David Begin
Wild Blue Car Wash, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Q: Tell us about your business.
A: We have two exterior express car washes in Colorado Springs.
Q: How did you get into the business?
A: I was in enterprise software sales and traveled every week. I wanted to spend more time at home with my family. I was looking at owning a small business and came across the exterior express car wash business.
Q: What do you love most about the business?
A: The mechanical and operational aspects of running washes, as well as giving customers a psychological lift by making them feel better about their vehicle.
Q: What’s the next big thing for the industry?
A: Using automated technologies to better understand the habits of our customers.
Q: What new technologies or innovations are you most interested in bringing to your car wash?
A: Comprehensive training and certification software for our employees. LED lighting is increasing the “show factor” for our customers. I am very interested in seeing further innovations in this area.
Q: What’s the best business advice you’ve received?
A: Figure out what you are really good at and work in your “Genius.” Delegate everything else. You will be much happier and so will everyone around you.
Q: Any advice for successful hiring?
A: The recruiting, hiring and training of employees is the most important task for any owner or manager. A well-trained, motivated and functional team will make your business flourish. The opposite is also true. Get some help if you are not good at this. Use assessment testing to get an unbiased, quantitative perspective while hiring candidates.
Jay Scott Brown
Shawnee Suds Car Wash Shawnee, Okla.
Q: Tell us about your business.
A: We are a one location, sole proprietorship business in a town of about 26,000 with a trade area of 50,000. Suds has three rollover automatic, two touchless and one soft touch bay. My only competition is a tunnel wash on the other side of town.
Q: How did you get into the business?
A: As a commercial real estate broker, I was hired to sell this newly constructed car wash in 2008, just as the recession was gaining steam. I was so enthusiastic about the opportunity that my fellow brokers kept saying, “If it is such a good investment, why don’t you buy it?” So I did — first as a 50 percent partner, then a year later the remaining 50 percent. I was intimidated by the machinery but lured by the emerging marketing technology.
Q: What do you love most about the business?
A: I liked the community “good neighbor” aspect of the business. It is a great outlet for my charitable impulses. I often worry more about my customer’s experience than my profits.
Q: What new technologies or innovations are you most interested in bringing to your car wash?
A: Mostly in the marketing area. This year I’m going to have a “If you’re happy and you know it, wash your car” video contest with Facebook and my mobile phone app.
Q: What’s the best business advice you’ve received?
A: When something goes wrong ask this question: Was it the result of a natural disaster or a self-inflicted wound? Learn from the self-inflicted wounds, and don’t cry over the natural disasters.
Q: Any advice for successful hiring?
A: Be open-minded. Sometimes the least-likely person becomes the most dedicated employee. Alignment of the company’s values with the employee’s values is the best predictor of a successful relationship.
Ryan Essenburg
Tommy Car Wash Systems, Holland, Mich.
Q: Tell us about your business.
A: Tommy Car Wash Systems designs, manufactures and installs some of the most advanced tunnel car washing equipment available, as well as design-patented buildings, all based on and tested in our own West Michigan car wash locations. Our products are available direct or through our worldwide network of respected distributors. Equipment from Tommy Car Wash Systems is producing clean, shiny and dry vehicles on nearly every continent.
Q: How did you get into the business?
A: We began as operators in Holland, Mich., more than 40 years ago. As the business grew, we began designing and improving upon our own equipment, which lead to the development of several innovations in equipment and building design and ultimately, the core of our product line.
Q: What do you love most about the business?
A: We are driven by the challenge of applying constantly changing technologies to achieve better wash systems at lower costs and providing the tools for greater profitability for everyone in the industry. With our long history as successful operators, we can leverage our experience to identify needs; then develop, test and refine solutions that we can then bring to the market.
Q: What’s the next big thing for the industry?
A: We see the tunnel industry paying more attention to the overall consumer experience. This means going beyond simply clean, shiny and dry vehicles. Many consumers look for the experience, while others look for an exciting or entertaining environment. While some consumers seek the quick-and-cheap wash, many appreciate spending the time and extra money for a more sophisticated experience in line with the value they place on their vehicles and personal self image.
Q: What new technologies or innovations are you most interested in bringing to car washes?
A: First, the use of dual belt conveyors over traditional chain-and-roller. Belts offer the consumer safer and easier self-loading, quieter operation, gentle transport, and are safe for wide, low-profile performance wheels. This provides a better consumer experience, fewer damage claims, and lower overall maintenance. Also, a more exciting delivery of standard wash products has been proven to encourage consumers to purchase the upgrade wash packages. More sophisticated foamers, troughs and rainbars, and the creative use of service signage is an effective start.
