participating in community activities, picking up trash, deterring crime or observing school crossing rules – while others may use the coupons as literal “icebreakers” to establish a rapport with youth in their patrol area. The intention is to ensure that the positive tickets legitimately reinforce the positive behaviour exhibited by a youth, by offering something of value.

“Positive community engagement is an essential first step to breaking barriers and building trust,” said Sean Sportun, ICPS – Manager, Loss Prevention & Security for Mac’s in Central Canada. “We are very excited about our 10th Anniversary of the positive ticketing program and the positive message it continues to deliver.”

Since the introduction of the positive ticketing program, more than 1.3 million positive ticket coupons have been strategically issued by police officers and Crime Stoppers representatives to recognize and motivate Ontario’s youth for their positive behavior.

Learn more about Mac’s Convenience Stores Crime Prevention initiatives by visiting www.CircleKCrimeBusters.com.

Touch4Wash

Now your customers can purchase and activate your wash from their mobile phone!  Membership Programs  Include your Automatic, SS Bays and Aux. Equipment to build the perfect program  Reoccurring payment managed by Touch4Wash services  Purchase memberships directly from app  Loyalty Points Programs  Purchase to earn system

Contact Rick Goodwin Wolf Distributing 866-470-9374 www.touch4wash.com

 Text Marketing Tools  Automated Text Response  Day & Time Discount Management Tools  Certificate feature for promotion, fundraising and charity events

CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 61

AD INDEX 2020 DSS.....................................................56 Increase Your Sales with SONNY’S New Digital Menu Tamarac, FL May 2017 – Today, SONNY’S The CarWash Factory announced the specifications on a new class of outdoor digital menus explicitly engineered for the car wash industry. Designed with visibility, durability and performance in mind, this LED display is readable in direct sunlight, withstands extreme ambient temperatures, and is both impact and vandal resistant.

“SONNY’S Digital Menu allows you to upsell your top package, club plans, happy hours and extra services with engaging motion graphics. With our service you can test different menus to increase dollar-per-car averages in real time and easily schedule all your seasonal specials in advance.” says Regi Flanagan, VP of SONNY’S Controls.

The content is completely cloud managed by SONNY’S Controls team, so there’s no need for an onsite server or additional maintenance. Multi-site operators have the flexibility to schedule updates across locations by property, by state, by wash type, or other business specific criteria.

Car wash operators will captivate their audiences with the auto brightness sensor that adjusts from 200 nit to 3,000 nit for perfect day and night visibility. The display and IP56 rated enclosure provides peace of mind with it’s reliable 24/7 operation even in extreme moisture and conditions from -22°F to 122°F with the patent- pending Steady Cooling System.

To learn more about SONNY’S New Digital Menu, visit www.

SonnysDirect.com or call 1-800-327-8723.

Airlift Doors, Inc..........................................36 BeeMaid Honey Limited ......................... 33 Belanger Inc................................................55 Brigham Enterprises............................ OBC Bulloch Technologies .............................. 50 Canadian Trade House .......................... IFC CoreMark Int’l...................................... 15, 25 Crazy Horse............................................... 20 Distribution Regitan.................................... 6 Erie Brush & Mfg Corp............................. 47 Franke......................................................... 13 Gourmet Chips.........................................IBC HoleinOne golf......................................... 62 J & J Display ..............................................23 Ken-Pro/Transchem.................................. 35 Modern Wash.............................................40 NACDA....................................................... 57 Nestle Water .............................................. 11 North Shore Tobacco ................................ 9 Oasis Car Wash Systems ......................... 53 OPW Retail Fueling ..................................29 P.D. McLaren Limited ............................... 49 P.D. McLaren/Istobal..................................30 P.D. McLaren/Oasis ...................................33

Hole-In-One Canada has been providing professional golf tournament planning and hosting in Ontario since 2001.

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“We create great golf experiences.”

PDQ Manufacturing.................................. 31

P.D. McLaren/ZEP.......................................56 Perfetti van Melle Canada........................58

We offer turn-key programs such as:  An easy to use event website with on-line signup and payment options  Mobile app for on-course mobile scoring, GPS and/or Real Time Tracking  Hole-In-One programs (Supreme, Gold, Silver, Bronze or Customized)  Course Selection  Event greeters  SWAG bags  Hole-in-One prizes (Cars, Cash, TV’s )  On course and hole prizes (closest to the pin, longest drive etc.)  Drop sheet prizes

Or we can work with you to build a package to fit within your budget.

Hole In One Canada provides you with a great experience for your staff and your customers.

Petroleum Equipment Institute............... 19 Proatein Bar................................................ 21 Proto-Vest Inc.............................................60 PUDO......................................................... 39 Reclaim Systems........................................46 Scholtens.....................................................30 Touch4Wash (Productive Tech/Wolf Distributing) ........ 61 United Distribution Network................... 10 UNITI Expo................................................. 17 VacuTech Systems .................................... 43 Van Houtte Coffee Services .....................16 Washtech................................................... 42

For more information please visit www.hole-in-one.ca Or contact JJ@hole-in-one.ca 905-584-0424 Available in Ontario only

Washworld Inc............................................ 27 White Castle...............................................14 WPMA........................................................ 34 Xpreswash.com................................................ 44

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CONVENIENCE & CARWASH CANADA 63

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64 JULY/AUGUST