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2 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 3

CONTENTS 

Fun & Games ..................4 

Tricks 

of the Trade .......................8 

Around the Wash: 

Ransomeware ................... 14 

Tips ................................... 22 

Industry Dirt ................. 24 

Association News 

& Calendar .................... 28 

Polls .................................. 34 


FAQs about 

Chemistry.......................... 38 

The Right to Wash 

Part 4 .................................. 44 

Cover Story 

Loyalty Programs ............ 46 

Darwin at the 

Carwash........................... 50 

FUN& 

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Are you tired of break-ins and being the "neighborhood bank" for everyone 

who needs quarters? Switching to tokens can stop these problems. 

VOL. 51, NO. 4, FALL 2023 

Publisher Jackson Vahaly 

Editor Debra Gorgos 

Design Katy Barret-Alley 

Editor Emeritus Jarret J. Jakubowski 

Editor Posthumous Joseph J. Campbell 

Editor Posthumous Julia E. Campbell 

Self Serve Carwash News is published 4 times 

per year and is independently owned by Jackson 

Vahaly. Web address is www.sscwn.com. 

All inquiries should be directed to: 

Self Serve Car Wash News 

110 Childs Ln., Franklin, TN 37067 

jacksonv@sscwn.com 

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Copyright 2023. 2 Dollar Media/SSCWN. All Rights Reserved 

4 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 5

FUN& 

GAMES 

Consider these 

items for your 

wish list... 

GIFT-GIVING SEASON IS HERE! 

HO Scale 

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This is a 3d printed car wash 

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Unfortunately, this one is dis-continued, but maybe you can find it on auction 

sites…. Toywonders.com: Availability: This item has been DISCONTINUED. 

There are no scheduled production runs for this item. We have no further 

information on this item. If we learn otherwise, this message will be updated. 

WHAT’S DIFFERENT? 

Think 

these two pictures taken at a self 

serve car wash are the same? Think again! 

There are five differences. Can you spot them all? 

1 Missing wand holders 

2. Girl leaning on car 

3. Extra brush holder 

4. Two green signs 

5. Second set of bay lights 

6 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 7

Presenting some of the best self serve 

discussions from CarwashForum.com. 

Washing in a 

Winter Wonderland 

Please Note: Some posts feature minor edits for readability. Also note that opinions and statements made 

here are by each forum user and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Self Serve Car Wash News. 

Mo’ money, less customers? 

I wonder if anyone has experience with the overall percentage 

increase in sales if I increase from $2 to $3 start on my wash. 

I assume I may lose some customers over the increase. 

Can I expect a 10%, 20%, 25% increase? - WHEELS 

Not sure about increase in sales. But when I remodeled 

my wash, I did starting price of $3/4min. Occasionally 

someone will say something or someone will 

drive through and leave after looking at the price/ 

sign. The only self serve close by is a couple miles 

away on the opposite side of town, has watered 

down chemicals and starting price is $3.75. Everyone 

I talk to tells me how good my chemicals are and 

how clean my place is compared to theirs. If you’re 

providing a superior service, you shouldn’t be afraid 

to set it to $3. Just my two cents. - MATTWASH 

We have been $6 for 5 minutes cash or credit since 

Jan 2023 and sales up 12% year to date. - CARWASHBOY 

I know every market is different, but with inflation 

where it is, interest rates where they are, the cost of 

goods sold increasing, why isn’t everyone at five dollars 

to start? It’s not that much money guys. I’ve been 

at five dollars now going on two years and I have had 

very few if any customer complaints. I wish I had 

done it a year earlier. 

A fountain soda at a restaurant is more than two dollars. 

Think about it. - WAXMAN 

$3 for 4 minutes is the new Industry Standard like in 

2001 it was $2.00 for 4 minutes. If my competition 

wasn’t giving it away for free at $1.50 I would be $3 

myself… - TDLCONCEPTSLLC 

One of the few studies I could find on national water 

rates. Utility water bills increased 43% from 2012- 

2021. Up 43% over Last Decade, Water Rates Rising 

Faster than Other Household Utility Bills - Bluefield 

Research Boston, Massachusetts: New analysis 

shows water rate growth currently outpacing other 

household utility services (e.g., power, gas) at an average 

of 4.2% per year. As such, the combined water 

& wastewater bill for a typical U.S. household has 

swelled to 43.2% from 2012 to 2021, an indicator 

of... www.bluefieldresearch.com 

Now take into consideration how much have 

chemicals, energy, and equipment/repair parts increased 

over the last decade? We should probably be 

at much higher rates. - MATTWASH 

I just went from $4 to $5, in two weeks only one 

8 • FALL 2023 

person asked about if the price went up. Most of my 

customers spend more than $5 so it doesn’t make 

any difference to them. Only the cheapskate people 

that want to spend the minimum and mess up your 

place. You can’t even buy gum and a soda anymore 

for $5. I don’t want anyone on my lot unless they are 

going to spend a minimum of $5 & up. I’m in the 

business to make $$$$ not eat top ramen and give 

everything away for free. - RAA007 

I agree with you completely. 

The car wash isn’t supposed to be a hobby. What 

are your vacuums priced at? - MATTWASH 

$2 - 6 minutes. 50 % of customers only use about 5 

minutes and leave time remaining. - RAA007 

Our Vacs are 3$ for 3 minutes. Avg vac revenue per 

customer is $5.75. Been that way for over 2 years. - 

CARWASHBOY 

We have been at a $3 start for several years and have 

a competitor that is still at $1.50 and we do well 

against them. I can’t wrap my mind around how 

they are willing to stay that low with all the cost increases 

in the last few years. - OURTOWN 

I Just recently went to $2.50 this summer. In 2020 It 

was $1 when I bought the place and renovated with 

everything you could offer for a self serve and been 

going up since. - TDLCONCEPTSLLC 

Depends on the area …we are at $3 for 4 mins bays 

and $2 for 6 mins vac. Also customer perception is to 

be considered also. A lot will just look at start price 

and not cost per minute. I know an operator that 

won’t raise his start price because of this, and I’ve 

seen it personally. He is at $2 start for 2 mins with 

pay vacs, his customers still think he is “cheaper” than 

the guy down the road at $5 for 5 mins with free 

vacs. - KENO 

Most washes around me don’t post the time, only 

the start price. The three closest to me are $1.25 to 

start. - HEYVERN 

We decreased ours from $3 to $2. Increased traffic 

after that. People don’t like forgetting to put in quarters 

and having to put back in $3. From what I’ve 

noticed, when we had $3 start, some customers stop 

on the wax setting because they don’t want to put in 

another $3. We have 1 second for 1 cent, ($0.25 for 

25 seconds)... - FUTURAFAN 

I raised all my prices this year. Self serve bays are $4 

to start for 5 minutes. $5 minimum for credit cards. 

Eliminated quarters all together. Vacs went from 

$1/4 minutes to $2/5 minutes. I’ve had a couple 

people question it and my response is always, “What 

do I need to charge to run my business?” Everything 

is through the roof right now and I guarantee you 

that the price of a cheeseburger isn’t going to dramatically 

decrease when gas prices go down, if ever, 

or when interest rates go down, if ever. The current 

inflation is here to stay. Soap is way up over the last 

2 years and so are utilities and labor. Do people ever 

question the price of the soda at the C-store, or the 

price of a gallon of gas to the clerk? The car wash 

industry has been so timid about price increases. I 

don’t care what my competitors are charging, this 

is what it takes for me to run my business and keep 

the doors open longer than just this year. Just my 2 

cents! - LIGHTHOUSECARWASH 

Did you stop accepting coins? Bills and card only? 

Do you have a bill breaker for customers? I’m looking 

to do the same - RAA007 

NO MORE QUARTERS! I do not have a bill breaker, 

but it’s something that I’ve been researching. I 

think it would be a good idea to have one. Obvi- 

CONTINUED ... P. 10 

This is my first winter as a car wash owner. I’m located 

in Alabama and do have my weepmizer installed. I have 

triple foam and foam brush, and I’m not sure if I need to 

weep both or run antifreeze soap. Any insight would be 

appreciated! - SSELBY 

I’m assuming you have the triple foam on a separate 

gun, which I feel would need to weep. With regard to 

foam brushes, I prefer having antifreeze soap. What’s 

nice is the set-up where your antifreeze soap comes 

on at a temperature you set, and the brushes purge 

the lines of the summer soap. - WASH4LIFE 

Yes, sorry for not clarifying. Triple foam is run through 

a splatter gun. Thanks for the response. - SSELBY 

Weep is for keeping lines from freezing but AF Soap 

helps not only with that but in Chicago we can still 

have a busy day when it is 10 degrees outside (Don’t 

know if you have that issue) and non AF soap on 10 

degree metal will freeze almost instantly. - EARL WEISS 

You can use winter formula to protect your brushes. 

For triple foam guns to work properly in freezing 

conditions consider this: Water weep will dilute the 

product. When the Weepmizer turns on the water 

the tri-foam product will be diluted and quality delivery 

to the active gun will be impacted. This is not 

too significant an issue IF the temperature is 34°F 

because the weep water is only on for 6 seconds every 

minute (assuming Weepmizer’s default programming.) 

However, if your customers are using the trifoam 

system on a sunny 25°F day, the weep water 

will be flowing for 30 seconds every minute. 

To resolve this “concern”, you’ll need to install a 

normally open solenoid or motorized ball valve on 

each weep line to the splatter gun. Wired parallel to 

the product solenoid valves, the NO valves will close, 

stopping water weep to the active tri-foam gun. - 

CANTBREAK80 

So many ways to skin this cat! Weeping FB and TF/ 

PS hoses would have been too costly for me. Something 

to consider when weeping these services. My 

water/sewage cost is approaching $20 per thousand 

gallons. On my HP guns alone for a 4 bay at temps 

around 15, I can use 800-1000 gallons a day. 2500- 

3000 gallons total per day if weeping FB and TF/PS 

hoses. So not cost effective at all. 2nd best is to use 

methanol added to the soaps. I’ve tried it and it’s also 

expensive. It’s not issue free! I’ve had multiple freeze 

ups trying this method. Least expensive (in the long 

run) is an automated blow down washer fluid injection 

system. Last winter I used less than 50 gallons 

of washer fluid for 8 hoses. About $100 total for the 

winter. No freeze ups if installed correctly! - 2BIZ 

CONTINUED ... P. 12 

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NOW SERVING 

 

 

FALL 2023 • 9

ously, it won’t make you any money, but I get the 

convenience that it provides to customers. Meters, 

vacs, and vending only take cash and card via Nayax 

readers. I also have my SS bays, IBA’s, vending, and 

vacs on the Beacon mobile app. My portals on the 

IBA’s still have coin acceptors, but I did build them 

with bill dispensers to return change and DRB won’t 

do an option to remove the coin acceptors although 

I could block it off myself. I get about $2 per week 

of quarters in the hopper so not a big deal. It was a 

foreign concept to a few people when they couldn’t 

find a coin slot but it’s not a big deal now that customers 

are used to it. Location 1 & 2 are now coinless 

and location 3 will be as soon as my Ginsan meters 

are built and ready to ship! - LIGHTHOUSECARWASH 

So, what worked?... 

Brookswash21 had the following problem: 

Help!!! Ok. Just the other day someone decided to just snatch my whole wand 

and hose from the boom in one of my wash bays. The piece that attached to the 

boom itself was brass and it sheared it clean. 

How do I remove that piece of pipe thread that is left in the boom part? I 

thought I used an ease out but I think what I grabbed and used was a thread 

maker. I have a whole set of extractors that I bought from a local plumbing 

supply house. It has about 20 pieces that go up in size. Short of that you can go 

to a hardware store and get an easy out. Remember they turn in reverse and 

tighten as they turn. Sometimes it helps to pound them in a little at first. - SOAPY 

You are seriously going to lose loyal customers… - 

FUTURAFAN 

What are you basing that on? We’ve done a ton of 

sites that have eliminated quarters and I have not 

heard a negative response from a single operator. 

Literally every single one has said they may have 

lost a couple of customers but their overall revenue 

was up. - DAN KAMSICKAS 

Our wash uses quarters. We have 4 bays with card 

only (coins not accepted because the coin acceptors 

broke) and 4 with quarters and card. The majority 

of our customers (75%) use the bays with quarters 

and about 60% of our customers use quarters. People 

like to have options. If we eliminated quarters, we 

would have a decent amount of customers stop using 

our wash and move to another one that has more 

payment options. We also use Touch4Wash, even 

less people use that, around 9%. Vacuums also use 

quarters, they made up about 1/3 of our profit, now 

it’s 1/4. Our recently installed automatic has already 

gained quite a bit of traction, roughly 15 cars per day 

and the installation was finished in June. - FUTURAFAN 

That is your current operation. It says nothing about 

what would happen. You’re assuming. I thought my 

customers were nuts when they said they were eliminating 

coins. I assumed they would lose a bunch of 

customers. The end result is their revenue is up. The 

time they are putting into collecting quarters is down. 

Less work, more revenue. That is the goal. I’m not saying 

it’s for everyone but to automatically assume it’s a 

bad idea as you have is wrong. - DAN KAMSICKAS 

My customers love my washes and they are loyal. I 

haven’t had a single complaint. My time is very expensive! 

I can collect cash much, much faster than 

I can carry around the quarters. It’s easier to take to 

the bank and deposit. I eliminate all the maintenance 

on the change machines and digging quarters out of 

coin acceptors. My start up price is $4. Who wants 

to stand there and plug 16 quarters into a slot? People 

get out of their car, walk to the change machine, 

put in cash, get quarters, walk back to the bay, put 

in quarters. I then have to empty the vaults, carry 

them back to the change machine and put them 

back into another hopper, just to do it all over again 

and again and again! Why not just throw that cash in 

the bay and save the in between? I get the “we want 

customers to use whatever currency they have,” but I 

think we need to evolve as an industry. Businesses are 

10 • FALL 2023 

As soapy says... A #6 screw extractor works for 

3/8” fittings. From Ace Hardware: - CANTBREAK80 

I use the square extractors like this. I hammer 

it into the soft brass fitting and then unscrew it. 

From Zoro: - GREGPACK 

Soapy is right, get a set of easy outs or bolt 

extractors. Great tool to have around the car 

wash. You can get them at Lowes or Home depot. 

- RANDY 

changing how they operate and A LOT of businesses 

don’t even accept cash anymore. I won’t look back 

and question my decision! - LIGHTHOUSECARWASH 

I take CCs with Cryptopay, ones, fives, tens and 

twenties for Dollar Tokens and quarters 

I added Cryptopay about 2 years ago. My sales are 

currently $1 Cryptopay, $1 cash for tokens and 50 

cents in quarters. 

It’s 23 seconds for 25 cents. 

I was surprised that adding Cryptopay didn’t reduce 

my cash sales, it just added revenue. 

I’m currently $1 start for tokens or quarters and 

$3 start for CCs. 

I’m ready to do a facelift with new coin boxes 

(customer Interface) and paint and decals. 

I’m planning to raise my price to $1 a minute and 

do count up on CCs 

Start price will remain the same. - BILL CAPRON 

My logic for going coinless is simply....and might apply 

to several of you guys out there. 

When to go coinless??? 

