Sometimes You Just Have to Change Your Game

For the past decade or so as the express tunnel gained footing and then began to dominate the car wash world many of my self-service customers complained to me about these changes. At first, I heard "The customer is getting Lazy"; then "Those machines will never wash as good as doing it yourself at a self-service"; followed by "Those things are so expensive – they'll never make money"; and finally, "Have you seen how much damage those things do to cars!?"Now 10 years later I'm hearing "How can I compete with free vacuums?", "Those damn things are everywhere – how do I compete!?"  

The emergence of conveyors in the car washing industry has evolved over the past five years. The days of chains and pulleys are over due to technology advances and better customer experience expectations.

The next five years will be even more of a convergence of conveyors. Lawrence Stovall, President, AutoBrite™ was recently interviewed by Rich DiPalo, author and Associate Publisher at Car Wash & Detail Magazine regarding the history and future trends in car wash conveying. 

Professional Car Wash & Detail Magazine released today their April 2022 issue to include an article written by Lawrence Stovall, President AutoBrite™ Company. The story is titled, "Adapting To Price Increases" talks about the causes, concerns and customer service during these times of supply chain issues and rising costs caused by the pandemic and world affairs. The story reflects the necessity to work together by enhancing existing relationships or developing strategic partnerships during these unusual times. 

The full story can be read on the publication's website:

For any questions about the article, contact AutoBrite™.

Professional Car Wash & Detailing Magazine minced no words in their published article, "Making The Belt Conveyor Change." Modern technologically advanced belt conveyors are not anything like their old school predecessors. Today's belt conveyors are allow for faster load times thereby increasing revenue, have wider belts to accommodate more vehicle types and less moving parts that minimize downtime and maintenance as well as increase safety. 

I'm getting the calls again…………………"How in the hell can you raise the price of your soap!?""Your prices have become ridiculous; I'm going somewhere else!?""You ^&*(%$#>!, you're &*^%$ing me!"

Yes, we are in inflationary times again, …. Hello! … anyone remember 2008!It's been a long, long time but now we're here again.

I always ask the customers when I get these calls to name one thing that hasn't gone up in the last six months? ……. Crickets………, The last 12 months? …… Cicadas………. How about the last two years?Deafening silence.

I remind them that the last 12 years have been stable for most car wash products in the market. In fact, the only two major things that went up substantially in the last dozen or so years has been the price of water and electricity.

"Well, I don't know what I can do about it." Most of them say to me. My response – "Raise your prices too."

That's the dilemma, the conundrum, the proverbial Gordian Knot of the self-service owner but let's take a good look at this "self-imposed" dilemma. 

In the self-service car wash world, the "Old Guard" is changing to the next generation of self-service owner/operators. The next generation, while eager to enter the business, sometimes find themselves frustrated and angry because it's just not as easy and profitable as they thought. They look at cash flows and CAP rates, but don't really realize the labor and dedication the previous owner put in to achieve those goals. If you are thinking about getting into the self-service car wash business, this blog is written to give you The Good, The Bad and The Ugly surrounding this industry. But let's do it in reverse order. 

The country is slowly opening up and while it is not quite a post-pandemic world, we are starting to make important decisions for our families and businesses. Getting back to a new normal is necessary in the healing process and as our world finds ways to cope with the transition, it is of paramount importance that we evolve with our future business models. Needless to say, automation and minimal contact transactions are more appealing and provide customer peace of mind. 

When people go through a modern-day car wash, they want two things, one - a clean, dry car and two - a safe experience without scratching or damaging their vehicle in any way. All of the other bells and whistles are nice, but not as important as the safety features. Quality products and excellent customer service is also expected with every wash package. Car wash systems have come a long way and the technology and materials continue to evolve to provide the ultimate wash experience.

To understand why car washes, use different metals and materials and their importance, this blog will explore the different characteristics of steel and stainless steel and its relevance to the car wash industry, as well as the newest and greatest technology in car wash systems. 

Right In Your Backyard

Deep in the heart of Texas, you will find bluebonnets, good BBQ and some favorite breweries, but did you know that right in your backyard is a local manufacturer for car washing products and equipment? Perfecting their car wash solutions for more than 55 years, AutoBrite has been your local cleaning solutions expert. Focused research and development, coupled with superior customer service and quality products, has given AutoBrite the edge to be an industry leader, proudly serving Texas and the surrounding United States.

