Savvy consumers continue to drive car wash demand

Subscriptions and technology have made the car wash experience more convenient not to mention the free amenities that now come with most.

Author

Jim Utter
December 18, 2024

Shine brightest with all the dirt from the Car Wash industry

TOGETHER WITH

HELPING YOU SECURE YOUR NXT PAYMENT

👋Good morning! The key to any good business is providing a service customers need, can depend on and are satisfied with. In this issue of the Car Wash Daily News email newsletter, we talk about how savvy customers continue to drive the car wash industry’s growth.

👉To give you an idea of what our daily newsletter has to offer, you can access all of its contents - including the long-form version of stories teased on the newsletter - until later this month. After that, as a paid subscriber, you can maintain full access. Otherwise, only short teasers and summaries will be available in the newsletter and on the Website.

We’re excited about offering a new addition to the media landscape to help publicize an underserved industry. Please keep reading.

Jim Utter
Director of Journalism/Editor in Chief
CW Daily News

Today's issue is sponsored by NXT — Helping You Secure Your NXT Payment.

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🔦TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT🔦

Savvy consumers continue to drive car wash demand

A smart consumer who knows what they want remains the driving force in the continued growth in the car wash industry.

It’s no secret the subscription model – in which the customer pays a monthly fee to wash their car an unlimited amount of time – has been a key to gaining new customers as well as the industry’s expansion.

The change has altered the ‘old school’ dynamic of waiting for increased demand following bouts of bad weather (and thus dirtied cars) to one where the customer finds it economical and convenient enough to wash their cars on a regular basis.

“Consumers are savvy and reward businesses who give them value,” said Peggy Flinn, the founder and principal of Flinnstone Strategies, a business and retail strategy consulting firm.

“My hunch is consumers have not changed, but the addition of a subscription model that allowed a consumer to wash their vehicle as many times as they wanted and offered free vacuums and towels was what changed.”

Read more here.

➥ SUMMARY

The subscription model and technology have made the car wash experience more convenient, not to mention the free amenities that now come with most.

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✂️SHORTCUTS✂️

  Editor’s Picks 👇

  • Express Wash names first company president: Express Wash Concepts, which includes 103 express wash locations across Ohio, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Hampton Roads, Va., has appointed its first company president. Shawn Hummell, who has more than 20 years of retail leadership experience and worked most recently at Follett Higher Education, has been appointed EWC president and will oversee planning and implementation of the company’s strategy and future growth. Hummell worked for such companies as Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Macy’s and Bed Bath & Beyond in addition to Follett Higher Education. Read more here.

  Express Hits  🎯 

  • Big Dan’s Car Wash has opened its newest location in Fountain Inn, S.C. The Big Dan’s brand, launched in December 2020, has 24 locations in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Big Dan’s utilizes soft-touch neo glide technology with high-pressure water jets, top-of-the-line chemicals, and soft, durable foam to deliver washes safer for cars and the environment.

  • The California city of Arroyo Grande is making more room for tourists with its planning commission giving unanimous approval to build a car wash and hotel on a 1.57-acre vacant lot. The site is composed of three separate parcels zoned as highway mixed use. The car wash would operate independently on the other side of the hotel, with a tunnel and self-service vacuum area.

  • “Super Santa Saturday” returns to Super Star Car Wash in Peoria, Ariz., for the second consecutive year with a visit from Santa Claus and free holiday photos and gifts for kids. No purchase is necessary to take part in the event, scheduled for Dec. 21. Super Star currently has more than 100 locations in Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas.

  • Tommy’s Express’ newest location in Odessa, Texas, will provide free car washes through Dec. 24 as part of its grand opening. Tommy’s Express locations are known for their signature wash tunnels which feature floor-to-ceiling windows and a transparent roof.

    👉 More updates here.

  Making Waves Around the World  🌊 

  • Dutch car wash expansion: The Vissers Energy Group, a family-owned Dutch company, has expanded its operations with the acquisition of the De Wetering gas station and car wash in Utrecht, Netherlands. Known for its extensive car wash with an interior cleaning track, this location allows customers to thoroughly clean both the exterior and interior of their vehicles. Vissers plans to convert the gas station shop into a Moments & More branch, enhancing the customer experience with their innovative retail concept. Read more here.

  What’s Coming Up  📅

  • Women in Car Wash Conference: The 11th bi-annual Women in Carwash Conference is scheduled for Jan. 19-21, 2025, at the Mills House Charleston in Charleston, S.C. More info here.

  • Southwest Car Wash Association: The organization will hold its annual convention and expo Feb. 26-28, 2025, at the Fort Worth (Texas) Convention Center. More info here.

  • Convenience U CARWACS Show 2025: The Convenience U CARWACS Show – Canada’s largest convenience, gas and car wash industry event – is set for March 4-5, 2025, at the International Centre Hall 5 in Mississauga, Ontario. More info here.  

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Disclaimer: The authors of cwdailynews.com, LLC are not financial or tax professionals. This email is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly recommend conducting your own research and consulting with qualified professionals before making any decisions. Our content, which may include affiliate links, reflects personal opinions and should not be used as the sole basis for decision-making. We are not responsible for any losses resulting from the use of this information.