ADVANTAGE 2016 Convention & Car Wash EXPO February 28 - March 1 Arlington Convention Center
Publication of the Southwest Car Wash Association
First Quarter 2016
2O16 Car Wash of the Year!
2O16 SCWA Convention & EXPO Highlights
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BETTER - STRONGER - TOGETHER
was certainly a great theme for the 2016 SCWA Convention & Car Wash EXPO. This year our event brought together the largest ever attendance of successful car wash operators and suppliers for three strong days of premier education; the EXPO; great networking opportunities and wonderful Dave Swenson energy. At SCWA we believe that SCWA President by uniting our efforts and ideas we can all grow to be Better - Stronger - Together. The event set several records including: 1. The EXPO included a record number of booths and companies in two EXPO areas; we sold out of booth space in late November 2015 (90 days prior to the EXPO); 2. We had the largest attendance ever of car wash operators; the car wash attendee who traveled the longest distance was international - from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3. We had the largest ever number of states represented by actual car wash operators attendees - 28 – including Hawaii; Washington; California; Oregon; Georgia; Florida; Tennessee; Connecticut; Mississippi; among others; we had the largest number of first time attendees ever (including both exhibitors and also car wash operators). The Convention this year was highlighted by the Captain Richard Phillips’ keynote address. Phillips recounted his experiences of being held captive by Somali pirates and how he realized we all have great inner strengths during times of stress. Good lessons for all business owners. The popular CEO Forum featured nationally recognized Billy Riggs who highlighted how car wash owners can be more competitive by creating unique customer experiences. The Car Wash EXPO included two EXPO areas with more than 60,000 square feet displaying car wash “state of the art” all under one roof and all at one time. I hope you were able to join us to EXPERIENCE SCWA 2016 and take advantage of the new ideas, solutions and strategies plus see the innovations in the car wash industry. Many people work hard to make the SCWA Convention & Car Wash EXPO a special experience for everyone from the exhibitors to the SCWA leadership. To all the 2015-2016 Board of Directors – thank you for your time, energy and your commitment to SCWA and the car wash industry. Board members go above and beyond by giving their time and assuming financial expenses for
their participation as a Board member. It is an honor to serve on the Board but also a sacrifice in terms of time and financial resources. This year we had a significant increase in the number of exhibitor booths and first time exhibitors. Thank you to all the companies who made the effort to participate in the 2016 EXPO. We truly appreciate your partnership with SCWA and hope it pays good dividends. A special thank you to the 2016 SCWA Sponsors who helped make the SCWA events more fun and affordable. Check out the Exhibitors and Sponsors on page 27. You will also be able to find these companies on the SCWA website. I encourage you to support the companies who support SCWA. To Eric Warden, Immediate Past President, thank you. We all owe you our appreciation for your leadership and guidance this past year. You gave us an outstanding year including the great car wash tours all leading to the largest convention & EXPO ever. To each of you – thank you for your support and now I challenge each of you to take the high energy and enthusiasm into this next year and let us raise the bar to the next level in SCWA as well as our businesses.
INDUSTRY BRIEFS Mister Car Wash announced the acquisition of Auto Spa Express in Aurora, Colorado, according to a press release. The carwash chain now operates in 19 states with 160 carwashes and 34 express lubes. “We’re excited to join forces with the team from Auto Spa Express to begin serving customers in the Denver market at this prime location,” said John Lai, president and CEO of Mister Car Wash. Mister Car Wash’s latest acquisition is a double tunnel, exterior-only carwash located in Southland, which is the largest outdoor mall in the U.S. With two tunnels to handle heavy volume plus detail services, the acquired Auto Spa Express is expected to be one of Mister Car Wash’s highest volume locations. “During its 10 years in business at this location, Auto Spa Express has kept pace well with increasing demand from the growing Denver market,” stated Lai. “Being situated inside the largest outdoor mall in the United States will give us an awesome opportunity to introduce the Mister Car Wash experience to Denver customers.” Carwash Reduces Expenses By Helping Nonprofits. Scott Knight, proprietor of Rain Tunnel Express, found a creative and environmentally friendly way to reduce business expenses, according to South County Times. This reduction in business expenses is not only environmentally friendly, but also benefits nonprofit organizations in the area. The carwash receives its drying 3
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ADVANTAGE agent and paint guard chemicals in 30-gallon plastic drums and detergent and polish in 55-gallon barrels. Knight posted a sign at his location in Edwardsville, Illinois, which advertised the white, 30-gallon plastic barrels for sale for $5 and the 55-gallon barrels for $10. With few takers for the larger barrels, Knight lowered the cost to $7. Moreover, two years ago the Saint Louis Zoo also showed interest in the barrels, and also interested in the barrels was the Missouri Highway Patrol, which has used them for a training obstacle course; some schools have also implemented the barrels into educational projects over the past few years. LONGMONT, Colo. Owners and operators of Main Street Car Wash in Longmont, Jody and Emily Rouse, have sold their business to Breeze Thru Car Wash. The Rouses, who have operated the 3,443-square-foot carwash since 1998, sold the business through their company, EMR Holdings LLC, to John Agnew of Fort Collins, The Agnew family currently owns four other Breeze Thru Car Wash locations in Longmont, Fort Collins and Greeley, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wisconsin, continued the article. In 2013, added the article, Agnew opened the automated Breeze Thru Car Wash in Longmont. “The company’s concept features an automated tunnel carwash, through which vehicles pass while drivers are inside,” reported the article, adding that the locations also provide free vacuums. Agnew will run Main Street Car Wash with its current system until next summer when he plans to upgrade the facility. Boomerang Carwash Offers Free Washes For A Good Cause. Customers can wash their cars for free this week at any of the four Boomerang Carwash locations around the Little Rock area, according to KTHV. For every free carwash, stated the article, Boomerang will make a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arkansas. According to a video accompanying the article, Ed Colvard, vice president of Boomerang, reported that customers can punch in the code “KTHV,” or 5848, at the wash’s automatic pay stations to receive a free supreme carwash, which is a $15 value. For each code received for a free carwash, informed the article, Boomerang will donate $1 to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arkansas. Grace For Vets Tops Million-Car Mark. The Grace for Vets Organization, which brings together professional car washers in four countries to wash veterans’ cars for free on Veterans Day, has announced that it has surpassed 1 million free washes since its inception in 2004. “The total cars washed for free is actually more
than 1.2 million with this year’s total topping 268,000 free washes,” said Mike Mountz, founder of Grace for Vets and chairman of the board of the organization. More than 3,300 car wash locations participated in the one-day event. Operators from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand took part.
