CAR WASH Podcasts

Join CAR WASH Magazine Editor-in-Chief Shaneen Calvo as she explores the innovative world of modular construction with experts from Genesis Modular Car Wash Building Systems: Bruce Arnett – Owner Shawn McGovern – CEO Charlie Zimmerman – National Sales Manager This episode complements an article in the Q2 issue of CAR WASH Magazine, “On the Fast Track,” and takes a deep dive into how modular builds can dramatically reduce construction time, simplify permitting, and offer customizable options for car wash developments. Key Takeaways: Modular Construction Explained Learn how Genesis’s modular systems are built like "Lego blocks," enabling parallel construction. The vertical build takes place off-site, while the foundation and other prep work happen simultaneously on location, cutting build time by up to 75%. Customization Options Explore the most popular customizations, from tower height to tunnel length, and the wide range of systems Genesis can produce in a year. Efficiency and ExperienceGenesis brings 35+ years of experience to the table, guiding customers to value-engineer projects. Their focus is on ensuring the best return on investment by optimizing the construction of the car wash building itself. Hear about some of their most memorable projects and how they were able to provide customized solutions. Why Modular? Modular construction offers: Time Savings: Significantly reduced build time. Customization: Flexible designs tailored to customer needs. Parallel Construction: On-site prep and off-site building happen simultaneously.

In this episode of CAR WASH the Podcast, International Carwash Association CEO Eric Wulf is joined by Alex Chausovsky, a seasoned market researcher and analyst with over 20 years of expertise in economics, business cycles, and industry-specific trends. The episode explores the ICA’s Q3 research survey, shedding light on year-end retail growth projections within the car wash industry. Eric and Alex break down current market dynamics and unemployment trends and analyze the Federal Reserve's reactions. They also explore the potential impact of the upcoming election on consumer spending and how these factors might influence the car wash sector. Key highlights include: Consumer Spending: Despite rising consumer debt levels, spending remains steady, though there's noticeable hesitancy, particularly among younger demographics (39 and under). Credit card delinquencies are up, yet auto loan delinquencies have slightly decreased from the previous quarter. Economic Outlook: Alex Chausovsky provides strategic advice for car wash owners on navigating these economic uncertainties, leveraging insights to optimize business performance. Election Impact: While elections are a significant event, Chausovsky emphasizes that the US economy's size and resilience often mitigate election-related concerns, advising industry players to focus on what they can control. Join Eric Wulf and Alex Chausovsky on December 13, Projections Day, at the 2024 Roadmap event (https://carwashroadmap.com/register).

The future of work is not only difficult to predict, it is the wrong question to ask. The question we should be asking instead is: How do we build an incredible team that can help us get to whatever the future of work looks like? Eric Termuende, author of "Rethink Work" joins us with a bold suggestion. He shares that the best solution to talent acquisition and preparing for the ever-changing work landscape is investing in the quality of your work environment for your current employees. Termuende says the keys are to build trust, remove friction, and create a culture of experimentation, and he provides some practical tips for each. Hear more from Eric Termuende at The Car Wash Show in Nashville, May 13-15: www.thecarwashshow.com.

Our guest is Terry Brock, who just celebrated his 40th year as a Marketing Advisor. He joins us to talk tech trends which, let's face it, are mostly AI these days. Brock shares with us some thrilling use cases for AI in the carwash space as well as some input on common concerns. Every new technology has brought with it some fear. Brock reminds us that from discovering fire to inventing airplanes each advancement in technology has introduced danger that we have mitigated with regulation. Will you lose your job to AI? Probably not but as Brock says: you might lose it to a human that understands and deploys AI better than you. This episode will get you closer to implementing AI solutions in your wash and staying ahead of the technological curve. More information on Terry Brock can be found at: https://terrybrock.com/

Tony Sposit always wanted to be a paramedic. And after high school that is exactly what he did. But in between his 24-hour paramedic shifts, he decided he wanted to find more work (he claims he was driving his wife crazy around the house).When the Frenchtown-Monroe Auto Wash opened near his home, he became an attendant loading cars into the wash. A year later he is now the assistant general manager at that location as well as running the PR for all five of their wash locations — and has earned the nickname “The Monroe Car Wash Guy.” Sposit joins us to talk about what it was like to change roles so quickly. We also talk about the skills that transfer over from being a paramedic to car washing and the unique experiences he has injected into his wash including a live-streamed TikTok radio show on Saturdays from inside the wash.

