CARWASH ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Fall 2017

C

CAP Carwash Association

of Pennsylvania

Fall 2017

VALUABLE NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR PENNSYLVANIA’S CARWASH INDUSTRY IN THIS ISSUE

The Carwash Association of Pennsylvania kicked off the summer season with our Annual Dinner and Table-Top Show which we held on June 8 at the Hollywood Casino in Grantville. We filled the room with vendors and operators from across the state who enjoyed an evening of industry education and business building. Harry Campbell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, joined us as our keynote speaker. He gave a fascinating presentation on how we share a lot of the same goals as it relates to clean water initiatives. I speak for all attendees when I say we took home a valuable education that night! CAP is already gearing up for our 2017 Golf Outing. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, October 12 and plan to join us at the Cumberland Golf Club in Carlisle. This is a four-person scramble, best-ball format and really an all-around fun day of networking, no matter the level of your golf game. If you are not currently a CAP member, I’d like to extend a special opportunity to become one today. If you register for a

2018 membership, you will also receive the rest of 2017 free of charge. That means you get to experience all of CAP’s member benefits immediately! I wish to thank every member of the CAP community. These friendships are what make working in this industry so rewarding. Thank you for supporting this organization not only with your membership, but with the skills and experience you bring to the table. More than ever before, I feel that CAP is well-equipped to serve our members with resources and recommendations to support our businesses. You make it possible! Warm regards,

Keith Lutz President of the Carwash Association of Pennsylvania

2017 CAP Golf Outing Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 12 for CAP’s Annual Golf Outing in Carlisle, PA.

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Tips to Grow Your Business! Don’t overlook these obvious and effective ways to grow your carwash business.

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Message from Our President

CARWASH ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Fall 2017

Five Trends Impacting the Carwash Industry Now

How to Increase Your Business in the Off-Season It’s never too early to be thinking about your business’s slow season and how you can get ahead of the game to boost your business from all angles!

1. Offer a discount or promotion – Drive business your wayby reaching out to your customer base with a special offer they can’t refuse.

2. Join a networking group – Play an active role in your localbusiness community by joining a networking group and spreading your name.

3. Update your website – Tackle that outdated website thatyou’ve been putting off and create a more professional presence for your business.

4. Take to social media – Now’s the time to dig into yoursocial media strategy and get consistent about posting eye-catching content.

5. Make repairs and enhancements – A fresh coat of paintand new signage will not only make your business look better, the work being done will attract attention.

6. Strengthen your staff - Use your off-season to investtime into staff training. Focus on delivering top customer service!

The data is in and it’s (mostly) good news! Stay ahead of the competition by following these five new trends.

1. The Industry is Growing FastAs of August 2017, the professional carwash industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that has grown by 2.5% in the last year. This rapid growth and increase in demand means more opportunities to expand your own business, whether that be offering more services or adding locations.

2. More Demand for Vehicle DetailingThere has also be an increase in demand for vehicle detailing. People are more willing than ever to pay for a top-quality cleaning that will last. For businesses in the carwash industry, this means increased margins and ultimately more profits.

3. Lower Gas Prices Are Resulting in More DrivingAfter years of heavy increases, gas prices are plummeting to levels not seen since the beginning of the century. In response, people are driving more often.

This means two things…

1. Cars are getting dirtier, faster2. People want to look good driving more often

Both of these factors signal a higher demand for carwashing.

4. Small Carwash Companies Are Becoming MoreProminent According to an industry report by IBIS World, the top four companies in the industry now only account for 6% of the entire industry’s revenue. In fact, most of the growth of large carwash companies has come from acquisitions of smaller carwashes, as opposed to regular business productivity. This means that there are more opportunities than ever for small to medium sized carwashes to thrive.

5. More CompetitionThe rapid growth and increased competitiveness of the carwash industry is all the more reason to prepare for success.

To do so, you must consider the following…

How to optimize your pricing strategy for all ofyour services

How to implement better training programs thatallow your carwash team to clean moreeffectively

How to prepare your carwash for rapid growth What tools you need to ensure consistent

efficiency year-round

Have a question? Don’t forget CAP is here to help you!

CARWASH ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Fall 2017

Look inside for… Invitation to CAP’s annual golf outing Tools to grow your business in the off-season

Marketing tips for your carwash business …AND MORE!

NEWS YOU CAN USE FROM THE CARWASH ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA

798 Cottage Brook Lane Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

VISIT US ANYTIME AT WWW.PACARWASH.ORG!

THIS COULD BE YOUR BUSINESS!

