It’s a Different World Now. Is Your Wash Adjusting?
From the Author Uncategorized

As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches out, businesses everywhere have been tasked with adjusting. Without a definitive end in sight, it’s become clear the new measures being taken by the car wash industry aren’t just temporary—they’re here to stay, at least for a while. Rather than waiting it out, the smartest move you can make for your business is to adapt and proactively take stock of what you can do to stay profitable in the future. We’ve compiled 6 moves you can make to ensure your wash is as clean, safe, and prepared as possible in the ever-evolving landscape we’re all in.

Sanitize, Sanitize, Sanitize!

The bar on sanitization has been drastically raised across every industry imaginable, and the car wash industry isn’t an exception. If you want to continue operating your business safely and responsibly, taking increased measures to clean and sanitize is essential. This includes any and all shared surfaces, items, objects, buttons, handles, machines, pens…you get the idea. To keep it safe, you have to keep it clean.

Protect Your Employees

While employees are protecting customers, make sure you’re protecting your employees the very best you can. Provide any necessary masks or PPE they may need while on the job, have hand sanitizer or wash stations available, and minimize close contact in break rooms or restrooms. And always discourage anyone with a temperature or other COVID-19 symptoms to stay home and mitigate any potential spread of infection.

Communicate Clearly and Often

As the pandemic evolves, so do the mandates and restrictions in each state and county. Be sure to stay up on the most recent news in your area and communicate any updates or changes to how you operate. It’s important to keep everyone on the same page and clear on current policies. In addition to day-to-day operations, it’s a great idea to keep open the lines of communication on overall health. The virus is impacting most of us in multiple areas of our lives, and a compassionate check-in goes a long way in difficult times.

Leverage the Benefits of Technology

The benefits of a touchless experience have never been as evident as they are now. From touchless equipment to payment apps, any reduction in person-to-person contact goes a long way in keeping your customers comfortable and continuously washing their cars. If you’ve been considering investing in new technology for your business that helps on this front, now’s the time!

Stock Up

We all remember the clamor in the spring to buy up cleaning supplies and protective equipment, and even typical inventory. That’s what happens when you’re caught by surprise. As the pandemic continues and questions remain about what the future holds, it’s smart to stay stocked up on any supplies you anticipate you’ll need.

Roll With the Punches

We’ve all heard the word “unprecedented” too many times to count, but it’s worth mentioning again—we’re all trekking through new terrain together and it can be daunting. Staying flexible, smart, prepared, and optimistic is a good formula for navigating the coming months. The businesses that can adapt and embrace the changes are the ones that will thrive, and the entire family here at Harrell’s is here to help you do it.

Get in touch with us today and make sure you’re leveraging any and all of our knowledge for your success!

The Great American Road Trip
Inspiration

The coronavirus pandemic brought travel to a screeching halt in the spring—air travel in particular. As the months go on and restrictions are lifting in many areas, travel has begun to pick back up, although not always by way of plane. This summer, many travel and news outlets predicted the return of the Great American Road Trip. Families are canceling flights and hitting the highway in 2020, and that’s good news for the car wash industry.

The Logic

Cars offer more control when it comes to travel. You aren’t bustling around a crowded terminal or sharing a small space with strangers. You get to choose who you travel alongside, and when and where you interact with others. Less contact means less chance of spreading illness, and that’s why so many people are understandably opting for road travel.

The Destinations 

Instead of hopping a plane to the Caribbean or Europe, this year we’re criss-crossing our own backyard and discovering treasures closer to home. People who didn’t consider themselves camping types before? Now they’re buying tents and mapping routes to National Parks. Densely populated city destinations are being swapped out for deserts, mountains, and plains. The wide open outdoors has taken on a new appeal, and travelers are seeking out fresh air and vast spaces in ways they haven’t in the past. 

The Silver Lining

We see the silver lining to these health-related travel shifts as two-fold. First? Americans are out exploring parts of our country they may not have experienced before, discovering (and rediscovering) its beauty. And second, increased road travel translates to a lot more stops at car washes. The world may be a different place in this moment, but there are still plenty of adventures being had out there. And dirty cars to prove it. 