• Manufactured in Texas
• Quickly Shipped Out Products Across the U.S.
• Formulated for All Professional Car Washes
• Non-Corrosive and Non-Abrasive
• Backed by Our Service and Support 

The car wash industry is booming. Auto-related industries, as a whole, have seen a major uptick. With the advent of new technology and processes, more and more car wash facilities are finding themselves racing in a fast-paced, growing car wash climate, with the goal now being to generate repeat business in a competitive car care market. Convenient, clean and efficient car washes are what the modern customer expects. Locations that uphold these high standards will see more business, which will result in higher profitability and customer satisfaction.

Updating car wash locations can be tricky in this day and age of multiple sizes and shapes of vehicles. In this blog, we will break down what the modern conveyor belts can offer car wash businesses and their unique advantages. These new and advanced conveyor belt systems have evolved over time and are making the car wash industry better as well as improving the overall customer experience. 

In today's hustle and bustle, consumers will frequently visit a convenience store to buy gas and an occasional drink or snack, but this sometimes does not bring in enough revenue. Many convenience store chains are looking for ways to bring in something new and different to generate more business. What about adding a car wash? You might say that is an expensive investment, with not much return. But what if you could add a car wash to your existing real estate and start turning a profit immediately? Adding a car wash can add exponential value to your current convenience store business. Let's explore the evolution of the car wash and what technological advancements make the new car wash systems such a good investment.

You need to look towards the future. If you do not, the new giant express washes and investment groups will take a large part of your business.

Everyone likes shiny new things. It is how the car industry survives and why your wash can be profitable. The drive for shiny new things leads your customers to your wash, or to the new washes around the corner. Your car wash customers are drawn to new and shiny things.

As your wash ages, making it new and shiny takes time, money (cash flow), and manpower. In your business, like all businesses, you are chasing two out of three all the time. We generally have one in abundance compared to the others. 

Sometimes it is the simple things that help you really make money. Cleaning your wash is simple… it just takes time and effort.But I know it's worth it.

Years ago had the pleasure of meeting and learning from an older gentleman here in San Antonio that had become very rich buying, selling, and running car washes. He said it was so easy, he couldn't believe everyone did it. But if everyone did it, it wouldn't have made him so much money. He since moved on to commercial real estate because he wanted something more challenging.

Mental Health Benefits 

In today's world of sanitizing and over the top cleaning EVERYTHING, it is just as important to have a clean car. We agonize over cleanliness and now with the pandemic, keeping all surfaces disinfected will help our physical as well as our mental health.

When we decided to take on the challenge of supplying the U.S. market with a belt conveyor alternative two years ago, we knew from the get-go that head-to-head price comparisons were going to be a challenging issue to overcome. At the time, we only offered our dual-belt conveyor in a stainless steel model, which only exacerbated the issue in what has long been a price sensitive market, despite the exceptional durability boost and longevity that comes with stainless steel equipment. Our discussions that year with owners and operators highlighted that decision-makers struggled to justify the benefits of belt conveyors against their higher costs. 

 Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or a professional auto detailer, at AutoBrite™ we understand you and what you need to accomplish. We're in the business of not only helping you achieve superior results that will stand out, but also doing so in an environmentally friendly way that doesn't compromise quality.

We pride ourselves in providing budget-friendly car wash fluids that are tough on dirt, promote longevity and provide complete lubrication, protection and effectiveness. Plus, our products are manufactured in the U.S.A., can be shipped quickly, are non-corrosive and non-abrasive and backed by us and our more than 60 years of experience in car wash service and support.

AutoBrite offers a complete line of commercial car wash products, so let's take a closer look at some of our sweet-smelling deals that you can utilize in your detailing work.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average annual revenue of a tunnel or conveyor cash wash is $690,000! This makes them great options for investors. And even better, the all new ModBrite™ by AutoBrite™ has the best ROI in the business – so you are sure to soak up the profits.

If you're an investor or business owner looking for a lucrative investment opportunity then you know that higher annual revenues when compared to other car wash systems doesn't always mean faster or guaranteed ROI. So why invest in the car wash industry? And why look at the ModBrite tunnel and conveyor car wash systems from AutoBrite?