Scwa nwsltr4thqtr2014 web by Southwest Car Wash Association ADVANTAGE

ADVANTAGE Publication of the Southwest Car Wash Association

Fourth Quarter 2014

2015

Southwest Car Wash Convention & EXPO February 22 – 24 | Arlington, Texas Program & Registration at www.swcarwash.org

Inspire

In no vat e

IGNITE

Preliminary Program & Registration Inside 2015 Convention Information › www.swcarwash.org › (800) 440-0644

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A Message from 2.4 Million Car Wash Customers:

“We Like to Save Time with FastPass from DRB Systems” ®

FastPass gives busy customers the quick, convenient and simple buying experience they want at a car wash. That’s why 2.4 million customers already have FastPass windshield stickers on their vehicles. It’s also why car washes that have installed the FastPass RFID system have grown nearly three times faster than those that haven’t.*

Car Wash Volume Increase National Average 2011-2014

20% 10% 0

25.5%

9.1% Without FastPassss

FastPass RFID

• A wireless acceptance system that clears transactions

in less than two seconds by reading windshield tags without even requiring customers to lower their windows.

• The easiest and fastest way to identify monthly

pass customers.

• Provides the most seamless buying experience when

used with the SiteWatch Automatic Recharge Module® (ARM®) for monthly passes and the Xpress Pay Terminal® (XPT®) self-pay station.

Learn more about how you can offer your customers a better buying experience with SiteWatch FastPass from DRB Systems. Contact DRB Systems at 1-800-336-6338, or visit www.drbsystems.com for more information.

With FastPass

* Comparison figure based on blind StatWatch reports from over 600 anonymous car washes.

USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE YOUR CUSTOMER’S EXPERIENCE

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President’s Message WELCOME to the 2015 SCWA Convention & Car Wash EXPO edition of ADVANTAGE. IGNITE is the theme of our event this year and I can think of no more appropriate theme. We are in the car wash industry in an exciting time and place. Consider all the opportunities and possibilities that are in our Clayton Clark industry right now. If we are SCWA President open to the current marketplace – we can take our business to the next level and enjoy new successes. The 2015 SCWA Convention & Car Wash EXPO will offer many different avenues to IGNITE your business in the coming year. Strategies; Solutions; Innovations along with Inspiration will be a part of EXPERIENCE SCWA 2015. Now all it takes is for you to register and attend. Take just a couple of days out of the next 365 to make your business better. In our busy social media crazy world we often forget the importance of being in a live face-to-face setting with others from the car wash community. There is power in being connected to other people who are active and successful in our industry. Many people think that joining SCWA is enough, but I have realized to capitalize on the return on your investment you need to be engaged and participate. And once you have joined in the events you will not be sorry. As small business owners we are all busy, so the thought of taking a few days away from the business to participate in the Convention & EXPO can seem like a waste of time. However, these live meetings might be just what you need to uncover new ways to growing your business. Many think that being around competitors can be a waste of time, or worse, a chance for others to steal their ideas. But not everyone in your business is actually a competitor, as many can be allies and friends. The mindset you choose about participating will impact (perhaps IGNITE) your results.

Here are five reasons to EXPERIENCE SCWA 2015.

Premier Education. No matter how experienced you are at your business, everyone can learn. Working in a small business can often be isolating, and without exposure to a variety of points of view, we can miss new ideas and trends that can impact future results. The educational aspect of EXPERIENCE SCWA 2015 can expose you to new ways of conducting your business and help you discover how to be more productive.

Connecting with Peers. EXPERIENCE SCWA 2015 provides a great opportunity to network. Often competitors from other regions of the country can become valuable resources for referrals and best-practices. Avoiding peers for fear of others discovering your competitive advantage can actually limit your own success. Collaboration is the way to approach networking. Together people can help each other uncover ideas and IGNITE inspiration when they get to know each other on a personal level. See New Equipment, Products and Services. Industry suppliers are some of the best people for you to get to know if you want to learn more about the current business climate. Discovering innovative products and services for your business is necessary to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced world. Plus, these vendors who sell to the car wash industry fully grasp what is happening inside your competition. Invest time with the sponsors and turn them into your friends and allies. Share with Others. One of my favorite quotes is “all boats rise with the tide”. Each of us have ideas or experiences that can be valuable in helping others be more successful. EXPERIENCE SCWA 2015 gives us the chance to make the car wash industry a better place. What better legacy can you leave? If your strategy is to be the best-kept secret in the car wash community, you will be missing a valuable opportunity. Have fun. Being in business should be rewarding and fun. All work and no play can get old fast. EXPERIENCE SCWA 2015 will add a layer of enjoyment to managing your business growth by mixing a social aspect into your learning and industry branding efforts. The Monday evening event will be relaxing and fun. We know that time and money to attend the SCWA Convention & EXPO is a commitment on your part – so we work hard to make sure our program and speakers bring the most relevant information and solutions. Many falsely believe that since they can now access industry information via the Internet and social media that the days of the live meetings are gone. The truth is meetings are more important than ever. The value in meetings comes from the human-to-human connections that occur. Often people cite the serendipitous “hallway conversations” they have with other attendees as the most valuable part of attending the Convention and EXPO. It is truly the people that will bring the ROI to your time at EXPERIENCE SCWA 2015. EXPERIENCE SCWA 2015 is February 22-24, 2015 in Arlington. A Registration form is included in this edition or visit www.swcarwash.org and register online. I encourage you to come experience the power of the car wash community and IGNITE your business in 2015. Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a Successful 2015 from SCWA. 3

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San Antonio, Texas On The Road Again!

bout 200 car wash owners and suppliers recently gathered in San Antonio for the SCWA Car Wash Tour – On the Road Again. The day began with Rapid Round Table discussions covering car wash topics including Labor Regulations; The Self Serve Model Today; Water Conservation in San Antonio and the Southwest; Car Wash Clubs & Monthly Plans; Immigration Regulations Update; Buying or Selling Your Car Wash? and the always popular SCWA Mentor Table. Following the Round Table discussions and lunch the Car Wash Tour visited Spot Free Car Wash – seven bay self serve, two automatics and one 45 foot short tunnel; Diamond Brite – full serve, express, coffee shop and lube operation; Zips Express – the three minute express; Diamond Shine – 140 foot tunnel express with 19 covered vac bays; and Mr. Sparkle 5 self serve bays with a converted short tunnel. The day concluded with a “Wrap Up” Reception. “The SCWA Car Wash Tours and discussions have sure become a big attraction. When you can bring together a large group of successful car wash owners and vendors everyone benefits. The variety of car wash models on this tour shows an evolving industry,” According to SCWA President, Clayton Clark.