Do you want to promote your products or services to all CAP members plus our extended industry list

for a total in excess of 1,300 businesses?

This publication is directly mailed, shared electronically and made available on our website:

Spring, Fall and Winter.

The next advertising deadline is December 15, 2017. But don’t delay, spaces fill quickly!

Contact executivedirector@pacarwash.org for more information and pricing.

GREAT ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY!

CARWASH ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Fall 2017

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, October 12 and plan to join us at the Cumberland Golf Club in Carlisle. This is a four-person scramble, best-ball format. Regardless of your golf game, this is a valuable networking and business building opportunity. We encourage vendors to invite three operators to join their foursome as a way to grow these relationships.

Cost to golf and attend the picnic is $75 per person or just $15 to attend the picnic only. Spouses are welcome!

Sponsorship opportunities are also available and are a great way to promote your business! Learn more about becoming a Gold Sponsor, Silver Sponsor or Hole Sponsor and be sure to reserve your spot soon!

Visit www.pacarwash.org for more information on the CAP Annual Golf Outing and to register your team. Single registrants we welcome too!

THE TAKEAWAYS

KEY FACTS TO REMEMBER… Thursday, October 12, 2017 Cumberland Golf Club, Carlisle, PA 9am registration, 10am shotgun start 3pm picnic, networking and prizes Register at www.pacarwash.org

If you are not currently a CAP member, we would like to extend a special opportunity to become one today! If you register for a 2018 membership, you will also receive the rest of 2017 free of charge. That means you get to experience all of CAP’s member benefits immediately! Speaking of CAP member benefits, we are excited to be continually adding to this list. As a CAP member, you can now list classified ads on our website and in our newsletters to help you easily buy and sell equipment. Our network of industry experts are also available to offer advice, troubleshoot issues and overcome challenges. Plus much more!

Through CAP, carwash operators and vendors grow their relationships and their businesses. Your CAP membership includes FREE admission to our Annual Dinner and Table-Top Show. This alone pays for the cost of membership! Plus you’ll get exclusive networking opportunities to promote your business throughout the year. There’s never been a better time to join CAP. This is a valuable investment for your business. Come be a part of our growing community of carwash professionals! Joining CAP is easy. Visit us at www.pacarwash.org and click “Membership.” For questions, contact executivedirector@pacarwash.org.

2017 CAP Golf Outing Thursday, October 12 in Carlisle

The Best Time to Join CAP is NOW Join CAP and start enjoying member benefits immediately!

CARWASH ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Fall 2017

Highlights from CAP’s Annual Dinner & Table-Top Show

You know that you need to market your business in order for it to grow, but often your marketing strategy takes a backseat to the day-to-day operations of running your business.

The good news is that some of the best marketing strategies to grow your carwash business are pretty simple! You don’t need to hire a professional marketing firm or spend thousands of dollars on advertising, rather take a look at a few things you can do right now with the resources you already have.

Customer Loyalty Program – Establish a program to track your customers’ business. Allow them to earn discounts or free service after so many visits. Such a program encourages your customers to stay loyal to your business and visit you more frequently than they might otherwise.

Google Pages – It’s free and quick, claim your existing Google Business Page or create a new one. It’s likely Google has already populated a page for you, but you need to make sure it’s accurate and up to date. Share important details to make your business stand out!

Community Fundraisers – Promote your business to local organizations who need to raise money, like Little League teams or church groups. Create a handout so they know what your carwash fundraiser includes and why it’s a great option. Not only will this show your community support, it will directly drive people to your business, hopefully to return again and again.

Create a Theme – Themed carwashes are gaining popularity. Think: Who is my target audience? What reflects my personal style? Carry this theme into your entire carwash experience, from your signage and logo to the music you play in your lobby or outside. This will make your carwash fun and memorable, ultimately giving you an edge over the competition.

Offer Free WiFi – Depending on the setup of your business, it could be beneficial to make your WiFi available to your customers while they wait. Not only will this make their experience more enjoyable, it’s a gesture of your generosity.

Make it a goal to implement at least one of these marketing strategies this month!

CAP’s 2017 Annual Dinner and Table-Top Show was held on Thursday, June 8 at the Hollywood Casino in Grantville. We filled the room with carwash vendors and operators from across the state who enjoyed an evening of industry education and business building.

Harry Campbell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, joined us as our keynote speaker. He gave a fascinating presentation on how we share a lot of the same goals as it relates to clean water initiatives. He shared some powerful knowledge and expertise with our CAP membership and was very complimentary of the efforts the carwash industry has made to preserve our clean water.

