Winter2024_SSCWN_web

NO GUTS,
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AIRLIFT-SS-CWN-FINAL-FLAT.pdf 1 1/17/24 10:58 AM
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2 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 3

CONTENTS
Looking Back ..................4
Around the Wash ............6
Spring Insurance
Coverage
Tips ................................... 10
Profile of Rockwash ... 12
Industry Dirt ................. 14
Extra Extra .................... 18
Looking Back
…. to 2014
Can you believe it was 10 years ago that Self
Serve Car Wash News re-debuted with a new
publisher and editor? Time has flown, and the
integrity and passion that goes into each issue,
as well as the dedicated subscribers have all
withstood the test of time.
Fill in the Blank ........... 24
Association News ....... 26
Tricks of the Trade ..... 32
It’s Back
Polls .................................. 40
Going Up? ...................... 42
Darwin ............................. 48
VOL. 52, NO. 1, WINTER 2024
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
Copyright 2023. 2 Dollar Media/SSCWN. All Rights Reserved
4 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 5

Around the Wash:
Spring Insurance
Coverage …
and the surprises that affect wash owners
By Dan Tharp, CIC, RWCS
As the temperatures begin to rise and the last of
the cold weather melts away, springtime may reveal
damage from winter while also exposing your wash
to spring storms, hail, tornados, and wind damage.
With severe storms becoming more frequent, and
more intense, it becomes of great importance to
truly understand your commercial insurance policy.
Before we discuss the exciting world of insurance
coverage’s (sarcasm intentional), let’s take a
quick look at some “natural catastrophe” facts. My
intention is not to spark a debate about climate
change, but just provide some basic facts. 2017
proved to be a devastating year for damages from
natural catastrophes with insured losses to property
across the globe exceeding $130 billion (actual losses
were over $300 billion). Even more concerning
to U.S. insurers is the fact that three major hurricanes
hit the U.S. in a span of about a month (Harvey,
Irma & Maria), that coupled with a devastating
wildfire season made the United States insured losses
account for almost 50% of the world losses.
“A key point is that some of the catastrophic
events, such as the series of three extremely damaging
hurricanes, or the very severe flooding in South
Asia after extraordinarily heavy monsoon rains, are
giving us a foretaste of what is to come,” said Torsten
Jeworrek, Munich Re board member, in a press
release. “Because even though individual events
6 • WINTER 2024
cannot be directly traced to climate change, our experts
expect such extreme weather to occur more
often in future.”
Since 1980, the number of loss events have
been slowly rising. The insurance industry tallied
more than 700 world events in 2017. For comparison
over the last 30 years, that number has hovered
around 500.
All of this simply points to the fact that wash
owners need to understand their commercial insurance
policies more than ever before, as the likelihood
of an owner experiencing weather-related
damage increases every year. In addition, if you
have simply renewed your coverage every year
without discussing coverage changes that may have
been endorsed to your policy, you likely will be in
for a big surprise when you do file that claim. Following
are two major coverage changes that most
insurance carriers are now relying on to minimize
their exposure to loss payouts.
The Wind/Hail Deductable
One endorsement that we have seen most insurance
carriers moving to as they attempt to minimize
their exposure is a Wind/Hail deductible.
This endorsement changes your standard property
deductible when damage is caused by wind or hail.
The Wind/Hail deductible comes in one of
two forms and is utilized in replacement of your
standard property deductible. When implemented
the replacement deductible will be indicated as a
flat stated dollar amount or a percentage deductible.
There is an enormous difference in these two
options and every wash owner should be aware of
those differences.
OPTION 1: Flat Deductible: If you have a “flat dollar
deductible” it will be listed in the Wind/Hail endorsement
as a dollar amount generally from $500
to $5,000. Should your property suffer damage
from a wind/hail related event the amount listed
as your Wind/Hail deductible would be subtracted
from the paid claim amount. Let’s assume that
your wash has roof damage from a hail storm that
results in a covered claim for $18,000. Your Wind/
Hail deductible is listed as $1,500 – in this case the
amount of the claim paid would be $16,500.
OPTION 2: Percentage Deductible: The trend,
since hurricane Katrina struck, has been the usage
of percentage deductibles. Instead of a dollar
amount listed as the Wind/Hail deductible a percentage
is listed. Generally ranging from 1% to
15%. Percentage deductibles are calculated very
differently from Flat Deductibles. The percentage
deductible is based upon your wash’s insured
building value. Let’s assume your building is insured
for $750,000 and you suffer the same roof
damage as the above example. Your Wind/Hail
deductible is listed as 3% – in this case you would
not receive any assistance from your policy with
this claim. $750,000 x 3% = $22,500 – since this
amount exceeds the amount of the claim, $18,000;
there would be no payout from your policy.
WINTER 2024 • 7

