This show is a great discussion with operators, association presidents, and suppliers from Australia. Cargroomers was kind enough to sponsor this weeks show and bring everybody together for this discussion. We talk about how this market is different, where they struggle and where they shine. What have they learned from the US market and what innovative things are they doing that we could learn from.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host)

Blair and Errol Woolcott (Cargroomers Australia) – Soap manufacturer based in Brisbane Australia who sells a water-saving line of chemicals in the US (slipstreamautomotive.com.au)

Chris Johns (Managing Director, Hoppys Hand Wash Cafe – Brisbane) – Chris is the winner of the 2008 ICA Leadership in Innovation Award.

Richard Holloway (Managing Director, Car Wash Headquarters) – Richard is also the current President of the Australian Car Wash Association.

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems, Hydraflex Inc.,

This Weeks Sponsor: Slip Stream Automotive – Australian car wash suppliers have had to find ways to reduce water usage and improve wash quality, learn more about this unique product line by visiting them on the web or calling them at ph 0416188858

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Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems, Hydraflex Inc.

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Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Susan Black-Beth (Chief Operating Officer, Super Wash), Fred Grauer (Owner Whistle Stop Carwash, VP Micrologics), George Spelius (Editor, Modern Car Care)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems, Hydraflex Inc.

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We have some very special guests for the big 50th show – we talk about long term planning (or reacting in some cases) and ways in which planning will help grow your business.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Robert Greene (Carwash Express), Kate Carr (Editor, Professional Carwashing & Detailing), Paul Fazio (CEO, Sonny’s Direct)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems, Hydraflex Inc.

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We take our panel this week of industry insiders and operators to talk about looking to the local competition with fresh eyes. How can we learn about being a better business and a better competitor? Great show this week – a MUST listen.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Curt Aton (Franklin Carwash), Kyle Doyle (CarwashTV.com and Blue Sky Media Group), Robert Greene (Carwash Express Inc.), Kate Carr (Editor, PC&D)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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Those of us that have been in the business know that summertime is traditionally the time to ramp up marketing and keep those bays wet. We have a great conversation with some very progressive operators about what they are doing to combat the summer slump.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Tom Hoffman, Jr. (Hoffman Carwashes), Bob Schrum (Flagstop Carwashes, SECWA Board), Robert Greene (Carwash Express Inc.), Kate Carr (Editor, PC&D)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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I had the chance to catch up with Kyle Doyle, a guy who is (in my opinion) is really helping change the face of this industry and has his heart in the right place. He’s been in the wash industry for most of his life and has recently struck out on his own starting new ventures and preaching the gospel of Car Wash Marketing. So of course I’d get along with this guy, we are drinking from the same batch of kool-aid.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Kyle Doyle (CarwashTV.com, Blue Sky Media Group)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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Within the first camp there are the washes that have been running successful operations and have been making incremental changes and updates to their locations to meet the demands of an evolving customer base over time. These businesses won’t be perceived as those that are making “Quantum Innovations” because they are already seen as a successful business that give their customers what they want whether it’s convenience, a compelling wash-club, a price point that fits their community.

Then there are the businesses that have gone so long without making updates, changes, or modernizing their equipment that ANY changes that they make are going to be perceived as a Quantum Innovation. These are the businesses that are now struggling because they are losing business to competitors or have been recently purchased by new owners as a “fixer-upper.” The community is going to see new paint, new sign, new equipment decals and maybe even a new service or the ability to pay with credit cards in the self-service bays as a major leap forward. Any one of these changes is on it’s own not going to make a major impact on customer perceptions about whether the business made a “quantum innovation” but, a business that does many small things can make a big impact. Car wash owners that have any construction on site see a significant increase in their business during those months because people are curious and want to know what’s new.
Business owners looking for strategies to turn an ailing business around need to plan on doing more than one or two evolutionary changes to the location—the perception needs to be that revolutionary changes are being made. In concert with new equipment, launch a new marketing promotion, find ways to stand out from the other competitors in town that may be doing the same incremental updates.
Make your plans now to make a splash—if you’re going to make updates come out of the gates swinging. If you want to take full advantage of making upgrades or site updates make certain you’re doing a mix of visible changes with your back-room changes.

