During The Car Wash Show 2016, International Carwash Association unveiled its new mission, vision, strategic goals and values and beliefs. Together, these elements comprise ICA’s new strategic plan. Led by an outside strategic planning consultancy and incorporating dozens of interviews, surveys and focus groups, and extensive business analysis over a two-year period, the new strategic plan involved the organization’s most comprehensive review and planning initiative in more than a decade.
In some ways, this strategic plan reinforces directions and priorities that are already well known. In other ways, the plan charts new courses – some of which cannot be clearly mapped forward. But, each component of the plan has been developed with four goals in mind:
To say that change is accelerating in the car wash industry could sound naïve or simplistic. Change certainly occurs more quickly in other industries, and it is often difficult to measure the actual rate of change until one looks back on a period in time. But, after careful analysis, the board of directors and staff of International Carwash Association came to the conclusion that we are indeed in a period of unique change:
• Multi-store operators and new-to-industry groups are aggressively acquiring and developing car wash locations, on a scale previously unseen.
• Thanks to ease of travel and communications technology, operators are increasingly borrowing ideas from previously distant regions of the world and suppliers are increasingly doing business on multiple continents.
• In markets such as Australia and Europe, entrepreneurial owner-operators are rapidly creating innovative and high-growth car wash organizations, a trend that is continuing in North America.
• Associations are developing new alliances (such as ICA’s new partnerships with Western Carwash Association and Automotive Oil Change Association) and new relationships between boards, staffs and members (as evidenced by the Global Associations Summit in October 2015).
It was not long ago that International Carwash Association was predominately focused on a single event, in a single geographic market without a single employee. The changes occurring in the car wash community have allowed (or forced) ICA to give attention to new needs and priorities, such as Car Wash Show Europe, CAR WASH Magazine, WaterSavers and the new Events Series.
This new strategic plan reflects the belief that the professional car wash community will demand even more of International Carwash Association in the future – and that there is much work to be done now:
Vehicle technologies pose increasing challenges, and the work underway to establish a new alliance with automotive manufacturers is a current priority.
Reaching the car wash customer with positive car wash messages is as important as ever, and one that will receive more of our resources.
Our work to develop new and stronger relationships with North American and European car wash associations has only just begun. And, while we have yet to complete our second edition of Car Wash Show Europe, we must also look to the horizon for the next opportunity to expand the professional car wash community.
The future for professional car washing appears exceptionally bright. We are honored to have served this industry for more than 60 years and inspired to support what this community achieves next. As we head down this new path, I encourage you to share your comments or suggestions with any member of our board or staff. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Eric Wulf, CEO
International Carwash Association
MISSION (Why we exist)
International Carwash Association exists to support the car wash industry and strengthen our community of retailers and suppliers.
VISION (What we aim to accomplish)
International Carwash Association will be a vital contributor to the growth and success of the professional car wash industry around the world.
STRATEGIC GOALS (Our path toward realizing our vision)
I. Events
Produce the best events for car wash professionals.
• Provide excellent opportunities for learning, networking and commerce.
• Offer a broad array of events, from trade shows to conferences to networking and social activities.
II. Association Partnerships
Support the work of partner associations.
• Seek association collaboration in event production or membership benefits.
• Coordinate the delivery of major projects (e.g. research or advocacy) with association partners for maximum industry impact.
III. Advocacy
Represent the interests of professional car washing.
• Promote professional car washing to consumers, in a targeted fashion.
• Educate water regulators about the benefits and characteristics of professional car washing.
• Represent the industry’s interest to the automotive industry, particularly in the area of “washability.”
IV. Research
Produce important industry information.
• Produce information on the status of the industry.
• Produce research on consumer attitudes and behaviors.
• Produce information on the current state and future trends in automobile design and technologies.
V. Resources
Manage ICA’s resources effectively.
• Capitalize on our core competency to generate positive cash flow from operations to fund our strategic goals.
• Maintain high-performing staff and governance teams.
VALUES & BELIEFS
(What we stand for and
how we’ll conduct ourselves)
1. The professional car wash industry deserves ICA’s best. Therefore, ICA will always pursue excellence and act with integrity.
2. ICA serves a diverse stakeholder base, with interests that sometimes conflict. Therefore, ICA values feedback and considers a variety of opinions.
3. ICA serves an evolving industry with a proud history. Therefore, ICA values the lessons of the past while remaining oriented toward the future.
4. ICA serves an increasingly interconnected and global industry. Therefore, ICA values opportunities to serve and connect car wash professionals around the world.
5. Car wash operators are ICA’s core constituency. ICA best serves the industry by focusing on the success of car wash retailers.
6. Car wash suppliers are vital partners to both car wash operators and ICA. ICA primarily serves the supplier segment by providing platforms for promotion and commerce.
7. ICA serves the professional car wash community broadly defined: including our members, other associations’ members and nonmembers.
8. ICA is in the business of supporting the car wash business. In our role as the industry’s steward, all funds in excess of reasonable reserve should be applied toward supporting ICA’s mission.
9. ICA’s most important asset is its human capital. Maintaining effective governance and staff teams is vital to achieving its vision.