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Thanks to the Sponsors:

Rider Wash Systems - Diamond Sponsor Big Man Car Washes - Bus Sponsor AutoClean - Reception Sponsor Innovative Control Systems - Lunch Sponsor

Event Sponsors: AP Formulators; Car Wash SuperStore/National Pride; DRB Systems; Hamilton Manufacturing; Hydr-Flex; Lone Star Car Wash Systems; Midlothian Insurance Company; Motor City Car Wash Systems; Nationwide; Scotch Plaid; Stinger Chemicals 5

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Far greater than the sum of its parts See and hear our dryers at the Southwest Car Wash Convention and Expo, Arlington, Texas on February 22-24, 2015

Advantage Mister Car Wash Acquired By Leonard Green & Partners LP. Mister Car Wash, the largest car wash chain in the United States, was acquired on August 21, 2014 by Leonard Green & Partners LP, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm. The transaction poises Mister Car Wash to capitalize on an accelerated acquisition strategy while strengthening its leadership position through additional investments in people, stores, and technologies, according to John Lai, the company’s president and CEO. Under previous ownership of ONCAP, a middle market private equity firm, Mister Car Wash grew 232 percent since 2007, adding 99 car washes and 25 lube shops. The company currently operates 134 car washes and 32 lube centers in 14 states.

Industry Briefs Third Island Car Wash. The Island Car Wash has opened its third location in Corpus Christi, TX following the success of the two earlier installations. The new, fully automated car wash features AUTEC’s state-of-theart system showcasing the in-bay express concept that allows 24/7 operation with no employees or attendants. The new wash offers a soft-touch, touch-free, or combination-of-both wash along with a full array of add-on services. To help protect the environment, The Island Car Wash is equipped with a state-of-the-art water reclamation system. A 3M “Thank You”. As part of its ongoing support of the military, the 3M Hire Our Heroes program took a road trip at the end of September to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, DE, to perform free vehicle detailing for spouses of deployed and fallen military members, restoring some 30 vehicles with services valued at nearly $10,000. The event was held at the Dover AFB vehicle maintenance facility. The recipients included families served by the Airman & Family Readiness Center, including the Air Force Families Forever, the Air Force Wounded Warriors, and the deployed families. The team performing the vehicle detailing consisted of employees from 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division and Advance Auto Parts. The services provided included interior and exterior cleaning; waxing; vinyl, trim, and molding restoration; and headlight restoration; all of which used 3M Auto Care cleaning, waxing, and restoration products. The 3M Hire Our Heroes program, which provides scholarships and grants to deserving military members and their families interested in a career in the collision industry, had a special tent to showcase the program. Since its launch in late 2012, the 3M Hire Our Heroes program has awarded 115 grants valued at $500,000. Automechanika Sets Record. The 23rd Automechanika, held September 16 to 20, 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany, set a new exhibitor record with 4,631 companies from 71 countries displaying their products and services. Though not a record, a sizable 140,000 trade visitors from 173 countries attended the show, 60 percent of who came from outside Germany. Visitors showed particular interest in subjects such as alternative power trains, fully automatic digital reception processes, energy efficiency, lightweight construction solutions, accessories, customizing, car media, and 3D printing. “More than ever before, Automechanika in Frankfurt has shown itself to be a platform for the presentation of important, future-oriented technologies as the key to tomorrow’s developments throughout the entire automotive aftermarket,” said a spokesperson for the show.

Free Online Social Security Tools can help yo determine the best time to take benefits. SS analyze! from Bedrock Capital Management is easy to use and lets you customize life expectancy, current value of future benefits and more. At BedrockCapital.com, click on “SSAnalyze.” Social Security Benefits Calculator from AARP shows how to claim the highest monthly expenses Social Security will cover. At AARP.org, type “Social Security Calculator” in the search window. Social Security Planner from Financial Engines figures the probability that a user and spouse will live to various ages, then picks their

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Advantage best lifetime-benefits strategy. At FinancialEngines.com, click on “For Individuals,” then “Retirement Readiness.” Also: Fidelity and Morningstar plan to launch free Social Security tools in coming months. New Health-Care Rules For Small-Business Employees. The IRS will not allow companies to give employees a lump sum in order to buy individual health insurance instead of providing insurance directly. The IRS says that this would violate the Affordable Care Act and subject firms to a tax penalty of $100 per day per employee. For decades, employers in many industries have helped employees by reimbursing them for health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs–and the reimbursements have been tax-free, along with the general provision of employersponsored health care. The new rule means that employees buy health insurance on their own must raise worker’s taxable wages–and employer and employee must then pay taxes on the increase. Check with your account for details. Delaying Retirement May Protect Your Brain. For each additional year that a person worked before retiring, dementia, on average, than someone who retired at 65. Theory: The mental stimulation and social connections at work may keep the brain healthy.

Laughter May Be As Relaxing As Yoga. When study participants watched funny videos, their brains showed similar activity patterns to patterns generated during yoga meditation sessions. Scientists found that the gamma wave activity generated from joyous laughter provided the brain with a type of mental clarity and an ability to focus that typically are experienced after a yoga session.

Marketing Are You On A Social Media? If Not, It’s Time Who is using social media today? Most likely a lot of your current and potential car wash customers

The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact that informs the public abut the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Here are some facts from Pew’s Internet Project Research: • As of January 2014, 74% of online adults use social networking sites.

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Advantage • Over 80% of online adults under the age of 50 use social networking sites. • 71% of online adults use Facebook. • Social network use continues to grow across all online age groups. Social media networks are not a fad. They are here to stay and have become one of the most common ways people are communicating. Many car wash owners have a minimal presence or no presence on a social medial network. 60% of small to medium sized business owners think social media is for individuals who want to post photos os their kids, meals, vacation and their relationship status. Maintaining an online presence takes time and who has time when you’re busy running a car wash? You (or someone on your staff) must make time to maintain a presence on at least one social media network. You just read the facts above…Facebook might be the best one to join initially. You may be reluctant to join but at least one of your competitors has already gotten into the social media conversation. Why give up a competitive advantage? Social media is an effective way of increasing your car wash’s marketing efforts. Your presence on social media will allow more customers to find you. Social media becomes an extension of the physical boundaries of your car wash. Instead of driving by your property and just seeing a car wash, potential customers will see photos and learn about services you car wash offers. Starting a Facebook page for a car wash is not difficult. Posting relevant and engaging content regularly is a little harder.