SCWA NEWS In Memoriam
SCWA member, Darryl Dean Dobie, age 71, of Broomfield, Colorado, passed with his wife Cheryl by his side, February 19, 2016. Darryl and Cheryl own Aerodry. Born to Albert and Eileen (Zander) Dobie on August 15, 1944, in Dickinson, North Dakota, Darryl always said he viewed work as his hobby and thoroughly enjoyed working until illness forced him to limit his trips to the Shop. His charisma, quick wit and fierce independence will leave lasting impressions on all those who knew him. Darryl and Cheryl owned and operated carwashes and manufacturing companies in the car wash industry. Darryl leaves behind his wife, Cheryl and son Darren (Tracy) Dobie, Bozeman, MT, daughters Donna (Darin) Emmett, Glendive, MT; Kendra (fiancé Kelley Westover), Denver, CO and Kia of Los Angeles, CA. He is survived by grandchildren Tyler and Hallie Dobie, Dayton and Devin Emmett. Darryl is also survived by his
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ADVANTAGE brother Bill (Karen) Dobie, Bozeman, MT and Dan (Michele) Dobie, Miles City, MT and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and one uncle Gordon. SCWA Member, Phillip Earl Ellis – Kwik Industries. was born in Dallas, Texas on September 7, 1965, and passed away on February 2, 2016, at the age of 50. Phillip was born to Ray and Henrietta Ellis and had three older siblings, Raynette, Mike, and Elaine. All through school, Phillip would also repair car washes and do whatever needed to be done to help with the family business. Phillip graduated from Midlothian High School in 1984, then attended Mountain View College and the University of Texas in Arlington. After graduating from UTA Phillip moved to Dallas and continued to work in the family business, Kwik Industries. Phillip is survived by his mother, Henrietta Dyer Ellis, and by his loving wife, Vanita Ellis. He is also survived by his siblings and their spouses: Raynette Ellis and Doug Randall of Farmers Branch and Elaine Ellis and Randy Doonan of Caldwell; by his niece and her husband, Andrea and Doug Neil of Lewisville; by his two nephews, David Doonan of Caldwell, Texas and Kevin Doonan of Midlothian; and by his great-niece, Rachel Victoria Neil of Lewisville.
Super Walmart and neighbors a Sonic restaurant and a Murphy USA gas station. As customers fill up their cars or wait in line at the drive through they are literally staring at the Lewallens all-glass automatic wash, which acts as a giant billboard drawing customers in. The Midland location is the fourth in the Lewallen’s collection of West Texas washes, and the second all-glass, Autec-equipped mini tunnel. The self-sufficient site is unmanned most of the day, with workers only coming in from time to time to do some basic preventative maintenance and cleaning. With no vacuums or even a garbage can on site the necessary cleaning is kept to a minimum — even the majority of the daily upkeep is taken care of by the equipment itself. During downtime the in-bay automatic sprays down the building’s glass panels with spotfree water to ensure an attractive and clean appearance. The site can accommodate two vehicles at a time. After selecting the wash level from the automated teller, vehicles drive under a pre-soak and triple foam arch before settling in position for two quick friction passes from the in-bay machine that takes no more than two minutes. The vehicle then drives under the rinse arches and on its way to the blower so another car can begin its wash cycle. The format and operational efficiency of the system is a welcome break from the first two Auto Paradise locations the Lewallens opened before discovering the roll over mini tunnel model.
MEMBER HIGHLIGHT Frequently SCWA members are featured in national publications. The following article from Auto Laundry News highlights SCWA member Bobby Lewallen.
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Not Everything is Bigger in Texas
While most things are certainly bigger in Texas, not every success story in the Lone Star State needs to be supersized. Bobby and Vicki Lewallen’s latest venture isn’t a marvel of excess, but rather a perfectly sized testament that sometimes less is more. The 12-year car wash veterans recently opened their fourth location sandwiched in the middle of a busy shopping center and have been enjoying success just one month since opening their latest Auto Paradise site in Midland, TX. The Lewallens purchased a piece of unused land from the local McDonald’s and built a 60-foot mini rollover tunnel on 8,500 square feet of property. They literally own the footprint of the building —nothing more — and are situated in a piece of prime real estate surrounded by high traffic businesses. The land the latest Auto Paradise is situated on was a parcel McDonald’s utilized as a cut through for its customers to enter the parking lot from the rear of the building. “I bought half of the easement,” Bobby Lewallen says. “I only bought the land that the wash is sitting on. They gave me a permanent easement to use the other half. Their customers can still use the land to go to the restaurant but my customers pull right into my wash on property I didn’t even buy.” The site is a dream location. Not only is the wash situated next to a high-volume McDonalds, it is in front of a
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ADVANTAGE The couple got into the wash business in 2003 with their first site in San Angelo, TX. That first location features four self-serve bays and two touchless in-bay automatics, and a surprising amount of labor for the traditionally low maintenance model. West Texas is home to plenty of oil fields, dirt, and grime, which make cleaning cars without friction a difficult undertaking. “When I first got into the business I thought no one would want anything to touch their car,” Lewallen says. “But over the years I learned that all customers want is a clean car. As long as you don’t damage their car and it is clean they don’t care if you have brushes or not.” While the local population isn’t as concerned with friction washing as the Lewallens had anticipated, the couple owns and operate two sites with a total of three touchless in-bay automatics that require manual pretreatment in order to get the job done. This reliance on labor and the additional responsibilities that are inherent in the self-serve model motivated the Lewallens to explore and ultimately adopt the unattended friction concept. “From an operational perspective the new model works so much smoother,” Lewallen says. “You don’t have to worry about people dropping off tires, couches, tearing up vacuums, all the things that come with self
serve. It is just better from an efficiency and cash flow perspective. And less headaches. While the Lewallens’ first two washes require more attention than the second set of sites, all four locations benefit from a simple marketing approach based on crosspromotion and a commitment to the local community that has helped position Auto Paradise as a market leader.
At two locations the Lewallens have built relationships with the neighboring Murphy USA gas stations. The service stations promote the car wash to its customers at the gas island and sell discounted wash packages right at the gas pump. For its efforts the gas station gets a percentage of every wash it sells. While there is a Murphy USA location right next to Auto Paradise’s latest location, Bobby Continued on pg.13
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SCWA WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS SCWA membership elected four new members of the SCWA Board of Directors at the Annual Membership Meeting held during the 2016 Convention. The new Board members are: (left to right) Clay Wilson...................................Lone Star Car Wash Systems – Lubbock Evan Lorentzatos........................Conveyor Express – King Car Wash - Houston Ian Heritch.....................................Self Serve/Automatic – Mr. Sparkle Car Wash – San Antonio Ryan Darby....................................Full Serve/Express/Lube – Mister Car Wash - Lubbock Dave Swenson..............................SCWA President – Arbor Car Wash & Lube Centers - Austin
SCWA Past President Eric Warden said, “we are excited to have Ryan, Evan, Ian and Clay join the Board and bring their energy, enthusiasm and experience to make SCWA better and stronger for our members. I also want to thank Clayton Clark, Larry Ayres, Alan Palmero, and Troy Kunkel who are leaving the Board for all their time and effort. They have left SCWA in a great position for the future.” 11
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nights and busy weekends, as his days are filled holding down a full-time position at Johnson & Johnson and a heavy involvement in a direct sales business. “Most people don’t know how we do it,” Lewallen says. “It is a lot of late nights. But I am at the point right now where I am ready to make car washing my full-time job and allocate one hundred percent of my attention to the business.” The Lewallens are not done expanding the Auto Paradise brand and plan to open at least two more sites in Midland over the next three to five years. While Auto Paradise’s footprint might be small by industry standards its owners’ ambitions are as big as Texas and are driving the wash to supersized success.