Representative Dawn Keefer, and former CAP Executive Director, provided us with a very enlightening legislative update. Her insight into state government came at a prime time as Pennsylvania’s budget discussions were really heating up. Representative Keefer fielded a lot of questions from CAP members who had concerns about regulations and taxes that could impact small businesses. There is no doubt we have many legislators willing to fight to make the economic climate favorable for small businesses!

Most importantly, CAP wishes to acknowledge the generous sponsors who helped to make the dinner a real success. Thank you to Kleen-Rite, Shore Corporation and Hydro-Spray! You have been longtime supporters of CAP and we thank you for all you do. Thank you also to all the vendors who provided door prizes and giveaways to our guests. You make the event fun and exciting for everyone!

A Very Happy CAP Member Shares… “I want to extend a big thank you to Joe Rueter of Rueter Insurance for the 4 Diamond Club tickets to the Philadelphia Phillies game! Rueter's Insurance was an exhibitor at the annual CAP dinner and the tickets were a door prize at their booth. I was the lucky winner! My son and two friends joined me at the game to enjoy the club with deluxe seats behind the plate. Unfortunately, the Phillies lost the game but it was a close 8 to 9 finish against the Brewers. I look forward to the insurance quotation on our self-serve carwash.” --Joe Wolfinger, Solar Shine Carwash

Marketing Tips to Grow Your Business

CARWASH ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Fall 2017

GET TO KNOW ALEC!

Alec’s hobbies include golfing, surfing, canoeing, and hiking. He has been married to his wife, Sarah, for 11 years and they have a toddler son, Bodhi. Alec resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

CAP Welcomes New Board Member, Alec Hedman! Alec Hedman is a seasoned member of the carwash community with over 12 years of industry experience. After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Anthropology in 2000, he embarked on a career as a river guide and outfitter in Virgille, Montana.

In 2005, Alec relocated to the Gulf Coast of Florida, where he began his career in the carwash industry as a location manager at Mister Carwash. As a location manager, Alec oversaw daily operations at the carwash, detail center, and quick lube including the management of 40 employees. In 2008, Alec and his wife came home to Western Pennsylvania where he was fortunate to continue his career as a chemical sales representative and technician with Washing Equipment Technologies.

Washing Equipment Technologies merged with Simoniz USA in 2010 and Alec continues to work as a sales representative for the Simoniz Team. Alec currently manages over 100 accounts in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland.

CAP is excited to welcome Alec as our newest board member. He brings a fresh perspective and energy that will be an asset to CAP!

Your Fall 2017 Legislative Update Representative Keefer shares what you need to know about PA’s budget!

On June 30th The General Assembly passed a 2017-2018 state general fund budget. Once again Governor Wolf allowed the bill to become law without signing it. Unfortunately there was no agreed upon revenue plan to fund the budget. The budget will take $2.2 billion - $1.5 billion of which is last year’s deficit - to cover the $32 billion in that new budget. But there’s still no agreement on how.

The House passed bills to raise funds by expanding gambling and liquor reforms, but the Senate has refused to consider them. The House was called back to Harrisburg the weekend of July 22, but refused to consider borrowing or taxing. The following week the Senate, refusing to consider revenue options from liquor privatization or video gaming terminals, passed five bills to complete the budget. The House will not consider those bills as they include a myriad of taxes coupled with borrowing.

The Senate’s tax code eked by with 26-24 majority, with only 14 of 34 GOP votes. The bill has increases totaling $570 million, including a severance tax and an increase in the gross receipts tax (GRT) on most Pennsylvanians’ utility bills. Their 5.7% natural gas GRT would hit more than half of PA households who use natural gas for home heating. Their other GRTs raise electricity from 5.9 to 6.5 percent and raise all phone services from 5 to 6 percent. The Senate proposes to get the majority of the $2.2 billion by borrowing from the state’s Tobacco Settlement Fund payments, and pay it back over 30 years.

House Appropriations committee claims to have a plan to present in early September. Additionally a group of rank-and-file Republican House Members have worked on a revenue plan that balances the budget absent of taxes binding and borrowing. After four weeks of research and collaboration the group has been presenting the plan to Republican Caucus Members as a viable and more responsible option.

Hopefully PA will have a responsibly balanced budget that protects taxpayers from additional taxes and burdensome borrowing! Representative Dawn Keefer

Cumberland & York Counties

“I love the carwash

industry! I want to serve my customers

and fellow industry

members the best I can.”