Women in Carwash Conference seeks ‘greater sense of belonging’

As little as 10 years ago, women in leadership roles within the car wash industry were scarce. Today, they make up about 20% of its leaders.

Author

Jim Utter
January 20, 2025

Shine brightest with all the dirt from the Car Wash industry

TOGETHER WITH

A Premier Private Equity Investment Company

👋Good morning! The 11th Women in Carwash Conference is underway in Charleston, S.C., this week and in this issue of the Car Wash Daily News email newsletter, we talk to founder Brenda Jane Johnstone about the continued importance of the bi-annual event.

👉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 keep reading.

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

Today's issue is sponsored by QC Capital — A Premier Private Equity Investment Company.

👉 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🔦

Women in Carwash Conference seeks ‘greater sense of belonging’

When Brenda Jane Johnstone attended her first car wash trade show nearly 25 years ago, she noticed few women attendees and almost none working in the booths.

Over the years that changed slowly, but even by 2019 she didn’t feel there was very good representation of women at the industry’s large annual gatherings.

That prompted her to reach out to colleagues about their interest in organizing a conference for women in the industry. But she didn’t want it to be just another trade show – she was hoping for more of an event with workshops and activities that attendees would find useful and inspiring.

Johnstone, owner Convenience & Carwash Canada magazine, is also leading her 11th Women in Carwash Conference this week in Charleston, S.C. This iteration of the bi-annual event features three days of presentations, workshops, social gatherings and simply a gathering for free expression.

Read more here.

➥ SUMMARY

Designed so women in the car wash industry had an event of their own, the bi-annual Women in Carwash Conference has become a networking and educational success.

TOGETHER WITH QC CAPITAL

🚗 QC Capital Group Wants to Buy Your Car Wash! 🚗


Are you a car wash owner or operator looking to sell? QC Capital Group, a leading private equity company, is expanding our portfolio with high-quality car wash sites. Let’s discuss how we can create a seamless and mutually beneficial transaction!


What We’re Looking For:

  • Deal Size: $2M–$10M for individual sites; $70M–$90M for portfolios

  • Built: 2015 or newer

  • Traffic: 25k+ AADT

  • Population: 20k+ (3-mile radius) | 50k+ (5-mile radius)

  • Revenue: $1M+ annually

Ideal Locations:

  • Near popular retailers like Starbucks, Target, Costco, Chick-fil-A, etc.

  • Established express washes or new construction ready at CO

Target States: FL, GA, SC, NC, LA, AL, TX, MD, VA, NJ, PA, NY


📩 Ready to discuss? Contact us at [email protected]

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

✂️SHORTCUTS✂️

  Editor’s Picks 👇

  • Car wash gift turns into $50k lottery win: A routine trip to a Canton BP station in Baltimore, Maryland, to utilize a car wash gift certificate ended with a much larger reward for one couple. The pair, from Parkville, Md., regularly buy lottery tickets each week and purchased a $20 Millionaire’s Club scratch-off ticket during their visit and won $50,000. The Millionaire’s Club ticket, which debuted in July 2024, has a top prize of $1 million, two of which remain unclaimed, along with two additional $50,000 prizes. Read more here.

  Express Hits  🎯 

  • The Rocket Carwash in Elkhart, Indiana, is out of commission for about a week after being damaged by a recent visit by a customer. A passenger in one vehicle didn’t want to join the driver in getting out before the car went through the automatic wash. Part way through, the passenger panicked, jumped in the driver’s seat, put the car in gear and drove out of the carwash and into the exit door. She said it was her first experience in an automatic carwash.

  • A new Vibe Car Wash location recently opened in Richardson, Texas. The location offers a drive-thru, automated car wash and interior vacuuming services. It also offers monthly plans and gift cards. This is the third Vibe Car Wash location in North Texas. The two other locations are in Plano and McKinney and a fourth location is planned for the Dallas area.

  • More than seven months after it was damaged when a tornado swept through parts of Greenfield, Iowa, the town’s Super Suds Auto Wash location has reopened. Last May, an EF4 tornado took a mile-long path through the town, damaging or destroying 153 homes, killing four people and injuring 35 others.

    👉 More updates here.

  Making Waves Around the World  🌊 

  • Car wash owner banned for employing illegal workers: The owner of a Lincolnshire car wash in Peterborough, England, has been banned from running a company for five years after employing illegal workers. Mohamed Hamza hired the workers from Syria and Egypt to work at M&H Car Wash in Pinchbeck, near Spalding. The business was fined £20,000 after the two workers were discovered during an immigration enforcement visit in 2022. The disqualification means Hamza cannot be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company in the UK without permission from a court. Read more here.

  What’s Coming Up  📅

  • AHR Expo: More than 1,800 HVACR exhibitors are expected at the AHR Expo Feb. 10-12, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. 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.  

  • 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❓

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the state of New Hampshire may be among the best for car wash workers. The Granite State had one of the nation’s highest average annual payrolls per car wash employee in 2019: $32,407, compared to an average $21,911 for the nation.

🤝 To advertise with CW Daily News, email [email protected] 

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.