What basic information should be on your Facebook page?

• Location • Days/Hours of operation • Photos of your car wash, inside and outside – make sure they’re smiling • Clean, shiny cars exiting your car wash

What kind of posts might be on the Facebook page?

• Special promotions – “Show us that you’ve liked our page and you’ll get _____ dollars off our top wash this week.” “This Saturday, two dollars from every car wash is going to the __________ team fundraiser.” • Regular promotions – “It’s out usual Wednesday Happy Hour Special, One Dollar Off and wash from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.” • Extra service reminders – “Dead bugs look gross and damage your vehicle’s surface. Protect with _________.” • Employee News • New equipment, signs, landscaping you put in 11

Advantage

Put your In Bay Automatic

on the FasTrak!

Fast, Reliable, Water Saving Design with an Open & Inviting Bay

The Water Wizard™ FasTrak™ is a revolutionary touch-free in bay automatic. It provides reliable operation, consistent results, and increased uptime. The Water Wizard™ FasTrak™ has been engineered to maximize durability, reliability, and a low cost of ownership. The FasTrak™ directly responds to consumer demand for quality and speed in aesthetically pleasant environment. Increase profits and speed while ensuring customer satisfaction!

Contact Us! 5842 W 34th St • Houston, TX 77092 1.800.999.9878 • 713.683.9878 www.colemanhanna.com www.facebook.com/ColemanHannaCarwash

Advantage • Information about extra services – why should the customer want them • Contexts • #tbt (throwback Thursdays) photos of the car wash • Photos of happy customers • Every post should not be an attempt to sell • Being social should be fun and informative – think about what your customer might be interested in reading and get creative

How often should you post on Facebook?

• Social media gurus will tell you that a business should be posting twice a day. You might be able to do this but it’s best to balance being annoying and actually creating a relationship with customers. • It’s better to start with one post a week and post consistently than starting our with two posts daily and letting it slide to once every other month. Regular social media marketing can help you maintain customers, attract new customers and sell more services. Once you’ve started, don’t give up. Keep realistic expectations. Creating a Facebook page is not going to double your customers overnight or increase your sales of extra services in the first two weeks. Cultivating a social media presence takes patience.

What about other social media platforms? Check out the type of users and learn to tailor your messages. Twitter. There are about 53 million active Twitter users in the United States with an average of 208 followers. 45% of those users are between the ages of 18 to 29. Let’s say a customer tweets that he got a great car wash at your wash location. He may be the influence that gets one or two or maybe more individuals to your car wash. Pinterest. Used by more than 30 million users who are primarily women between the ages 19-39 (this age group is considered the fastest growing consumer segment). Women make an estimated 85 percent of all consumer purchases. What if your car wash “pinned photos” of moms and kids at the car wash, philanthropic activities at your car wash, women grabbing a quick cup of coffee while they wait for their vehicle, little kids with their noses glued to a window watching the car – you might get a new customer. Google Plus. While some people feel it’s a ghost town, Google Plus is picking up followers. It’s also a snap to maintain because many social media platform such as Facebook can automatically syndicate directly into Google Plus. The bottom line – get social. If you haven’t joined the conversation, it’s time. Lori Vertin works for Marketing at Ver-tech Labs. You can find her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter

The Tunnel Experts

™

Thank You for Making SONNY’S

The Best Selling Conveyorized Car Wash Equipment in the World!

SONNY’S

Advantage

Case

Studies

2014

Reserve your FREE copy at SonnysDirect.com

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Factory Designed Here. ONLY SONNY’S Foundation Frame architecture delivers over 23,000 custom equipment configurations from standard inventoried components to easily handle your unique wash requirements. When we re-engineer a component to improve safety, performance, and efficiency – whenever possible – we create an affordable retrofit kit to bring your existing equipment up to the latest technology – keeping your tunnel system at peak performance for generations to come.

American Pride

“When I converted our first in-bay automatic to an Express Mini Tunnel, Profesional Car Washes the jump in revenue far exceeded my projections. Now with the second conversion complete I can confirm that SONNY’S proformas are woefully conservative. Be sure to share that with your new customers. Of our 15 locations, we have permits out for another two Express tunnel conversions. The proof is there. The model works.” Charlie Bell Owner - American Pride Car Wash Wake Forest, NC

Built Here. ONLY SONNY’S has the equipment you need in stock for immediate delivery. We are the largest manufacturer of conveyorized car wash equipment in the world and ship over 25,000 feet of conveyor each year, enough to span 83 football fields end-to-end. In an emergency, SONNY’S award winning factory is able to configure and load a complete tunnel system onto a waiting truck, on its way to you, within hours of your order.

Backed Here. SONNY’S has earned Dun & Bradstreet’s highest rating since 1997. With equipment engineered with open architecture, our network of SSO service companies can keep you running with nonproprietary parts sourced locally, in all 50 states, and around the world. Our equipment is designed for easy maintenance, backed by a lifetime weldment warranty, and if you ever suspect a component such as a vacuum turbine is malfunctioning, we’ll loan you a new one to swap out - avoiding any potential downtime.

Decide With Confidence SONNY’S remarkable financial stability is recognized by Dun & Bradstreet, the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses.

We make car washing easy! www.SonnysDirect.com

Toll free 800-327-8723

Advantage

Conservation RO - Membrane Cleaning

Providing a spot-free rinse cycle in a car wash typically involves the installation of a reverse osmosis system (RO). The RO is designed to minimize total dissolved solids (TDS) from the feed stream. Dissolved solids can come from a variety of sources and are present in virtually all water supplies. The amount of TDS present determines whether or not you can provide a spot-free solution in your wash. The industry standard for spot-free rinse water is less than 40 ppm (parts per million) TDS. The product water after the RO system is predicated on the amount of TDS in the feed water to be treated. Most RO membranes can remove on average 98 percent of the dissolved solids in the water. Typical TDS in feed water from most city water supplies are less than 500 ppm. Therefore, the expected results after the RO system is approximately 10 ppm. There are several membrane manufacturers and types of membranes available. The most widely used membrane in a car wash application is a thin film composite membrane (TFC). There are several types available including high-rejection, high-flow, low-fouling, and low-pressure configurations that can be applied depending on the feed water source. The RO manufacturer can provide guidance via a projection that can be done on the source water.