Lewallen has yet to form a cross-promotional relationship with the gas station and is not sure it will be necessary. “We are going to wait a few months and see how it goes,” he says about striking a profit sharing deal at his newest wash. “It is a good deal. But based on the great location we have secured for that site I am not sure it is going to be necessary.” One aspect of Auto Paradise’s business model that will continue to be cultivated at the newest location is the wash’s philanthropic efforts. The Lewallens have built a loyal customer base thanks to their continued commitment to local charities. Auto Paradise’s top package is branded the charity wash and $2 from every wash is donated to a different local charity each month. The program is a raging success with an average of over a thousand dollars donated to the charity of the month and a waiting list 18 months long filled with fundraisers anxiously waiting their turn. “We tried for years to figure out how to give back,” Lewallen says. “We did all kind of fundraising things. We learned that people want it to be simple. It is very little work for the charity and the customers. All the charity has to do is promote the program to their contacts. All the customers have to do is order the top wash. It is that simple.” While it is not shocking that a well run and maintained wash dedicated to community involvement is successful, it is surprising when it is not the owner’s only profession. Over his dozen years in the car wash business Bobby Lewallen has been running his sites with long
By Timothy Denman, Auto Laundry News.
ENVIRONMENT Water - Billions of Gallons a Year Saved at the Car Wash
According to the American Water Works Association, the average daily U.S. total water use is 355 billion gallons. Besides domestic use, water is used for power generation and industrial, mining, aquaculture, livestock, and irrigation purposes. The average daily U.S. domestic water use (indoor and outdoor) is 27.4 billion gallons or about 8 percent of total use. Of this water, 87 percent (23.8 BGD) is provided via public water suppliers. The remaining 13
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ADVANTAGE percent (3.6 BGD) is self-supplied through wells and other infrastructure. Estimates on per capita water consumption vary considerably. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s 2010 Water Census, daily per capita water use in the United States is 88 gallons for domestic use. This includes both indoor and outdoor use. Desert Water Agency, Palm Springs, CA, finds per capita gallons per day is 135 for indoor and 72 for outdoor use. The U.S. Geology Survey finds per capita gallons per day are between 80 and 100 (indoor and outdoor). According to WeCalc, a home environmental calculator designed by the Pacific Institute, my home uses 160 gallons of water per day — 59 gallons is outdoor use, which is 75 percent less than average. My home water use is shown in Figure 1. WeCalc model also includes assumptions for home car washing. For example, the model suggests I would use 75 gallons of water with a bucket and 97 gallons with a hose with nozzle and 160 gallons with a hose and no nozzle. Since I wash my car, on average, twice a month, my annual water consumption would be 2,328 gallons (2 X 12 X 97) according to the model. So, if everyone with a registered light-duty vehicle washed their vehicle like me, total water use would equal 590.4 billion gallons (2,328 gallons X 253.6 million vehicles) or 1.6 BGD or daily per capita water use of 5.2 gal-
lons (2012). 1.6 BGD is 6 percent of daily domestic use (1.6 / 27.4) and only 0.5 percent of total daily use (1.6 / 355). By these measures, the total amount of water used to wash vehicles is virtually a drop in the bucket as compared to that of most other uses of water. Of course, not all vehicles are washed and not everyone washes the same way. For example, one of my neighbors believes a car is simply a device to get from point A to B. Their cars are only washed and waxed twice a year at the dealership when they get an oil change whereas another neighbor takes his Cadillac every week to the local full-service car wash. Consequently, it is difficult to quantitatively discern whether the benefits of water conservation in car washing outweigh costs. For example, if I visited a local conveyor wash for my needs, my cost would be $192 ($8 X 24) whereas my average annual cost to wash at home is about $25 for soap, water, towels, window cleaner, and laundry. If we assume DIFM provides no time value benefit as compared to DIY, using the commercial car wash would cost me an extra $167 annually. According to one model, the commercial wash would save 1,608 gallons of water ((97 – 30) X 24) and 2,412 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions (1,608 X 1.5). At a cost of $3 per 1,000 gallons of water and $12 in social damage per metric ton of CO2, the environmental benefit would be $12.05. If we applied this against 253.6 million vehicles, the upper limit of the environmental benefit of commercial car washing would be $3 billion savings in social damage
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ADVANTAGE and $12.68 million in water or 1.16 BGD (422 BGY / 365). As we noted earlier, estimated average daily U.S. domestic water use is 27.4 billion gallons. Perhaps this is one reason why the professional car wash industry is wrongly and so frequently targeted when water shortages and droughts develop around the country. The amount of water may seem huge but it’s really pretty small in the grand scheme of things. This is not to say there isn’t room for expansion of conservation measures in the car wash segments. According to trade journal surveys, roughly 60 percent of conveyor operators report they have wastewater reclaim systems, while 6 percent of self-service operators and 50 percent of in-bay automatic operators report having such systems. If we applied these percentages against current estimates of 80,500 establishments, it would imply that about 38 percent of the car wash fleet reclaims wash water. Of course, the car wash business and conservation aren’t always about dollars and cents. For example, I came across this water conservation question from a concerned customer: “I am writing to find out if 5-Star Car Wash uses a water conservation system that saves water and diverts water from waterways into wastewater treatment. I’m assuming that you do, but I couldn’t find any information about it on your website.
This would be a great thing to promote on your website! You guys do a great job, and I’ve always been very satisfied with your service, and quality. However, with the drought in full swing, I’d like assurances that you are operating in an environmentally friendly manner before bringing my car back in. Thanks, Barbara B., Dixon, CA” The reply comes from Bill Proestler, owner, 5-Star Car Wash, Vacaville, CA: “Hello Barbara, Thank you for your inquiry. Our two facilities are built to exceed the EPA and California requirements. We are part of the ICA WaterSavers program. Please refer to our website 5starwash.com under the info tab and about us tab under affiliations. You will find a link to the International Car Wash Association. We take our water consumption very seriously. All of our wastewater is collected in underground 7,500 gallon clarify tanks which separate the oil and sludge that come off vehicles. The water is then discharged to the city treatment plant (sanitary sewer) without the oil and sludge. The city wastewater treatment plant further processes the water along with other sewerage before being released into the environment. About every six months we get our tanks pumped out for proper disposal. Washing your car in the driveway uses more water and is hazardous to the environment. Because the chemi-
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ADVANTAGE cals (soaps) and oils from washing the car go down the storm drains and pollute the environment. I appreciate you taking an interest in this. If you would like more information, I will be glad to arrange a tour of how it works.” I’m not sure how Bill could sweeten this deal except to buy this customer a cup of coffee and mention that WaterSavers requires him to use 40 gallons or less of fresh water to wash a car. Bob Roman is President of RJR Enterprises – Consulting Services (www.carwashplan.com).
OPERATIONS 10-Minute Tasks TAKE YOUR WASH TO SUPERSTARDOM
Almost every living person has seen or heard the different insurance company commercials that imply one can save a pile of money with a 10 minute or less phone call to the advertising sponsor. I have seen cavemen, lizards (okay, I know he is a gecko), ladies in their golden years, and several others emphatically assuring us that a 10-minute call saved them a bunch of money. What many car wash operators tend to overlook is 10 minutes can save them a bunch of money at the car wash. By working a few “10-minute tasks” into your daily schedule, you,
too, can experience some increased pocket change due to cost savings. So, maybe the gecko was right. Now, I am not telling you to dress like a caveman and play golf in your wash bay, or act like a bunch of crazed regulars at the bingo parlor. To each their own. It would be funny, but it isn’t the purpose of this article. Here are 10 areas that can be addressed in less than 10 minutes, which are often overlooked and therefore costing your operation additional money.