When my change machine dies.......I will NOT 

replace it. When my coin acceptors die....I will not 

replace them. Simple. 

We have been preparing to go coinless.... We have 

been slowly putting CC readers and taps (Crypto) 

on all our equipment...SS, vending, vacs. Upgrading 

paystations for IBAs with chip/contactless readers 

also. Simple...We will go “coinless” when the stuff 

dies....NOT before. 

I think the timing will be PERFECT.... - MONTE 

If the leadership & extreme corruption at the federal 

level is cleaned up... hopefully there will be a 

need to avoid 100% cashless; which could mean that 

the practicality & availability of higher denomination 

coins could make a strong comeback IMHO! 

If it’s brass and you’re in a bind, sometimes a 

pair of needle nose pliers will work if you have 

room to get them in. Extractors are best, but 

worth a try in a pinch. - PCB 

Thank you all for the replies. I bought the 

smaller ease outs and was surprised it came 

out so easy compared to the part I had to remove 

from the hose end part. But it’s up and 

going again. - BROOKSWASH21 

My perspective ... there is a way of not putting “all 

our eggs” in the cashless basket. Some of the horrific 

persecution to Hong Kong residents is clearly related 

to privacy abuses & potential (privacy & merchant 

fee) abuses within too much 100% cashless. - MJWALSH 

The beauty of the internet - this thread has taken on 

a life of its own. As it relates to $3 startup, I asked one 

of our employees to check the competition in the 

town we are in. The competition is as follows: $1.50 

for 4 minutes, $1.75 for four minutes, and $2.00 

for five minutes. We are $2 for four minutes. Seems 

like I am somewhat higher priced and our revenue 

this year is slightly flat. I’d love to move to $3 but 

it would make us even more expensive. There is an 

argument to be made that we have staff on site and 

we provide much better service, but I don’t know if 

people will buy into that. 

As it relates to coinless, I like learning what others 

are doing. At the wash bay we have cryptopay (2 

years or so), bill acceptors, and coins. Credit cards 

account for about 27% or so of our sales at the wash 

bay. We sometimes ask customers why they make 

change instead of just using the bill acceptors at 

the bays. Their answers range from we didn’t notice, 

to they want to control how much they spend. 

Our vacuums only accept coins so I am not sure if 

we could get away from coins. I’d definitely like to 

have less coins, but our customers seem to want to 

continue using. Sometimes it pays to give customers 

what they want. I am constantly getting irked 

at companies that take away my choice and charge 

me more. - CENTRALTEX 

Exactly, based on our experience... especially on the 

laundromat side of our business ... 3 coins vs “forced 

to use” 12 coins makes a $3 startup more palatable 

for almost 100% of our customers. - MJWALSH 

FALL 2023 • 11

I have a 10 bay (10 bay is set up to weep) and 

an 8 bay that I run a similar system as 2Biz. I 

will be converting the 10 bay to the same system 

in the spring. I just took that one over and 

do not have enough time to build the system 

before it gets cold. 

On the 8 Bay I have 2 FB delivery systems, 1 

regular soap 1 Winter Blend, Regular soap has 

a master NC Solenoid and Winter Blend has a 

NO solenoid. Each soap and air is fed to the 

manifold in the heated trough. 

All the following is controlled by a PLC. 

• STEP 1 Temp hits 33.6 and must hold 

there or below for 5 minutes. If temp hits 

33.6 and holds for 4 minutes then goes 

back to 34 then back to 33.6 the timer 

resets (the temp controller i’m using will 

actually read to the .1 degree). 

• STEP 2 After hold time has passed at 33.6 

Master Solenoids for Foam Brushes are 

de-energized to reach their normal state 

• STEP 3 Foam brushes are purged with 

air only for approx 20 seconds per bay 

2 bays at a time. This blows the main 

amount of regular soap from the bay 

hose. 

when the temperature rises back above 35 and 

holds that temperature for 10 minutes. 

If a customer activates a foam brush for more 

than 5 seconds it will repeat the blow down 

(Step 4) 10 minutes after the bay timer has 

turned off 

I also have manual ball valves in the main line 

to bypass the solenoids if i feel i need to manually 

override the system for 1 soap or the other, 

or during the summer i can turn all outputs off 

on the HMI Screen to a neutral state and feed 

regular soap bypassing the NC solenoid. 

I have it set to not do all the bays at once due 

to allowing the main compressor to keep up as 

usually during the cycle for the Foam brushes 

the Blow down functions on my razor will 

probably activate at the same time. You have to 

allow the compressor sufficient recovery time 

or you will run out of air. 

I’ve still got modifications and additions I’m 

going to make. I have a bunch of extra outputs 

and will probably use some of them with floor 

heat, trough heat, and break some stuff into 

zones to be able to save some $. Last year was 

the 1st year on the fb. I gradually adjusted the 

timers and programming to tighten it up. I’ve 

still got room to go. I’d rather play it conservative 

than have a freeze up. Last December at 

Christmas when the big freeze happened. I shut 

down early and was well protected. I was about 

the only one that was open the day after Christmas 

as most everyone else was frozen so all the 

$$$ came to me. - CBCHEVY4X4 

Stone Soap ® 

now available on 

• STEP 4 Each Bay turns on the Foam 

Brush (air and Winter Blend now) 2 bays 

at a time as if a customer were using 

it for approx 20 seconds per bay. This 

helps clean any remaining regular soap 

product from the bay hose. 

• STEP 4 Each Bay repeats Step 3 blowing 

out each bay hose twice. It cycles 

through all bays 2 at a time once then all 

bays 2 at time a second time 

System has now been converted from regular 

soap to Winter Blend and is sitting in a neutral 

state with winter blend soaps active. The system 

will switch back automatically to regular soap 

The Faster, Easier, Smarter 

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I’m in central Alabama and weep water. I shut down 

when a hard freeze is forecast. I don’t have floor heat 

and ice will form from overspray on concrete aprons 

when those few days where it’s super cold and create 

a slip hazard. It’s rarely cold for long so the wash 

business really slows down anyway as the vast majority 

of my customers will just wait for it to warm back 

up in a couple days. 

I probably shut down between five- ten days a 

year. If you’re near the Tennessee border you may 

need to alter your plan and might benefit from having 

a little antifreeze foam brush on hand. - GREG PACK 

cbchevy4x4: Your system is pretty complex, plus 

you still have the cost of methanol soaps. Did you 

consider using washer fluid and air to blow out the 

lines instead? I would think it would be a lot cheaper 

and more effective. I stay open till about 5 below 

zero with no doors. No problems with freeze ups. 

If it’s going to stay like that for days, I might close 

2 bays down and keep 2 open...I have had people 

wash at 5 below! Last winter was pretty mild except 

for the Christmas time cold snap. I might have 

used $50 worth of washer fluid. Normal winters, 

maybe $100. - 2BIZ 

I did consider it, last winter was the first year with 

my system installed vs the old overcomplicated ways 

we did things. My methanol soap usage was at just 

over 15 total gallons last winter, that includes the 

actual customer usage and the soap used to purge. 

I know exactly how much soap was used to purge 

based on the programming and flow rates and it was 

just less than 2.7 gallons ($22 in cost) for the whole 

winter. I’d say we had a less than average winter but 

I did start the year very conservative in my programming 

and probably used 1.5 gallons in the first 1/4 

of the cold season. Years before we’d easily use 30 

to 40 gallons per year. This year I’m projecting based 

on an average of winter temps and average business 

probably using 15-20 gallons total. I liked purging 

with the methanol as it’s already to the manifold - no 

more lines to run, it’s ready to go and by having the 

methanol you don’t get the instant freeze of foam on 

cold metal so it’s a little easier for customers to wash 

off. - CBCHEVY4X4 

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12 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 13


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The incidences of cyber-based crime 

has grown expeditiously, casting a shadow 

over organizations of all sizes and industries. 

The study reveals that 90% of resiliency 

professionals foresee a surge in risks 

14 • FALL 2023 

Ten 

Steps 

Businesses 

Can Take 

1. Understand risk profiles 

2. Realize data 

responsibilities 

3. Test for incoming 

phishing attacks 

4. Assess all cybersecurity 

roles on a regular, 

event-controlled basis 

5. Evaluate patches 

on a timely basis 

National Security Council 

Guidance 

Cyberthreats are not a new phenomenon. In fact, 

cybercrime has seen a sure-but-steady uptick in the 

past few years. Following back-to-back ransomware 

attacks all the way back in 2021, the head of cyber 

and emerging technology at the National Security 

Council, Anne Neuberger, wrote a letter to private 

sector companies urging leaders to review their cybersecurity 

posture as a significant risk to business operations 

and resilience. Examining more recent data, 

cybercrime has grown by as much as 38% in 2022, 

and these figures are likely to be even higher by the 

end of 2023. 

Here are ten steps provided by ISACA that 

businesses can take to be better prepared 

for and help prevent ransomware attacks. 

6. Perform regular 

policy reviews 

7. Leverage threat 

intelligence appropriately 

8. Protect end-user devices 

9. Communicate clearly 

with executive leadership 

and employees 

10. Comprehend organizational 

cybermaturity 

“All organizations must recognize that 

no company is safe from being targeted 

by ransomware, regardless of size or 

location. We urge you to take ransomware 

crime seriously and ensure your corporate 

cyber defense match the threat.” - Anne 

Neuberger, National Security Council 

The letter outlined immediate steps companies 

can take to protect themselves from ransomware 

attacks, including best practices such as multifactor 

authentication, endpoint detection and response, 

encryption, and a skilled security team. In addition, 

companies should back up data and regularly test systems, 

as well as update and patch systems promptly. 

Neuberger also advised that companies test incident 

response plans and use a third party to test the security 

team’s work. 

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FALL 2023 • 15

over the next three years, with cyberattacks 

as a top concern. The Deloitte 

Center for Controllership poll uncovered 

startling statistics, with 34.5% of 

polled executives reporting cyber adversaries 

targeting their organizations’ 

accounting and financial data over the 

past year. Astonishingly, nearly half of 

the executives expect an escalation in 

cyber events targeting financial data in 

the coming year. 

The financial ramifications of cybercrime 

are staggering. According to 

Cybersecurity Ventures, the cost of cybercrime 

is projected to reach a staggering 

$8 trillion in 2023, a figure set to 

escalate to $10.5 trillion by 2025. The 

alarming truth is that no organization 

is immune, as evidenced by the average 

cost of a data breach, which hit a record 

high of $4.35 million in 2022. Similarly, 

the average cost of a ransomware attack 

stood at $4.54 million. The time 

to identify and contain breaches is also 

distressingly long, with an average of 

277 days – approximately nine months. 

The need for cybersecurity collaboration 

across all facets of the organization 

becomes acutely clear. 

Supply Chain 

Vulnerabilities: 

A Chain Reaction 

of Disruption 

The resilience study underscores the 

precariousness of supply chains. Forrester 

data reveals that over half of security profesp 

sionals reported incidents or breaches involving 

supply chain or third-party providers 

within the past year. This highlights 

modern businesses’ interdependence on intricate 

supply networks, which can amplify 

vulnerabilities. 

The consequences of supply chain 

disruptions are glaring. The Conference 

Board reports that a mere 57% of 

firms claim to have responded effectively 

to recent events that hindered 

their ability to deliver products and 

services. This underlines the necessity 

of strengthening supply chain resilience 

and preparedness. The current scenario 

demands a proactive approach that 

integrates operational resilience into 

the very fabric of an organization. An 

alarming statistic reveals that only 24% 

of organizations believe senior management 

comprehends the firm’s operational 

resilience capabilities, highlighting 

a critical communication gap. 

16 • FALL 2023 

Network Security Measures 

Equipment Security 

• Antivirus installed 

and up to date 

• Automated 

patching and updates 

• Supported 

operating system 

• Computer/tablet 

encryption 

• Smartphone encryption 

Internet Security Measures 

• Email security 

(email encryption, 

anti-malware) 

• Web security (DNS layer 

security, protected 

file sharing) 

• Remote workforce 

security (cloud file 

management, 

remote access security 

Network Security 

• All devices 

installed on domain 

• Continuous 

network monitoring 

• Centralized audit 

and access 

control policies 

• Wifi security policies 

Top Challenges to Cybersecurity Programs 

Leadership Buy-In 

• Many organizations operate reactively rather 

than proactively when it comes to cybersecurity. 

They may not invest in prevention until 

the first major breach occurs. Additionally, 

robust cybersecurity can carry a high price 

tag, though the cost to your company’s bottom 

line and reputation will likely be far higher 

in the event of a breach. 

Increase in Remote Work 

• According to Forbes magazine, the rise of 

remote work has brought about a significant 

increase in cybersecurity threats. With employees 

accessing company networks and 

data from various locations and devices, 

the attack surface has expanded, providing 

more opportunities for cybercriminals. 

Protect Your Business 

Phishing attacks, ransomware incidents, 

and data breaches have surged as attackers 

exploit vulnerabilities in home networks and 

unsecured devices. 

Skill Shortages 

• There is currently a severe shortage of skilled 

cybersecurity workers. According to recent 

data, there are roughly 700,000 unfilled cybersecurity 

positions in the United States. 

When a cyberattack hits, that means that a 

significant amount of organizations may be 

unprepared to respond to or prevent it. 

Shifting to the Cloud 

• Especially as a result of the pandemic, many 

companies had to take both internal and external 

operations online, exposing vulnerabilities 

easily exploited by hackers. 

Assembling an incident response team with cybersecurity training, educating employees, and 

performing emergency plan testing can significantly reduce the risk and cost of a data breach. 

Potential Causes of a Data Breach or a Cyberattack 

• Lost or stolen passwords are a major cause 

of data breach events. 

• Malware or virus infection can lead to 

unauthorized access of computer systems 

and a data breach event. 

• Physical loss of laptops or other electronic 

devices can provide access to a company’s 

network, leading to a data breach. 

• Employees may be coerced or manipulated 

into revealing secure information, or they 

may inadvertently provide access to data. 

• A data breach may occur by means of 

hard copy materials or files that are left 

unprotected. 

• A disgruntled employee may also reveal 

information intentionally, resulting in a data 

breach. 

• Data may be breached for financial gain, to 

make a political or social point, to engage in 

espionage, or for intellectual challenge. 

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FALL 2023 • 17

Increasing Weather 

Threats: Preparing 

for the Unexpected 

The significance of solutions like 

backup power and workplace recovery 

becomes clear when considering the impact 

of abnormal weather patterns on 

global businesses. Research indicates that 

a staggering 70% of companies worldwide 

experience operational and financial 

setbacks due to weather disturbances. 

Shockingly, these disruptions contribute 

to an estimated cost of $630 billion annually 

for the United States alone, equivalent 

to 3.5% of the nation’s GDP. 

Recent history demonstrates that the 

increasing frequency, intensity, and unpredictability 

of weather events pose a 

substantial threat. From the Gulf states’ 

energy crisis triggered by a winter storm 

to the havoc caused by Hurricane Ida on 

power infrastructure in New Orleans, it’s 

evident that businesses are vulnerable to 

the whims of nature. In an era characterized 

by escalating climate-related challenges, 

the prevalence of extreme cold, 

scorching wildfires, and heatwaves further 

underscores the urgency of bolstering 

power system resilience. 

