Many years ago, I had warned the carwash industry of problems brewing in customer dissatisfaction as we continued to grow our car wash company into a National Franchise Chain. I warned of environmental controls, speed of wash, water usage, quality of labor, price points, car wash fundraisers, car damage, up selling and hot wax. At that time I was called everything under the Sun by operators who did not wish to change.
Today, just over a five years later those changes are coming about. The ICA, International Carwash Association has sponsored training on saving water due to drought situations in North America. Many large consolidating Car Wash Companies such as Mister Carwash have adopted 5 minute wash policies, no waiting or bottleneck traffic flows, flex service with no upsell and responsible employee policies. Other Car Wash chains such as WashDepot, Mace Holdings, CarSpa, Splash . As a matter of fact this years listing of the Power Inc. Car Wash Survey shows that nearly all of the top 50 consolidated carwashes in North America have adopted 5 or more of Mr. Winslow's challenges of past year. Nearly all of these companies have adopted safer car wash chemical procedures, water saving systems and community volunteerism. Other major players have adopted incredible standards in Image like SuperWash Franchise Systems. At the time many in the Industry jeered my comments such as Industry Leader, John Moran who said in an article with Professional Car Washing and Detailing Magazine;
"What world do you live in? Surely not the same as the rest of us? What you are describing is a Utopian fantasy. Why don't you open up one of these full serve car washes and call it, The Utopian Fantasy Car Wash. Please show all of us moron's how it is done. By the way do you ever sleep, or do you stay up all night dreaming this stuff up?"
But never the less the challenge is being met due to the vision of our founder to deliver to the customers, that which they desire, we were right and saw the future others did not. Even more interesting was this announcement that the major industry magazine was not only adopting the community based car washing, but sponsoring a non-profit group to do charity carwashes nationwide.
http://www.carwash.com/news.asp?mode=4&N_ID=33110
They are now the official sponsors of WashUSA. Even the ICA and WCA, which in 2000 made it a point to try to limit or have carwash fundraisers from kids groups banned due to the fact it was costing them business, have dropped those efforts. They were using tactics similar to that of the Sierra Club to curtail the fundraisers claiming violations of 13.260 of California Water Code in Southern CA, Fish and Game in Puget Sound region of Washington State and Federal Clean Water Act in other parts of the country. This made for a consumer backlash. Meanwhile our company was being awarded for our assistance to the common good;
1.) Recognized by the City of Los Angeles
2.) Recognized by the EPA in an official Document Online
3.) Forming a Strategic Alliance with InfoSports Online, the number one youth sports website
4.) Recognized by the State of Washington in Puget Sound Region
5.) Helping Inner City Kids raise money for travels and education
6.) Diligent and Continued Efforts
Our company and our company alone, along with the vision of our team has brought about great and positive changes in the Car Wash Industry and we will continue to peddle past the name calling in search of our victory in the market. It is for that reason we have forced others to adapt to a higher standard or exit the market place. Today nearly every major Car Wash Association in the US is sponsoring or calling for some type of charity car wash fundraisers to help the youth of our country grow up to be hard working and good citizens to lead our future.
As a matter of fact in a brash and challenging way we have systematically changed the industry into our image and we have uplifted the dirty image of the former car wash industry adding a larger customer base for us along with all other market participants. Yes we have helped eliminate a few through these market demands, however the consumer is thankful for the changes as they vote with their dollars to more frequent car washing at professional car washes. The rest of the industry which are willing to follow the new higher standard are doing fine still. Today Wash Guys belong to no Car Wash Associations, we just command them to see our will for the benefit of the consumer, environment and future success of the industry, and to think that most of this started with a kid washing airplanes, who eventually wrote the book on Community Based Car Wash Fundraisers, as good clean fun to unite young and old, teach respect and service and raise millions of dollars a year cleaning the World one car at a time, with the help of thousands of Industry Active Car Wash Owners across this Great Nation.
Today all 50 of the top car wash chains in the Nation subscribe to more than half of our original initiatives and proposed industry changes of May of 2001. We are watching as the winners and losers in the market place are now separated by only these upgrades in the industry. We are now working on raising the bar in January of 2003 as soon as the market leaders catch up to all 12 of our visions for the industry. We have single handedly brought awareness to the entire industry through our challenging of old thought processes and conventional wisdom. We will continue to change, modify and up lift this industry for the betterment of all.
This proves when your mission is noble and you commit to go the distance you will always win in the end. We win Again, thank you Team. Now my question for the reader; What industry are you in? What have you done to improve that industry? What have you done to set yourself apart from the mediocrity? Think about it.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
Berwick Chicago charter limousine .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAnyone in business today realizes both the natural dependency on... Read More
There are no "rules of thumb" in the pursuit of... Read More
Data. Most people think it is a term relegated to... Read More
I recently met with a very successful magazine publisher who... Read More
An observation while returning home from a seminar: Getting away... Read More
In the 2003 Auto Laundry News Survey it was determined... Read More
On Monday the Department of Corporations in California revoked franchise... Read More
Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get... Read More
You've heard marketing and advertising gurus quip, "Sell the sizzle,... Read More
In the heavy equipment cleaning business you can make good... Read More
Rule 15C211Under SEC Rule 15C211, a U.S. securities broker or... Read More
There is a great deal of abuse going on in... Read More
As a practise gets larger & larger the associated problems... Read More
Here are some sound debt collection techniques that can be... Read More
Cash is King?That is what everyone tells us and it... Read More
One way to determine your companies mission statement is based... Read More
"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't... Read More
IntroductionIt is widely recognised that Email and the Internet is... Read More
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More
Do you own a franchised business? Over 400,000 franchised businesses... Read More
Are you responsible for your results?What comes to mind when... Read More
Last summer the FTC put forth a report and then... Read More
The employer / employee relations environment has been constantly evolving... Read More
Does your company have a community relation strategy? Have you... Read More
One of the best marketing strategies a business or organization... Read More
Antioch Chicago limousine service ..Passion. Passion alone can make your business successful. As an... Read More
The book, "Become the Squeaky Wheel," by New Hampshire author... Read More
For really tough boat hull cleaning you will need to... Read More
People will always stress that having a well researched business... Read More
Mobile carwashing is hard work, it is tough on the... Read More
If you're like the rest of us, you've spent a... Read More
Opening a carpet cleaning business is a great way to... Read More
As a solo entrepreneur or small business owner, one of... Read More
Paul Leonard's BirthdayCards2Go.com paid greeting card service offers convenience when... Read More
"Inch by inch, row by row...that's the way my garden... Read More
As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change.... Read More
Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in... Read More
Whether you operate a chain of restaurants, a mom-and-pop convenience... Read More
You make the decision to go into business and for... Read More
How a donation is different from a sponsorship and what... Read More
We visited Lexus USA, home of the Lexus North America... Read More
There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of... Read More
This year, some 700,000 American businesses will be sold. Most... Read More
Looking for ways to boost your cash flow? As a... Read More
Doesn't it frustrate you when you've given good service, sometimes... Read More
If you own a small business, then you know the... Read More
There are many factors to be considered when you are... Read More
If you're looking for start-up capital for your business, but... Read More
Are you thinking of starting a small pressure washer business... Read More
Incorporation in Nevada has become an attractive option for savvy... Read More
Small Business |