Brad Mann is the founder and president of The Wash Factory car wash in Denton, Texas. he has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Texas. After starting out in consulting at IBM, he went on to build a successful health care insurance company. While traveling in that career, Mann found himself asking more and more questions at the car washes he frequented. Eventually, he listened to that inner entrepreneur and jumped into the car wash industry.
Q: what does a typical day look like for you?
My day revolves around helping my staff become better. I have seven locations and don’t get to touch each team member every day. I still have a small enough operation that my team can still reach me. I focus on the technology and operation decisions day to day to make The Wash Factory a good experience for our customers and employees.
Q: What keeps you coming back every day?
In my first year I didn’t know any better. I was committed to success. As we’ve grown there are always new challenges that keep me motivated to come back and improve the business. Really, the car wash business and the people in this industry keep me excited. I get excited when I see people in my company growing and see other car wash operations mold great future leaders in this business.
Q: What do you think car wash professionals need to be watching out for and paying attention to right now?
If you treat your people like a fine automobile, then it will reflect in the customer experience they deliver. In the end, this business is about finding people to greet your customers, people to work on the car wash equipment and great leaders to guide that staff to greatness. The car wash business is great when you surround yourself with people smarter than you!
“As we’ve grown there are always new challenges that keep me motivated to come back and improve the business”
Q: What has been your biggest learning from the car wash industry?
There are so many areas that you have to really understand to be successful: technology, people skills, mechanical skills, operations, customer service.
Q: What trends or potential trends are you watching in the industry?
I think membership-driven car washes will become standard. All forms of retail businesses are trying to gain a customer’s wallet share and we will have to adapt on how to make that seamless for our customers.
Q: What are you most excited about that ICA is working on?
We are working on an education platform that I hope will improve every associate’s skills in the car wash business. In my life, I have always appreciated college-like training that relates to how to become a better leader. We are investing in leadership training that I hope will make this industry better and more prepared for our roles in the car wash business.
Q: What do you do when you’re not ‘on the clock’? What do you do to refill your tank?
I have three kids – Tabor (11) Fisher (9) Reed (7) – who keep me busy with sports. I have been married 14 years and we like to travel as a family to new places.
I like adventure travel so you will likely find me zip lining, rafting, canyoneering, diving, fishing or hunting when I am not dreaming about how to build the perfect car wash.
Q: Tell us something we’d be surprised to learn about you.
I go to Iowa every year to run a combine for my father-in-law on my wife’s family farm.
Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
Come seek me out at the next ICA event. As your board member, I am here to help. I enjoy helping others and sharing. “Success comes before work only in the dictionary.”
