Best Carwash

Zurich, Switzerland

This installment of “Take a Tour” goes to Zurich, Switzerland, where Best Carwash has been pampering car care customers for 20 years. With six different services offered, Best Carwash has something
special for every type of customer.

For instance, those looking for a basic service can simply purchase a foam wash (with or without paint protection), while a customer in search of a deeper cleaning would go to Best Carwash for more specialized services, such as an underbody wash, a polish with nano sealer protection, and an interior cleaning that includes leather interior treatments. With a range of services this varied, it is no wonder that Best Carwash serves an average of 5,000 cars a month.

The operation owes some of its success to the many specials and deals it offers customers. For new customers, the location has a “get to know you” special, offering a free second wash when they purchase the first. Best Carwash manager and part owner Yves Keller said this has been a highly effective special: “New customers pay for the first wash and get a coupon for a free second wash. Usually after these two washes, customers come back and wash their cars a few more times.”

There are also regular monthly deals such as 20 percent off Nano Sealer and “buy four washes for the price of three.” Customers can save up to 25 percent with pre-paid wash cards, and Monday through Friday, they can take advantage of a happy hour from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., which tends to be slow for the business since it is rush hour in Zurich.

Best Carwash also has an onsite store where car care supplies such as car polish, nano sealer, leather cleaner and protectant, car seat shampoo, as well as general car merchandise like tow ropes and warning triangles are sold. Here, customers who are waiting for the more time-consuming interior cleanings or exterior treatments can rent a courtesy car for a day or a half day. On the other hand, customers who want to wait can do so in the store where they can enjoy a coffee or croissant as they thumb through the newspaper.

Keller said the location is unique because it is in the middle of the city and “customers get very personal and friendly customer service.” Customers can vacuum for free at 14 vacuum stations. “There is no other place around us where customers can clean their interiors like at our site,” he said.

According to the website, Best Carwash is the largest car wash center in Switzerland. The car wash itself is 55 meters long (about 180 feet), and the whole location is approximately 2,500 square meters (about 8,200 square feet). Though the location is large and very well-equipped, the management at Best Carwash is looking forward to making improvements. Keller explained, “We will invest a lot of money in the next one to two years. We would like to renovate both inside and around the building. In the car wash business, I think you can still earn a lot of money if you differentiate your business.”

According to Keller, Best Carwash was the first operation in Switzerland to have textile strips.

While they wait, customers can browse the on-site store for car care supplies or have a cup of coffee as they read the paper. There is also an online store where customers can purchase the same cleaning supplies from the convenience of their home.

Busy customers who are having their cars’ interiors shampooed or polished and nano sealed can rent a courtesy car. These cars can be rented for a half day for about $20 or a full day for about $50. Fuel is included, but there is a mileage limit. Half day rentals can only be driven about 40 km (about 25 miles) while full day rentals can be driven up to 100 km (just over 60 miles). Keller said, “The courtesy car rental is a very successful service even though we are in the middle of the city and many customers also walk or take the train to work while we polish or clean their cars.”

In an average day, the car wash could clean anywhere from 100 to 500 cars, depending on the weather. The monthly average is around 5,000, but Keller estimated the record is around 10,000 car washes in a month.