Stephan Weber is used to traveling the globe exploring the professional car wash industry, but since the global pandemic is limiting his travels he took a few minutes to share some of his background.

A world-traveler even before he was headhunted into the car wash industry, he now travels for WashTec AG as Chief Sales Officer and focuses his trained eye on solutions for the car wash industry and its growth. He has a master’s degree in engineering (Dipl. Ing.).

Q: What does a day look like for you?

If not traveling the global car wash world — which is not possible currently — I am busy running the global marketing, sales and service network and also attending to the various board topics of a publicly listed company.

Q: What keeps you coming back every day?

The exiting opportunities in the car wash industry and a fantastic team of colleagues, business associates and customers.

Q: What do you think car wash professionals need to be watching out for, and paying attention to, right now?

To permanently prove that the automatic car wash is always superior to hand washing and to prove that the automatic car wash is crisis-proof and delivers a steady income stream — even under difficult market circumstances like now. To be first on mind when investments are considered.

Q: What has been your biggest learning from the car wash industry?

As it is the fourth B2B industry I am in, I realized again that things are never as simple as they look from the outside. A flying business case of clean, dry and shiny cars takes more than equipment only.

Q: What trends or potential trends are you watching in the industry?

An importance for further digitalization in the industry to make it more efficient and more convenient. Ease of use, ease of operation and ease of making a good profit are in focus.

Q: What are you most excited about that ICA is working on?

The LEAD education program is surely a super exciting project with great potential for the ICA and the car wash industry in the future.

Q: What do you do when you’re not ‘on the clock’? What do you do to refill your tank?

Mountain biking, gardening, cooking and, ideally, all of that with family and friends.

Q: Tell us something we’d be surprised to learn about you.

Likely many people do not know that I have lived and worked in Europe, America and Asia throughout my career and as such have great appreciation and affinity for diversity and other cultures in the world.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

As 50% of the global car wash market is still hand wash, let’s make sure we conquer that potential together.