TIME TO CLEAN

All RO systems eventually will require cleaning. Cleaning is recommended when the RO shows evidence of fouling. The time to clean the membranes is either just prior to a long-term shutdown, or when prompted by deterioration of performance. Fouling characteristics that signal cleaning is necessary are a 10 percent to 15 percent decrease in permeate flow, a 10 percent to 15 percent decrease in permeate quality, or a 10 percent to 15 percent increase in pressure drop as measured between the feed and concentrate fl RO cleaning frequency due to fouling will vary by site. A rough rule of thumb as to an acceptable cleaning frequency is once every three to 12 months. Having to clean membranes more often indicates something in the feed water source that should be corrected through pretreatment. Under normal circumstances RO membranes can last several years, and with periodic cleaning it is possible to maintain the performance of the membranes. Fouling can vary from site to site, depending on the foulant. Often complicating the situation is that more than one foulant can be present. Typical foulants are: • Calcium carbonate scale • Sulfate scale of calcium, barium, or strontium • Metal oxides of iron, manganese, aluminum, etc. • Silica scale

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Advantage â&#x20AC;˘ Colloidal deposits (inorganic or mixed inorganic/ organic) â&#x20AC;˘ Organic material of natural or man-made origin â&#x20AC;˘ Biological (bioslime, mold, or fungi)

CLEANING CHEMICALS

There are a number of factors involved in selecting a suitable cleaning chemical (or chemicals) and proper cleaning protocol. The first time you have to perform a cleaning, it is recommended to contact the manufacturer of the equipment, the RO element manufacturer, or a RO specialty chemical supplier. Once the suspected foulants are identified, one or more cleaning chemicals will be recommended. These chemicals can be generic and available from a number of suppliers. Generally in a car wash environment, a low-pH cleaning is used first to remove foulants like mineral scale, followed by a high-pH cleaning to remove organic material. Some cleaning solutions have detergents added to aid in the removal of heavy biological and organic debris, while others have a chelating agent like EDTA added to aid in the removal of colloidal material, organic and biological material, and sulfate scale. An important thing to remember is that the improper selection of a cleaning chemical or the sequence of chemical introduction can make the foulant worse and render the cleaning ineffective.

PROCESS

Membrane cleaning can be accomplished with the membranes left on the RO system inside their housings. Most car washes use an RO system with fewer than six membranes in a single array. For car washes with larger RO systems, the design might have multiple arrays and each array should be cleaned separately. As mentioned, it would be best to use the instructions available from each membrane manufacturer. However, a brief description of the process follows: 1. Mix (using RO permeate) the cleaning chemical in a tank per the chemical manufacturers instructions (mix cleaner to obtain 2-3 pH for low-pH cleaning and 11-12 pH for high-pH cleaning). 2. Disconnect the first membrane on the RO system from the high-pressure pump and connect a hose from a chemical recirculation pump that is fed from the chemical mixing tank. 3. Put the permeate and concentrate lines from the RO into the chemical mixing tank to allow the chemical solution to circulate the membranes and back to the mixing tank. 4. Turn on the re-circulation pump. 5. Adjust the concentrate control valve, until the concentrate pressure gauge reads 50 psi. 6. Re-circulate the cleaner for a minimum of 60 minutes.

Advantage

“Everyone told me MacNeil’s got the best” WHY GARY JONES CHOSE MACNEIL “It’s such a good wash, word gets around that this is the place to clean your car.” Gary Jones

Super Suds Car Wash, North Platte, NE, on his MacNeil 130’ Express Tunnel with wheel and tire add-ons

IN GARY’S WORDS: Customers love it “We did our first 100,000 cars in a year.” Superior components for a superior clean “We’ve got two sets of WrapAround brushes and they just do a miraculous job.” Higher quality, lower maintenance “Even after 100,000 cars it still cleans so well and operates so smoothly.” See for yourself what MacNeil is doing for Gary. Visit www.macneilwash.com/garyjones

Everyone wants a MacNeil. www.macneilwash.com 18

A Ryko Solutions Company

Advantage 7. Dispose of the solution and re-fill tank with clean RO water. 8. Disconnect the feed line from the tank to the RO, and run the station to drain. This will rinse the pump and the line. Do not run pump dry. 9. Re-plumb RO to normal state and run for 10 minutes, dumping the permeate and concentrate to drain. This will ensure that all of the cleaner is flushed from the machine. 10. Put machine back on line. Note: you may have to perform a low- and a high-pH cleaning to unfoul the membranes. For best results, start with a low-pH cleaning, then a high-pH cleaning. Rinse with low pH for five minutes and flush with clean water for 10 minutes. In conclusion, replacing RO membranes can be expensive. With the proper pretreatment and a good maintenance schedule there is no reason not to expect several years of service from the membranes. Cleaning your own membranes is relatively inexpensive and will help to keep the costs down on the spot-free rinse solution for your wash. Dwight Royal is CEO, vice president of operations of ConServ Manufacturing. To learn more about membrane cleaning, cleaning kits/systems, or cleaning chemicals.

Self Service Security - Protecting the Equipment Room

In last month’s issue of Auto Laundry News, we discussed five security issues, each of which can contribute to the creation of a safer, more secure self-service wash: • Vault vacs • Lighting • Securing the power meter • Equipment-room storage no-nos • Attendants This month, we consider ways of preventing miscreants from entering the equipment room. This calls for an alarm system, but that by no means offers sufficient or complete security. Alarms report burglaries; they are not designed to prevent them. It is the intent of this article to detail the ways the equipment room at self-serve washes can be made secure from the effort of thieves. Entry to the equipment room is gained by going through the walls, the roof, or the door. In this article we’ll consider the first two of these entry points.

Site Evaluation Demographic Reports Carwash Market Evaluations

Training On-Site Training Training Seminars

Design & Development Modular Building Systems Construction Assistance Site-Plan Design Complete Equipment Installation

PDQ ICON®, LASERWASH® & TANDEM® (Touchless & Soft-Touch In-Bay Automatics)

Financing Preferred Lending Sources Equipment Leasing Programs Marketing Signage Programs Promotional Ideas Advertising Assistance

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Southwest Car Wash Convention & EXPO

2015

February 22 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24 | Arlington, Texas Program & Registration at www.swcarwash.org

Inspire

In no vat e

IGNITE

Sunday, February 22 12:30 ...and take your car wash business to the next level!

