Tom Gibney
Verwater Environmental, LLC
Blissfield, Mich.
Q: Tell us about your business.
A: Verwater Environmental manufactures markets and sells water reclaim and biological water restoration systems to the vehicle wash industry so that wash operators can reduce their water and sewer tap fees and ongoing water and sewer costs. These systems are designed around the way nature treats waste in our environment. Water restoration systems use natural bacteria already present in water to consume the used chemicals from the waste water so that the water can be reused time and time again.
Q: How did you get into the business?
A: I came to the vehicle wash industry from the automotive aftermarket. My first position in the wash industry was running the Industrial Division of Turtle Wax where we developed hyper concentrate wash chemicals. During my travels internationally, I was introduced the bio treatment systems we now manufacture. Jan Verwater, the inventor of this technology, came from the Netherlands and brought his technology to the U.S. market in 2000.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges for the industry in the next five years?
A: With tax revenues down in most cities and towns, these municipalities are looking for ways to subsidize lost revenues. One of the ways to recover lost revenues is coming from raised water and sewer fees. This is taking place every day nationwide with water and sewer cost rising in double digits each year with no end in sight. Every increase will reduce profit revenues unless a wash operator can increase wash prices. The other area of concern will come again from lost tax revenues and the inability of cities to repair and improve sewer treatment plants. This will force the cities to go to the industries that are making the water dirty and demand they clean the water before it goes to sewer or face high fines.
Brian J Betz
Maple Ave Car Wash
Adrian, Mich.
Q: Tell us about your business.
A: Maple Ave Car Wash is a two-bay, self-serve wash just inside the Adrian, Mich., downtown business district. The wash was built in the late ‘50s or early ‘60s and features one vacuum, one towel vending machine and a bill changer. The two bays features presoak, HP soap, foaming brush, rinse and wax.
Q: How did you get into the business?
A: I had previously owned a five-bay, self-serve wash for 18 years before selling it in 2003. I guess I didn’t learn my lesson. I bought this wash just before Christmas 2011, a Christmas present for myself.
Q: Fill in the blank…“As a car wash owner I’ve learned…”
A: To communicate with the customer — even the ones that may trash the wash — appealing to their good nature to help keep the location clean for the next customer. Customer loyalty is paramount. Continue to try to keep the ones you have and give them a free wash or time once in a while.
Q: What advice would you give to someone new to the industry?
A: I get a lot of compliments on how clean the location is kept. Realize you will have customers that will trash the location by washing out their pick-ups and cleaning out their vehicle interiors, so be prepared to take the good with the inconvenient.
Q: What do you love most about your business?
A: This is a small, well-established neighborhood self-serve. Being a self-serve, it is available for the customer’s use 24 hours a day, and an attendant is not required to be there every hour it is open.
Q: Other interesting advice to share with ICA members?
A: Talk with the customers to find out what they like about the place, and then don’t change that. Make good use of information and advice from ICA members.
Scott Baeten
JBS Industries
Lebanon, Ohio
Q: Tell us about your role at JBS Industries.
A: I am the president and CEO of JBS Industries. I have been since 2006. I started with JBS in 2000 and bought out the previous owner in 2006.
Q: How did you get into the business? Do you have experience in other segments of the industry?
A: When I was much younger, I worked for a friend of mine. In his family, they had about eight washes, and I started out repairing them when I was in high school. Then I went to the service for four years and after that worked for General Electric for 15 years. I was an engineer at General Electric, basically working two jobs for 10 years. I also owned three washes. That’s when I became a customer of JBS and found out they were looking to expand. I wound up taking over the company in 2000.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges for the industry in the next five years?
A: The down economy — spendable income is down and that hurts our industry. It decreases the amount and frequency of how often people wash their car. I do think it is getting a little better. Things are easing up a little. It’s also tough for individual car wash owners to finance anything — any kind of business financing in general is pretty tight. Whether it is a retrofit or starting a new venture, it’s tough to come by the money.
Q: What advice do you have for ICA members?
A: From my point of view in the chemical side of things, there are a lot of new companies that have come out recently. It’s kind of odd that so many companies have popped up in this short period of time, especially when the market is down. Do your homework before selecting a vendor — whether it is equipment or chemical. In my slice of the industry, there are a lot of promises that are made out there that can’t possibly be kept.
