The International Carwash Association is leading the professional car wash industry through the 100-year anniversary with a series of activities and celebrations of the industry’s 100th birthday in 2014.
Frank McCormick and J.W. Hinkle opened “Automobile Laundry” in Detroit, Mich., in 1914 as the first production line car wash in the world. Prior to this, car cleaning was largely done individually by hand. What started as a niche business in the Motor City has become a global industry, with more than 150,000 retail car wash locations worldwide.
ICA will be leading the industry through the 2014 anniversary year in three ways:
• A special Facebook page (www.facebook.com/100YearsofCarWash) has been created to share pictures, videos, stories and comments. Car wash enthusiasts are encouraged to visit and contribute to the site as a record of the industry’s evolution.
• ICA’s official quarterly magazine, CAR WASH Magazine, will include special features and historical photography in each of its editions this year.
• The Car Wash Show, the world’s largest car wash convention and trade show, will feature a special celebration party at House of Blues in Chicago, Ill. (www.CarWashShow.com).
“This certainly is a special milestone for our industry,” said ICA CEO Eric Wulf. “We’re looking forward to sharing stories and celebrations throughout the year, particularly through social media and our magazine.”
In addition, the 100-year anniversary provides a unique opportunity for the Association to commemorate its progress over the last century and its vision for the future with a new set of corporate brand marks and guidelines.
“It was the perfect time for us to take a fresh look at where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we are going as an industry and Association,” Wulf said.
The anniversary also provides the inspiration for a new exclusive membership opportunity for the car wash equipment manufacturer and supplier community.
In honor of the 100 years of the car wash industry, the Association has launched Century Club. The club is designed to provide an exclusive opportunity for vendor members to show support for the industry as it looks toward the next 100 years.