1. CHEMICAL TITRATION
Are you putting the correct amount of soaps and waxes on each customer’s vehicle? There are multiple application methods to apply soaps and waxes to the customer’s vehicle. In the end, they all basically do the same thing, which is mix water and chemical. Over time, components in these application devices wear out, leading to waste. A simple test to check these devices is to use volumetrics or titration. On direct injection chemical systems volumetrics is easiest. Simply pour the chemical of the function you are testing into a beaker or a measuring cup and see how much chemical is being used per vehicle. Make adjustments to dial settings or tip sizes, if necessary. If the system you are using premixes chemical and water and stores it in a tank, ask your chemical manufacturer for a titration kit. Titrate each chemical per the manufacturer’s instructions and make changes if necessary. If your
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2016 Wade Welch Memorial Golf Classic
Wednesday – May 25, 2016 – COWBOY GOLF COURSE 1600 Fairway Drive • Grapevine, Texas • (817) 481-7277 • www.cowboysgolfclub.com
ATTENTION: Car Wash Owners and Vendors Enjoy a day of Golf, Food, Fun and Great Prizes!!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TUESDAY, MAY 24 6:30pm
Welcome Reception – Marriott Courtyard Hotel (Includes Calcutta)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 – Cowboys Golf Club 7:00am 8:30am 1:00pm
Check In; Driving Range; Putting Contest; Pro Golf Tips Shot Gun Start Lunch and Awards Ceremony
For Hotel Reservations, Please call Marriott Courtyard Hotel SCWA Group Rate $155 S/D - Deadline is April 29, 2016 2200 Bass Pro Court • Grapevine, Texas • (817) 251-9095
Individual Registration
For Team Sponsorship & Registration - visit See Reverse Side www.swcarwash.org • Only Team Sponsors are guaranteed Team Member requests. • Limited to the first 72 paid registrants. • $150.00 per person includes green fee, cart, prizes, driving range balls and lunch. Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Company: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________________________________ State ______ Zip ____________ Email: ___________________________ Phone: ____________________________ Fax:___________________________ Handicap: ____________Or Average Score: ______________
Total Golf Fee Enclosed: $ __________________ Player & Team Space is limited and will be confirmed only upon receipt of the reservation form and payment. Mail completed form with payment by Wednesday, May 4, 2016 to SCWA, 4600 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 103, Austin, Texas 78759
Register & payRegister by credit cardby online www.swcarwash.org or see reverse side. & pay creditatcard at www.swcarwash.org Phone (800) 440-0644 (512) 343-9023 Fax (512) 343-1530.
ADVANTAGE adjustments save you $0.06 per car and your location washes 60,000 vehicles per year, you have just saved $3,600 per year.
direction might cost you … you’ve guessed it, thousands of dollars per year.
2. WATER LEAKS
4. LIGHT TIMERS
A dripping valve can waste over 27 gallons of water per day. A running toilet can waste over 1,400 gallons of water per day. A bypass water valve, if stuck open, can waste over 10,000 gallons of water per day. These unnoticed leaks might cost you thousands of dollars a year. With an average water cost of $0.004 per gallon, a bypass valve left stuck open could cost an additional $1,200 per month. A periodic 10-minute check of all of your water valves and toilets may save you several thousand dollars a year.
3. THERMOSTAT SETTINGS Some days they are too hot, others they are too cold. Employees can be a finicky bunch, as we all are. Allowing them control over a thermostat can be a costly mistake. Rules need to be established as to where you, the owner, expect the thermostat(s) to be set for heating or cooling. This will prevent unfortunate surprises in costs that your employees didn’t anticipate. If you heat the water in your wash process or use boilers for floor heat, check those thermostats as well. Set the temperatures to the manufacturer’s recommended settings for your region. A few degrees in the wrong
If you are using timers to control bay lights, sign lights, parking lot lights, etc., take 10 minutes to see if the time is set correctly for the lighting to turn on and off. Adjustments to the timers every month might save you, drumroll please, several thousand dollars per year.
5. GREASE FITTINGS Adding grease to bearings should be a part of your normal preventative maintenance checklist. That being said, take 10 minutes every so often to make sure the bearings are being properly greased. This is an area that can easily be overlooked if a technician is in a hurry. That 10-minute inspection may save you thousands on costly motor repair or replacement. Do you see a theme emerging?
6. WATER SOFTENER REGENERATION If you utilize water softeners at your car wash and they are on a manual regeneration schedule, check to see if they are working properly. I have found water softeners that are regenerating too frequently, which is like pouring your hard-earned money right down the proverbial drain. Not only does it waste water, it causes the system to use more salt. A 10-minute check of your water softeners
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ADVANTAGE monthly might just pay for that next system upgrade — or a Caribbean vacation.
7. WASH TIMING
How often are you timing the wash functions in your wash process? If you are an in-bay automatic operator, time each wash pass in every wash package. You may be surprised to find that you can achieve the same cleaning results by shaving time off of each function. Optimizing each wash pass will save money on water, sewer, electricity, and chemical costs. It will also help improve your vehicle wash count on those busy days. If you are a tunnel operator, check each function in the wash process to see if each feature is turning on and off at the proper time. I have seen many instances where the timing is off in a tunnel and money is flowing in the wrong direction. A few quick changes to your tunnel controller can save you a surprising amount of dollars per year.
8. VALVE CHECK
Take 10 minutes to check all of the solenoid valves in your operation to make sure they are not stuck open or closed or somewhere in between. A malfunctioning water valve can waste tens of thousands of gallons of water before it is discovered. A malfunctioning chemical valve can waste hundreds of dollars of chemical in a short period of time and a faulty air valve will cause your air compressor to constantly run and put unnecessary wear and tear on the motor and valves. None of these situations is close to ideal.
I label this next 10 minute task Double L. A. This acronym is not twice the City of Angels, or the name of Kim Kardashian and Kayne West’s next child, but rather it stands for Look, Listen and Act. If you are like me, you poor thing, you know the sites and sounds of your wash. An occasional 10-minute walk-through just may save you thousands of dollars per year. My employees are always amazed that I can identify problems within two minutes after arriving at a location. Like you, I simply observe with my eyes and ears out of sheer necessity, since I write the checks every month.
9. AIR COMPRESSOR DRAIN
Most air compressors have an automatic drain for condensation. Several times I have found that automatic drains are not programmed for the right duration to release all of the moisture from the storage tank. Take 10-minutes to manually drain your compressor(s). You may find moisture build up. Built-up moisture will cause the compressor to run longer and harder, leading to eventual problems or component failure. That is as depressing as it sounds.
10. VENDING ITEM PRICING
Take 10 minutes to check the pricing of your vending items. Improperly priced items could be costing you money. On occasion, I have found items in my vending that were being sold for less than what was paid for the item. That math never works. It was an honest error, but the location still lost money on the products. Continued on pg. 33
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ADVANTAGE
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EXPERIENCE SCWA 2016
“First Big Car Wash Show of the Year”
BETTER - STRONGER - TOGETHER, the 2016 edition of Southwest Car Wash Association Convention & EXPO was a record breaking event with 1,633 attendees. The largest number ever of car wash owners and vendors recently gathered at the Arlington Convention Center for the annual Southwest Car Wash Association event. This year included three strong days highlighting premier education - industry innovations – business solutions – operational strategy and unparalleled hospitality. The EXPO featured more than 60,000 square feet, in two EXPO areas, displaying car wash “state of the art”.