Investing in Resiliency: 

Bridging the Gap 

Amid these challenges, the study 

presents a silver lining – a notable 60% 

of organizations are earmarking increased 

funds over the next three years to bolster 

their operational resilience efforts. This financial 

commitment reflects the growing 

awareness of the importance of being prepared 

for disruptions. 

Operational resilience must be ingrained 

at every level of an organization’s 

structure. The study reveals that just 16% 

of organizations describe their business 

continuity plans as mature, while another 

18% classify them as reactive. This suggests 

that many organizations are in the 

early stages of building and refining their 

operational resilience strategies. 

This article was provided by Agility Recovery 

and Preparis. 

Agility Recovery is the leading provider of business continuity 

and disaster recovery solutions. Customers receive guaranteed 

access to temporary power, furnished mobile office 

space, communications equipment, technology, and testing 

resources. Agility’s software division, Preparis, provides a 

central hub where our customers can use business continuity 

planning, emergency notification, and incident management 

tools. In the wake of the unexpected, Agility makes resilience 

simple by providing the expertise and resources your organization 

needs to prepare, protect, and recover quickly. 

Understand Your 

Supply Chain 

Supply chain disruptions 

and third-party risk are still 

rising trends across every 

industry, and managing 

those risks will be vital 

to succeeding. Here are 

some ways to do that. 

Though the pandemic 

is winding down (sort of…), 

impacts on the supply chain 

continue to be a top threat to 

every industry. Developing a resilient 

supply chain is vital to success moving 

forward. Here are a few tips on how to do that. 

Form Strong Relationships 

• Companies are made or broken based 

on their relationships with their partners. 

For your business to secure its supply 

chain, you’ll need to form strong 

partnerships at every level. 

Assess Weak Points 

• As part of understanding your supply chain, 

you’ll need to find weak points. Perhaps your 

business has a single point of failure, like 

sourcing from only one supplier. Regardless 

of the area, you need to document the 

weakest links in your supply chain. 

• Once you have, you can work on creating 

contingency plans for disruptions or for 

bolstering your resilience. Unsecured 

weak points will be the first to fail in future 

disruptions. 

Vet Your Partners 

• Confirm that vendors can meet the demands 

of your business. Understand that occasional 

delays or issues are likely to happen, but 

consistent issues are a red flag. 

• You’ll also want to make sure they’re 

financially stable. Vendors who aren’t stable 

produce additional risks to your supply chain 

and cybersecurity. 

Assess Connectivity Risks 

• Three-quarters of all breaches in 2021 

occurred due to integrations with third 

parties. Before establishing a partnership, 

you need to assess your online 

integrations with third parties thoroughly. 

• Take the time to ask difficult questions 

about their security protocols. Partners 

with weak cybersecurity create an easy 

attack vector into your systems. 

• Evaluate the connectivity required for 

your partnership to succeed. Exposing 

your most sensitive networks is often 

unneeded and creates undue risk. 

Assess what systems will need to be 

integrated so you can make proper risk 

management plans. 

Continual Checkups 

• Part of your third-party risk management 

should include routine checkups to 

validate that your security practices are 

still a good fit for you and your business. 

• Just as your risks and needs change, so 

do those of your partners. Take the time 

to reevaluate yourself and your vendors to 

ensure everyone’s on the same page. 

Verify Contracts 

• Do your due diligence to ensure legal 

accountability and liability are properly 

managed to avoid any undue risks. 

Take the time to understand every major 

section of the contract, including liability 

and payment terms. 

18 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 19

ZERO HOUR: 

Common Mistakes 

Made During Crisis 

It is very easy to panic when wintery weather threatens 

your business. Knowledge of potential mistakes that 

happen gives the team working on this exercise the 

power to make the plan as failsafe as possible. 

Ignoring Warnings 

• Being unprepared for long-term power and 

communication outages 

• Unprepared for generation connection (no 

transfer switch, fuel provider, spider box, or 

working knowledge of load requirements) 

• Failure to prepare for supply chain disruptions 

• Failure to adequately stock emergency supplies 

• Failure to communicate 

• Failure to obtain adequate insurance coverage for 

loss of use, loss of revenue, and added expense 

• Failure to establish emergency procedures and 

providers for call forwarding, temporary power, 

communications provider, etc 

Prepare Your Business 

for Winter Weather Threats 

Every business faces various winter 

weather threats during the snowy season, 

from strong rainstorms, ice, and plummeting 

temperatures. Knowing the tactical steps to 

prepare your business for winter weather is 

essential to avoid downtime. Being prepared 

with an actionable plan will minimize the 

impact inclement weather can have on your 

employees, customers, and revenue. 

Having actionable resources at hand 

will help your team be educated on what 

to do in extreme winter weather conditions 

and actions they need to avoid to stay safe. 

The first step when preparing for winter 

weather disruptions is to define all of the 

possible risks of not being ready for a storm 

and how they will impact your car wash as a 

whole. With proper preparation, the avoidance 

of these risks If severe winter weather 

hits the area where your business is located, 

the following could potentially occur: 

1. Power loss 

2. Fires 

3. Floods 

Communications Disruptions 

4. Supply chain disruption 

5. Property damage 

6. Employee injury or illness 

7. Transportation disruption 

8. Automobile/other 

transportation accidents 

9. Compromised 

access to facilities 

10. Personal exhaustion, 

hypothermia, heart attack 

It is essential to evaluate potential risks 

and outcomes to create an efficient inclement 

weather plan. Each business will have 

unique risks, so defining the possible scenarios 

ahead of time is important. Troubleshooting 

will eliminate most of the risks, 

and having risk management strategies outlined 

will ensure handling the events will be 

managed quickly and effectively. 

Once you have isolated and defined individual 

risks, it is good to prepare a plan 

of action for each incident. Having all bases 

covered is key to keeping business continuity 

intact during the winter months. 

Drafting Winter 

Storm Plans in Stages 

Before the Storm 

The worst possible scenario for a business is to attempt to 

cobble together a plan when a storm is on its way or already in 

your area. Covering these elements ahead of time will enable you 

to move straight to your plan of action when the storm hits: 

Review Insurance Coverage (flooding) 

• Evaluate the potential risks to determine your business’s most 

detrimental risks, and their potential outcomes: loss of heat, frozen 

pipes, inability to access your business site due to snow and ice. 

• Identify who will be in charge of clearing the snow and ice from the 

property - the business owner or landlord. 

• Establish a procedure for restoring electrical service on an item by 

item basis (know your electrical load demands ahead of time) 

• Determine alternate routes to access business in the event ice or 

snow blocks main entrances 

• Establish and inclement weather attendance policy for employees 

• Meet with and discuss your winter weather preparedness plans with 

your vendors 

• Stockpile emergency supplies as needed 

• Rocksalt, snow equipment remover, kitty litter, and sand 

• Service generators and top off fuel reserves 

• Ensure all battery-powered devices have new batteries or crank/solar 

chargers 

• Know ahead of time what local broadcasters will publish the status of 

your business to the public 

• Ensure redundant communication channels (phone lists of employees 

and their relatives/spouses, backup email addresses, etc.) 

• Establish remote access to your corporate website to update your 

business’s status to vendors and customers. 

• Winter weather is challenging to plan for due to its unpredictable 

nature. Winter storms are apt to occur with little to no warning, so 

creating and reviewing a solid plan will prevent panic, leading to 

serious mishaps and consequences. 

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20 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 21

TIPs 

TAX TIP 

Make sure you 

check yo’ self 

Generally, you are self-employed if any of 

the following apply to you. 

• You carry on a trade or business as a sole 

proprietor or an independent contractor. 

• You are a member of a partnership 

that carries on a trade or business. 

• You are otherwise in business for 

yourself (including a part-time 

business or a gig worker). 

What are My Self-Employed 

Tax Obligations? 

As a self-employed individual, generally you 

are required to file an annual return and pay 

estimated tax quarterly. 

Self-employed individuals generally must 

pay self-employment (SE) tax as well as 

income tax. SE tax is a Social Security and 

Medicare tax primarily for individuals who 

work for themselves. It is similar to the Social 

Security and Medicare taxes withheld from 

the pay of most wage earners. In general, the 

wording “self-employment tax” only refers to 

Social Security and Medicare taxes and not any 

other tax (like income tax). 

Before you can determine if you are subject 

to self-employment tax and income tax, you 

must figure your net profit or net loss from 

your business. You do this by subtracting your 

business expenses from your business income. 

If your expenses are less than your income, 

the difference is net profit and becomes part 

of your income on page 1 of Form 1040 or 

1040-SR. If your expenses are more than your 

income, the difference is a net loss. You usually 

can deduct your loss from gross income on 

page 1 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. But in some 

situations your loss is limited. See Publication 

334, Tax Guide for Small Business (For 

Individuals Who Use Schedule C) for more 

information by visiting https://www.irs.gov/ 

forms-pubs/about-publication-334. 

You have to file an income tax return if your 

net earnings from self-employment were $400 

or more. If your net earnings from self-employment 

were less than $400, you still have to file 

an income tax return if you meet any other 

filing requirement listed in the Form 1040 and 

1040-SR instructions. 

This tip was provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

FINANCIAL TIP 

Visa launches 

program to help 

small businesses 

Visa Inc. has launched an array of Instant 

Savings offers aimed at helping North American 

small and medium businesses navigate the 

complexities of the current economic landscape, 

smallbiztrends.com reported. “This initiative, 

part of the Visa SavingsEdge program, promises 

substantial discounts on essential business 

services and products from renowned companies 

like Dropbox, Microsoft, and Verizon.” 

Visa’s latest Small Business Pulse Report 

reveals a surge in optimism among U.S. and Canadian 

SMBs, with 77% and 67%, respectively, 

now anticipating revenue growth in 2023, smallbiztrends.com 

reported. Despite this, the report 

stated, the cost of doing business remains a significant hurdle, compounded by inflation, economic 

uncertainty, and rising interest rates. 

“We’re seeing that small business growth is on the rise, despite current macroeconomic challenges,” 

said Veronica Fernandez, SVP and North America Head of Visa Commercial Solutions , in the smallbiztrends.com 

article “We also understand that there is a continued need for new, innovative ways 

to enable cost savings across the small business landscape. With Visa’s innovative offers and seamless 

access to run-of-business applications, the value associated with a business card becomes exponentially 

stronger, enabling small businesses to experience significant cost savings and efficiency.” 

More than 50 merchants are offering savings through the program. Those interested in learning 

more can explore these offers on the Visa SavingsEdge website and find additional resources at the 

Visa Small Business Hub. 

EQUIPMENT TIP 

Cold weather is 

coming here, 

are you ready? 

Pumps can be affected by cold weather especially 

if the equipment room is not properly heated. Be sure 

to check your heat source prior to a cold snap. Be sure the 

thermostat for your heat source is working correctly. If you are 

using gas heat with a pilot light make sure the pilot is lit. 

Also check your thermocoupling for proper operation.This can usually be tested simply 

by adjusting your heat setting at or above the exterior temperature and see if your furnace 

ignites and burns evenly. If your furnace will not light, check the gas source and be sure it is 

turned on and allowing enough gas to flow to your furnace. If the gas was shut off during the 

summer it will take a moment to push the air out of the line while you have the pilot switch 

engaged. If your pilot light ignites but your furnace will not stay lit your thermocoupling 

may need replacing. 

If your equipment room uses Electric heat follow the same thermostat procedures and be 

sure your electric heat comes on. It is always a good idea if you’re using electric heat to have 

a back-up source like gas in case of a power outage. 

Tip courtesy of Joe Anish of Vilco Supply 

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22 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 23

HAPPENINGS IN & AROUND THE 

SELF SERVE CARWASHING INDUSTRY 

All of the news including new hires, acquisitions, merges and anything else concerning the self serve car wash industry. 

Crooked car wash causes confusion 

Does this self serve car wash look 

normal to you? 

If it does not, then know that that’s 

the owner’s intent– to get the public’s 

attention. In Swindon, a small town 

in Wiltshire, England, Wayne Munnelly, 

opened the Carbana car wash 

on Friday, October 13, and wanted 

to make sure it stood out from the 

crowd. “Our intention was to design 

a car wash that shifts the boundaries 

of what is logical, and provides something 

eccentric. One truly cannot miss it,” the former 

managing director of IMO Car Wash Group, 

told the Swindon Advertiser. 

“I drove past it and honestly thought they were 

taking it down,” local resident Keeley Gray said in 

the story Carbana Carwash includes a four selfserve 

bays, a dog wash, and a self-use laundromat 

which includes two washing machines 

and a large dryer. 

But despite all of its impressive 

features, the new business has been 

branded as the ‘wonky car wash’ 

across social media. 

“Be quick before it fully sinks to 

the ground,” wrote Paul Kinnett on 

Facebook. 

And, it looks as if more ‘wonky’ car 

washes are yet to come. 

“We will also be starting the build 

on our second site in Northamptonshire, and eventually 

we plan to roll this across the UK and have 

100 locations,” the owner said in the story. 

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Owner’s son switches from full-serve to self serve 

Nationwide groundwater crisis looms 

A nationwide groundwater crisis is draining 

underground layers of porous rock or sediment 

known as aquifers, according to a November 7 

New York Times report. “This comes at a time 

when groundwater is more important than ever 

because of climate change, which is making rivers 

and streams less reliable as sources of water.” 

According to the in-depth report, groundwater 

depletion involves more than tap water. “Aquifers 

don’t adhere to state boundaries, so groundwater 

issues in one state definitely can affect another 

— but there are no specific examples that come 

to mind. That could change in the future as erratic 

weather caused by climate change, including 

droughts, starts to draw down aquifers that don’t 

get recharged with rainfall and snowmelt like they 

used to.” 

According to an April 19 ABC News report, 

“The American West is certainly in a water crisis,” 

stated Reed Maxwell, a professor and researcher 

at Princeton University. Maxwell has been studying 

the distribution of freshwater resources for the 

past 20 years. 

“Even with the record high precipitation in the 

2022-2023 winter season for parts of the West, 

24 • FALL 2023 

The Genie Car Wash and lube and tune business 

in Poway, California, is being converted into 

a self serve car wash, according to September 28 

Poway News Chieftain story. 

The former business model, which covered 4,789 

square feet, included a tunnel car wash, auto detailer, 

lube/tune service station and smog check station. 

“Part of the proposed project involves demolishing 

an existing 2,005-square-foot lube and tune facility 

and installing 16 new vacuum cleaner stalls and two 

pay stations,” according to a city staff report. 

The project is supposed to take about three 

months and should be completed for the beginning 

of 2024. Co-owner David Younan. 

The Poway City Council unanimously agreed 

to amend a conditional use permit to allow the 

modification, although one councilmember was 

concerned about the noise from the vacuums. 

However, the owners said the vacuums would be 

housed inside an existing building. 

Formerly named Touch of Class, the business 

was started 40 years ago by Max Younan, and has 

9 other locations in San Diego, Arizona and Orange 

County, California. Max’s son, David, is the owner 

owner of the Poway location. 

“The Poway car washing complex is being updated 

with roughly $2 million worth of improvements 

because Genie Car Wash customers are showing a 

preference for do-it-yourself car washes,” Younan 

said, according to the story. 

