Reflecting the growth of international markets and the opportunity for car wash operators and suppliers to learn from one another around the world, ICA has announced a new partnership with the Australian Car Wash Association (ACWA) and the launch of the first Car Wash Show™ Australia later this year.
The Promise of Partnership
The origins of a potential agreement between ICA and ACWA can be traced to ICA’s successful partnership with Western Carwash Association, which started in 2015, and the launch of Car Wash Show™ Europe. These new concepts demonstrated ICA’s commitment to reach beyond its borders, literally and figuratively, in order to more effectively bring new ideas to car wash professionals. The results of those initiatives created the possibility for explorative conversations between the two associations, with the goal of finding a way for each entity to apply its relative strengths for the benefit of its constituents.
The new partnership between ICA and ACWA has three primary components:
- The rebranding of ACWA’s existing biennial trade show as Car Wash Show™ Australia, with support from ICA for promotion and sales outside of Australia and educational content.
- Providing all ACWA members with ICA member pricing for all products and services, as well as a print subscription to CAR WASH Magazine™.
- New collaboration between ACWA and ICA’s membership, including market tours and interaction between boards of directors and staffs.
The Aussie Market
The Australian car wash market is comprised of approximately 3,000 retail locations —supported by local distributors and a mix of Australian, American and European manufacturers — that generate more than A$500M in sales. Almost half of the car wash sites are self-service and roll-over mixed model, primarily owned by private investors. Most of these sites are located in the major population centers in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
The market is unique in two ways from what is found in America and Europe. First, nearly 20 percent of the sites are manual or semi-automated professional hand washes. These sites usually command a premium price and often feature the ancillary services found at traditional full-service car wash locations. Second, conveyorized car washes (tunnels) are still relatively new, with less than 100 in the country of 24 million citizens, roughly the same size as Texas (28 million) or Belgium and the Netherlands combined (28 million).
The climate in Australia, which is the driest inhabited continent on the planet, makes water usage a topic of great importance. A near 15-year drought from 1996 to 2010 caused restrictions on car washes, but also created great public awareness about the waste and pollution that occurs from home car washing. In response, the Australian Car Wash Association created its highly successful Water Rating Scheme (WRS), which recognizes car washes that implement environmentally friendly water practices. WRS has become a national standard, approved by Australia’s federal water efficiency labeling program.
Australian Car Wash Association
ACWA has approximately 300 corporate members and is governed by a volunteer board of car wash operators and suppliers. The board, together with its professional staff, lead several programs of importance to Australian car washers, from the WRS to consumer promotions, governmental representation and industrial relations support (hour and wage regulations). ACWA also conducts regular industry surveys and sponsors several member meetings in the Australian states throughout the year.
Car Wash Show Australia 2018
The first edition of ICA and ACWA’s combined show will occur October 30 through November 1 at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The event will feature tours of local car washes, a variety of educational programs and the country’s largest display of car wash products and services. Additional information will be available soon at carwash.org and acwa.net.au. ICA members who are interested in visiting or exhibiting should send an email to australia@carwash.org.