Get in touch with your Harrell’s rep and make sure your cleaning products and equipment are ready for this summer’s road-trippers.

Top Questions from Prospective Car Wash Owners: Operation
Building a Car Wash Choosing a Location

Talking through all the preliminary questions of building a car wash with prospective owners is important. Choosing a location, constructing the wash, and securing the best equipment are all critical to ensuring a strong foundation for car wash success. But inevitably we arrive at this point in the conversation: What can owners expect once the wash is built? Today, we’re tackling the topic of operation. Here’s what you need to know about running a car wash after the building phase is checked off.

On-Site Employees

Depending on the type of wash you operate, the number of employees you’ll need on the site can fluctuate. Here’s what we’ve found to be true in different scenarios: In-bay automatic locations typically require only a single part-time employee. Busier in-bay locations could require a full-time alternating shift between two employees.

Tunnel or conveyor-style car washes require full-time employment continuously while the site is open. For express exterior-only tunnels, two to three people per shift is typical with peak periods requiring more employees. Site managers and assistant managers are usually required as well. For tunnel sites that offer additional services such as quick detail or full service options, two to three times that number of employees could be necessary.

Return on Investment

This is hands-down one of the biggest questions on the minds of prospective car wash owners, and rightly so. Once the investment has been made, what’s the expected rate of return?

Of course, this number varies and depends on where your car wash is located and what type of wash it is. That said, a typical return on investment is 13-18%, with larger projects potentially reaching 20% or more. This is why the planning and proforma stage of the process is so important. Return on investment will vary greatly based on population, traffic, competition, and type of car wash.

For example, an in-bay automatic in a town with a population below 10,000 people with two competing washes could return 15%. A larger tunnel (conveyor) style wash with limited competition with heavy traffic could exceed 20%. Think about the type of wash you’re planning to operate and your own unique set of circumstances and environment, and you can project—to a degree—what your return on investment may be.

We’re here to answer your questions about site planning, construction, equipment, operation, and much more. Give us a shout to start the conversation about building your own car wash. That’s what we’re here for!

Top Questions from Prospective Car Wash Owners: Construction
Uncategorized

When we speak with prospective car wash owners, an important part of the conversation revolves around construction. Naturally, questions arise about this part of the process. How much property is required to build a car wash? How important is visibility? What are the best types of lots? How long does construction usually take? 

After 40 years of helping folks navigate car wash projects from beginning to end, we’ve gained valuable insight into each layer of the process. This month, we’re sharing what we’ve learned about car wash construction, from site selection to building timelines. 

Location Is Everything 

Really, it is. When choosing a location for your wash, the importance of site visibility can’t be overstated. Gaining the attention of drivers on main roads is vital to the success of your business, as well as the visibility of your services and signage. The very best spots have direct visibility to a main thoroughfare in your area. Access to your wash can be off an access road, but you should still aim for the highest visibility possible. Almost without exception, paying a premium for a great lot will dramatically increase return on investment. 

Beyond visibility, there are other variables that affect a lot’s suitability. Things like property easements and lot setbacks are important; a large utility easement that runs through a parcel in an inconvenient location can ruin what would otherwise appear to be a great lot. And when it comes to structures, keep in mind that car wash buildings are typically long and narrow and will require plenty of stacking area for customers. As for lot size? As a general rule, lots with more depth than width are your best bets. Smaller in-bay automatic sites can be built on less than an acre, whereas larger tunnel sites can require an acre or more. 

Typical Timelines 

Car wash projects require patience. It takes time to find the right piece of property that will accommodate a car wash. Proper zoning, traffic, access, and visibility are all essential. 

Once a few suitable locations have been identified, we move to the proforma, or feasibility stage. During this stage we will utilize proprietary industry tools and formulas to arrive at approximate wash counts for a site location. Additionally, we pull traffic counts, population counts, and incomes. This stage can take weeks or months depending on the number of lots analyzed. 