“We started in the full-service car wash business, 

but because of the popularity of the low-cost model, 

being able to pass on cost savings has been successful 

for customers,” Younan stated in the story. “This is 

keeping up with the times.” 

The car wash will be gated and customers will 

buy a $20/month membership to enter the property. 

the decadal pattern is for continual aridification 

in the West,” said Maxwell. This means the West 

keeps getting drier and hotter. “It’s being amplified 

by human-induced climate change,” he said in the 

story. 

ABC News also reported that the Colorado 

River, one of the most important river systems in 

the country, is drying up at an alarming rate. “The 

river system supports $1.4 trillion of the annual 

U.S. economy and 16 million jobs in California, 

Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico 

and Wyoming-- equivalent to about 1/12 of the 

total U.S. domestic product, economists at the 

University of Arizona found in 2015.” 

“Even more alarming” is that water could get 

so low that it can not be pumped and delivered to 

the states, communities and agricultural industries 

that rely on it, Richard Frank, professor of environmental 

practice at the University of California 

Davis School of Law, told ABC News. 

According to an October 24 ABC News report, 

forecasts about the negative effects of human-caused 

climate change are not uncommon, 

but new research published in October makes 

even more dire claims, declaring that “life on planet 

Earth is under siege” and that “we are pushing 

our planetary systems into dangerous instability.” 

The study, titled “The 2023 State of the Climate 

Report: Entering Uncharted Territory” and 

published in the journal Bioscience, points to specific 

climate events in 2023 to support its findings, 

including exceptional heat waves across the globe, 

historic and record-breaking warm ocean temperatures, 

and unprecedented low levels of sea ice 

surrounding Antarctica, according to ABC News. 

The 12 international scientists who created the 

report stated that in 2023, there have been 38 days 

with global average temperatures more than 1.5 degrees 

Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the report 

stated. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration and Europe’s Copernicus Climate 

Change Service earlier this month indicated that 

2023 will likely go on record as the hottest year 

ever recorded. 

What’s more, reported ABC News, is that the 

highest average Earth surface temperature ever recorded 

was in July, according to the report, which 

also notes that may be the highest surface temperater 

the Earth has experienced in the last 100,000 

years. 

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INDUSTRY DIRT 

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New car wash coming to Vermont 

The Bennington Lanes/Billy T’s Northside 

Drive Dairy Bar property has closed, and a Hoffman 

Car Wash will soon go up in its place, according 

to September 22 Bennington Banner story. 

Owner Lucinda Thomson sold the Bennington 

Lanes parcel for $660,000 and the adjacent Billy 

T’s Northside Dairy Bar parcel for $440,000. 

The buyer, Hoffman Car Wash group, based in 

the Albany, N.Y., area plans to construct a full-service 

car wash, three self-serve car wash bays and 

She washes what at the car wash?! 

Grace Martin is gaining notoriety on TikTok 

due to the way she washes her sneakers. That’s 

right, she washes them at a self serve car wash. 

Her TikTok story has gotten the attention of 

millions of people, according to a September 4 

26 • FALL 2023 

Kidspot.com story. 

The viral social media post shows Grace lining 

up all of her shoes against the wall and then spraying 

them down with the car wash hose. “Work 

smarter, not harder,” she captioned the clip. 

12 auto vacuums. 

The entire site is listed as 3.18 acres, and the 

project area will cover about 2.3 acres, according 

to the story. 

Cassandra Barbeau, a part-time realtor who 

helped with the sale, stated, “It’s a little bit sad for 

the community, definitelyThose two place. s have 

been fixtures in town – with the bowling alley it’s 

been decades. …The Thomson family has been 

part of our family – they provided our entertainment, 

and our ice cream. With that said, they deserve 

a next chapter. And ultimately it happened 

to be a buyer who decided not to continue the 

bowling alley and the dairy bar.” 

The Hoffman company stated that it normally 

takes about nine months from the groundbreaking 

to opening of the facility. 

Hoffman Car Wash, which formed in 1965, operates 

more over 24 locations in New York. This will be 

the first Hoffman Car Wash in the state of Vermont. 

Self serve chain is 

expanding to Ocala, 

Florida 

ModWash is working on its first location 

in Ocala, Florida, joining a bunch of 

other self serves in the area, Ocala-News. 

com reported. 

Founded and owned by Karen Hutton, 

ModWash, which is based out of Chattanooga, 

Tennessee, has 13 other locations in 

Florida and 15 other sites are planned. 

ModWash offers bug prep stations, vacuums, 

air tools, micro fiber towels, window 

and mat cleaners, and air fresheners with 

every wash, the story said. 

According to the story, ModWash will 

join at least two dozen other self service 

car washes in Ocala. Currently, there are 

five RaceWash locations, with a sixth location 

currently planned nearby; Tidal Wave 

Auto Spa opened its first location in Ocala 

in 2021 and the company is currently 

working on its second location in south 

Ocala; Caliber Car Wash has three locations; 

and Mr. Clean Car Wash opened one 

location in Ocala in 2022. 

QB Enterprises teams up with car wash owners for breast cancer awareness 

QB Enterprises, dba Quick Dry, or Orange, Virginia, 

partnered with over 300 car wash locations 

and major distributors across the United States 

who distributed Quick Dry’s “Go Pink!” Microfiber 

Towels during the month of October in an effort 

to promote breast cancer awareness and raise 

money for various research foundations and other 

nationwide and local cancer-related charitable organizations. 

Q.B. Enterprises donated a portion of 

proceeds from the sale of the towel to Breastcancer.org 

and Hospice of the Piedmont. 

“Roger and I have experienced the loss of many 

family members and friends to cancer in the last 

few years. We believe that cancer awareness will 

help to bring a cure to Breast Cancer in our lifetime”, 

said Becky Kube, owner of QB Enterprises, 

in a press release. “It is important for us and our 

organization to support cancer research and organizations 

like Breastcancer.org that offer resources 

and support to those currently facing breast cancer. 

We have also experienced the magnificent care 

that Hospice provides to Breast Cancer patients 

and feel it’s important to offer support to their organization.” 

“The support from car washes across the U.S. 

helps Breastcancer.org empower people with the 

confidence, clarity, and knowledge they urgently 

need when facing a diagnosis. Going through 

breast cancer can be one of the most challenging 

experiences in someone’s life, which is why we 

are dedicated to helping people by providing expert 

guidance, community, and critical resources,” 

said Lauren Hughes, Director of Development for 

Breastcancer.org. 

“We are appreciative of the car wash market 

for making this possible,” said Jenn Downs, Chief 

Marketing and Development Office at Hospice of 

the Piedmont. “We are so grateful to the many car 

washes across the country for their partnership in 

this important awareness initiative. The collaboration 

is powerful and hopefully will help touch 

many lives along the way. At Hospice of the Piedmont, 

we are dedicated to positively transforming 

the way people view and experience serious illness, 

dying and grief. Educational and outreach 

efforts such as this breast cancer campaign are 

important in helping people to start conversations 

surrounding the care they would want should they 

find themselves facing a breast cancer diagnosis.” 

SBA makes improvements 

to help small businesses 

According to an August 18, 2023, press release, 

Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman 

announced the U.S. Small Business Administration 

(SBA) Small Business Investment Company’s 

(SBIC) Diversification and Growth Final Rule is 

effective today. Under the new rule, which supports 

the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic 

and equity priorities, the SBA will implement 

regulatory and policy reforms to increase access to 

private equity and debt capital for: 

• Underserved small businesses and startups, 

• Undercapitalized critical technologies, 

• Diverse and emerging fund managers, and 

• Innovation investment. 

Starting August 17, private market fund managers 

can apply for SBIC licenses designed for investing 

in American small businesses and startups 

with equity-oriented or long-duration strategies. 

The two new SBIC licenses – the “Accrual SBIC” 

and the “Reinvestor (Fund-of-Funds) SBIC” – expand 

the SBIC program network of private market 

financing partners and the SBA’s reach to historically 

underserved small businesses and startups. 

Critically, the regulatory and policy reforms are 

designed to reduce the financial burden for new 

program applicants and provide a more streamlined 

application experience. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed 

to ensuring small businesses can access capital for 

growth – especially aligned with our focus on equity, 

manufacturing, and innovation that will power our 

economy into the future. SBA’s partnerships with private 

funds in the SBIC program deliver so America’s 

small businesses can take advantage of opportunities 

as the President Invests in America, and these transformational 

reforms break down the structural limitations 

in the SBIC Program to increase the flow of 

equity and debt financing to underserved communities, 

capital-intensive industries, and technology areas 

critical to U.S. national security and economic development,” 

said Administrator Guzman. 

In other news, lending program improvements 

have expanded access to capital and increased 

protection against fraud. According to an August 

1, 2023, press release, on August 1, the SBA began 

implementing additional policies aimed at 

expanding small business access to capital by 

modernizing SBA’s signature 7(a) and 504 Loan 

Programs. Today’s loan program updates build on 

Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman’s previous 

announcements that address long-standing persistent 

capital access gaps for rural, veteran, women, 

and minority-owned businesses. 

The loan program improvements will increase 

small businesses’ ability to access funding to start up 

and grow through a broader network of lenders with 

streamlined lender procedures. The new, simplified 

guidelines for lenders are part of three updated Standard 

Operating Procedures (SOP), including updated 

origination policies and procedures, lender participation 

requirements, and 7(a) loan servicing and 

liquidation requirements. For example, SBA is providing 

additional flexibility in credit criteria for loans 

under $500,000 to support SBA loans in reaching 

more credit-worthy small businesses. 

SBA made it easier to understand who qualifies for 

an SBA loan by clarifying affiliation standards, which 

can determine which businesses count as “small,” and 

is now bringing eligibility determination in-house 

through technology upgrades. Together, these changes 

will help small businesses and lenders know who 

qualifies up-front. SBA will use advanced data analytics 

and third-party data checks for fraud review on all 

loan programs before approval. 

SBA also streamlined information requirements 

for lenders, making it easier to work with SBA. For 

example, SBA no longer requires duplicative data 

entry in the Loan Authorization Wizard and instead 

will use information already entered into the 

system to produce a Terms and Conditions Sheet 

electronically. 

SBA recognizes that small businesses, particularly 

those owned by individuals in underserved 

communities who are highly entrepreneurial, still 

face long-standing barriers in accessing capital 

needed to start or grow their businesses. These 

changes include permanency in SBA lending for 

mission-driven organizations like Community Development 

Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which 

have a track record of filling capital gaps in underserved 

communities but were previously participating 

in SBA lending through a temporary pilot 

program called Community Advantage. These 

lenders are securing permanency in the 7(a) Loan 

Program by becoming Community Advantage 

Small Business Lending Companies (CASBLCs). 

The following three SBA SOPs took effect on 

August.1, bringing many of the new policies into 

practice: 

• SOP 50 10 7: Lender and Development 

Company Loan Programs 

• Contains SBA’s policies and procedures 

governing the 7(a) and 504 loan programs. 

• SOP 50 56: Lender participation 

requirement 

• Contains the criteria for becoming an SBA 

Lender. 

• SOP 50 57: 7(a) Loan Servicing and 

Liquidation 

Contains the policies and procedures for 7(a) 

loan servicing and liquidation. 

A new feature SBA will begin accepting is the 

Universal Purchase Package (UPP), which will 

streamline the process for lenders to request SBA 

honor its loan guaranty, and SBA will introduce 

new features in E-TRAN, SBA’s online platform 

used by lenders to upload loan applications. 

The SBA has a robust outreach and education 

program to assist its stakeholders in accessing 

such resources. In advance of these program 

updates, more than 13,500 people attended SBA 

live training events, and on-demand training for 

lenders has been viewed over 15,300 times. 

WE WANT 

YOUR 

STORIES! 

Do you have a funny 

story from the bay? 

Maybe an inspiring 

tale from the wash? 

Try something 

new that worked well? 

“You won’t believe what this 

Darwin did at my wash…” 

“The best decision I ever made 

for my business was…” 

“On rainy days, I like to…” 

Reach out to Editor Debra Gorgos 

debgorgos@gmail.com to share 

your story with our readers. 

FALL 2023 • 27

CALENDAR 

OF EVENTS 

*All events are subject to changes 

due to current circumstances. 


• 33nd NRCC breaks record 

A LEADING MANUFACTURER OF CONTROLS, 

INCLUDING DIGITAL TIMERS FOR THE CAR WASH INDUSTRY. 

CONTACT YOUR 

DISTRIBUTOR 

2024 

FEBRUARY 28 - 

MARCH 1, 2024 

Southwest Car 

Wash Association 

TODAY! 

Fort Worth Convention Center 

Fort Worth, Texas 

MAY 13-15, 

2024 

Car Wash Show 

Nashville, Tennessee 

AUGUST 13-15, 

2024 

Car Wash 

Show Australia 

International Convention 

Centre, Sydney, Australia 

OCTOBER 7-9, 

2024 

Northeast Regional 

Carwash Convention 

(NRCC) 

Atlantic City Convention 

Center, New Jersey 

The 33rd Northeast Regional Carwash Convention 

(NRCC), held October 2-4, at the Atlantic 

City Convention Center, surpassed its 2022 booth 

count with 386 exhibits and beat its highest attendee 

number set in 2019 with 1921 combined 

attendees and exhibitors, according to Heather 

Courtney, NRCC Show Coordinator. “To say I’m 

thrilled would be an understatement,” said Courtney, 

who is in her seventh year managing the event. 

“We spent more money promoting the show and 

have elevated our educational track significantly 

over the last several years. The NRCC offers outstanding 

educational sessions, a huge show floor and 

is cost-effective for operators as well as vendors and 

all of that combined is a great value to all.” 

According to Bob Rossini, Show Chairman representing 

the Connecticut Carwash Association 

(CCA), the event’s host, “This show had extremely 

high energy,” he said. “Attendees have seen the 

changes we’ve made to the show and it’s paying 

off. Everyone I spoke with was impressed and energized 

to learn and bring fresh, new ideas back to 

their washes.” 

A wide range of educational options elevated 

the 33rd NRCC, with something for everyone, according 

to Education Chair Suzanne Stansbury. “It’s 

always a challenge to select a topic that will appeal 

to all types of operators with varying backgrounds, 

but I think we were able to find presenters with lots 

of charisma and diversity who were also relatable. 

I was really happy with our educational offerings.” 

Virtual Carwash Tour 

The lineup included the annual “Virtual Carwash 

Tour” facilitated by Tom Hoffman, Jr. of Hoffman 

Car Washes and InnovateIT. The sites shown virtually 

included RoJo Car Wash in Norwood and 

Walpole, MA, operated by John Shalbey, Jr., Gleam 

and Gleam 2 Car Washes out of Denver, Colorado, 

operated by Emilie Baratta, Chesapeake Car Wash 

in Chesapeake, Maryland, operated by Tom Morris 

and Quick Clean Car Wash out of Lee’s Summit, 

Missouri, operated by Bob Brown. “I try to compile 

a diverse grouping of washes and this year I think 

I was able to hit all wash models, including sites 

with detailing,” said Stansbury. “I have also added in 

some out-of-market sites to give attendees a more 

broad look at what operators in different parts of 

the country are doing.” This event was sponsored by 

Sergeant Sudz. 

