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The article focuses on the importance of acquiring the customer's feedback on the car wash services. It discusses the common feedback received by a car wash firm and offers tips from three individuals in the industry including Chuck Howard of Autobell, Chris McKeena, a professional carwash consultant, and Ryan Essenburg of Tommy Car Wash Systems. Among the common customer feedback includes the price and quality of carwash service, cleaning materials, and the sales promotion.

An interview with Rain Tunnel Express Car Wash president Scott Knight is presented. He cites the reasons why he got involved in the carwashing industry. He claims that the weather is the greatest obstacle he has confronted in their operation. He announces that they have a total of 60 staff in their six locations in the U.S. as of April 2014.

The article focuses on the role of the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) in the carwash industry. Topics include the tools and resource needed for following the OSHA guidelines and regulations, the improvement of safety program to the carwash facilities, and the view of Gina Houser, safety and health coordinator of Autobell Car Wash Inc., on the ability to improve their education level related to safety regulations.

The article offers an outlook for the U.S. economy and the carwash sector for 2014 as of December 2013. Economists predict a three percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth against the recent 2.5% rate and the fiscal fallout to ease in 2014. It cites predictions for 2014 from the International Carwash Association's chief executive officer (CEO) Eric Wulf after what he believes is a year of industry growth in 2013. He sees an overall cloudy future but improved fundamentals.

The article focuses on the factors that should be considered in making changes in car wash businesses. Magic Wash Car Washes owner Dan Foor cites the need to consider upgrading of equipment and services. Cole-man Hanna vice president of sales and marketing Ted Winchester notes the need to improve the image and wash performance. Meanwhile, CarWash College president Robert Andre mentions five factors to consider including the makeover of the site, new equipment, and promotion of the changes.

The article discusses various crime prevention measures to reduce crime rate in the car wash industry in the U.S. It offers information on several security equipments including locks, closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems and barrier systems. It mentions that video surveillance system is important in the industry.

The article advises the car wash industry to use social networks to promote business, especially to the generation Y consumers, who are tech-savvy, smartphone-friendly, and avid internet users. Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Groupon, LivingSocial, and text messaging, all of these can help to spread the right business message and the payoff will be unlimited. Dave Nelsen, the president of Dialog Consulting Group, says that here is no need of trying every one but should try some of them.

An interview with Tom Tucker Jr., president and founder of Vacutech, a manufacturer of central vacuum cleaning systems and mobile vacuum products is presented. When asked about the kind of maintenance involved with centralized vacuums, he mentions hose, stantion and filter separator, through which every vehicle is passed. He also talks about importance of car maintenance and how to clean piping.

The article offers information on the importance of two necessities in car wash business including electricity and water. It discusses several facts which includes use of light-emitting diode (LED) technology which is considered as great energy saver, use of variable frequency drives (VFDs) provides significant energy savings to carwashes and a study that investigated the total electrical usage by the car wash industry.

The article presents several marketing campaigns that automobile detailing and car wash service providers can use to attract more customers. Suggestion is given on creating an "Early Bird Special" promotion. It describes the use of social media networks and discount approach used by Bobby Willis, owner of the Cool Wave Car Wash chain in Virginia. It also recommends the formation of a car wash charity fund raising campaign.

The article offers news briefs related to the car wash industry as of February 2013 along with a calendar from February-April 2013. The protective coatings company Strike Force has been acquired by Treatment Products Ltd. of Chicago, Illinois. As stated in a press release, Turtle Wax Inc. will sell its business to Tran-schem Inc. Ralph Yarusso has been appointed as senior vice president of operations at Grease Monkey International Inc.

The article offers information on the 2012 survey of the professional carwashing and detailing industry in the U.S. It reveals the green initiatives conducted by several car wash operators such as the eliminations of plastic bottles and trigger sprayers, utilization of smaller nozzles, and light emitting diode (LED) lighting. It notes that operators used pet wash, ozone machine, and wax arch.

The article offers suggestions that help in improving the business of carwash industry in the U.S. It offers information on light-emitting diode (LED)- illuminated arches that helps in promoting service offerings for tunnel operators. According to Marcus McLaughlin, marketing team member, the national employment has improved the consumer confidence and discretionary spending on services.