“What a great SCWA convention. I learned a lot and had fun talking to all the exhibitors. SCWA gets an A+” Lamar Skarda, L&J Car Washes El Paso
“Great Show! Awesome attendance!!” Jody Carroll, Ryko-MacNeil
“The EXPO, the networking and the wonderful energy with all the successful car wash operators is really a great way to start my year,” Ian Heritch, Mr. Sparkle Car Wash, San Antonio, Texas
“The EXPO - the education and the outstanding hospitality of SCWA puts you head above the rest.” Jeff Crawford, Squeaky Clean Car Wash
Hugoton, Kansas
“The Show was fantastic!” Shane Wells, Hi-Performance Denver, Colorado
“As always we appreciate the first class Show SCWA provides for our industry” Warren Davis, CEO Stinger Chemicals “As it has been for years - once again this year – the SCWA EXPO was THE BEST and continues to be our Super Bowl car wash event!” Clay Wilson, Lone Star Car Wash Systems
2016 SCWA CONVENTION
View more pictures at www.swcarwash.org
2016 SCWA EXPO
ADVANTAGE
Special Thanks to our
2016 SPONSORS
Keynote Address
Pro-Tech Services CEO Forum
Mark Your Calendars SCWA 2016 Wade Welch Memorial Golf Classic Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Cowboys Golf Club & Courtyard Marriott – Grapevine, Texas
Big Man Washes
Sunday EXPO Reception
DRB Systems
Convention Lanyards
AP Formulators Hotel Key Card
Big Man Washes
Celebrate SCWA Reception
Stinger Chemicals Celebrate SCWA Event
CSI Lustra EXACTA Lone Star Carwash Systems Qual Chem
On the Road Again! Kansas Car Wash Tour & Regional Meeting August 9, 2016
Austin Car Wash Tour & Regional Meeting October 20, 2016
EXPO Closing Grand Prize
Blendco Systems Monday Lunch with Exhibitors
Scotch Plaid Tuesday Closing Luncheon
Innovative Control Systems Monday Breakfast
Con-Serv Water Recovery Systems Tuesday Breakfast
Kleen-Rite
SCWA 2017 Convention & EXPO February 26 - 28, 2017 Sheraton Hotel/Arlington Texas Convention Center
Refreshment Breaks
Midlothian Insurance Drawing Prize Sponsors Mr. Foamer Car Wash Equipment & SIGNS Superior Control Systems SWYPIT Credit Card Processing Westech Supply Company 29
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SCWA 2016 CAR WASH OF THE YEAR
Cypress Station Car Wash & Lube
Cypress Station Car Wash & Lube was named the 2016 SCWA Car Wash of the Year during ceremonies at the 2016 SCWA Convention in Arlington. Cypress Station highlights a railroad theme and includes 140 foot conveyor along with a Detail and Lube center. The wash is owned by Ahmed Jafferally and managed by Mike Montalvo. Visit www.swcarwash.org for video highlights of the location.
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CV-A
Features
■ Fragramatics 1600 hr Turbo Motor ■ Poly or aluminum dome ■ Computer controlled timer ■ UV protected graphics ■ Filters – Four-bag system uses high performance,
synthetic filtration media with 15 sq. ft. filtration area. Two easy-access service doors on rear ■ 2” dia. vac hose – high-flex, vinyl, crushable, 15 ft. long. Includes cuff and polyethylene hand tool ■ ¼” x 25’ Wire braid or coil hose with inline gauge
Specifications
■ 1.25 HP ‘Big Dog’ high output compressor ■ Brushed Stainless Steel Tank and Main Cabinet ■ Coin acceptor – mechanical ■ Electrical - 120 V ac, 25 amps ■ Mounting - One internal and two external lugs with security collars. Uses 3/8” bolts for secure installation.
■ Tank Dimensions - 18.5”dia. x 42”h ■ Unit Weight - Net 145 lbs. Ship weight 185 lbs. ■ Ships in carton/pallet: 67”h x 32”w x 31”d Options
■ Multi-coin acceptor ■ Lighted dome ■ Debris catcher ■ Dome colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, white ■ Hose colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, white, gray, black
fragramatics.com 32
3021 Midland Drive • Pine Bluff AR 71603 800-643-1574 • sales@fragramatics.com
ADVANTAGE Continued from pg. 23
Everyone has 10 minutes to spare. Use your 10 minutes wisely and it will add a few more dollars to your revenue each month. It may not lead to superstardom like the title implies (sorry), but it will help pay for the fancy insurance you just switched to because the little lizard made you do it. Wash on! Bobby Willis has been in the car wash business for over 20 years. He owns and operates Cool Wave Car Washes in Virginia. He can be reached at bwillis@coolwavecarwash.com.
MARKETING Go Social PIONEERING THE MEDIA FRONTIER AT YOUR CAR WASH
Information from 2016 SCWA Convention presentation. “Go west, young man” is a phrase attributed to Horace Greely concerning America’s westward expansion in the mid-1800s. At the time, the idea of the American West embodied opportunity, and was viewed as an exciting new territory where hard work, determination, and a bit of adventurous spirit could bring abundant success. A truly new frontier is rare nowadays in our global society, but after spending time listening to car wash owners and operators at the recent International Carwash Show in Las Vegas,
it was clear that, within our industry, social media remains something of an uncharted territory. There is an air of enthusiasm about it conceptually — a new, technology-driven method of communication that has the power to build relationships with customers. Okay, so it isn’t really “new” in 2015 — but it is still massively under-utilized within our particular industry. Enthusiasm for the concept of social media, however, is generally accompanied by trepidation (and in more extreme cases outright fear) about how to use it and how to prevent it from being an initiative that is launched with initial zeal only to be tossed by the wayside after the sheen of novelty wears off. Our purpose in this article will be to address the why and how of social media. We’ll talk about Facebook, and save additional platforms (like Twitter, Google+, and Instagram) for a subsequent article.
WHY GO SOCIAL?
According to the 2014 ICA Consumer Study, a whopping 79 percent of professional car wash users patronize only one or two washes. Certainly, there is an element of convenience involved — people tend to wash near their homes or workplaces. That said, anytime anyone chooses to do anything with only one or two businesses, the relationships they have with those destinations matter. There has never been a better forum for building relationships outside of the business itself than Facebook.
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ADVANTAGE Facebook is a place where a business can talk to a customer (or potential customer) in a social forum; where they can have a conversation, and begin to form and solidify a lasting relationship. Imagine the impact it would have on your wash if you could get customers to visit you only slightly more frequently — and, what if you could do that simply by making them think about you more often, and thinking of you extremely positively when they do? That is the power of social media. Social media enables you to drive a conversation where you can tell people who are engaged in a leisure activity about your business and promote yourself in a subtle, yet powerful, high-quality way. With every post for your wash, you will quietly weave yourself into the background of people’s lives with a quality mix of social content. As people view pictures of their friends and family, your car wash becomes their friend and a part of their family. You build and nurture a relationship with them, and that relationship becomes a conscious or unconscious reason that they choose to visit you (and hopefully, visit you frequently).