So what kind of timeline are we talking about, specifically? It can take 3-6 months to find a suitable location that is properly zoned (or could be properly zoned with a variance) and obtain approval to build both from local and state governments. This process varies  from city to city, so remember this is an estimate. 

The building process itself also varies based on type of wash and time of year. A good rule of thumb for an in-bay automatic site is 3-4 months for the construction process, whereas a tunnel will take roughly 6 months to construct.

Remember: each step of building a car wash is important, and the decisions you make during the earlier part of the process will affect how your wash fares in the long run. At Harrell’s, we’re committed to walking with you through each of these steps, guiding you through the decisions that ultimately lead to success.

Top Questions From Prospective Car Wash Owners: Wash Types
Building a Car Wash Choosing a Location

Here at Harrell’s, we talk with a lot of prospective car wash owners. Naturally, those looking to break into the business have questions and curiosities about the brass tacks of owning a wash. There’s undoubtedly a lot to consider before building a car wash.

Every scenario is unique, but the questions are often the same. Prospective owners need to know about wash types, locations, the building process, and operation, among other important considerations. This month, we’re tackling one of the biggest questions we receive: What type of car wash is best for me?

This question is extremely important and needs to be answered early in the planning process. In order to move forward with the feasibility analysis (or pro forma), the team at Harrell’s will ask some basic questions: Will this be your primary business? Is this a supplement to an existing business like a convenience store or auto service shop? How much time are you planning to spend on site operating your wash? Are you in a high or low population area? Once some of these basic questions are answered, we can start talking about the type of car wash that’s best for you.

In-Bay Automatic

In-bay automatic sites are typically best for owners that already have a primary business or are adding a wash to an existing business, like a gas station.These sites require less employee oversight on an hourly basis and are designed to run unattended for pretty substantial periods of time.

In most cases, in-bay automatic sites have a lower threshold with regard to traffic and population requirements.They can be built in larger metropolitan areas as well as smaller towns with populations below 4,000 people. We have many single bay automatic sites in towns with fewer than 3,000 people. Many of these sites have self-serve bays as well.

For larger metropolitan areas with higher traffic numbers, additional in-bay automatics can be added in series. Two to four bay automatic sites are common throughout our territory. In-bay automatics are offered as either touch-free or soft-touch, and multi bay sites often have at least one of each.

Tunnel

The other type of car wash would be a tunnel, or conveyor style, car wash.These sites usually require larger populations and traffic and consequently require significantly more of the owner’s time.

Tunnel car washes are offered with an older, more traditional, steel in-bed conveyer or with newer belted technology. We recommend that tunnel washes always have employees on site during operational hours. Multiple employees working in shifts along with a management team is highly recommended for optimal operation.

The ROI for a busy tunnel site can exceed 15-20% but this return will require either a significant time investment or a significant investment in strong management. Most often, it needs both to be successful.

When it comes to the type of car wash you’ll operate, it all comes down to your unique situation. The team at Harrell’s has over 40 years of experience in the industry and we’re happy to help you navigate the process of building your own car wash, from startup to success!

How Social is Your Wash?
Building a Car Wash Car Wash Loyalty Program

If you’re a business owner, you’re always thinking of your customers: earning new ones, retaining old ones, giving them a great experience, growing the relationship. Without customers, your business won’t survive. Without them, there’s no you.

You’re likely already communicating with your customers in a number of ways, but if social media isn’t one of them, you’re missing out on a golden—and free—marketing opportunity. With more than 3 billion people using social media on a regular basis, your customers are already engaging with their favorite brands. Make sure yours is one of them.  

Visibility

The currency of social media is eyeballs. The more viewers you get, the greater your chances of conversion. Without a presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn, you get zero visibility and lose out on the chance to, first and foremost, remind people you exist. Getting in front of an audience informs or reminds them about your business and your services, and that’s the first step in the right direction. Make your presence known!

