Ken Littrell

ICA Cancels The Car Wash Show 2020

The ICA Board of Directors of International Carwash Association voted unanimously to cancel The Car Wash Show™ 2020 for April in San Antonio. Four weeks from opening, we had the largest exhibition hall in our history and were on pace for the second-largest attendance on record. This was the most difficult decision ever faced by the Association, but with every passing day it was clear that it was our only option.

To our attendees and exhibitors, we are sorry to not be able to provide the networking, products and education that we know you enjoy at the show. We were particularly mindful of our exhibitors in this decision, as their substantial investments depend upon knowing that attendees will be able to travel. As the travel guidelines turned into recommendations – and now outright restrictions in San Antonio – I’m glad we were able to give everyone some notice to prepare.

This is a disappointment, but it does not change the fundamental strengths of the professional car wash industry or The Car Wash Show. We are looking at potential options for an event later this year, as well as more immediate ways to help car washers stay connected in these times, and will update you on those as details are solidified.
To view the latest updates from ICA related to The Car Wash Show 2020, visit https://bit.ly/ICAshow2020.

Supplier Events & Show Specials

We’re collecting a listing of events and Show specials being held by our industry’s supplier community to share with the car wash community.

If you are a supplier and are hosting an e-event or running a Show special, you can submit it at:

www.carwash.org/events/supplier-events

We’ll have a running tally of events posted at this site, so check back often!

ICA Welcomes MCA

The Midwest Carwash Association (MCA) – a regional association of car wash operators and suppliers in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio – is now a supporting partner of The Car Wash Show™, the world’s largest car wash convention and trade show. MCA previously hosted an annual trade show in Michigan and will now join Automotive Oil Change Association and Western Carwash Association in exclusively endorsing The Car Wash Show.

Every MCA member will be receiving a full subscription of CAR WASH Magazine with a new insert of MCA news and information. In addition, the two organizations will be working to identify new opportunities for education, networking and car wash touring in the Midwestern states.

Midwest Carwash Association becomes the eighth association to join ICA in supporting either The Car Wash Show, Car Wash Show Australia, Car Wash Show China or Car Wash Show Europe.

ICA Is Advocating for Our Industry

International Carwash Association is advocating on behalf of small business owners as COVID-19 begins to have significant economic impacts on small businesses. In mid-March, ICA joined nine other nonprofit trade associations from across the car care industry in petitioning Majority and Minority Leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives for immediate aid to small businesses and their employees.

All ten associations in the coalition represent small business trades that cannot switch their core functions to remote operation during the outbreak of COVID-19. The businesses represented by these associations provide automotive services that keep our most common form of transportation safe and clean, food services, and the necessities of everyday living. “These employers and their employees need immediate support to protect their health and safety, their customers’ health and safety, and their short- and long-term economic viability,” the letter stated.

“The letter requests some actions that will address top of mind concerns for car wash operators as this pandemic unfolds,” said Eric Wulf, ICA Chief Executive Officer. “Car wash businesses are not capable of remote function, but their bottom lines will be drastically affected as the country follows recommendations to quarantine and stay in place. This coalition of associations believes that to help our industry survive this disruption, disaster relief will be needed.”

The letter to federal leadership (https://bit.ly/ICAadvocacy) includes requests for federal assistance, such as child care subsidy, mortgage assistance plans, and tax exemptions.

The coalition of associations includes: the Auto Care Association (ACA), Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA), Automotive Service Association (ASA), California Autobody Association (CAA), California Automotive Business Coalition (CalABC), Independent Automotive Professionals (IAP), Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA), International Carwash Association (ICA), Service Station Dealers of America And Allied Trades (SSDA), and the Tire Industry Association (TIA).

Car wash operators are urged to reach out to their own representatives to share their opinion on behalf of small business owners and their employees.

Sharing Ideas In a Time of Crisis:
CARWASH.ORG/SHARING

In addition to its serious impact on human health, the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is dramatically reshaping communities and businesses. ICA has created a regularly updated page, carwash.org/sharing, to serve as a clearinghouse of ideas for car wash professionals to navigate through these challenging times.

Also, ICA partner AffinityHR is regularly creating and posting resources for businesses during COVID-19:

• On March 13, general guidelines for employers were posted, including how to manage situations where employees become ill: bit.ly/AffinityHRcovid19
• On March 29, an analysis of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was posted: bit.ly/AffinityHRCARES
• On March 30, a Frequently Asked Questions video was released about the CARES Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): bit.ly/AffinityHRvideo
ICA is providing neither advice nor recommendation. In this rapidly changing environment, every business owner should observe the guidance issued by public health and/or governmental officials, and consult with their own professional advisors, prior to determining what ideas they may choose to implement in their own business.

For information about the health aspects of this crisis, visit coronavirus.gov and cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.