KEEP IT SOCIAL
It’s called social media for a reason. One of the biggest mistakes a business can make is failing to recognize and respect what social media is. It is, at base, a social forum. That means that you as a business must approach it from a social perspective and develop content that is inherently
social in nature. Think of it from a user experience perspective. If you, as a Facebook user, are engaged in a leisure activity where you are looking at pictures of your friends, family, your neighbor’s dog, your co-worker’s new kayak, and cupcakes for sale at a school bake sale, do you really want to be bombarded with shrill, aggressive ad messages? The answer is, of course, a resounding no. Now, there are plenty of businesses that do just that. Car dealers are among the worst offenders — filling their fans’ newsfeeds with incessant product and sales information, all of which is rooted in the core message of “Do you want to buy a car?” “Is today the day you want to buy a car?” “How about now?” Businesses that employ these strategies miss the key opportunity social media affords to build a relationship with their customers. In short, you can either shout at them as potential buyers, or you can talk to them as people. You know what you’d prefer — and your business’ social media should be in line with that preference. So what does that mean? Keeping it social all comes down to content and creating posts that are creative, interesting, and fun. If you create fun in your posts, your content is in line with the medium on the whole, and maximizes the opportunity and experience presented for users when your posts are side by side with the pictures of their friends, family, and animals that are the reason they are looking at Facebook in the first place. In its simplest form, content can be broken down into three general categories:
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ADVANTAGE Purely Social Content
These are your “Happy Friday” posts, inspirational/ motivational memes, and pictures of silly things like dogs in Halloween costumes. They really have nothing to do with your car wash, but will likely be the posts that generate your best customer engagement and response simply because they are the most in line with the social nature of the medium itself.
Purely Car Wash Content
These are posts about your car wash — but, you should try to add a social “flair” to the posts. Show a super shiny luxury car with a message that says “Yes, you actually are better looking in a shiny car. Stop down to Joe’s Express Wash and mention this post for $2 off your wash.” The post is about your car wash and it drives traffic with a discount, but it still has a humorous, slightly social twist that offers users a social experience. These should really be your smallest total volume of posts. Resist the urge to over-post with purely car wash content. Remember, you don’t want to be the car dealer screaming, “Is today the day you want to buy a car?”
Hybrid Social-Car Wash Content These are posts that are at least loosely car wash related, but they are not specific to your wash. Examples might include “Throwback Thursday” posts showing cool old car wash pictures, or images of a kid’s big wheel car wash,
or a picture of a car wash themed birthday cake (yes, you can have a car wash themed birthday. We’ve seen it)
BLAZE A TRAIL WITHIN YOUR WASH
As you begin to plan your Facebook content, get creative. Your phone probably has a great camera that you can use to create your own great Facebook images, which you can tie in withpromotional messaging if you so choose. Here are few actionable ideas you could apply today: • Is there a car full of dogs going through the wash? Take a picture and post it with a message that says: “It might be the dog days of summer, but at least these buddies are rolling in a clean ride! $1 off your wash this week if you bring man’s best friend and mention this post!” • Is there a nice looking family coming through the wash? Take a fun “thumbs-up” snapshot of them with their clean car at the vacuums with a message that says: “Everyone rides happy in a clean car from Joe’s Express Wash! Drive down and see us today!” • Don’t forget your own team members. Is it someone’s anniversary of employment? Take a snapshot. Do you allow your employees to wear team colors the Friday before a big game? Take a silly picture of the group in team apparel with a message that says, “Team Joe’s Express Wash LOVES the Green & Gold! Stop in wearing team colors and get a free 12-oz fountain soda with any wash!”
Training On-Site Training Training Seminars
Site Evaluation Demographic Reports Carwash Market Evaluations Design & Development Modular Building Systems Construction Assistance Site-Plan Design Complete Equipment Installation Financing Preferred Lending Sources Equipment Leasing Programs Marketing Signage Programs Promotional Ideas Advertising Assistance
Equipment/Parts/Supplies
PDQ ICON®, LASERWASH® & TANDEM® ®
(Touchless & Soft-Touch In-Bay Automatics) MACNEIL® Tunnel Equipment LUSTRA® Vehicle Wash Solutions CAROLINA PRIDE® Self-Service Equipment ISTOBAL® Bus & Truck Automatic Washes ISTOBAL® Modular Buidings
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Express Tunnels Car Wash Parts Source Engineering & Design Service & Installation Consulting phone: email: website:
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1.800.448.3946 sales@pecocarwash.com pecocarwash.com
ADVANTAGE
CONSISTENT ELEMENTS
Regardless of the creative being used for any given post, there are some consistent elements you should try to integrate into every post:
High Quality Images
Images selected need to be clear, not blurry, fuzzy, or distorted. Remember, the quality you put out on Facebook is a reflection of your business. Choose wisely.
Images Sized Appropriately for Mobile Viewing
The overwhelming majority of Facebook posts are viewed on mobile devices. Make sure that your images are optimized for mobile viewing. Horizontal images work best, with the ideal size being 472 x 394 px (6.29 x 5.25 inches). Images are never cropped by Facebook, they are scaled, which is why larger vertical images, once scaled down, can become challenging to read on mobile devices.
Your Website Both in a Graphic and in an Active Link
The inclusion of a website address in a graphic is a smart choice, but ensuring that you include an active link to your website in every post that people can simply click on is key. Think of it logically: why wouldn’t you give people an immediate way to click through to your website rather than having to open a browser separately and either hunt around for you or type in a URL? Always make it easy for people.
team members to get involved with snapping great pictures around the wash, and get your team members to “like” your page personally. If positioned well, Facebook can be a great team-building endeavor where everyone can feel that they can contribute to the business’ marketing and success.
OPPORTUNITY
While social media may be a largely uncharted territory within our industry, the opportunity it offers is enormous. There are few other advertising mediums that enable you to have a quality conversation with customers, to build and nurture relationships with them, and facilitate your ongoing presence in their day-to-day lives in a social forum. Oh, yeah, and there are few advertising options out there that are free — other than the time associated with content creation. Given the opportunity presented, coupled with the obvious affordability of the medium, social media represents an immense opportunity for car wash owners and operators to grow their businesses and maximize their performance through rocksolid strategy and innovative execution. Go Social! Mercedes Mannino has over 18 years of applied marketing leadership and brand management experience. She has spent the past nine years in the automotive industry, having served inter alia as vice president of a digital marketing company servicing the automotive industry nationally. Mercedes currently serves as director of marketing of Cleaning Systems Inc. You can contact Mercedes with questions or for advice at mmannino@cleaningsystemsinc.com.
Your Logo
Even if it is a 100 percent social post, the ongoing presence of your logo is great from a general branding perspective. Remember, you are building a relationship. Having that person see your logo over and over again creates a high level of recognition, familiarity, and comfort. You are becoming their car wash, and they will identify it consistently with your logo.