Promotion 

Capturing attention is only part of the battle. When using social media for marketing purposes, you ultimately want to encourage action. Make each of your posts count. Share the new wash special, showcase the cool new equipment, show off the sparkling car rolling out of your tunnel—give them a reason to use your service. But remember: nobody wants to be marketed to all the time. Balance out your content by sharing helpful tips, behind-the-scenes peeks, or posts that show your personality. Connect on a real level, not just a sales level.

Interaction

One of the greatest things about social media is the unique opportunity to talk directly to your customers. If someone comments on a picture or post, make sure you take time to respond! Follow, re-post, and tag other businesses in your community; they’ll probably do the same for you. Make yourself accessible and responsive, and you’ll build lasting trust in your brand.

The Tube is a car wash in Fort Wayne, Indiana that uses social media effectively to drive business and reach their customers. Using several different platforms, they’re able to share videos, promote specials, recruit new employees, share positive reviews, promote their services, and connect with their community.

Ask yourself how your own wash can use these platforms to do the same. Posting photos and engaging with users takes a bit of planning and effort, but the reward is often a customer base that grows in number and loyalty. Contact your Harrell’s rep today to talk about the best tools and plans for marketing your wash.

Flat Belt Conveyors: 4 Reasons to Love Them
Building a Car Wash

Inside the car wash tunnel, the most important piece of equipment is your conveyor. Moving cars through the wash is what you’re here for, so it’s worthwhile to select the best conveyor for the job. While chain and roller systems have long dominated the industry, many are making the leap to flat belt conveyors. Why? We’re rounded up a few of the top reasons these systems are gaining traction.

They’re easier for customers.

Admit it—lining up your wheels with the chain and roller track can be a little intimidating as a driver. Not to mention the possibility of damage to your vehicle if you don’t follow the rules about turning, braking, or shifting out of neutral. Flat belt conveyors follow none of these rules. Drivers can easily pull onto the belt and be transported on a safe, worry-free ride to a cleaner car.

They put cars through the tunnel faster.

Cars can enter the tunnel at a faster rate and pull closer to one another on the belt, allowing for a quicker throughput. Plus, there’s no waiting for an attendant to wave you onto the track and fewer opportunities for errors that slow the process. And more cars through your wash means more revenue.

They’re easier to maintain.

Flat belt conveyors are sleeker and simpler in design than their chain and roller counterparts. With fewer moving parts, the equipment has less chance to fail or malfunction, halting car wash business and depleting your bottom line.

They wash more vehicle types.

A flat, wide belt means you’re free from the size restrictions a chain and roller system might impose. Think massive duallies or low-profile sports cars—potential customers you’d miss out on with a size-restrictive track.

Have questions about conveyor systems and which type is right for your wash? Contact a Harrell’s rep today to learn more about the features and benefits available to you!

 

Selling Up: 3 Trusted Tips
Generate Revenue Site Maintenance

Developing a happy, satisfied customer base is important at any car wash. Every wash strives to pull in steady business and earn a great reputation among vehicle owners. But don’t forget: just because a customer pulls into your wash doesn’t mean the selling process has ended! We’ve compiled a few trusted tips for increasing your average ticket and ultimately, your bottom line.

Work the Menu

Think of your menu as the unpaid employee, silently promoting your services to customers. The design of your menu board can be just as important as the information it conveys. The average customer likely comes in looking for a basic wash, but presenting the added services in an easy-to-understand format can be effective in increasing ticket averages. Think simple package names that are clearly ranked, straightforward benefits that show the added value of higher packages, and font sizing that makes it easy to read from a distance.

Expand Your Services

Consider adding to the selection of services at your wash, giving customers good reason to purchase more during their visit. Whether it’s a fragrance option or a premium sealant, those special touches are what set your wash apart from the competition, help pull in new customers, and ensure a loyal and returning base.