2015

promises to be an exciting year in the car wash industry – with many new opportunities and possibilities. Experience SCWA 2015 will give you the strategies - solutions - innovations and inspiration to have your best year yet.

Car Washing – What’s in Our Future

The next several years will present new opportunities and challenges for our industry – from “no wash” car finishes to “smart transmissions” to new technologies. Hear our panel of nationally recognized car wash professionals talk about how you can position your business TODAY to be successful. This is a session you will not want to miss!

2:00-6:30

EXPO Floor Open

Monday, February 23 8:00-10:15

Car Wash Investors Basics

If you are considering entering the $23 billion professional car wash industry or a current car wash owner new to the business or changing models - this session is for you.

8:00-9:00

Rapid Round Tables

Pick your topics and circulate between discussion tables. Each session is 15 minutes. Explore topics such as: Car Wash Plans; Renovating/Updating Your Car Wash; New Employee Regulations; Extra Profit Center Ideas; The New No Wash Auto Finishes.

9:15-10:15

“The SCWA Convention is truly amazing - with the equipment - the contacts - the car wash knowledge and all in one place.” Damon Van Winkle, Manager of Arbor Car Wash

“The SCWA Convention is our Car Wash Super Bowl – decision makers, great leads and a fun time.” Clay Wilson, Lone Star Car Wash Systems

“I love the SCWA car wash network. There is great energy, everyone is so friendly and willing to share their ideas and experiences. I don’t ever miss the SCWA Convention & EXPO.” Tyler Furney, Owner, Today’s Car Wash

Your Business in 2015!

Idea Exchange Sessions

Breakout sessions discussing problems, challenges and practical solutions for all types of car wash models and lube operations. a. Conveyor/Express b. Self Serve/Automatic c. Lube

10:30 2015 AWARDS PRESENTATION & Keynote Address Karl Rove – “The Architect” - One of the Worlds Foremost Political and Communication Strategists

• Deputy Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush • Credited with the 1994 & 1998 Texas gubernatorial victories of George W. Bush as well as Bush’s 2000 & 2004 successful Presidential Campaigns • Current Fox News Contributor & Wall Street Journal Columnist • Author of the New York Times Bestseller, “Courage & Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight”. Experience first hand Karl’s unique view of the dynamics of the current political landscape and its impact on our lives and businesses. Insights to help you IGNITE your business in 2015 and beyond.

12:00

No nonsense business solutions; management strategies and innovative car wash business ideas.

Car Wash Academy Concurrent Sessions

8:00

Dept. of Labor - Employee Rules for the Car Wash Owner

Marketing - New Ideas for a New Marketplace

Great Profit Center Ideas for Your Self Serve

9:15

What Now - Healthcare 2015

Monthly Car Wash Clubs & Plans Yes or No

Should I Convert to the Short Tunnel?

10:30

The New Immigration Rules

Buying or Selling Your Car Wash

Free Vacs vs. Pay Vacs for the Self Serve Operator

Lunch with Exhibitors

1:00-5:00 6:30

Tuesday, February 24 8:00-11:30 Car Wash Academy

Professional Detailing Educational Sessions Presented by the International Detailing Association

EXPO Floor Open

SCWA Celebration Event

After a full day of convention & EXPO activities, join us for a casual and relaxing evening of food, fun and friends. “Get Your Boots On” as we put the WEST in Southwest!

12:15 • • •

Closing Luncheon

Introduction of 2015-2016 SCWA Officers Annual Report from the SCWA President Great Door Prizes to End a Great Convention

Inspire

In no vat e

IGNITE

2015 First “Big Car Wash Show” of the Year! • Companies from across the nation will showcase the latest car wash and lube equipment, services and supplies. • Network with successful car wash owners from across the nation. Attend premier education and interactive “hands on” training workshops.

Sheraton Hotel Our Headquarters Hotel is the Sheraton Arlington Hotel, next to the Arlington Convention Center (SCWA EXPO location) & across the street from the Texas Ranger Ballpark & Cowboys Stadium at 1500 Convention Center Drive. Reservations must be made before Thursday, January 29, 2015 to guarantee the reduced rate. The SCWA Group Convention room rate is $149 per night, single or double occupancy. Indicate your affiliation with SCWA when making your reservation. CALL SHERATON ARLINGTON HOTEL AT (800) 442-7275 OR VISIT SWCARWASH.ORG FOR HOTEL WEB LINK.

Register Early & Save Register before Friday, January 30, 2015 for your registration discount. Approved refunds will be processed after the convention.

Suppliers For information on exhibiting at the 2015 SCWA EXPO call (800) 440-0644 or visit www.swcarwash.org. Booth space is assigned on a first come, first paid basis.

Registration Online @www.swcarwash.org SOUTHWEST CAR WASH ASSOCIATION 4600 Spicewood Springs Road, Ste. 103 · Austin, Texas 78759 (800) 440-0644, (512) 343-9023, Fax (512) 343-1530

Advantage Continued from pg. 19

PROTECTING THE WALLS

Anyone considering building a new self-serve wash should certainly plan on pouring the walls and the roof of the equipment room out of reinforced concrete. It’s costly. But I believe that it’s worth the cost. Anybody smart enough to figure out which end of a sledgehammer goes in your hands knows that block walls are no challenge for a 16-pound sledge. Need I say more? If the appearance of raw concrete walls is distasteful, walls can be covered with one of any number of available wall-cladding options. The advantage of leaving the reinforced concrete walls of the equipment room exposed to full view is that such walls send the clear message: Don’t even bother attacking here. Retrofit Protecting existing block walls is a difficult problem. Of course, they should be replaced with reinforced concrete. But such a rehab would consume considerable time and money. What can be done to protect existing block walls if replacing them with reinforced concrete isn’t practical? The wall protection either has to go on the inside or the outside of the walls. Interior protection of the walls is complicated by the fact that the walls will have electric, gas, and water lines attached to them. Equipment, shelving, and workbenches will either be attached to the walls or up against them. Adding steel reinforcing, angles, sheets of steel, or reinforcing rods to the interior of the walls can be done. Protect the lower portions of walls since that’s where they are most likely to be attacked with sledges (or stolen cars). Outside protection seems more feasible to me. If I were to do another rehab of an older wash with block walls, I would cover the equipment room walls with rust-protected steel before I put up the fiberglass reinforced plastic panels. For block walls already covered with FRP panels (I have some), it’s a tough call whether interior protection or taking down the panels, putting in the steel, and replacing the panels is the better choice. No doubt many owners will rationalize that reinforcing block walls is unnecessary, especially if alarmed. It’s too expensive and just too cumbersome. I have shared the feeling that I should not have to be considering doing this. It annoys one to think about it, but clearly the evidence indicates that block walls are just not adequate. Owners of block buildings of all types have to be frustrated when they realize how easily the block walls give way. Their frustration has to increase as they ask themselves: Will the day come when the thieves arrive at steel-reinforced block walls with torches to cut the steel and then smash the blocks? It’s unlikely. Someone smart enough to light a torch knows that cutting into a wall where you can’t see what’s on the other side is very high risk. Obviously a gas line could be on the other side of the wall. But, then again, you cannot ignore the amazing determination and idiocy of many criminals.