Simoniz Celebration 

After the Virtual Tour Simoniz USA, a long-time 

supporter of the NRCC, held its annual event, the 

Simoniz Celebration, at the Hard Rock’s Hollywood 

Ballroom. This gathering helps to get everyone fired 

up for the show’s first day of exhibits and additional 

education. This year, the company opened the evening 

event up to every single attendee, no matter 

their level of registration. “Simoniz calls the Northeast 

our back yard with our headquarters located 

in Bolton, Connecticut,” said Joey Plude, Marketing 

Manager. “Therefore, a partnership and association 

with the NRCC and the Northeast community as 

a whole is very important to us.” The annual event 

drew a massive crowd, according to Plude. “We are 

so proud to have strengthened this relationship 

with the NRCC and the Northeast carwash family 

by opening up our Simoniz Celebration to the entire 

show,” he said. “We feel it was a massive success 

having almost 600 attendees and we are committed 

to making it even bigger next year!” Chairman Rossini 

couldn’t agree more. “Our thanks go out to the 

entire Simoniz team, and Joey, for coordinating this 

incredible offering,” said Rossini. “Next year’s event 

on Monday, October 7th , should be amazing!” 

Educational Sessions 

On day two of the show attendees were able to 

partake of an extensive buffet breakfast before soaking 

up content from the popular Early Bird panel 

discussion. This panel is meant to be unscripted and 

cover topics relating to all carwash models. Panelists 

included Amanda Kubarek of K & S Car Wash, Auburn, 

New York; Steve Sause of Cloud 10, Darien, 

Connecticut; Mike Ashley of Virginia Car Wash In- 

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dustries, Inc., Toms Brook, Virginia; and Dan Saidel 

of Premier Car Wash, Metuchen, New Jersey. The 

panel was moderated by the New England Carwash 

Association’s John Shalbey, Jr., with RoJo Car Washes 

in Norwood and Walpole, Massachusetts. Next up 

was an insightful program titled, “Your Unlimited 

Program — Is it Return or Rechurn?” facilitated by 

Myrrh Consulting’s Chris Brown. Brown provided 

tips on how to master the unlimited sales process 

while minimizing financial fallout. He was able to 

demonstrate how to drive your unlimited capture 

rate, keep churn in check and ensure that your customers 

are happy customers for life. 

“Ask The Marketing Experts,” facilitated by Nick 

Lopez of Bubble Bath Car Wash, was the next 

spirited seminar on tap. Lopez’ panelists included 

Wade Keith of Breeze Thru Car Washes in Wyoming 

and Colorado, Kacy Erdelyi of Spark Car 

Wash with three sites in New Jersey (more on the 

drawing board) and additional washes to come in 

Pennsylvania and New York, and Victoria Perez of 

Bubble Bath Car Wash in San Antonio, Texas. The 

group took questions from the audience and shared 

their expertise on all aspects of carwash marketing. 

The feedback to this seminar was extremely positive 

and left attendees wanting more. 

Keynote Address 

International award-winning leadership expert 

and celebrated speaker, Mark Denton, served as the 

Keynote Speaker and shared his expertise on navigating 

turbulent waters in life and business with 

more than 300 in attendance. Denton has competed 

in countless races and sailed more than 80,000 

miles across the worlds’ most hostile oceans. In 

doing so, he has learned a bit about motivating his 

team and being able to adjust his leadership skills 

to meet all challenges; skills that can be taken back 

to your wash when motivating your staff to work 

smarter and better as a team. 

“His sheer courage and will to overcome incredible 

odds, while working in a team environment, is 

nothing short of inspiring,” said Chairman Rossini. 

The Keynote was sponsored by Micrologic Associates 

and InnovateIT. 

Awards Luncheon 

This year’s Awards Luncheon was led by Chairman 

Bob Rossini. Recipients included four Emerging 

Leaders: 

• Sebastien Weekes of Spritz Car Wash 

in Clifton Park, New York 

• Dave Jones of Splash Car Wash, 

Milford, Connecticut 

• Francesca Roman of Hoffman 

Car Wash, Albany, New York, and 

Max Pulcini, Director of Communications 

with EverWash, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

The Emerging Leader Award celebrates and encourages 

early-career managers who have demonstrated 

strong leadership and industry service. 

The Most Distinguished Person Award honoree 

was Larry Fiano of Fiano’s E-Z Coin-Op Carwash 

in Bolton, Connecticut. Fiano, 98, is a long-time 

CCA member. He has been washing cars since 1967 

when he built a carwash into a parcel of land he 

had acquired the previous year. His wash is still in 

operation and the parcel of land now also includes 

a miniature golf and driving range called Mar-Lea 

Golf named after his oldest son Mark and youngest 

daughter Leah. Larry would like to acknowledge 

the help he has received from Jeff and Allison 

Shackett of Car Wash Systems, as well as the Gorra 

family of Simoniz USA who have supplied the 

wash for the last 50+ years. Larry was not able to 

attend the show so Chairman Rossini accepted the 

award on his behalf. 

The NRCC’s highest honor, its Hall of Fame 

Award, was bestowed upon two individuals this year 

who have supported the NRCC and its mission and 

helped it grow year over year, tirelessly. The recipients 

are selected by past honorees. Bill Gorra and Al 

West of Simoniz USA were honored with the 2023 

Hall of Fame Award. 

Bill’s journey began in 1980 working in sales 

at Syndet Products where his hands-on approach 

helped him gain industry knowledge. Using this experience, 

just three years later, he oversaw and managed 

five Gentle Touch Car Washes in Hartford, 

Connecticut. Bill then negotiated a licensing agreement 

with First Brands to use the Simoniz name in 

conjunction with professional carwash products. In 

1988, he purchased controlling interests of Syndet 

from his father and expanded operations. And in 

1997, Syndet purchased the 100-year-old Simoniz 

brand and renamed it Simoniz USA. The company 

now employs 350 and owns more than 100 brands 

and has been exhibiting at the NRCC for 33 years. 

Al West began with the company 27 years ago 

after breaking into the industry as a manager with 

Boston-based ScrubaDub. He was then recruited by 

Simoniz when they were looking for a Team Member. 

He quickly rose up through the ranks to his current 

position as Northeast Carwash Sales Manager. 

And, according to his boss, Bill Gorra, “Al is selfless, 

passionate, dedicated and one of the most loyal people 

you can find, and the company would not be the 

same without him.” 

Both Gorra and West have supported the NRCC 

as valued exhibitors, sponsors and sounding boards 

over the last 33 years. They never hesitate to help the 

show grow and prosper while providing East Coast 

operators with a first-rate event. Gorra was not available 

to accept the award due to the recent passing of 

his wife Christine. His son, Will, accepted the honor 

on his behalf. West, who did not know he was receiving 

the award, accepted it with surprise. The Award’s 

Luncheon was sponsored by Carwash Superstore. 

Welcome Reception 

Another highlight of the show was the annual 

Welcome Reception sponsored by long-time sponsor 

and show supporter ICS. This casual meet and 

greet includes complimentary beverages and light 

New Jersey fare before everyone sets out for dinner 

with friends and vendors. “The last three years we 

have held the event at the ACCC just at the close of 

the show on Tuesday,” recounts Heather Courtney. 

“It’s a great opportunity to take a break after walking 

the floor and catch up with friends old and new. 

It’s been a highlight of our show for years and we 

couldn’t do it without the generosity of ICS.” 

This year’s Welcome Reception also included a 

$500 cash giveaway and a Yeti cooler giveaway. The 

cash winner was Larry Lawrence of Roll-N-Vac by 

TRUEBITE, INC, out of Binghamton, New York, 

and the Yeti cooler went to Mike Goupil of Maintenance 

Tech out of Portland, Maine. 

The show’s final seminar and breakfast featured 

Chick-fil-A’s Arthur Greeno whose Keynote “Remarkable 

Customer Service” resonated and entertained 

the audience. Greeno, who is also the bestselling 

author of “Breaking Conformity,” is a current 

multi-store owner/operator. He shared some of the 

company’s “secret sauce” on its consistent quality 

and remarkable customer service. It was obvious 

that he goes above and beyond with his employees. 

“I thought Arthur and our entire educational 

lineup provided some exceptional content and examples 

of how to improve communication, better 

lead and better market wash operations,” said Stansbury. 

“We have a limited number of educational 

slots to fill each show, which makes the selection 

process challenging, but we do encourage attendees 

to share their thoughts and ideas with us,” she 

said. “Please email them to info@nrccshow.com or 

give us a call at 800.868.8590. You can also share 

feedback on each session by logging into the APP, 

NRCC 2023, and filling out a brief survey. 

2024 NRCC 

The 34rd NRCC is slated for October 7-9 at the 

Atlantic City Convention Center. The Hard Rock 

Hotel & Casino is the host hotel. Make sure to visit 

nrccshow.com in the coming months for registration 

and seminar information. The Car Wash Operators 

of New Jersey (CWONJ) is the host Association 

with CWONJ Past President Doug Rieck 

serving as Chairman. 

• Car Wash Show Europe 

hosts 2,600 from 75 

countries 

Over 2,600 visitors from 75 countries came to 

Amsterdam for Europe’s largest car wash show, 

Sept. 21-22, to learn, network and see exhibits 

featuring innovative ideas from all over the world, 

according to an International Carwash Association 

(ICA) press release. 

Explore Interesting Trends Worldwide 

The learning sessions are one of the big draws 

at Car Wash Show Europe, with one of the highlights 

this year being a one with Eric Wulf (ICA), 

Brian Madderson (Car Wash Association), Erik 

Stern (BOVAG) and Thomas Drott (BTG Germa- 

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• Car Wash Show Europe hosts 2,600 from 75 countries 

ny). The presenters shared their knowledge about 

the trends, challenges and opportunities for the car 

wash industry. They pointed out the differences and 

all that has changed since Car Wash Show Europe 

2019. For example, in The Netherlands, 52% of car 

branche organization BOVAG members use license 

plate recognition in the car wash. Furthermore, indoor 

vacuuming is clearly on the rise. And almost 

every car wash company has a loyalty program and 

over 93% (in The Netherlands) offer wash passes. 

Make Everyone Feel Indispensable 

Another session addressed a struggle that car 

washes throughout Europe, the United States and 

worldwide are facing: finding and keeping employees. 

It is important to find out exactly what 

motivates employees within your company, said 

operations manager Suzanne Huisman of Blinkie 

Carwash in Maaseik, Belgium, a family business 

with a 50-meter chain lane. 

“It is easy to give people you want to retain more 

money or have a bonus system, for example. My experience 

is: involve your crew, let them have their 

say and listen to their ideas. Ask them what tasks 

they like best to do within the company. Make sure 

you become a family. That’s the main reason we 

start every day together with a good cup of coffee. 

That way everyone stays involved and feels an indispensable 

part of the company,” Huisman said in 

the press release. 

Become Distinctive and Create a Community 

Car washes that work fast, well, safely, customer-friendly 

and deliver top-quality wash results are 

plentiful. So what do you need to do for your car 

wash to be distinctive and successful? How do you 

become a formula that consumers prefer and they 

enjoy going to every week? 

“Create a community!” said Anne Mauler, vice 

president of marketing at Soapy Joe’s Inc. in San 

Diego, California, which started in 2011 with one 

location, is up to 30 and shooting for 50 in the near 

future. Not only do they prioritize their communities, 

they invite their communities to become even 

more involved with what Soapy Joe’s has to offer, as 

well. “We built Soapytopia,” Mauler said, allowing 

the membership community to be tied to the car 

wash in every possible way. 

“We want to be on your radio, we want to be in 

your phone, we want to be where you are,” Mauler 

said. “But it has to happen in a playful way. When 

we noticed our customers have more dogs than kids, 

we decided to start a campaign around a Magic Pet 

Parade. It resulted in 400 % more interaction and 


leads, compared to other campaigns. It’s important 

to create an emotional connection with your customers, 

to build a lasting relationship.” 

Embrace Innovation 

In the Innovation Alley, companies presented their 

innovations, such as the e-Scrubber+. It is a handy 

little wireless device with a powerful motor that was 

originally developed to rid swimming pools of algae 

but also turns out to be great for waxing and detailing. 

Plus, it has a low rotation speed. “In this way, you 

can apply multiple layers of wax much better,” said 

Holger Dziadek, a German entrepreneur. 

A fast-growing Lithuanian IT company presented 

a smart traffic light that indicates whether a 

wash bay is occupied. The Parksol Self-Service 

Car Wash Guidance System is especially useful for 

businesses with multiple wash bays and a busy oncall, 

said Kristina Šašilait’, one of the company’s 

developers. A sensor sees if there is a vehicle in the 

box, then a red cross flashes on and the routing is 

adjusted if desired. 

Look for more details and coverage of Car Wash 

Show Europe in CAR WASH Magazine Q4 and 

CAR WASH Magazine Live, which is available in 

the app and online at carwashmagazine.com. 

• CWONJ Awards Two 

Scholarships 

The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey 

(CWONJ) has awarded a 2023 Scholarship to Riley 

Stoops and Ashley Coiscou Perez, according to a 

press release. Both candidates displayed exemplary 

scholastic and extracurricular efforts, according to 

Dan Saidel, CWONJ Scholarship Chairman. 

Riley Stoops is an employee at Magic Wash in 

Manahawkin and plans to study mechanical engineering 

at Stevens Institute of Technology in 

Hoboken, NJ. Riley spends much of his time as a 

trombonist/baritone player in a number of ensembles 

including the Southern Regional Golden Rams 

Marching Band where he is also on the leadership 

committee and has served as a section leader for the 

past two years. He is also a member of the Southern 

Regional Jazz Ensemble Honor Band. But true 

to his desired major, Riley has joined the Southern 

Regional Mathematics League where he will participate 

in the 10th Annual Stockton University 

“Math Mayhem” Competition. He is also part of 

the Southern Jersey NFL Flag Football League. According 

to his boss at the wash, Doug Rieck, “His 

performance, attendance and responsibility are excellent. 

He started in the full-service department 

vacuuming and cleaning and has proven capable of 

customer relations and moved up to handling the 

entrance end and guide on.” 

Ashley Coiscou Perez plans to pursue an arts and 

sciences major at Rutgers Newark College in the 

fall. She is an employee at Premier Car Wash in 

Millburn. Inspired by her aunt, who is a psychologist, 

Ashley would like to study how the mind 

works and its intellectual capacity and how we 

adapt to change in hopes of becoming an Industrial-Organizational 

Psychologist as well. She noted 

in her essay that while in college she plans to help 

other students cope with stress and self confidence 

by forming meetings where they can talk freely and 

openly about their struggles. She also plans to form 

an English as a Second Language (ESL) group as 

Ashley immigrated to the US as a child from the 

Dominican Republic. 

While in high school she was a member of the 

American Honor Society, the National Society 

of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and has spent 

countless hours helping teachers and making donations 

to local churches and those in the Dominican 

Republic. She has also provided food and snacks to 

the homeless with help from her mother. 

Information on the CWONJ’s 2024 Scholarship 

will be available in early 2024 on the association’s 

website, cwonj.com. 