Businesses that are looking to improve their already successful car wash business are in a great position to find out what updates could strengthen their position in their territory. Would a monthly wash club be well received? Is your community receptive to businesses that “Go Green?”  Have you focused on the businesses in your community and are you attending to their need for a fleet-friendly car wash?
Don’t be afraid to ask your customers what they would like to see—you might be surprised with what they tell you!

This weeks show is just fantastic – we are going to discuss and prognosticate (guess) what the Car Care World Expo is going to be like in 2010 based on pre-registration numbers that are very surprising! We also spend the second half of our show discussing how to dig your business out of a hole in the current economic climate, what can operators do to improve their business now that business isn’t so great?

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Robert Greene (Carwash Express), Mike Perry (Consultant), Tony Jones (Editor, Modern Car Care)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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In this weeks podcast we have two operators that are involved in the gated self service business model. Robert Greene of Carwash Express shares his 1-month results of the 8-bay self service location that he remodeled into a gated self service. Robert tells us whether or not he is a “hero or a zero”. We also have Marcus Kitrell, owner of Mark-1 Express who is been considering remodeling a location of his into a gated self service location.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Robert Greene (Carwash Express), Marcus Kitrell (Mark-1 Express)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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This week we have a huge panel of participants to discuss an experience I had at a business with poor customer service and what their advice would be for the owners of this business. Great show, not one to miss.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Kate Carr (PC&D), Andrew Jaffa (Carbux Express), Curt Aton (Franklin Carwash), Mike Perry (Consultant).

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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We are going to be talking about the great ideas we learned at the SCWA Expo from Late February. We have operators as our first time guests (and long time listeners).

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Tim Jones (Owner, Champion Carwash), Jay Brown (Owner, Shawnee Suds)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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This week we discuss what we learned and what you missed if you didn’t make it to the SECWA Savannah Roadshow hosted by Wash Ideas Weekly’s very own regular good’ol boy Robert Greene. Join Robert and several other operators and attendees to get the takeaways from this event.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Robert Greene (Owner of Carwash Express, Inc), Andrew Jaffa (Owner of CarBux Express), Kevin Wood (Owner of Snappy Express Auto Wash).

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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This week we talk with a video promotion company and a carwash operator that teamed up to sell carwashes and inform the public in an amazing and enjoyable way. They call it CarClean – check it out! You’ll be glad you did, I even learned a few new things!

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Richard Camp (Creative Director of Shot Rocket) and Jeff Coplin (Owner of Matt and Jeff’s Carwash)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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[please forgive the audio issues - one of the guests had their sound from their speakers causing some strange noises from time to time]

We are back with Fred Grauer, Jerry Nix, and George Spelius to talk about the take aways from the WCA roadshow that was in Phoenix, AZ. Great discussion on remodels and the future of our industry.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Fred Grauer (Owner of Whistle Clean Carwash, and VP of Micrologic), Jerry Nix (Former President of the Western Carwash Association), and George Spelius (Editor, Modern Car Care)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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This week we discuss the news with Kate Carr and chat with Kyle Doyle about his recent editorial in MCC “smart ways to attract new customers”. If you want to get caught up on some recent industry news stories and hear about some great marketing ideas, tune in.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Kate Carr (Editor of Professional Carwash & Detailing), and Robert Greeen (Owner, Carwash Express Inc)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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This week we discuss the news with Kate Carr and chat with Kyle Doyle about his recent editorial in MCC “smart ways to attract new customers”. If you want to get caught up on some recent industry news stories and hear about some great marketing ideas, tune in.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Kate Carr (Editor of Professional Carwash & Detailing), and Kyle Doyle (President, Blue Sky Image Group)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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The reason you keep listening is to get new ideas on how to improve your business right? Well, this episode certainly will not disappoint.

This week I’m talking with Mike Perry, a carwash marketing cheerleader coach and author of a lot of recent editorials specific to in-bay operations and marketing – we talk about his experiences and his thoughts on what operators should be doing and COULD be doing to improve their wash business.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Mike Perry (email)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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Holiday season ALREADY!??? Discuss the success of Grace for Vets, recognize keys to successful management, and talk about how to prepare for the holiday wash season.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Kate Carr (Editor, PD&D), and Robert Greene (Operator, Carwash Express)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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We are talking about websites this week and have a few experts on how to make the most out of your site.

Featuring Ryan Carlson (Your Host), Jeff Lemire and Eric Belliveau (Citadel Networks)

Show Sponsors: Modern Car Care, WashCard Systems

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