Only one of my washes has the most vulnerable type of cinder block walls covered with glass board. Steel reinforcement is on my security upgrade list. Whenever I get around to that, I’ll add yet another layer of protection: “black stuff.” Between any steel reinforcement and the blocks themselves, I’ll put in a layer of black roofing cement. I’m told the stuff gives off so much smoke when it burns that it’s very difficult to see what you’re doing. Besides, smoke attracts the fire department. The response time for the fire department (at least where I live) is far shorter than that for the police. I would sure like to be able to convince myself that protecting these walls from sledgehammers is unnecessary — but I know better.

PROTECTING THE ROOF

The use of an interior ceiling of expanded metal screwed or welded to the roof supports provides an extra layer of protection and something else. It can serve as a “horizontal pegboard.” I have found it to be very handy for attaching hoses, conduit, and anything else you might want to hang from the ceiling. Expanded metal can be purchased in 4’ by 8’ panels and in a range of weights. I would not consider getting anything lighter than 16 gauge, which costs about $27 per panel. In my washes, I’ve installed 12 gauge panels at a cost of almost $40 a panel. Flat metal roofs are rarely heavier than 16-gauge metal; 20 or 22 gauge is commonly used. Some are even lighter. Such metal is quite vulnerable to cutting with an

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Advantage

Advantage axe or any portable saw. Even a good pair of tin snips could cut through 22 gauge. I’m fairly sure many owners realize that, but hate to admit it. Here’s the best solution: Pour a Roof First, lay down a grid of steel rebar. Then pour a layer of 3 or 4 inches of concrete right over the metal roof. Be sure to fortify the flues too. Cut four holes at 90-degree intervals in all flues that come through the roof. Cut the holes just above roof level and extend the reinforcing rods through the holes out into the area where they will be covered with concrete. Perhaps there’s some concern about whether a flat metal roof can hold the weight of the concrete and reinforcing rods. If the roof is light gauge, old, or rusty, concerns are justified. Consult an engineer. My analysis: Concrete weighs about 3,000 pounds per cubic yard. It can be ordered heavier, but I buy the cheap stuff. Therefore, concrete weighs about 110 pounds per cubic foot (3,000 divided by 27). If concrete is poured 3 inches thick, then each square foot of the pour equals 1/4 of a cubic foot. A piece of concrete 1 foot by 1 foot and 3 inches thick will weigh less than 30 pounds. A 200-pound man standing on one foot exerts much more than 30 pounds per square foot of downward force. Therefore, if a 200-pound person can jump up and down on a car wash

roof without adverse consequences, then it’s probably safe to pour 3 inches of concrete on it. Common sense. I know some operators protect their roof with razor wire. In the hotheaded, angry days just after a break-in, razor wire might seem fitting. I hate the looks of it. It does send a clear message: This wash is tougher than you, so stay away! If used, I’d want to shield it from view with fascia. Its presence would only be obvious once a person was on the roof. I’m told that in some jurisdictions it may be illegal to use it. It is considered tantamount to booby trapping and could expose the owner to liability problems. It’s relatively cheap, but nasty to work with. All in all, concrete really does seem to be the best option for roof protection. By my calculation, I can do a 3-inch pour on a 10’ by 25’ equipment room and spend less than $300 for materials. It’s a good opportunity for us rookie concrete finishers to hone our skills. You don’t have to be as fussy about the finish as you’d be if pouring the new sidewalk in front of your church. If you can finesse a slight slope for rain run off, so much the better. Patrick H. Crowe owned and operated nine self-service car washes over a period of more than 40 years. He is the author of The Car Wash Appraisal Handbook. He also wrote 30 self-service car wash technical bulletins, of which the above article is an excerpt. He has been a frequent speaker at car wash conventions.

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Advantage

Endorsed by

Advantage

Operations

1. Cleaning ability.

Six Important Considerations for Selecting Cloth Materials

In the car-wash industry, the “rubber meets the road” at the point where the cloth touches the vehicle. Taking shortcuts on quality or choosing the wrong type of material can quickly drive a business into the ground. You might save money initially, but the cloth will clean poorly, fray and fall apart quickly. Quality cloth pays for itself in durability and repeat customers. “While cleaning is really a combination of cloths and soap, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to change soap than cloth if something isn’t working, so you have to make the right choices in cloth in the first place,” said Tim Biagi, manager of Boise, Idaho-based Mister Carwash—the largest full-service car-wash chain in the United States. While a whole book could be written on the subtleties of various cloths and fabrics, a few quick pointers can serve to remind car-wash operators of the basic but important elements to consider when replacing their cloths.

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In the carwash business, this is “job one.” For general surface cleaning, nonwoven fabrics like polyester, nylon or polypropylene strike a balance of absorbing sufficient water/soap solution to clean the vehicle without getting too heavy. For example, the inherent stiffness of polypropylene sometimes prevents access to small nooks and crannies such as those found around trim pieces. For reaching into tight quarters, plush materials, like “cashmere-type” cloth, work better. These take advantage of their tufted surface (like the nap on a rug) to squeeze into tight spots. These “tufts” range anywhere from one-quarter inch to 1 inch; the longer ones reach deeper, of course. Car-wash owners still have to be careful with plush materials, cautions Dan Pecora, an expert on cloth materials and founder of Chicago-based Erie Cloth Manufacturing—a cloth and detailing supplier to the carwash industry since 1948. Spoken in famed Yankee catcher Yogi Berra-fashion, “Too many is too much,” said Pecora. “For example, some owners go overboard and use 100 pieces of cashmere, but should only put on about 50 on any one piece of equipContinued on pg. 33

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Advantage

Advantage Continued from pg. 29

ment. Otherwise the nap absorbs a lot of water and gets too heavy.” An oversaturated overhead cloth like cashmere could put too much weight on vehicles and risk damaging the vehicle.