Get Personal

When employees have the opportunity to interact with a customer prior to purchasing a wash, it’s the perfect chance to get personal and specific. A quick glance at a vehicle will reveal areas that need extra attention. Dirty rims, salt residue, a bug-laden windshield, or muddy tires are all reasons to upgrade a standard wash and purchase added services that target specific areas of the car. When a car wash employee points out the area and offers a treatment recommendation, customers often listen and purchase the added service. A conversation with someone who can see the exterior of a vehicle carries more weight than words on a menu. Make it personal!

Ready to discuss ways you can transform ticket averages? Get in touch with your Harrell’s rep today to find out more.

The Single Area You Control…Always.
Inspiration

If you invest in a business, there will be factors you can’t always control. The competition, the weather, the employee that flaked—some things are out of our hands. But not everything. The area you have complete control over, always? Customer service.

The human experience is crucial to the success of your business. When a customer comes to your wash and interacts with an employee, it can make or break the whole experience. Their car may come out sparkling clean, but if they had a rude or neglectful experience with an employee, it leaves a sour taste. Remember: courtesy and professionalism go a long way in any business, and you have one hundred percent control over the way you treat people.

Customer Service in Action
Some car washes do this exceptionally well. When customer service is beyond the norm, people take notice! Our friends at Clearwater Car Wash in Indiana are a great example of this above-and-beyond approach to service.

When Assistant Manager Trent Barlow and Wash Attendant Michael Lehman heard about a customer losing her necklace while using a vacuum at their wash, they immediately went into search mode. They dug through the trash, looked through all the dirty hoses and filters, and sifted through collection bins with no luck. The necklace was a gift from the customer’s children and she was devastated. So after closing that evening, they tried again. In their second search, they found the necklace! Their customer was so happy to have it returned that she brought all the employees donuts the following day. This is the heart of true customer service—treating others how we want to be treated ourselves.

It doesn’t stop there. Clearwater Car Wash uses their business to encourage service in their community and around the world. Portions of single washes go toward Water for Good, an organization that helps provide clean drinking water in Africa. Each month, they host a donation day where $2 of every wash goes toward a designated nonprofit organization. They work with local community services to supply Christmas gifts to a family in need every December. They also hold raffles and give away prizes and gift baskets to their Unlimited Pass Members each month. They use their business as a way to build up the community and invest in those relationships.

We love hearing these stories that illustrate the power of customer service. What are practices you’ve heard of, or done yourself, that reveal the positive effects of great, above-and-beyond service?

3 Tips to Go From Reactive to Proactive
Building a Car Wash

We’ve all fallen victim to knee-jerk responses when something goes wrong at work. It’s an all-too-common scenario: something breaks, someone quits, something unexpected crops up, and suddenly you’re channeling all your energy into a crisis that wasn’t on your list for the day.

Of course, some things in life can’t be foreseen or prevented. But when it comes to running an effective car wash business, you’ll dramatically reduce downtime and avoid these reactive moments if you plan smarter on the front end.

Schedule regular equipment maintenance

It seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how often car wash operators skip over routine servicing of their wash equipment. It’s costly in every way when a critical part of your wash suddenly breaks—plus it reflects poorly on your image. Make the time to have your equipment checked and do minor repairs when necessary, and avoid the stress of an unexpected catastrophe.

Build and develop a great crew

Hiring and firing takes time, and comes with the territory of running a car wash. If you put in the leg work up front to screen and hire competent and promising employees, you’ll be rewarded in the long run. Prioritize consistent and thorough training, give ample opportunities for growth and advancement, and help to create a positive environment. A professional, happy crew makes for a better impression on customers and an overall stronger business.

Always be marketing

It’s tempting to take your foot off the gas momentarily when it comes to your marketing efforts. But don’t wait until you see a dip in your bottom line to start paying attention to how you promote your wash. Make it a continual practice to evaluate your prices, your menus, your promotions, your technology, and your engagement with customers across platforms. It’s much easier to stay alert and ahead than to come back from behind.

Don’t let disaster sneak up on you! Harrell’s Car Wash Systems can help you take proactive steps to ensure your wash runs smoothly and profitably.