COMMITMENT
Once you begin to “get social,” you’ll enjoy the process (and the results), but it does require a genuine commitment. Creating high-quality content takes time, thought, and a bit of creativity. Decide who in your organization is going to champion Facebook and will be responsible for day-to-day content creation. This person will need enough technical skill to choose quality images they find online, add logos and website address, and write quality, engaging post text. It will need to be someone who understands the need for fun social content, and it will need to be someone you trust to make creative decisions that are a good reflection of your business. This person will likely end up responding to customer comments (including complaints), so if you are less than 100 percent certain of their ability to respond professionally and appropriately, you should reevaluate your choice. While one person will likely become your in-house social media “guru,” try to engage your whole team. Encourage 39
ADVANTAGE
Everything
YOU HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM LASERWASH
®
A WHOLE LOT MORE! • Aircraft grade anodized aluminum bridge and main rails - Now Standard • New redesigned LaserWash 360Plus Navigation System for improved bridge movement, accuracy, and speed • Non-corrosive materials used – stainless and aluminum • Fluid valves eliminated from the bridge • Air valves now enclosed for increased reliability • New stainless steel pump station design focused on improved functionality and low maintenance costs • 25 gallon water tank – Now Standard • Welded manifolds replacing assemblies of fittings – reduces leak points • Larger low pressure pump that feeds spot free to the bridge, eliminating the need to pressure feed spot free through the main pump, reducing energy/saving costs • Ultimate cover package – Now Standard
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SAFETY OSHA GIVES EMPLOYEES THE RIGHT TO KNOW
Earlier this year chemical usage in the carwash industry made headlines throughout the U.S., after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report on the potential danger of using these products. Based on a study conducted by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, the CDC report found new evidence that chemicals in some carwash products may be dangerous for employees, evaluating workers’ compensation reports from 2001-13 which stated that 48 workers suffered burns from products containing hydrofluoric acid (HF). Following these findings, the International Carwash Association (ICA) reviewed the reports on the use of chemicals and consulted several industry sources. The association then released a statement recommending owners and operators cease using products containing HF or its precursors — mainly ammonium bifluoride, or ABF. Considering the recent CDC report as well as the frequency of chemical usage in the carwash industry,
car care business owners and operators must ensure their employees are properly informed and trained on handling chemicals. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), often referred to as the “right to know” standard, requires employers to inform and train their workers about potential hazardous chemicals at the workplace. “It is imperative for every carwash owner/operator to know these rules and regulations, not just to avoid OSHA fines and sanctions, but for the safety, health and knowledge of their workforce.” says Matt Holmes, safety and compliance manager for Simoniz USA. In March 2012, OSHA revised HCS to align with the U.N.’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and published the revision in the Federal Register. The OSHA Fact Sheet, “Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule,” reported that the “Hazard Communication Standard in 1983 gave the workers the ‘right to know,’ but the new Globally Harmonized System gives workers the ‘right to understand.’” (You can find this fact sheet by visiting www.osha.gov/dsg/ hazcom/HCSFactsheet.html.) Continued on pg. 45
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Endorsed by
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RoadAhead_FINAL_SCWA.indd 1
2/18/16 12:07 PM
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According to OSHA, the modified standard contained two significant changes: requiring the use of new labeling elements and a standardized format for safety data sheets (SDSs), formally known as material safety data sheets (MSDSs). “Employee training for [the] new labels and SDS [requirements] was required to be [completed] by Dec. 1, 2013,” explains Holmes. In addition to the training completion date, other OSHA HCS deadlines, phased over several years, include: • June 1, 2015: Manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers had to comply with all modified provisions of the HSC final rule. • December 1, 2015: Distributors are permitted to ship products labeled under the old system by manufacturers until this date. • June 1, 2016: Employers must update their alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication programs as necessary as well as provide any additional employee training for newly identified health/physical hazards. To ensure a carwash is in compliance, Shawn Rowan, vice president of sales and global marketing for Ardex Labs Inc., says certain companies will visit a facility to make sure it is meeting all safety
requirements. Furthermore, OSHA offers an On-site Consultation Program, which is free and confidential for small and medium-sized businesses across the country, and will not result in any penalties or citations. “I highly recommend [carwashes] bring in an outside agency that can go through the facility,” advises Rowan. “It shouldn’t take more than a day or two to compile all the information to make sure they are doing everything right.”
ENSURING SAFE OPERATIONS
To comply with OSHA regulations and to safeguard all employees from potential health/physical hazards, proper training and protection are essential. “A good training program can reduce accidents and injuries associated with these hazards,” states Holmes. “In addition, well-trained and well-informed employees are much more confident in their actions and produce much more efficiently.” Having the right knowledge of the potential dangers associated with chemicals as well as the precautions needed to mitigate those risks — for example, wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE) — helps to enhance employees’ well-being and improve a carwash’s overall operations, continues Holmes.
S O U T H W E ST C A R WAS H ASS O C I AT I O N
Down the Road SCWA CONVENTION & EXPO
February 26 - 28, 2O17
Sheraton Hotel & Convention Center Arlington, Texas www.swcarwash.org 45
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ADVANTAGE When it comes to training employees, Holmes recommends carwash owners and operators be as specific to their operations as possible. “There are many programs that cover the general hazards of chemicals, but really getting to know the hazards associated with your specific products, and the types of hazards you most encounter, is paramount,” he adds. Moreover, Rowan asserts that carwashes must ensure all workers follow the instructions on the chemical products’ labels and institute these instructions into their training programs. “The labels today have all the precautions on them,” he explains. “Follow the precautions on the label, and if they say you should be doing something, do it.” Although some chemicals are considered safe to handle, Rowan always encourages carwashes to follow the instructions. “Something as safe as body soap can give somebody a reaction,” he notes.
“It is imperative for every carwash owner/ operator to know these rules and regulations, not just to avoid OSHA fines and sanctions, but for the safety, health and knowledge of their workforce.” Bomi M. Zarolia, vice president of international business for Cleaning Systems Inc., agrees. “Most detergent products with prolonged exposure to skin can cause irritation, etc.,” says Zarolia. “Gloves, eye protection [and] overalls for employees with a risk of such exposure may be helpful.” Equally as important are the manufacturers’ SDSs, which we discussed earlier. “Always read the label and safety data sheet before handling any chemical,” asserts Holmes. “While both will inform you of the hazards, precautions, proper equipment to use and emergency responses to take, the SDS will go much more in depth. [For example], I always wear eye protection and chemical-resistant gloves even if I am not handling any hazardous chemicals.” Owners and operators must ask for SDSs for every type of product used at the carwash from their suppliers, says Zarolia, adding that carwashes should always have a complete set available at their facilities and ensure all managers and employees are familiar with where the SDSs are kept. SDSs should also always include proper storage procedures, states Rowan. And, chemicals should never be exposed to extreme cold or heat, remarks Zarolia. “The key, of course, is to prevent any breakage of containers and spillage,” he adds. This “spillage” from improper storage can result in employees coming in physical contact with the chemicals. Likewise, says Zarolia, spillage and exposure can occur during refill or transfer of the chemicals.
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ADVANTAGE
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ADVANTAGE “Bulky or large containers are most likely to cause such incidents,” explains Zarolia. “[Today], owners can minimize [these] incidents by adapting smaller packaging and [having a] spill-proof setup in their equipment room. Larger containers are also susceptible to cause bodily injuries for heavy lifting. Any injury or exposure to employees subject owners or operators to financial liabilities for treatments and compensations.” Although failure to abide by laws such as OSHA’s HCS can be costly, they are instituted to help ensure smooth, safe operations for businesses, notes Zarolia. “Laws are developed for safety and preservation of environment for future generations; they are not hindrance to business,” he concludes. “Safe employees are happy and more productive. In the long run, [this will lead to] higher revenue and profitability for owners/ operators.” Marie Woodie, Professional Carwashing & Detailing.