2. Softness.

Car-wash operators know that customers want their vehicles pampered like a spoiled cat. No scratching allowed. Cashmere-type material makes for an ideal choice as its “fleeciness” washes “cleaner” over metal, glass, plastic, fiberglass and composites making it ideal for curtains and other applications. “When it comes to softness, it’s hard to beat gentle foam,” said Todd Christopher, whose Classic Auto Wash in Allen Park, Mich., handles as many as 20,000 cars a month. “It doesn’t retain water, and it never gets too heavy. The washing dynamics stay consistent and no swirls are left.”

3. Durability.

Operators understandably want their chosen materials to last a long time. But they have to strike a fine balance between getting their money’s worth and jeopardizing the finish on their customers’ cars. “Some car-wash operators want the toughest cloths they can get their hands on so they don’t have to order

new ones for a long time,” said Pecora. “For example, wide-slit hangdowns last longer, but they don’t clean as well as the thin-slit.” Not only does “cleanliness” suffer, but tacky, threadbare, cloths reflect poorly upon the car-wash establishment. “One guy had a cloth that lasted 20 years,” said Pecora. “I’m sure he was happy about stretching his dollar, but I’m not so sure about his customers.”

4. Color.

Owners interested in branding opportunities can take advantage of cloths that match their logo. While it doesn’t have to be exact, maintaining the same hue helps. Quality counts here, as you want to make sure that the color will not fade through use. “We use blue [cloths] at three of the Mister Car Washes here in Boise,” said Biagi. “It’s not necessarily a major branding thing for us, but we do want to keep some consistency throughout the entire chain.” Christopher takes a contrasting, but equally valid viewpoint, at his wash. “Anytime I upgrade the cloth, I change the color to make sure people notice,” he said. “It tells them that I’m constantly improving and keeping my materials fresh.”

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Advantage

5. Quietness. Customer perception is everything in marketing any service, and in the car-wash business, customers equate “quiet” with “gentle.” A fast-moving, heavyladen cloth loaded with solution will hit the vehicle’s surface louder. If the customer is in his or her vehicle while being drawn through the tunnel, this can be quite disconcerting. “Quietness is a big factor,” said Christopher. “Even when the customer is not in the car, you don’t want anything loud on the car; it makes people nervous.” Here, polyester cloths are considered the best option.

6. Cost. “Some owners just want the lowest price and they don’t care about quality,” said Pecora. “Instead, viewing cloths not so much as a consumable, but as a capital asset, gives you a better perspective on getting a good return on your investment.” “I also factor service into the cost equation,” said Biagi. “All other things being equal, I want someone who can answer my cloth questions at 6 in morning. … I also expect quick turnaround on an order, but not at the expense of quality.” Daniel Pecora, Erie Brush, Chicago, Il.

Technology Chip Cards Are Coming - Like It or Not: The EMV Transition

Chip cards and new wireless payment methods are coming soon. Will you be ready?

ALPHABET SOUP #1: EMV – CARD OF THE FUTURE

The United States is by far the largest country in the world that has not transitioned to EMV or “chip” credit cards, also known as “smart cards”. EMV stands for Europay-MasterCard-Visa, and these cardsm, which were first adopted in Europe, are now the standard for the rest of the world. EMV cards contain an integrated circuit chip embedded in the card, which encrypts or scrambles the cardholder data, like the account number, making them almost impossible to duplicate or forge. The United States has stubbornly hung on to conventional mag-stripe cards, and has been paying the price, a very high price. Due to the superior anti-fraud protection of EMV cards, most international card-fraud criminals have focused their unwanted attention on the United States, in part explaining the recent, major security breaches at the likes of Target and Home Depot.

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Advantage Continued from pg. 35

A consortium of major credit card companies has been trying for years to accomplish the transition to EMV cards in the United States. Both here and abroad, the banks adopted a fairly heavy-handed carrot and stick strategy, with the emphasis being on the stick. Beginning October 1, 2015, U.S. merchants who do not accept EMV cards will be responsible for any card fraud, not the banks. This is referred to as the “liability shift.” The carrot is that merchants who accept EMV cards will be exempted from many PCI audit requirements. The liability shift occurred almost 10 years ago in the European Union. Accepting EMV cards can be an expensive process. The cards contain a pad with a series of gold contacts, which are read by inserting the card in a specially designed reader, completely different than a mag-stripe reader. So, you’ve guessed it, you will need new credit card readers to be able to accept EMV cards. However, as we shall see, it’s not all bad news. These new readers will also support novel wireless payment methods, which open the door to exciting new possibilities for promotions and special offers to keep your customers involved with your wash.

ALPHABET SOUP #2: CVM – TRUST BUT VERIFY

EMV cards in the rest of the world are also called “Chip and Pin” cards. This is due to the fact that a PIN or Personal Id Number must be entered on a pin-pad to verify the iden-

tity of the cardholder, just like you currently do with an ATM card. This PIN entry is known as the CVM, or Cardholder Verification Method. Historically in the United States, with conventional mag-stripe cards, the CVM consisted of a signature, initially on the paper credit card slip and, more recently, on a touch-screen at the checkout. While PINs are pretty much universally required for EMV card usage outside of the United States, Visa and MasterCard have indicated that they are not mandating PIN entry for all EMV cards in this country. Depending on the card issuer, a signature may still be the CVM method for some EMV cards. EMV cards have many options for CVM, including online and offline PIN, and signature. For car wash owners the “No CVM” option is of vital interest. For low-ticket, low-risk purchases, or unattended purchases, the card issuer has the option of setting a “low dollar threshold” below which no CVM method is required. This means that EMV card terminals used only for low dollar transactions are not required to include an expensive encrypted keypad, keeping cost down. The exact level of the low dollar threshold is still being worked out. Industry contacts we have spoken to feel that the threshold will ultimately be $75. Fast food chains are eager to have a higher threshold, so their transactions are all No CVM, speeding throughput. For wash owners, it seems certain that they will be able to operate under the low-dollar threshold, and hence No CVM and a simpler, cheaper terminal.