32 • FALL 2023 

AVAILABLE AT 

KLEENRITE.COM | 800.233.3873 

AR17233 

AR13040 

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VS10800 

AR30800 

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AR10945 

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4 oz. Multi-Purpose Spray 

4 oz. Original Protectant Spray 

4 oz. Tire Foam Protectant 

Vending: Protectant Sponge 

Vending: Cleaning Sponge 

Glass Wipes Tub 

Ultra Shine Protectant Tub 

Original Protectant Tub 

Leather Care Tub 

Cleaning Tub 

• WCA Hands Out 

Multiple Awards 

The Western Carwash Association (WCA) was 

proud to announce the recipients of its prestigious 

annual awards, recognizing outstanding individuals 

who have made remarkable contributions to the 

car wash industry, according to an October 16 press 

release. These awards celebrate excellence, innovation, 

and a lifetime of dedication to our industry. 

Car Wash Manager of the Year Award: 

Collin Campbell, Classy Chassis Car Wash, 

Tacoma, Washington 

The Car Wash Manager of the Year Award is presented 

to individuals who demonstrate exceptional 

skills in managing car wash operations. Collin’s 

dedication to implementing best business practices, 

handling personnel with professionalism and 

loyalty, and aligning with the industry’s goals and 

mission exemplify the qualities we value in our 

managers, the press release stated. 

Innovative Operator of the Year Award: 

Brett Meinberg, GO Car Wash, Denver, Colorado 

The Innovative Operator of the Year Award is a 

testament to those who have explored new ideas, 

investing their own time and resources to enhance 

the car wash industry. Brett has opened doors for all 

of us with his innovative methods and techniques. 

His commitment to improving service delivery and 

increasing profitability is an inspiration to us all, the 

press release stated. 

Lifetime Achievement Award: 

Jack Anthony, Jack Anthony Industries, Inc., 

Vallejo, California 

The Lifetime Achievement Award is a prestigious 

recognition presented to individuals whose 

long-standing dedication has significantly impacted 

the car wash industry. Jack, founder of Jack Anthony 

Industries, Inc., has tirelessly served our industry 

for many years, stated the press release. His contributions 

in the areas of self-serve, exterior conveyor, 

flex-serve and full-service platforms, as well as his 

civic and philanthropic endeavors have continually 

elevated car wash industry operations management 

as well as its profile. 

The WCA congratulates Collin Campbell, Brett 

Meinberg, and Jack Anthony for their remarkable 

achievements and unwavering commitment to the 

car wash industry. These awards are a testament to 

their dedication, innovation, and a lifetime of service 

that have enhanced the industry as a whole, according 

to the press release. “These awards remind 

us of how much leadership talent exists within 

the ranks of our membership,” said Scott Horner, 

WCA’s President. The award presentations took 

place during the WCA’s annual meeting on October 

12, 2023, in Coronado, California. 

FALL 2023 • 33

WE ASK. 

YOU ANSWER. 

The following poll was posted 

to carwashforum.com. If you 

would like to add your vote, 

or a comment, visit: 

carwashforum.com or follow the 

QR code: 

POLL: No one said it would be easy! 

Owning a self serve is ... 

Easier than I imagined: 50% 

Harder than I imagined: 50% 

POLL: 

Money out of thin air 

Do you sell air 

at your self 

serve? 

As compared to what? Another business? Marriage? 

Lol - MUDMONEY 

I used to rent moving trucks a while back. One 

night my wife and I went out to dinner and one 

of the trucks rented earlier in the day pulled up 

alongside us. I chuckled and said, “Look at that, 

we’re on our way to dinner and we’re making 

money!” Trucks were $19.95 and .79 cents per 

mile at the time so every mile they drove was 

an additional sale (not unlike “count-up” mode 

at our washes). I thought that was such a fun 

business model that when a car wash became 

available nearby, it made for a perfect fit. Now 

we can check the cameras at the wash no matter 

where we are and have a similar experience. 

By no means is operating a car wash “easy,” 

but if you have a positive attitude and the confidence 

that you are serving your customer the 

best product you can deliver, it makes the good 

moments enjoyable, and you just might get a 

chuckle with your spouse at dinner.I used to 

rent moving trucks a while back. One night my 

wife and I went out to dinner and one of the 

trucks rented earlier in the day pulled up alongside 

us. I chuckled and said, “Look at that, we’re 

on our way to dinner and we’re making money!” 

Trucks were $19.95 and .79 cents per mile 

at the time so every mile they drove was an additional 

sale (not unlike “count-up” mode at our 

washes). I thought that was such a fun business 

model that when a car wash became available 

nearby, it made for a perfect fit. Now we can 

check the cameras at the wash no matter where 

we are and have a similar experience. 

By no means is operating a car wash “easy,” but 

if you have a positive attitude and the confidence 

that you are serving your customer the 

best product you can deliver, it makes the good 

moments enjoyable, and you just might get a 

chuckle with your spouse at dinner. - EDREDTOP 

I voted “easier than I imagined,” but only just. 

And it’s only after about 5 years when we finally 

have everything operating how we would 

like, and two good staff that help with clean 

up. Up until recently, I probably would have 

voted “harder than I imagined.” - GREG_T 

As a woman who inherited my carwash from my 

husband I’ve noticed it was much easier when 

he was here. It is a whole new learning experience 

but I’m slowly getting it, especially since 

finding this forum. One thing he did was make 

me do whatever needed to be done and he just 

watched which I think was a huge help. But 

still there are some things I need help with 

but the sad part is that some men still try to 

take advantage of a single woman they think is 

dumb and over charge me when they help me. 

Hell, I have to shovel the pits out and realized 

the clog was at the sewer part so I had to 

play in the black mud but that’s all part of it. 

I do have another facility that I need to put my 

equipment I have back in it and get it running. 

So that’ll be fun lol. - BROOKSWASH21 

I will have to admit the first 6 months of owning 

my first wash in 2017 were the worst. I was a 

long-time aircraft technician which helped but 

knew nothing about self-serve washes. It just 

takes time to learn the systems and nothing is 

too hard once you know the theory of operation. 

This forum and its members have been a blessing. 

Thank you! - DAVID ROLF 

As operator of multiple locations we keep a 

high level of service with updated equipment. 

If things are going smoothly we get scared. We 

have been brought down to earth on a routine 

basis by problems all the time. Business 

requires a lot of different talents. Over the 

years we have acquired car washes that are run 

down and old owners want out because it was 

supposed to be easy - CMAWASH 

No, I have never 

thought of doing 

that: 0 

No, but now I am 

considering it! 

18% 

No: 47% 

We do. It’s a good little cash cow. - WASH4LIFE 

Yes: 35% 

Yep! Did a 50/50 split with a company, then ended 

up buying my own. I charge $1.50/cycle. - SLASH007 

Ours is on a combo vac. - OURTOWN 

We are $1 for 75/80 seconds, basically enough time 

for one tire. It cleans up Fall/Spring. Gas Station next 

door charges $2 and we have a big sign advertising 

our air. - VGUARD296 

Nope. Here in Australia, I can’t remember ever 

seeing compressed air at a carwash. Just about every 

petrol station has it for free. - GREG_T 

I sell air. I put the machine on the corner of the 

building closest to the egress, so it gets alot of use. - 

WAXMAN 

I know Baltimore City forbids selling air. I’m glad the 

car wash we have it at is not located there, although 

as bad as Baltimore is, free air is the least of my worries 

with regard to the city. - WASH4LIFE 

Crazy! Though Baltimore doesn’t charge for water…. 

just the filtration delivery etc, I don’t charge for air…. 

just the compression and delivery to the air chuck….. 

so that customers can fill tiresI ran an airline with a 

solenoid valve to one of vacs. A toggle switch allows 

customers to switch back and forth vac or air. It uses 

the same timer as vac…only one function at a time. 

$2/6min. Pretty cheap to set up and very profitable. 

.…..push comes to shove…I‘d drop my toggle switch 

and offer “free” air with vac use. - CHAZ 

34 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 35

Carwash 

Zierco’s Original Swivel and 

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• Feather light rotating action 

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• Swivel rotates 360˚ - 12 ft. 

diameter 

MODEL 203 FEATURES 

• Proven performance with over 50 years 

service in the field (Since 1962) 

• Temperatures to 280˚ max., 

pressure to 2000 psi 

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prevents kinks 

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Carwash 

Boom 

Assemblies 

Zierco’s Easy Service Swivel and 

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• Twin compression springs are tension-adjustable 

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• Swivel rotates 360˚ - 12 ft. diameter 

• Temperatures to 280˚ max., pressure to 2000 psi 

• Longer hose life as spring prevents kinks 

• Ruggedly built, satisfaction guaranteed 

• Optional stainless steel components 

• Proven performance with over 50 years service in 

the field (Since 1962) 

Boom Systems with Full 360 Degree roTATIoN 

Booms are Available with 3 Different Mountings 

MODEL 204 

ENHANCE YOUR SELF SERVING 

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Flat Plate 

Mounts directly 

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beam. 

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Swivel Base 

Mounts directly to 

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MODEL 206 

OFFSET Overhead Carwash Boom 

Allows for TWO Center Boom Installation 

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Mounts to wall and 

is adjustable so 

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Ideal for foaming brushes. 

FOR COMPLETE 

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CALL 

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DISTRIBUTOR INQUIRIES INVITED 

107C Cartridge Features: 

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Remove boom body 

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QUALITY PRODUCTS SINCE 1937 

EASY 3 STEP PROCEDURE 

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Rotate hinge plate 

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TM 

Replace O-Rings 

DISTRIBUTOR 

INQUIRIES 

INVITED 

VISA and Master Card 

accepted 

36 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 37


self serve 

& support equipment 

SINGLE VACUUM 

• Stainless Steel arches that are 

designed for the single SS vacuums 

• Fixed SS Boom to provide the hose 

near the drivers door of the vehicle 

• Vacuum boom can be ordered 

to allow the hose to swing 

over the vehicle 

• Post is 3” x 6” x 8’ tall for the 

fixed vac arch 

FAQs 

UNDER $11,000.00 

*STARTING AT UNDER $11,000.00 

about Chemistry 

The following are some important questions answered by 

Stephen Denissoff, Operations Manager at Synergy Solutions. 

Q? Why is a high PH 

necessary with a presoak? 

ANSWER: A traditional high pH (alkaline) solution 

is often used in a presoak for various reasons. A 

high pH solution is effective at breaking down and 

emulsifying grease and oil-based vehicle contaminants. 

High pH solutions can improve the overall 

cleaning power of the presoak by reducing the surface 

tension of water, which enables it to penetrate 

and dislodge dirt and contaminants more effectively. 

In some regions, a high pH presoak is also used to 

help remove mineral deposits and scale. 

The drawbacks associated with using a high pH 

presoak are twofold. While they effectively cleanse 

contaminants by emulsifying the car’s surface, they 

also induce a positive charge to the car’s surface. 

Without proper neutralization using a low pH product, 

this positive charge can lead to diminishing effects 

in the cleaning process. This includes contaminate 

redeposition, where the car may appear clean 

but still has a faint layer of dust due to the positive 

attraction between the dirt and the car’s surface. Additional 

adverse effects include the car’s dryness and 

diminished shine. This often requires a delicate balancing 

act between high pH and low pH products, 

“the high pH/low pH game,” to ensure the correct 

molecular charge on the vehicle. 

Q? What is an antifreeze 

solution and how does an 

antifreeze solution work with a 

self serve car wash? 

ANSWER: Antifreeze solutions are typically used 

in regions with colder climates, often seasonal. As 

the name implies, these solutions serve to safeguard 

soap from freezing when exposed to environmental 

freezing conditions. Typically, these solutions incorporate 

methanol additives that effectively prevent 

the product from freezing at the application. 

In self-service car washes, the foam brush application 

is usually stored in a reservoir containing 

the product. This setup presents a vulnerability 

to freezing when temperatures plummet. This is 

precisely where the need for a winter (anti-freeze) 

foam brush product arises, as it ensures that the 

product remains unfrozen, averting the potential 

pitfalls of frozen lines and a solid block of ice at 

the brush head. 

Most self-service car washes operating in 

freezing conditions implement a weep system that 

is interconnected with other applications within 

the wash bay. The weep system helps eliminate the 

risk of complications arising during frigid weather, 

ensuring that the car wash functions smoothly and 

effectively even in the harshest of conditions. 

Q? How exactly do ceramic 

sealants work? 

ANSWER: Ceramic sealants are formulated with 

nano-sized ceramic particles. When applied to a vehicle’s 

paint or other surfaces, these particles bond 

chemically and physically with the surface. This 

creates a durable and protective layer that adheres 

tightly. Ceramic sealants create a hard, transparent 

barrier on the vehicle’s surface. This barrier acts as a 

shield against various environmental contaminants 

and damage, including UV rays, acid rain, bird droppings, 

road salts, tree sap, and more. One of the key 

features of ceramic sealants is their hydrophobic 

nature. This means they repel water and other liquids 

well. Water droplets bead up and roll off the 

surface, carrying away dirt and contaminants with 

them. Because of their hydrophobic properties and 

the way they repel contaminants, ceramic-sealed 

surfaces are easier to clean during regular car washes. 

This makes the car easier to clean and maintain. 

Ceramic sealants often provide a high level of gloss 

and depth to the vehicle’s finish, enhancing its 

appearance. Ceramic sealants are known for their 

long-lasting protection. Depending on the quality 

of product, vehicle environment, and the amount 

of product applied, they can last up to weeks. 

It’s important to recognize that the ceramic 

Used for 2-6 

self serve Bays 

• High and low pressure gauge 

• Pre-wired and pre-plumbed 

• Low voltage electric panels 

• Single V-belt & pulley 

• Stainless steel belt guards 

• Easy access to chemicals 

• System lettering and 

graphic decaling 

• ETL/UL/CE APPROVED 

SUPER SAVER 

Available for 7-12 bays 

Features 

• Low pressure tire cleaner, medium 

pressure pre-soak, high pressure soap, 

foaming brush, rinse, foaming 

conditioner, clear coat protectant, 

high pressure wax 

• All stainless steel construction 

• Totally self-contained 

• Removable pump assembly 

• Model CAT 5CP2120 

Pump, 4.0 GPM/1000 PSI 

• Brass regulators 

• Automatic chemical mixing tank 

• Fused terminal blocks 

• 3 HP 3 PH motor 

The Power Pack 

self-service car 

wash system 

is designed for the space 

conscious. The modular 

stainless steel framework 

is about 25% shorter but 

still includes most of the 

same features as the 

Super Saver 2500. 

Optional 

Features 

• Bug remover 

• Triple foam 

brush 

• Triple shine 

• Spot-free 

rinse (low or 

medium 

pressure) 

• Marine 

engine flush 

CARWASH IN A BOX 

• Marinas 

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• Auto Dealerships 

• Car washes 

• Laundromats 

and More! 

International models available. 

94000 Series Vacuum 

The 94000 Series Vacuums are constructed of high 

quality, stainless steel and provide high performance. 

SCAN 

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38 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 39

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40 • FALL 2023 

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FALL 2023 • 41

Around the Wash: FAQs about Chemistry 

sealant applied during a car wash isn’t directly 

comparable to the coatings professionally applied, 

such as those offered by detailing shops. The ceramic 

coatings administered by detailing shops exhibit 

superior durability and strength compared to 

those used in a car wash environment. This distinction 

arises from the more rigorous and labor-intensive 

process employed by detailing experts. 

The Best for Your Success ! 

The Best for Your Success ! 

