👋Good morning! In this issue of the Car Wash Daily News email newsletter, we present the first of a two-part conversation with Champion Xpress Carwash CEO Trey Merchant.

👉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. I hope you enjoy reading.

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

Today's issue is sponsored by The Vita Agency — Let’s Drive More Business Your Way.

👉 We’d like your input! Have a story idea or would like us to receive your company’s press releases on your latest news? Email us at [email protected].

🔦TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT🔦

Talking car washes with Champion Xpress CEO Trey Merchant

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*Please see the advertising disclosure at the bottom of this newsletter.

✂️SHORTCUTS✂️

  Editor’s Picks 👇

• Retired longtime car wash owner Stephen Saks makes $20 million donation: Stephen Saks, a retired longtime car wash owner in the Miami-Dade County area, has donated $20 million to various Southwest Florida organizations. Saks, who will turn 95 in June, relocated to South Florida with his wife in 1968 Saks built his first car wash in Miami – a business that remains open today, though under different ownership. Entities Saks operated include Wash N Wax Inc. and Dadeland Car Wash Inc. Saks eventually owned and operated a half-dozen car washes in Miami-Dade. Read more here.

  Express Hits  🎯 

• Club Car Wash has plans to open a new location near the QuikTrip off I-10 and Fair Oaks Parkway in Boerne, Texas. An official opening date has not been confirmed but the site is expected to be completed by May 2026. The business was founded as Tiger Express Wash in Missouri in 2006 before rebranding as Club Car Wash in 2019. Services at the business include car washes, memberships, vacuums and other car-related cleaning services.

• Jack Armstrong, the iconic voice of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, coach and award-winning broadcaster, will deliver the leadership keynote address at The Convenience U CARWACS Show at the International Centre in Toronto, Canada’s largest and best-attended convenience, gas and car wash event. Armstrong, a high-profile, colorful and entertaining leader, will share his journey and powerful message about building success.

• Spark Car Wash plans to open a new location in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, on a site that formerly housed a Burger King and Evolve Fitness Center. Spark plans to construct a 5,900-square-foot car wash, according to plans approved last month by the township planning board. The new site is expected to open in the first half of 2026. Spark, an express car wash with seven current locations and several new ones set to open soon, touts its high-tech car wash tunnel, which uses cameras and scales to adjust the brushes and other equipment to the shape of each car.

  👉 More updates here.

  Making Waves Around the World  🌊 

• Checks on water restriction measures in France: The Office Française de la Biodiversité recently conducted checks on car washes in Sainte-Marie, France, to raise awareness of water restriction measures. The role of the environmental police is to ensure that the prefectural decree of Jan. 17 on limiting water use is correctly applied, and this includes car washes. Suspending the water activity of certain professionals due to the drought is a priority for conserving drinking water. The operation is intended to educate both individuals and professionals who do not comply with the carwash ban, before moving on to more serious inspections and possible fines of up to 1,500 euros. Read more here.

  What’s Coming Up  📅

• 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.  

• APEC 2025: The leading conference in North America for power electronic professionals will take place March 16-20, 2025, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. More info here.

• Heartland Carwash Association 2025: The organization’s annual product and equipment show will take place March 24-26, 2025, at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. More info here.

• ICA Car Wash Show 2025: The ultimate gathering for car wash pros returns to the Las Vegas (Nevada) Convention Center April 26-28, 2025. More info here.

• Car Wash Show Europe 2025: The leading car wash trade fair in Europe takes place Sept. 24-25, 2025, at EXPO Greater Amsterdam in the Netherlands. More info here.

❓DID YOU KNOW❓

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.