Advantage

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ALPHABET SOUP #3: NFC – THINGS GET INTERESTING

As EMV cards have developed, changes were introduced to make them more user friendly. With the “contact” EMV card, which transmits its information through the gold contact pad, the card must be inserted into the reader and remain there for some time. In initial EMV trials in the United States this proved difficult for cardholders to adjust to. Consumers were habitually used to doing a quick swipe of a mag-stripe card. In part to address this, and also to just simplify transactions, the wireless or “contactless” EMV card was developed. This card just needs to be waved or tapped on the card reader and it is read wirelessly. So now we have a third form of card reader, along with the mag-stripe reader, or MSR, and EMV Contact reader, we have contactless or wireless EMV. Once terminal manufacturers were required to incorporate short-range radio communications into card readers, this opened up the possibility of entirely new forms of payment involving two-way wireless communication with smartphones or tablets running payment apps. This resulted in NFC, for Near Field Communication. One of the first of these NFC implementations was Google Wallet, running on Android devices. Customers can make payments directly from their smartphone. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the recent launch of the iPhone 6 and arguably its most important feature, Apple Pay.

This impressive rollout, with simultaneous announcements by major banks and credit card issuers, also provides the ability to make payments from your new iPhone or iP NFC is probably the most exciting of all these payment methods for wash owners. Imagine accepting payments from a customer’s smartphone, and at the same time offering the option for them to provide their cell number in order to obtain receipts or get special offers. If they haven’t been back to the wash for a while, you might text them a coupon which they could use at the wash. The possibilities for promotions, specials, and customer loyalty are endless. The days of tokens, coupons, private label or local fleet cards, and RFID tags seem numbered.

WASH IMPLICATIONS

Well, first, let’s be clear, mag stripes are not going away any time soon. Almost all of the EMV cards being issued in the United States will still have mag stripes, so you definitely will not have to replace your mag-stripe readers by October 1, 2015. The petroleum industry has obtained an exemption, and will not have a liability shift until October 1, 2017. Mag-stripe cards may never go away, since many gift card and national fleet card issuers have no plans to transition to EMV cards. However, after October of next year, if somebody buys one or more washes with a stolen or forged mag-stripe credit card, and you don’t accept EMV, you will definitely not get your money back from the bank. So, you might have to absorb some card fraud.

Advantage However, with all the big retailers rolling out both EMV and NFC enabled terminals, at some point in the not too distant future, just accepting mag-stripe cards will seem as obsolete as just accepting quarters. With a competitive business like a car wash you have to strive to constantly maintain customer loyalty. Accepting EMV and contactless EMV is nice, but the real future is probably being able to offer the advantages and novelty of NFC payments. As the younger generation becomes more and more smartphone centric, offering NFC payment presents your wash as state-of-the-art and forward looking and you will attract a younger customer base, who hopefully will stay with you over time. The possibilities for phone-based text and e-mail promotions are wide open and will be exploited by innovative wash owners in the near future. The ideal credit card terminal would support three different payment types, mag stripe, contact and contactless EMV, and NFC. Several manufacturers have recently introduced such terminals, intended for unattended operation in applications like vending machines, parking lots, and, you’ve guessed it, car washes. Equipment vendors in the car wash industry are just beginning to offer these new terminals as part of their payment systems. We are working on a wireless system that allows the wash owner to mix and match conventional mag-stripe swip-

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President:

President-Elect:

Vice President:

Treasurer:

Past President:

Vendor Vice President:

Clayton Clark Houston, TX (832) 678-3031

Don Witt Dallas, TX (214) 358-2575

Eric Warden Southlake, TX (817) 329-8777

Barry Farris Frisco, TX (214) 325-0778

David Swenson Austin, TX (512) 346-8050

Bill Dolson is Manager at POS Tech Solutions LLC, a manufacturer of upgrade and retrofit payment card systems for the car wash industry. www.postechsolutions.com

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Welcome New Members The SCWA members listed below have joined SCWA since our last issue. We Appreciate your Support!

Bob Kopko Uniontown, OH (800) 336-6338

David Barnes Heartland Park & Recreation Gilmer TX

Jennie Crook AZ Auto Spa Parker AZ

John Brinkman Car Wash Express Lone Tree CO

Don Larson Aqua Car Spa The Woodlands TX

Colin Brown Cypress Jones CarWash Houston TX

Mark Mattison Step Saver DFW Woods Cross UT

Alex Coleman Whitewater Express Edwards CO

Jason Melvin Glenn Heights Car Wash Dallas TX

Patrick Coleman Seatex Rosenberg TX

Chris Railey Tidal Wave Wash Supply, Inc. San Leon TX

Directors Larry Ayres Wichita Falls, TX (940) 636-3685

DeWayne Hall Oklahoma City (405) 414-1489

Alan Palermo Houston, TX (713) 946-1600

Tyler Furney Harker Heights, TX (254) 245-8657

Mike Hogan Houston, TX (713) 467-1408

Phil Tutt Spring, TX (281) 414-8872

Tyler Greffin Burnsville, MN (952) 808-3640

Troy Kunkel Fort Worth, TX (817) 808-8769

Andrew Zamora Lubbock, TX (806) 543-2775

Executive Director: Chuck Space

4600 Spicewood Springs Rd., Ste. 103 Austin, Texas, 78759 (800) 440-0644

www.swcarwash.org The Advantage is the official publication of the Southwest Car Wash Association. It is published four times each calendar year by SCWA, 4600 Spicewood Springs Rd., #103, Austin, Texas 78759. The officers, directors and members of the Southwest Car Wash Association, as well as The Advantage editors, in accepting advertising for this publication, make no independent investigation concerningthe services or products advertised and neither endorse nor recommend or make any claims as to the accuracy and therefore assume no liability thereof. The opinions expressed in the articles are not necessarily the opinions of SCWA and its publisher and therefore makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for accuracy or completeness of the information herein. (512) 343-9023.

ers with advanced 3-way readers, and upgrade from the former to the latter as demand grows. If you are contemplating a credit card upgrade, or doing new construction, it seems prudent to go with a “future proof” card solution, one that will provide 3-way readers that can accept not just mag stripe, but also EMV and NFC. Otherwise, at some point in the near future, you may discover that you need to replace the mag-stripe swipers you recently installed, just to stay even with the competition. The payments landscape is changing rapidly. Forward-looking wash owners can take advantage of this change to increase their competitive advantage.

Zach Whitt B&K Distributing Liberty Hill TX

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