DID YOU KNOW Sleeping position may be linked to Alzheimer’s risk? Research using rats found that when the animals slept on their sides, their brains cleared waste products more efficiently than when they slept on their stomachs or backs. Among the waste products removed are amyloid beta and tau proteins, which are associated with cognitive impairment. Car-rental firms no longer can rent out recalled vehicles? A federal highway bill requires rental firms with fleets of more than 35 cars to withhold recalled vehicles until repairs have been completed. Handwriting boosts learning and memory? Physically drawing letters activates a distinct neural pathway that improves reading comprehension and memory of language. There are three trillion trees on Earth? That is 420 trees for every living person. One sneeze can contaminate an entire room in minutes? Researchers analyzed videos of two people sneezing about 50 times over several days and found that the average sneeze spreads germs throughout a room in minutes and reached as high as the ventilation ducts in the ceiling. Fewer people now ask parents for money to help them buy homes? The percentage of family and friends giving first-time buyers help fell to 12% in 2015, the lowest percentage since 2007. In 2009, at the height of the recession, family members helped with the purchase of almost 21% of homes. Dementia costs families more than heart disease and cancer over the last five years of a patient’s life? The average total cost of care for a patient with demen-
tia who is on Medicare is $287,038, compared with $175,136 for a patient who dies of heart disease and $173,383 for someone who dies of cancer. Medicare pays about $100,000 for the care needed by patients with any of these three diseases in their last years. The highest car insurance rates in the US are in Detroit? The average yearly premium in the DetroitWarren-Livonia metro area is $5,109. The second-highest average premium, $3,877, is in Brooklyn, New York. Third-highest is Philadelphia, at $2,760. Lowest average cost: Green Springs, Ohio, $647, and Arden, North Carolina, $671. For further information, go to CarInsurance.com/calculators/average-car-insurancerates.aspx. US milk is nearly free of drug residues? Of more than 1,900 milk samples tested for 31 veterinary drugs, including antibiotics, fewer than 1% contained measurable amounts.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Dave Swenson Austin, TX (512) 346-8050
President-Elect: DeWayne Hall Oklahoma City (405) 414-14890
Vice President: Tyler Furney Harker Heights, TX (254) 245-8657
Treasurer: Don Witt Dallas, TX (214) 358-2575
Past President: Eric Warden Southlake, TX (817) 329-8777
Vendor Vice President: Tyler Greffin Burnsville, MN (952) 808-3640
DIRECTORS Jeff Blansit Dallas, TX (214) 912-1729
Robert Duncan Artesia, NM (575) 308-9248
Brett Meinberg Centennial, CO (720) 934-7289
Ryan Darby Lubbock, TX (806) 535-7275
Ian Heritch San Antonio, TX (21) 421-1295
Clay Wilson Lubbock, TX (806) 687-2024
Wes Dawson Dallas, TX (972) 986-7239
Evan Lorentzatos Houston, TX (281) 561-0469
Andrew Zamora Lubbock, TX (806) 792-9285
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.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS The SCWA members listed below have joined SCWA since our last issue. We Appreciate your Support! Paul Ahrens
Grand Morton Properties, LLC Katy TX
Ryan Alcorn
Soap Hand Car Wash Houston TX
Joshua Aranda Houston TX
Adejare Ayoade
Grandmission Car Wash Richmond TX
Rob Bauer
Bassett Creek Capital Golden Valley MN
Stephen Belford JBS Auto Wash Aurora CO
Brian Guetz
Colorado Express Car Wash Henderson CO
Carol Hamel
Hamel Manufacturing Co. Waterloo NE
Jeff Hawkins Culligan DFW Irving TX
Heather Hendon Jacksons Car Wash Scottsdale AZ
Bruce Hurta
Robert Menagh
Max Schroeder
Judith Mitchell
Thomas Sesny
Galaxy Car Wash Roswell NM
Burd & Mitchell Appraisal Serv. Arvada CO
John Moore
Justin Stanton
Jim Niedringhaus
Mint Condition Car Wash Greenwood Village CO
Brett Patton
Jon Brickey
Freedom 10 Minute OC/CW Lafayette LA
Nicole Jackson
Judson Preskitt
Orlando Brown Big O’s Car Wash Dallas TX
Joey Bruce
Venterra Realty Houston TX
Paul Caskey
Jacksons Car Wash Scottsdale AZ
Steven Cocke
SDC Distribution Fort Worth TX
Clifford Collier Taylor Car Wash Lorena TX
Travis Colwill
Jacksons Car Wash Scottsdale AZ
Frank Conselman Conselman Equities Rockwall TX
Doug Dallis
Daddy Frank’s Classic Car Wash Canyon Lake TX
Brett Durkin
BubbleZ Car Wash LLC Dallas TX
Pro-Vigil Surveillance Services San Antonio TX
John Ju
Sparkle Wash Houston TX
James & Shelia King Vidalia Wash & Go Jonesville LA
Lawrence Korpics Sam’s Co. LLC Allentown PA
Jason Lederman Mister Car Wash Houston TX
Amir Makhani
Austin Highway CarWash San Antonio TX
Mark Poindexter
SSC Forney TX
Norman Preskitt SSC Forney TX
Rick Price
Flagship Express Carwash Wahiawa HI
Matt Ragland Stop N Wash Ardmore OK
Jim Reaves
The Wave 3 Minute Car Wash Atlanta GA
Ulysses Riley
Mjint Euless TX
Riley’s Carwash Alba TX
Brad Marlin
Mark & Beverly Risien
Jonathan McCandless
Stoney Russell
PreVac Systems Bend OR Mister Car Wash Lubbock TX
Tommy McCoy Eagle Car Wash Kaufman TX
Carrie Smith
Dan Nelson
KLOPP: Money Handling Equipment Oldsmar FL
Tunnell Express Broken Arrow OK
Fivestones Ventures Midland TX
Big Red Express Car Wash Austin TX
Colorado Springs CO
John Borek
Steven Hutto
Fiesta Homes Las Cruces NM
The Car Wash Teague TX
Members Choice Credit Union SBA Houston TX
Jurassic Car Wash Austin TX
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John Fulbright
TLJ Enterprises, LLC Little Rock AR
NB Wash Seguin TX
JW Stanton Investments, LLC Midlothian TX
Jeff Stowell
NuShine Auto Wash Independence MO
Ben Sutton
JBS Auto Wash Parker CO
Paige Swenson
Cen-Tex Detail Supply Austin TX
Tobie Talmage Giant Industries Toledo OH
Matt Torres
Car Wash Resources Austin TX
Bradley Trochta Scrubs I/Scrubs II Brenham TX
David Van Dyke
Vans Car Washes, Inc. Grand Junction CO
Colin Viteaux
ARC Products, Inc. Dallas TX
Derek Ware
Tuscarora Ventures Midland TX
John West
MASS PMC Austin TX
Dereck White
Monitor, Inc. Sherman TX
Washed by the Water, LLC San Antonio TX
Joel Schenkel
Charlie Zimmerman
Soapbox Epxress Carwash Round Rock TX
Genesis Modular Building Systems Norcross GA
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SOUTHWEST CAR WASH ASSOCIATION 2016 Convention & Car Wash 4600 Spicewood Springs Road EXPO February Suite 103 28 - March 1 Arlington Convention Center Austin, Texas 78759
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AUSTIN, TX PERMIT NO. 1142