The article discusses ways to create and retain loyal customers with special reference to the car wash industry. It has been suggested to business owners to think and view their business from the perspective of customers. According to Ken Banks, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KAB Marketing, customers need to be provided a dependable and consistent experience each and every time in order to maintain loyalty.

The article focuses on the news products and trends in the car wash industry in 2012. Marc Wilson, a carwash owner and executive director of the Southeastern Car Wash Association, said that efficiency will be the trend and they are making efforts to save the environment by concentrating on water usage and sewer bills. Suzanne Stansbury, executive director of the New York State Car Wash Association said that the only trend she predicts is more consolidation.

The article offers suggestions on growing more business profits. According to carwash industry veteran Bobby Willis, the easiest way to expand a business is to find profit centers that complement the existing business. It is stated that expanding business can involve construction or else one can also expand business just by adding some new vending machines.

The article presents suggestions concerning hiring of employees and maintaining good and happy staff in car wash industry. Chris Brown, vice president of organizational development for The Khoury Group suggests to look for several traits including confidence, humility and job stability. The article also discusses the Industry Outlook Survey conducted by the journal which indicates that hiring good employees is one of the major concerns of a business owner.

The article reports on the ways the car washing business can compete with the charity car washes, which is a serious threat to car washing industry. It states a car wash owner can do a little public relation (PR) work by willing to work with a nonprofit or charity, making itself available to help raise funds, ending up attracting more customers for business. Autobell Car Wash Inc., raised 4.1 million dollars in donations to keep the nonprofit out of parking lots and in their facility.

In this article the author comments on the 2011 "State of the Industry Survey" which was carried out for the car washing industry of the U.S. He informs that an interesting fact was revealed in the survey result that most of the car washers in the country are open on sundays also. It was also seen that business activities are also not slow on that day. Fourteen percent of those surveyed were having no idea of the greener initiatives that were in place in their businesses.

The article offers suggestions on how carwash operators can use Internet and social networking web sites to promote and expand their businesses. Social media project coordinator at trademark research service providing company Thomson CompuMark, Erin Sullivan Capellman says that, the operators should use social media, as social media is a conversation among real people using online tools like Facebook and Twitter.

The article discusses the state of the carwash industry in the U.S. According to Suzanne Stansbury, executive director of the New York State Car Wash Association, weather, economy and competition are challenges faced by carwsh operators. She thinks that economic recovery will certainly increase volumes in the industry. She also advises to take help of social media marketing to boost sales. It is evident that recent regional carwash conventions were successful.

The article presents views of several vending experts from the carwash industry regarding the factors that affect the sales of vending machine and the future of vending machine technology. James H. Holve advocates the use of computer-driven window vendors with the "guaranteed delivery" system. Becky Kube states that the reason for damage of vending machines is the loss of money to the customers. Trent Walter suggests that one should contact the carwash supplier to know about the vending items.

The article presents the views of several experts from the carwashing and detailing industry on the cause of and solution for odor problems associated with water reclamation systems used in the carwash industry. According to Dean Taylor, system application specialist for CATEC Water Recovery and Ozone System, odor is the number one concern for operators. According to Jim Keller, president of Con-Serv Manufacturing, the primary source of odor in reclaim systems is a buildup of dead bacteria.

The article reports on the top five additional profit centers for the car care industry which include laundromats, pet washes, quick lubes, convenience-stores, and gas stations and presents the views of experts on what car wash operators need to know before adding on these profit centers. According to Brian Wallace, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Coin Laundry Association, most Laundromats have performed well during the recession because people always need clean clothes.

The article discusses the management of expenses by car wash operators in the U.S. to generate more revenue and be cost effective. Steve Robinson of Mark VII Equipment Inc. states that a focus on sales and marketing allowed some companies to survive the business downturn. Ryan Carlson of the firm WashCard Systems adds that equipments have a retrofit market.