Q? What are some of the 

things that can dirty up the 

inside of a self serve bay? What 

is needed to clean the walls 

properly? 

ANSWER: The primary contributors to dirty 

self-serve bays are the customers themselves. 

Whether they are rejuvenating their cherished 

vintage summer vehicles, cleaning off dirt bikes, 

or (sadly) spraying out their bed from a mulch job, 

these activities all introduce dirt, oils, and grime 

into the wash bay environment. 

When the accumulation of grime surpasses 

what can be managed by simply using a high-pressure 

gun to spray down the bay, the industry 

standard typically resorts to hydrofluoric acid for 

a thorough cleaning. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge 

the inherent dangers of working with 

hydrofluoric acid, necessitating the strict use of 

proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to 

prevent any potential accidents that can easily occur 

when handling this hazardous material. Always 

consult the application and safety procedures with 

the manufacturer before using. 

There are a few available alternatives to HF 

on the market today, offering safer, non-corrosive 

cleaning options. 

for scooping pit debris, which can be then dumped 

into an attached holding bed. While these methods 

are quick and convenient, they also come at a 

substantial cost. In numerous areas, service providers 

offer these solutions for a fee. 

For a more budget-friendly approach, manual 

labor is the answer. Using a shovel and wheelbarrow 

can be effective, and there are clam shell 

scoops designed to efficiently clear the corners of 

the pits, operating manually, like a post hole digger. 

It’s imperative to be well-versed in the local 

regulations concerning the disposal of pit material 

to steer clear of fines and penalties, as laws governing 

this matter can vary significantly from one area 

to another. 

Q? Is there anything a selfserve 

can do to rival a tunnel 

in terms of its abilities with 

cleaning? 

42 • FALL 2023 

Q? Self serve owners have to 

clean out and maintain their 

pits-- what is it that causes them 

to become so dirty and what can 

be used to clean them out? 

ANSWER: Much like the cleanliness of wash 

bays, it all hinges on customer usage and behavior. 

Many self-serve facilities prominently display signage 

outlining what is deemed unacceptable for 

cleaning on-site. When such rules are monitored 

and enforced, they often prove to be effective in 

shaping consumer behavior. 

For the task of sewage removal from pits, 

there are a few options available. Pit pump trailers 

utilize a vacuum-like apparatus to efficiently 

extract the sewage, depositing it into a reservoir. 

Clam shell pit cleaner trailers resemble miniature 

excavators equipped with clamshell attachments 

ANSWER: Answering this one is a bit tricky because 

the folks who typically use a self-serve car 

wash are usually a different clientele compared to 

a tunnel car wash. We run a self-serve and in-bay 

automatic (IBA) car wash, and our marketing is all 

about showcasing what makes us different from 

the local tunnel washes instead of trying to prove 

we’re better. We’re all about being the friendly, local, 

family-owned business that’s all about giving 

the best quality car wash. 

The best advice I can give on this question is 

to be the absolute best car wash you can be. Get to 

know your customers, be around when they need 

a hand, and make sure they have the best possible 

experience every time they visit. Make sure everything 

is in proper working order and maintain a 

“clean” facility. If you treat people right, chances 

are they’ll do right by you and keep coming back. 

It’s all about that positive, personal touch that can 

separate you from any other wash in the area. 

D&S Car Wash Supply 

FALL 2023 • 43

PART 4: 

Where things 

stand today 

The Right to Wash PART 4 

By Debra Gorgos, editor 

In part 1 of this story, which appeared in the 2023 

Winter issue of Self Serve Car Wash, we learned 

about the owner of a closed self serve car wash in 

Dallas, Texas. Dale Davenport was fighting to reopen 

his car wash after it had been shut down by 

local authorities. Part 1 talked about how Davenport 

got into the car washing industry and worked tirelessly 

to make his business a respectable operation. 

The car wash was located in a prime sought after 

area known as a Federal Opportunity Zone, meaning 

it allowed people to invest in “distressed areas” to 

help boost the economy and create jobs. Davenport 

took this designation very seriously. He was proud to 

help boost up the area and contribute to the neighborhood. 

Part 2, told the story of how Davenport 

tried to work with police to combat any crime or 

suspicious activity happening on or around his car 

wash. He called 9-1-1 multiple times, but, despite his 

efforts, no one seemed to want to help him or accept 

his help. Then, things took a turn when Davenport 

witnessed a police officer macing a man in his 

parking lot. Davenport testified against the officer in 

2002. Shortly thereafter, a bullet was shot through a 

window at his home and his car wash was surrounded 

by 17 DPD vehicles and 26 officers blocking the 

car wash’s driveway, preventing customers from 

entering. Part 3 talked about the aftermath of the 

shooting, his involvement with the Public Nuisance 

Law, and how someone by the name of Terry Keel 

stepped in to help. This brings us to Part 4, the final 

portion of this on-going story. 

. 

The story of self 

serve car wash 

owner Dale 

Davenport 

and his battle with 

the city of Dallas 

Part 4: Where 

Things Stand Today 

You might have heard of the familiar phrase, “Don’t 

Mess with Texas.” However there’s a lesser known 

saying from Billy Clayton, a former Speaker of the 

Texas House of Representatives, “A born Texan has 

instilled in his system a mindset of no retreat or no 

surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the 

dominating spirit that motivates Texans.” 

Perhaps that is what drives Dale Davenport to 

keep fighting the fight. For 20 years, he has been trying 

to be a law-abiding car wash owner. He has been 

harassed, spent more money than anyone could 

imagine, sat in courtrooms, had a bullet hole shot 

through his home, lost his father, took on city hall 

and continues to do so, and yet, he still hasn’t waved 

the white flag. That’s just not something Texas men 

do. They’re tough. They are full of pride. They love 

their hometowns. And, they don’t quit. “I love this 

state,” he said. “I cannot imagine being in a better 

place, or country. I love America. I think that’s why 

I keep going because I know this is a good country 

and I know people like me, who work hard, have 

rights. What has happened to me is not right.” 

Jim’s Car Wash still remains closed. Dale still 

checks on it to make sure it looks neat, tidy and 

safe. He keeps updating the wash’s Facebook page. 

The city cut off his utilities… but, anyone who has 

been following this story would know that Dale is 

the type of person who still takes pride in his business, 

even if it isn’t operational. It’s a shame that for 

four years, it hasn’t been allowed to wash a single 

car. Residents have to drive outside of town, and it’s 

such a perfect place for a car wash, too. The busy 

MLK Boulevard that leads right into the State Fair 

of Texas’s Fair Park. There was a shooting at the recent 

State Fair back in October. A man fired a gun 

into a crowded food court, injuring three people. 

However, the city didn’t tell those in charge of the 

Fair that they needed armed guards, and should be 

shut down because it’s a hot-bed for crime, as they 

did to Dale. Why is that? That’s what Dale would 

like to know. 

(Editorial Note: I tried calling Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, 

and a staff member told me he was too busy to talk). 

Austin GOP State Representative Terry Keel, 

was one of the few politicians who noticed something 

wasn’t right with how Dale’s car wash was shut 

down, how it seemed to be politically-motivated, 

and how Dale was given unusual and unfair rules. 

Dallas-area State Representative, Fred Hill, 

approached Keel a few years back and asked him 

to look into the matter. “Fred was appalled and 

thought my background in law enforcement might 

be of assistance to the House of Representatives 

as Dallas-area members were trying to figure out 

what could be done as a practical matter to help 

Mr. Davenport.” 

Keel asked for there to be a thorough interim 

study and his request was approved by House 

Speaker Tom Craddick. 

“As I learned more about the situation and 

confirmed the facts, it became apparent that the 

local government was dysfunctional and there was 

potential corruption. I spoke with my colleague, 

Kevin Bailey, chair of the House General Investigating 

Committee (on which I also served) and I 

proposed that we conduct a joint hearing of that 

committee and the committee I chaired (Criminal 

Jurisprudence) in Dallas. Kevin agreed.” 

(Highlights from that study on opposite page.) 

“I had not previously seen this sort of corrupt 

local government patronage. This was akin to 

something like a protection racket run by the city. 

I couldn’t believe what I was finding out. It’s hard 

to understand how it has continued to linger on 

for decades,” Keel stated. 

When asked this question: Do you think Dale 

will ever get to run his car wash again on MLK 

Blvd.? Keel responded with this: 

“I don’t know the answer to that question, but 

I would sum it up by quoting our joint committee’s 

2006 report, the committees saw evidence 

that showed a pattern of abuse by the city of 

Dallas to target a legitimate business in a crimeplagued 

area, penalizing them for reporting crime 

and targeting them with regulatory harassment 

while largely ignoring crime occurring all around 

the legitimate businesses. Money had been solicited 

by politicians from businesses with the clear 

implication that such contributions would mitigate 

that business’s problems with the city, etc. It 

was appalling.” 

The report and its findings were revealed almost 

16 years ago. 

What has happened since then? More of the 

same, unfortunately. Money, time, efforts, pleas, 

meetings, lawyers, laws, police and politicians – all 

buzzwords that have been echoing throughout 

Dale’s long and hard-fought journey to simply 

run a car wash. A car wash, that just about anyone 

would say is: Immaculate, safe, welcoming and a 

bright spot for a popular avenue that once served 

as a thoroughfare dotted with lots of businesses, 

restaurants and consumers. 

Jim’s Car Wash washed its last car on July 19, 

2019. Dale says it is ready to go if the city ever 

allows it. Until then, Dale will keep maintaining 

the property and will keep up the fight. 

“Oh, I’m definitely angry… I’m still angry, but 

I cannot show that. I have to stay calm and state 

the facts. The facts are there… and I am optimistic… 

I have to be. It just isn’t right what has been 

done to me, and I am not going to stop trying.” 

“Don’t Mess with Texas,” or better yet, Don’t 

Mess with Dale Davenport. 

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44 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 45

When Loyalty 

is Royalty 

By Jim Lanman 

jlanman@touch4wash.com 

Listen up! If this sounds like you, then this 

article is sure to offer you value and will be 

worth the 10 minutes it takes you to read. 

Carl is a hard-working car wash owner who 

dreams of becoming a profitable entrepreneur. 

Currently, he’s focused on increasing repeat 

customers and increasing revenue per customer. 

New competition has entered his market which 

is forcing him to rethink his business model. 

Unfortunately, there are some roadblocks for him 

here, including figuring out how to differentiate 

his business and how to gain customers and keep 

them loyal while staying profitable. 

Sound familiar? 

There are 3 non-negotiable concepts that 

every business must solve. They are: 

1. How to gain customers 

2. How to retain customers 

3. How to earn more per customer 

That’s it! 

Figure these 3 things out and you are on the 

road to success. Now while these are simple to 

read, the answers are sometimes elusive. 

These are all certainly possible. You just need 

some solid ways to spread the word about your 

great self serve wash, get more prospects in the 

driveway to buy, and convince more of your 

past and current customers to buy again. 

Getting New Customers 

Grabbing fresh customers is important. Over 

time, some of your old customers are going to move 

away, pass on or find some other way to wash their 

car. So, you’ve got to add more prospects who are 

actively looking for a car wash in their area. 

The goal is to find a LOT more qualified new customers 

who can keep your service humming from 

open to close. That is certainly possible in today’s 

online world where it is relatively easy and cheap to 

reach prospects and all of their connected friends, 

co-workers, and family. 

Using a loyalty or membership program specifically 

made for car washes gives you easy ways to affordably 

market and advertise your car wash. These 

allow you to have an offering (a hook) to help lure 

in new prospects who are interested in special offers, 

and updates on your great equipment, convenient 

location and superior services. 

Active marketing will get local people interested. 

Consumers and business customers often appreciate 

a car wash that is aggressively working to attract 

their business. You need a marketing plan that 

is targeting your ideal customer at the very point 

they are interested in the services that you provide. 

Keeping your business front-of-mind will be an important 

ingredient to your marketing approach. 

SELF SERVE CAR 

WASH OWNERS 

“We have had a loyalty program in place 

for many years but really started pushing 

it through new technologies (touch4wash) 

about 8 years ago. There are many ways we 

have benefitted from our loyalty program but 

two stick out to me the most. First, we love to 

see cars and faces that we recognize coming 

to our wash. Having better relationships with 

our customers makes us a better wash. Also, 

keeping loyal customers is always better and 

cheaper than trying to get new ones and our 

program helps us not only retain customers 

Weigh In 

but grow our customer base. 

Second, our loyalty program gives us great 

insight into what our customers are doing. 

Seeing in real time how discounts and specials 

we run affect our customers’ purchases 

and looking into our customers’ habits are 

great tools to have. 

I think most of our customers obviously see 

their win as a monetary savings as they wash 

and the ease of being able to load washes at 

our site and keep track of their own “loyalty 

points” and use them as they please.” 

Alex Wolfe of Sure Shine Auto Wash Win Waterloo, and Alton, Illinois 

“Our loyalty program was started in 2019. We feel like the offering tool is beneficial 

to keep our customer base coming back to our facility. We offer both carwash club 

packages as well as a points program for the pay-as-you-go customers.” 

Brian Templeton of Hurricane Bay Carwashes in Marshfield, Missouri 

46 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 47

Bringing Back Your 

Former Customers 

The key to consistent sales is to keep your many 

current customers engaged while bringing back 

customers you haven’t seen in a while. In a recent 

report, it was said that the average consumer will 

wash their car one to two times per month* . If that 

is true, then how do you ensure that they use your 

wash for these washes, OR even better, how do you 

encourage them to exceed this average? 

That’s where a loyalty program comes into play. 

A recent study by Visa reported that over 60% of 

loyalty programs participants purchased more frequently 

and spent more to boost their points earnings(2) 

. Even more compelling is the reporting of 

over 80% of loyalty customers will refer the business 

to their family and friends**. 

Having a professional, easy-to-understand loyalty 

program is critical. It will keep your customers motivated 

to visit your wash often with special deals, 

points programs, and other promotions. Speed is also 

very important. Offering quick returns on their loyalty 

will energize the desire to continue the process. 

For example, offering a free wash after they purchase 

3 washes will yield a much more engaged customer 

than making them wait to purchase 10 washes to get 

a free wash. The key is to think of these programs as 

part of your integrated marketing approach. Using 

these methods will help you consistently increase 

sales and improve profits while keeping marketing 

and advertising costs as low as possible. 

How Do You Get 

Loyal Customers? 

Getting customers to visit more often and spend 

more while in the bay can send your profits rocketing 

skyward. Membership programs are a classic 

way to keep car wash customers engaged and buying. 

Many car wash businesses offer a certain number 

of washes for a saving. The customer can come back 

several times per month without worrying about the 

cost. The advantage of the membership approach is 

the recurring payments. This puts your revenue on 

autopilot. It does not require the customer to do 

anything once they are signed up. Consumers love 

car wash membership programs that let them pay a 

monthly fee, then wash as often as they like. 

While many of them believe they will wash every 

week or even twice a week, most won’t have the 

time or dedication to wash that often. The car wash 

membership program gets people excited about a 

perceived bargain, and it often gives you a nice chunk 

of change for a relatively average number of washes. 

Perhaps just as important, customers start to feel 

loyalty to your car wash. They will think of it as a 

self care errand, and a familiar part of their routine. 

