The Soapbox

Building Success from the Inside Out Stems from Leadership

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 23:28:00 GMT

No matter how you shake it, 2010 has been a difficult year for just about every segment of the carwash industry. Tough times typically require tough decisions, but investing in the intangible can sometimes be among the most difficult things to do.

Don't be Social without a Plan

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:48:00 GMT

Carwashes, detailers, fast lubes and car repair facilities have begun to pop up with regularity on social media sites, even if a large percentage of these business segments still lag behind other retail services in Web presence and site development.

Carwash Video Shows Danger of Spinning Wrap

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:02:00 GMT

There are plenty of things that can go wrong in and around a carwash that can jeopardize the safety of both employees and customers. A grim reminder of this hit the Internet last week when someone posted a surveillance video on YouTube showing a

Technology Necessitates Change for Car Care Businesses

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:36:00 GMT

The problem technology poses for many in the car care industry is when to adopt it and how to incorporate it wisely. Adopt too early and there may be bugs to contend with and shaky technical support. Adopt too late and companies risk falling far

Take a Tour of the New ModernCarCare.com

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:10:00 GMT

Welcome to the new ModernCarCare.com. As you can see, we’ve been doing some redecorating, and we think you’ll appreciate many of the new aspects to the Web site.

Carwashes are like Umpires

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:01:28 GMT

Someone once told me that a carwash is only as good as its last wash. This certainly makes sense from some customers’ perspectives, but carwashes that have established themselves as consistently excellent in quality, service and accountability tend

A ‘Mooving’ Wash Experience

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:58:00 GMT

The influence of carwash designs has now reached the dairy industry. While I have twice written about human carwash designs and even shopping cart washing technology, I don’t think I ever expected to discuss bovine beauty treatments. But such is my

Need a Carwash? There’s an App for That

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:24:53 GMT

Quick Quack Car Wash has launched an iPhone application to help customers find the location nearest to them. In addition, customers will receive exclusive promotional offers through their mobile phones and will be able to check out the company’s

Carwash by the Numbers

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

How is it that a chain of automotive collision repair centers can claim the Guinness World Record for “Most Cars Washed - Multiple Venues” by washing more than 4,000 vehicles in an eight-hour period instead of a professional carwash chain or

If Michael Scott Owned a Carwash

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:38:00 GMT

With the launch of carwashTV.com, producer and founder Kyle Doyle not only has set out on an ambitious quest to chronicle the industry with a series of informative video interviews and profiles, he wants to entertain viewers. To that end, Doyle

Falling Show Attendance Equals Missed Opportunities

Thu, 27 May 2010 17:12:24 GMT

Attendance at this year’s International Carwash Association Car Care World Expo (CCWE) totaled 5,512, falling nearly 16 percent from last year and marking the fourth straight year the number of carwash equipment buyers and sellers has declined. It

Consumer Spending Shift Underway

Fri, 07 May 2010 23:05:37 GMT

After decades of consumer dominance, the Baby Boomer generation appears to have been severely weakened by the effects of this latest economic recession. This is a group whose spending power helped lead the recovery from two previous recessions, but

How Long Do Vehicle Honeymoons Last?

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:00:00 GMT

There is no doubt there is a wide disparity between how consumers care for their vehicles. Some are obsessive about washing, detailing and maintaining their cars, while others believe waiting on Mother Nature is the prudent pursuit to a carwash. The

Clean Freak Creates a Carwash Space Odyssey

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:31:42 GMT

Carwash commercials are rare to say the least. Consumers are far more likely to see carwashes featured as backdrops for other products or services, including music videos, than they are to view a bona fide commercial marketing a local carwash

Lending Ice Age

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:02:25 GMT

As we move swiftly toward this year’s International Carwash Association Car Care World Expo, the carwash industry seems to be at a pivotal step in its economic recovery. One gets the sense that operators all over America are still waiting to launch

Understanding Generational Consumer Behavior

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:52:37 GMT

Today's consumers are comprised of four primary age groups, and each displays distinctive shopping behaviors and preferences, according to a recent study released by Nielsen. While there are definite differences between the groups, there also are

The Cost of Poor Customer Service

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:01:58 GMT

Have you ever taken the time to measure how much money lost customer opportunities cost your carwash or car care business? Chances are the amount is considerable if you regularly have shortcomings in your customer service. In fact a recent study

Be Loyal to Your Loyalty Programs

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:17:57 GMT

If you believe your loyalty programs are underperforming, it could be that you are under-valuing the perks, discounts or service incentives associated with your plans. You also may not be communicating effectively with your most valuable customers

Plant the Seed Early with Carwash Toys

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:41:22 GMT

Multigenerational carwashers know that it is difficult to escape the pull of the family business. Kids grow up around carwashes and other operators, and no doubt the conversation around the dinner table often revolves around carwashing. So why not

Fighting through Conflict

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:26:49 GMT

Where would family businesses be without conflict? Whether stemming from internal relationships or external factors, conflict and the decisions made or inaction taken to handle or avoid adversity shape the dynamics of family businesses and help