If you attended The Car Wash Show in 2023, you undoubtedly saw Quick Dry’s booth with pink carpet. Jonathan and Lindsay Wiles, who run the family-owned business, called it the ugliest booth at the show. But the carpet was to bring awareness to a great cause. In October of 2023, Quick Dry launched its Go Pink! campaign. They sold pink towels to participating customers and donated a portion of the proceeds ($10,000!) to Hospice of the Piedmont and Breastcancer.org. Many of their customers were also involved in fundraising projects that revolved around the pink towels. The Wiles join us to talk about the idea for the campaign, the hurdles to make it happen, how they will make it better for 2024, and the humanizing effect that a program like this can have on your view of business.

In early November of 2022, Jeff Pavone was on the show to talk about what was happening in the car wash industry in a two-part episode called The Great Market Reset. A year later, Pavone is back with his insight on the industry from his perspective as a founding partner of Amplify Car Wash. We discuss the recent market pause, trends moving forward, the added professionalism in the space, and the trends owners should consider to stand out. Host: Matt DeWolf Guest: Jeff Pavone, Amplify Car Wash Advisors Episode Summary: This episode of "Car Wash the Podcast" features Jeff Pavone, a recurring guest, discussing the dynamic shifts and future trends in the car wash industry. The conversation revolves around the industry's rapid growth, market changes, and the impact of external factors like interest rates and inflation. Key Points Discussed: Industry Evolution: Jeff reflects on the industry's journey from rapid expansion to a more measured, profitable approach. Discussion on the "great pause" of 2023 and factors influencing it: rising interest rates, inflation, and credit accessibility. Operational Strategies: Emphasis on being great operators with a focus on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and efficiency. The trend towards building car wash companies, not just car washes, highlighting the importance of infrastructure and team. Market Trends and Challenges: An exploration of market saturation and its impact on even the most successful operators. The need for innovation and differentiation in an increasingly competitive market. Technological Advancements: The role of technology in enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency. Predictions for future innovations including AI and robotics in car wash operations. Advice for Small Operators: The importance of understanding market dynamics and buyer expectations. Adapting to technological advancements and using data effectively for customer retention and business growth. Industry Outlook for 2024: Optimism about market stabilization and controlled, intelligent growth. Expectations of increased deal-making and strategic expansions by major players. Personal Growth and Business Ethics: Jeff emphasizes the importance of being generous and community-focused, both personally and professionally. The role of building strong relationships and being a valuable part of the community for business success. Closing Thoughts: Matt and Jeff conclude with insights into the future of the car wash industry, stressing the need for adaptability, smart growth strategies, and the potential for more creative and innovative approaches in the coming years.

Marketing is all about spending money to (hopefully) make money. The trick is knowing where to focus that spend. This week we are playing you a panel, recorded live at the Car Wash Magazine Live Studio at the Car Wash Show™ 2023 in Las Vegas. Levi McClendon of OptSpot, Nick Rodia of Sgt. Clean Car Wash, and Sam Sousa of All American Car Wash joined host Matt DeWolf to discuss trends they are seeing as the best ways to spend a marketing budget. From YouTube to community engagement and fundraising there is certainly something to take home and try out from this conversation.

This week Matt DeWolf is handing the mic over to four very capable speakers who were gathered at the Car Wash Show Europe in Amsterdam last week. Eric Wulf of the International Car Wash Association along with Bryan Madderson of the Car Wash Association in the UK, Thomas Drott of the Federal Association of Gas Stations and Commercial Car Washes in Germany, and Erik Stern of BOVAG in the Netherlands spoke at a round table presentation on the state of the industry in each of their regions.

So you collect some data but don't know what to do with it? You collect no data and don't know how to start? You don't know how to get more information from your customers? You want to turn your data insights into a more personalized relationship with your customers? In this episode, we bring you a panel with exactly those insights. Kacy Erdelyi of Spark Car Wash, Anne Mauler of Soapy Joe's Car Wash, and Dylan Von Kleist of Amp, join us to discuss how they are using data, and what they are looking forward to building in the future. This panel was presented live at the Car Wash Magazine Live Studio at the Car Wash Show™ 2023 in Las Vegas.

So you are thinking of selling your wash? In this episode, we bring you a panel that could not be more informative on the subject. In 2022 Zips Car Wash bought Jet Brite with the assistance of Amplify Car Wash Advisors. Dave Dalesandro the former owner of Jet Brite, David Miller of Zips, and Jeff Pavone of Amplify join us to talk about the process, decision-making, and experience of selling and buying. This panel was presented live at the Car Wash Magazine Live Studio at the Car Wash Show™ 2023 in Las Vegas.

President Kipp Kofsky and Business Development Director Mike Gordon join us to go Behind the Brand at Arcadian Services. This episode of our show was recorded at the Car Wash Magazine Live Studio at the Car Wash Show™ 2023 in Las Vegas.