The article presents a list of top 50 conveynor carwash chains in the U.S. and also focuses on the two operators from the list who managed to make a success of their carwash business. According to Todd Gesund, the co-owner and president of Super Car Wash Systems, communicating and working with one's staff is important for the success. The list of top 50 includes Wash Depot, Maiden, Maryland, Mister Car Wash, Tuscon, Arizona and Autobell Car Wash, Charlotte, North Carolina.

The article offers suggestions by several industry experts including Sam Furno and Scott Brothers, while taking insurance cover for the carwash business. According to Furno, the vice president of sales for the Western Carwash Insurance Agency, it is important to do a thorough comparison of the pricing, benefits and limitation between competitive policies. Brothers, president of The Insurancenter, stresses upon the need to understand the types of coverage needed for carwashes.

The article focuses on Omaha, Nebraska-based Cornhusker Auto Wash, which has been selected as the Most Valuable Carwasher in 2014. Mark Fox, who is the co-owner of the business has helped to make it a one-stop auto spa complete with full-service oil lube, auto detailing business, gas station and convenience store.

The article offers the author's insights on how to maintain the cleanliness of car wash doors as it reflects the quality of service being offered. Topics include the importance of cleanliness in the business, based on the book "Marketing Without Advertising," by Michael Phillips and Salli Rasberry, the recommended cleaning materials such as lens or plastic cleaner, and the preference of using plastic or stainless steel hardware to avoid corrosion.

The article examines the effectiveness of dry vapor steam as an alternative to high pressure washers or harsh chemicals in the car wash industry. According to Steamericas, Inc, sales & marketing specialist Ebony Young, steam can be used in both carwashes and detail centers. Young also claimed that steam reduces the cleaning process, but should not be used on radios, speakers and dash board displays.

An interview with Evan Porges, president of Prime Shine Car Wash, is presented. Topics covered include the start of Porges' career in the carwashing industry, the greatest obstacle he had encountered with the car wash, his strategy in setting his business apart from other car wash shops, and his future goals for the business.

The article offers information on the employee mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and discusses the challenges facing the car care industry with regards to the law's execution in the U.S. Topics cited include changes in the definitions of full-time (FT) and part-time employees, factors that need to be considered when determining the FT equivalent employees including waiting periods and stability periods, and the free rider penalty provision.

The article focuses on carwash owners and offers their insights regarding the compatibility of ice vending machines with the carwash industry. Carwash owners discussed include Matt Scott of iWash of Texas in Odessa, Texas, Darryl Hobdy of 24 Hour Car Wash in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Brad Nye of Sierenga Suds in Moravia, New York.

The article discusses the profitable trend of ice vending machines in the carwash business in the U.S. in the fall and winter months. According to Brad Lefkowitz of vending machine manufacturer Bag of Ice, several ice vending machine owners retain a stable business during cold months. Michael E. Little, vice president of marketing for Ice House America LLC, mentions that winter is the ideal time for annual preventive maintenance among vending machine operators.

The article offers information on the aspects of Most Valuable Carwasher (MVC)and the class of services to be provided by MVC. It mentions the nomination of Lou Spellos, provides mobile car wash and detailing, by Keith A. Duplessie from Big Man Washes, leading supplier for Car Wash equipment, chemicals, and maintenance.

The article offers suggestions on which methods to use and how to avoid mistakes of water reclamation and system installation in the carwashing industry. Vice president of operations for the PurClean and PurWater divisions of New Wave Industries, Charles Borchard thinks that it is imperative to know about the usage of reclaimed water. Borchard says that one needs to find which way to reclaim and recycle wash water. It suggests the use of a system that is larger than one might currently need.

The article offers security suggestion for the car wash owners and the new security devices for safety. A survey shows that two-thirds of the U.S. citizens believe that crime rate has increased and thus avoiding to go for car wash during night or odd hours which results in loss for the carwash owners. Todd Springfield, application engineer of the Bosch Security Systems Inc., mentions that the owners should use high quality cameras and recorders which they can view any location through Internet.

The article discusses the importance in updating and regularly maintaining the self-serve equipment to improve customer loyalty and increase volumes. It states that among the more advanced features in the world of self serves are gated self serves in which people will pay a flat fee to enter the property and then have free range with a self-serve bay, vacuums and other car care services. It notes that any equipment that a customer will be handling and seeing up close needs to be clean.