You are the business that provides a good service and 

gives them a great deal for maintaining their vehicle. 

Service Your Customers 

Finally, a huge part of any customer loyalty program 

is providing exceptional customer service. No 

matter what you spend in marketing, equipment, 

signage or loyalty systems; if you do not service your 

customers at the highest level, they will leave and 

do business elsewhere. So what does that mean? It 

means your goal is to make every visit to your car 

wash the best experience it can be. It means that if 

there are issues (and there are always issues), that 

there is an easy way for your customer to report this 

to you. In today’s “everyone is connected” world, you 

don’t want to be the last one to know about an issue 

at your business. By offering convenient ways for 

your customers to contact you, you can service them 

before they feel the need to rant on other channels. 

The more you can connect with your customers 

the more loyal they can be to your business. A 

great way to stay front-of-mind is to invite your 

customers into your tribe. These can come in many 

forms, but the most common are the social channels. 

These channels offer endless ways to keep your 

customers engaged with your business. By growing 

a following of happy customers, you can grow a 

prosperous business and finally enjoy the life of a 

successful entrepreneur. 

Jim Lanman is co-Owner of Touch4Wash, a company 

which offers car wash customers the convenience of using 

their mobile phone to purchase and activate a wash, plus 

much more. Jim can be reached at jlanman@touch4wash. 

com or by calling 612-787-7287. 

48 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 49

MAKING SUCCESSFUL MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS… 

according to Mike Stern, EverWash Vice President of Sales 

Contrary to some sentiments, a well-designed membership 

program can absolutely thrive at self-serve car wash locations. 

By offering different packages, like options for regular cars, 

work vans/trucks, and large vehicle/boat options, you can cater 

to a diverse customer base and make sure everyone finds value 

in your membership offerings. 

Here are 5 tips for success: 

Running a successful membership program at a Self Serve 

Car Wash location hinges on simplicity, user-friendliness, 

and speedy activation. Operators have to aim to make it 

as convenient as possible for customers to join and enjoy 

the benefits. 

In today’s world, coins are becoming less common, so it’s 

essential that a modern membership program offers tap or 

scan-to-pay options. 

Determining the right pricing for a Self Serve Car Wash 

Q&A 

When did self serve start 

adopting loyalty programs? 

Actually, the first loyalty program was 

initiated by the owner of WashCard 

Systems, Dan Yarusso, in 1990. Dan had 

just finished building a new wash when 

road construction began right in front of 

his location. In an effort to keep business 

going at his wash, he developed a loyalty 

program for business accounts. In turn, it 

became a loyalty program for consumers 

that offered different benefits such as 

purchase bonuses, discounts, package 

pricing, etc. In 1992, Dan began offering 

his loyalty program to other self-serve 

independent car wash operators - many 

with in-bay automatics. Thus began true 

loyalty programs in self-serve car washes 

across the country. 

WITH AMY OLSEN OF 

WASHCARDPROGRAMS… 

Why do you think there’s 

been such an uptick in 

loyalty program customers 

-- do you think it has to do 

with the pandemic, the 

economic crisis, etc.? 

The facts are, in times of higher inflation, 

consumers are looking for ways to save 

money, including in their car washes. In 

addition, after the pandemic, car wash 

operators who needed to get back in 

the game and create more sales, used 

loyalty and membership programs to build 

business quickly. As you know, the single 

most cost-effective way to build business is 

to sell more washes to existing customers. 

Loyalty programs leverage convenience, 

and perhaps some cost savings, to inspire 

consumers to wash more often. 

membership program is crucial. We recommend setting 

your membership pricing at around two times your average 

ticket — if your self-serve bays generate an average of $6-7 

per wash, a monthly membership should fall in the $12- 

14 range. This pricing strategy helps ensure a sustainable 

and profitable program for both operators and customers. 

It’s not uncommon for usage to be low among Self Serve Car 

Wash members, with most visiting only between 1.5 to 

2.5 times per month. To address this, we’ve designed our 

pricing structure to offer excellent value, making it an easy 

choice for customers to join and enjoy the convenience and 

savings of a membership, even if they don’t come in daily. 

When crafting your membership program, allocating sufficient 

daily wash time for your valued members is vital. We’ve 

found that offering 8-12 minutes of bay time for $12-14 

per month delivers the optimal experience, ensuring our 

members can wash their vehicles comfortably every day. 

How would a loyalty 

program work for a self 

serve car wash when there 

aren’t set times or menu 

choices for each customer? 

Number one: Washing more often. Number 

two: It’s about time in the bay, so count up 

allows consumers to wash their car as long 

as they want, and get it as clean as they 

want it to be. 

We have an app that offers easy ways for 

consumers to earn rewards in the self-serve 

bays. Consumers can earn rewards based 

on how much and how often they wash, as 

well as referral programs. It’s also important 

to use a program that offers the ability to 

create wash packages where operators are 

able to set up different purchasing options 

for customers. 

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50 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 51

And, now it’s time for: 

Who does this 

criminal look like? 

DARWIN at 

the 

CARWASH 

The investment in security cameras pays off for carwash operators 

(and the readers of SSCWN) with these mostly frustrating, sometimes funny -- and always cautionary 

-- stories of Darwins Caught on Camera. Images of these criminals and/or their vehicles were given 

to police and the press. Many have been caught thanks to the prowess of security cameras. 

A young Sean Penn? 

An old Sean Penn? 

Or somewhere right in the middle and a middle-aged 

Sean Penn?v 

Or maybe Kevin Richardson from the Backstreet 

Boys? 

So, what did this criminal do? He is accused 

of breaking into ATM machines at banks and car 

washes throughout the Memphis, Tennessee area, 

according to a FOX 13 story from October 4. 

Jacob McCrary, 33, was spotted allegedly 

trying to pry open an ATM at the Bank of America 

around 5 a.m. on October 2 when officers 

arrived. He resisted arrest and an officer chased 

him around a parked red and black truck that he 

was unable to get into as the doors were locked, 

police said, according to the story. McCrary was 

eventually caught and arrested, but during the 

struggle, a truck was seen driving away. Police 

pursued him and the driver eventually crashed 

the truck into a pole. 

“Police later reported a connection of the two 

alleged thieves to a burglary at a Cordova car wash 

prior to the first ATM burglary,” the story said. 

“Surveillance video at the car wash captured a man 

driving a red truck with a black hood and roof, 

the same description of the truck - registered to a 

2015 Kia Optima - seen at the Cordova bank.” 

And, now for even more news out of Memphis, 

and this time it involves a car wash owner 

taking matters into his own hands…. Literally… 

as in he held a gun in his hands after catching a 

would-be robber. 

According to a September 13 story, the car 

wash owner got an alert on his phone that his 

security camera was being tampered with. 

“As the business owner pulled up, he told 

officers that he fired a shot at the suspect car. The 

suspect he caught, Lawrence Holden, was held 

at gunpoint until police made the scene.” One 

suspect got away. 

The owner told police that his DVR was taken, 

an unknown amount of cash, and an alarm system. 

Use what you’ve got, I always said. 

Or was that MacGyver? Thankfully, the 

woman in this next story was doing just that as 

she used a car wash hose to fight off a carjacker. 

In Brisbane, Australia, footage shows a woman’s 

car stolen by a knife-wielding man at a car wash. 

The footage was uploaded on Facebook back on 

October 26, according to 7 news. 

The video shows a man with a knife walking up 

behind a woman cleaning her car around 11 p.m. 

Coach of what!?! …is what I’d like to know… 

In Orangeburg County, South Carolina, 

we have this lovely gentleman (pictured below) who is accused of 

vandalizing a car wash this past summer. 

According to a September 7 NBC 10 report, investigators said 

they are looking for a male who vandalized the storage room of 

the Tidal Wave car wash on June 6. “Employees told investigators 

that several boxes had been rummaged through and light fixtures 

had been damaged in the storage room.” 

Authorities have described the suspect as a male wearing black 

shorts, brown boots, a black hat turned backwards, and wearing a 

t-shirt with the words “#ALL-IN” on the front and “COACH” on 

the back, the story said. 

“The man allegedly threatened the woman, before 

taking the car and was last seen driving along 

George St towards Beenleigh central,” a spokesperson 

said according to the story. 

The woman then sprays the knife-wielding 

man in the face with the car wash wand. The 

carjacker lunges again at the woman and then a 

person nearby comes to the woman’s aid. 

And, here’s a good MacGyver quotation that 

would fit well with this story: “With a little bit of 

imagination, anything is possible.” 

There’s a lot of dirty politicians out there and this next 

one is no different. The mayor of Camden, Delaware, had to resign last 

August, after he was caught on car wash cameras tussling with two 19 year 

olds. But, it wasn’t because of the fight, it was because he tried to get his hands 

on the car wash’s footage. According to an August 15 NBC 10 Philadelphia 

story, the Camden mayor agreed to resign from his role after he plead guilty to 

charges related to the car wash incident. Back in February, Justin King started 

a fight with two 19-year-olds after accusing them of causing mischief at a car 

wash, the story said. 

“King shoved the two men and then grabbed one of them by their hoodie 

while they were on the ground. Both victims sustained minor injuries.” 

Along with fight, he also apparently tried to suppress the car wash’s footage 

and overwrite the recording of the incident. 

King pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and hindering 

prosecution. He pleaded no contest to offensive touching. 

“Mr. King’s actions and lack of self-control are not the behavior 

of a grownup, and certainly not the mayor of a town,” 

Delaware’s Attorney General Kathy Jennings said, NBC reported. 

So, remember, no one is above the law… unless you’re 

Steven Seagal, or course. 

I feel as if I should call the police 

involved in this next story, because 

I spotted a clue! As a mom of two kids who 

love a good refreshing drink, I can spot a Sunny-D 

bottle when I see one. 

In Saucon Valley, Pennsylvania, police are searching 

for a pair of criminals, who apparently like to 

drive around with Sunny-D in their trunk, who 

vandalized a car wash. The Saucon Source reported 

that the incident took place on September 20. 

According to a Crimewatch report, the incident 

occurred around 4:59 a.m. The suspects used green 

spray paint at several locations at the car wash. 

This next criminal isn’t only 

guilty of damaging an American 

flag, but for also doing disservice 

to a Poison classic. In Ocean 

City, Maryland, the owners of Zoom Car 

Wash, captured security camera footage 

of a man taking down their 24-by-32-foot 

American flag, and then writing on it in 

black marker, according to an Ocean City 

Today story. 

The incident, which happened between 

10 p.m. and midnight on August 4, involved 

a man using his white Chevy Equinox to 

pull down the flag, bending the 80-foot pole 

as a result. 

Car wash owners Bruce Rogers and 

Charles Holland estimated the cost to remove 

and replace the flagpole to be around 

$30,000. “When you see the video, it’s 

unbelievable the amount of effort, but we 

know he was on the lot for two hours just 

being disruptive,” Rogers said in the story. 

The owners were able to get in touch 

with the suspect who expressed remorse for 

what he had done. He also said that after he 

wrote on the flag, he intended to put it back 

on the flagpole. 

“It’s one thing to go out here and damage 

our coin machine or our equipment, we expect 

a certain amount of vandalism because 

the world is what it is today, but this to me 

is unacceptable,” Holland said in the story. 

“I’m a veteran. I don’t agree with it … I 

don’t like anything about it.” 

“Throughout Zoom’s surveillance videos, 

the man is seen seemingly showing the 

rings on his knuckles to the security camera 

and praying - at one point bending up and 

down at the waist repeating the phrase, ‘Oh 

my Lord, oh my God,’” the story said. The 

man was also filming himself with his own 

camera. 

Most of the writing on the flag was unintelligible, 

the story said, except for a few 

words and phrases including “Every road 

has it’s thorns.” That’s right, he wrote “road” 

instead of rose. Also “it’s” is supposed to be 

“its,” but that’s neither her nor their…just 

kidding, that’s neither here nor “there.” 

Holland said his staff found a credit card 

on site after the incident. The man said he 

left it on purpose to pay for the damages. 

As for a replacement flag, one man who 

heard about the story, offered to donate an 

American flag that was flown in combat in 

Afghanistan as a replacement. The owners 

accepted the offer. As for the damaged flag, 

the Berlin American Legion picked it up so 

that they could ceremonially burn and retire 

it. 

52 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 53

Smile! You’re on….. Facebook! 

A car wash owner in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, 

said he’s sick and tired of vandals and plain ol rude 

people, and said their actions will now be broadcast 

over social media. Robert Walker, owner of 

the Car, Dog and Boat Wash, said there’s been 

more than a dozen instances of littering and petty 

vandalism captured on their CCTV cameras late 

at night since he took over the wash last summer, 

CTV News reported on October 25. 

“They’re using this basically as a dumping station,” 

Walker said in the story. “It’s actually pretty 

humorous to watch some of the video footage in 

the morning when you, overnight, see what’s happened 

and some of it’s kind of entertaining. It does 

upset you a little bit.” 

Over the last several weeks their cameras have 

caught suspects leaving piles of garbage on the 

ground, trying to cut locks from coin machines and 

even one person relieving himself in a dog washing 

station (I’ll spare you that screenshot). 

“It just kind of rubbed us the wrong way,” he 

said. “I wanted to make sure people saw that so 

they don’t do that as well.” 

“We even had a fellow show up with a rotten 

freezer full of meat and try to rinse all that out and 

dump it all and just leave it in a bay. Well, I don’t 

want to pull into a wash bay that stinks like rotten 

meat and has a mess all over the floors.” 

Walker said he and his wife posting the security 

videos to Facebook may have the best impact. “It’s 

definitely reduced the amount of garbage left here 

and just people doing weird things. It really only 

happens late at night and we just want people to 

feel safe here. And we want them to have a nice 

clean wash.” 

London-based technology analyst Carmi Levy 

told CTV News, “I think it’s a great idea to post on 

social media because it moves the process along. 

It recognizes that the police don’t always have the 

resources to do this themselves and it ensures that 

more members of the public have an opportunity 

to help you keep your business safe.” 

OUR 

SUPPORTOUR 

ADVERTISERS 

THE MOST RANDOM THINGS STOLEN FROM A CAR WASH: FLOWERS AND UMBRELLAS 

Yes, you heard that right. First, we have a pair of 

women are caught on camera stealing flowers from 

The Great Western Car Wash in western Australia. 

A Facebook post reads: 

G’day everyone, Can the 2 ladies that were washing 

their dog at the Great Western Car wash, just before 

Midday today, please make contact with the car 

wash? The extra bit of gardening you partook in has 

been recorded and your license plate taken. If I dont 

hear from you in the next 24 hrs I’ve been advised to 

send the footage to the police. Eagerly awaiting your 

correspondence… 

BUSTED! 

And next, In Neath, Wales, two umbrellas were 

stolen from the Neath Cafe and Car Wash. The 

business posted footage of the robbery to its Facebook 

page, along with the following statement: 

It has come to our attention this morning as we open 

up the cafe that 2 of our umbrellas have been taken 

from outside, these are for the customers to enjoy 

sitting outside in the nice weather. Here is the CCTV 

footage of the individuals from early this morning, if 

anyone can help identify these as we would really like 

our property back off them. 

But wait! There’s good news…. 

54 • FALL 2023 

FALL 2023 • 55

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56 • FALL 2023

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