The article discusses the importance of automated tellers in the car wash sale process. According to Mary Madden, marketing manager for Unitec Electronics, using customized voice greetings at the entrance to the carwash can also increase purchases by customers. It notes that the latest auto tellers offer lots of marketing functions to build individual sale totals and increase customer loyalty like radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

The article discusses up-sell services provided by car wash companies to attract and retain customers. It has been stated that up-selling is to build trust between the firm and the customer. Douglas A. Marquis, vice president of sales and marketing for Lustra Car Care Products, tells that there are two forms of up-selling. He tells that one is immediate and short-term approach to offer new products or packages and another is to offer a complete chemical package for consumer satisfaction.

The article discusses the flex-serve carwash system, its history, advantages, and future trends. Originated by Steve Okun, the flex referred to an express-exterior wash service to clean more cars in less time. It eventually became a generic term to refer to upgrading carwash services, which include aftercare options, but with more labor costs and less profit margins. New technologies, however, offer automated services which allow less workers to serve more cars in less time and cost. New options include self-serve cleaners which can operate for 24 hours.

The article informs about new economical and eco-friendly technologies and alternatives to improve performance and brand image of car washing companies. It is stated that a new technology that reduces water consumption and controls operating costs caused the sales of friction in-bay automatic (IBA) washing equipments increase by 51 percent at Mark VII Equipment Inc.

The article offers suggestions to carwash owners on how to save money and the environment including the use of a water reclaim system, tunnel lights and variable frequency drives (VFDs). It is stated that water reclaim systems not only saves money but water as well. Moreover, VFDs allow an operator to control a tunnel and adjust how much an engine is working thus saving electricity. Similarly, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and solar lighting are expensive to install but pays off in the long run.

The article explores how to effectively cross market carwash and quick lube services. According to David Kunkel of CITGO Petroleum Corp., the key consideration in integrating the two services is understanding the consumer base. Kunkel also mentioned that one way to cross-promote carwash and fast lube services is to train employees on how to deal with customers.

The article reports on the branding process for the carwash industry in the U.S. in 2009. According to the director of marketing and procurement for Drive Clean, LLC Jessica Price, offering free vacuums is becoming relevant to the market since it has become part of the value proposition in the express exterior model for many brands. In addition, Tom Tucker, Jr., president and founder of Vacutech, notes that customers want a great experience to bring them back.

The article discusses the need for car wash operators in the U.S. to have quality water in their business as contamination damages automobiles. Close observation on water sources are needed. The views of several people are presented including Charles Borchard of PurClean and PurWater Divisions of New Wave Industries on tap water, Jim Keller of the firm Con-Serv Manufacturing on dissolved solids, and Abby Stits of Advanced Water Recycling Inc. on household consumers.

The article focuses on the need for preventative maintenance program (PMP) for carwash. A proper PMP is designed for the site and the equipment installed, according to Dean Cheramie, vice president of sales and marketing at Ryko Manufacturing. He states that the program should cover not only proper functioning of the complete carwash equipment, but also the complete carwash program. It also includes the top 10 neglected areas of carwash including conveyor and bearings.

The article discusses implementation of computer software programs in car wash operations in the U.S. It is noted that simplification of operations and diversity of profit centers for business growth are among the benefits of employing software programs. Further discussed are suggestions for computer softwares for car wash facilities including definition of goals, optimal software products, and staff management.

The article discusses the idea of adding a car wash to an existing oil change facility. According to the author, one thing to consider is whether it makes sense to add the car wash if the quick lube is already successful. She also notes that the startup cost can be high, involving money, property, zoning, and advertising.

The article presents information on cross marketing in the car wash industry. According to the author, operating a multi-profit business line-up can be a bit of a balancing act. On one hand, an operator wants to attract as many customers as they can to a fast lube, yet obtain at least that many, to another business, like a carwash. Shane Terry, president of North American Lubricants, said carwash and fast lube combo go hand in hand and the two services complement each other tremendously.