Around the Wash
The Roof -
Cosmetic Damage Exclusion
The second and more recent endorsement, in
this case it is an exclusion of coverage, that insurance
carriers have begun attaching to new and renewal
policies is the Roof - Cosmetic Damage Exclusion.
Commercial property insurance coverage is
“triggered” by a covered peril (hail, wind, etc.) having
a damaging effect on insured property. This is
generally called “physical damage” by insurers; however,
the term “physical damage” or “damage” is not
specifically defined in most insurance policies. This
means that ANY physical alteration to the property,
no matter how slight, can be considered damage,
thus triggering a claim being paid. To limit coverage
for “non-functional damage”, insurers have begun
to include the “cosmetic damage” exclusion. Cosmetic
damage is usually defined as marring, pitting
or other superficial damage from hail or wind that
alters the appearance of the roof, but does not prohibit
it from functioning as a moisture barrier. What
this means to the wash owner is that if a Roof - Cosmetic
Damage Exclusion is attached to your commercial
property insurance policy and your roof is
damaged by hail…unless your roof is leaking, you
most likely will not be able to file a claim against
your insurer, regardless of how ugly the roof looks.
Three Important Steps
So, the bottom line here is that if you own a
wash in a storm susceptible area, which seems to be
encompassing more and more of the country lately,
that you take the time to review your property policy
closely. If your policy contains an endorsement
for Wind/Hail deductibles or a Roof – Cosmetic
Damage Exclusion take these three steps to properly
manage your coverage.
1. Read your policy – make certain that you
fully understand the deductible placed on your policy.
2. Talk to your agent – make sure your agent
fully explains all the requirements and nuances of
your policy. Ask if there are alternatives available
through your current insurer or other carriers.
3. Be prepared - catastrophes happen. No
matter where you live in the United States, you’re
just a couple of years away from some major catastrophic
event. If your policy has implemented
a Wind/Hail deductible, make sure you have the
money saved up so you’ll be able to pay it when
that inevitable storm strikes.
Dan is licensed in all states (except Alaska &
Hawaii) and has been assisting business owners
protect their operations, assets, customers and
employees for over 25 years. For questions regarding
this article or other insurance matters he can be
reached at carwashinsuranceguru@gmail.com
WHAT THE HAIL?
Hail usually strikes the hardest in the
spring months, but can last throughout
the summer. The largest hailstone recorded
measured in at 8” in diameter, 18.5” in
circumference, and weighed 1.94 pounds
was found on July 23, 2010, near Vivian,
South Dakota, according to Weather
Underground Historian Chris Burt.
The heaviest hail recorded was found
in Gopalganj District, Bangladesh, on
April 14, 1986, and weighed 2.25 pounds
On July 30, 1979, in Fort Collins, Colorado,
a hailstorm, produced pellets the
size of grapefruits.
On April 20-21, 2006, in San Marcos,
Texas, a hailstorm produced hail that
was 3.9 inches in diameter.
On April 14, 1999, in Sydney, Australia,
40,000 vehicles were damaged during a
hailstorm which produced hail that was
3.7 inches in diameter.
8 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 9

TIPs
TAX TIPS
Need help with
taxes? The IRS is
offering free help
nationwide
Helped by Inflation Reduction Act funding, nearly
250 IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide
will have extended operating hours Tuesdays and
Thursdays during the tax filing season.
The Internal Revenue Service announced on January
29 that nearly 250 IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers
(TACs) around the country will extend their
weekly office hours to give taxpayers additional time
to get the help they need during the filing season.
The extended office hours will continue through
Tuesday, April 16. To see if a nearby TAC is offering
extended hours, taxpayers can visit their local office.
To find your local office, visit https://apps.irs.gov/app/
office-locator/ or can call 844-545-5640. Normally,
TACs are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, and operate by appointment.
As part of continuing transformation work, the Internal
Revenue Service announced on December 18,
2023, the launch of the second phase of a new online
self-service tool for businesses that expands the business
tax account capabilities and eligible entity types.
As a result, individual partners of partnerships and
individual shareholders of S corporation businesses
are now eligible for a business tax account in addition
to sole proprietors.
Available at IRS.gov/businessaccount, the new
business tax account is a key part of the agency’s continuing
service improvement initiative. This is part of
the larger effort under last year’s Inflation Reduction
Act (IRA) and described in the multi-year Strategic
Operating Plan released this spring.
“This is part of the ongoing IRS modernization effort
to make improvements for business taxpayers
and others,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel.
“This next step in the evolution of the Business Tax
Account will help these businesses download transcripts
and other features. Ultimately, these new
online options will help make interactions easier for
businesses while reducing paper-based processes and
the need to call the IRS.”
This phase of business tax account also adds the
following new features:
USERS CAN NOW DOWNLOAD A PDF
OF A BUSINESS TAX TRANSCRIPT:
• For sole proprietors, this includes Forms:
940, 941, 943, 944, 945, 8752, 8288, 11-C,
10 • WINTER 2024
The expanded hours at the assistance centers reflect
funding and staffing made possible under the Inflation
Reduction Act, which is being used across the IRS to
improve taxpayer service, add new technology and
tools as well as help tax compliance efforts.
“This is another example of how additional IRS
resources are helping taxpayers across the country,”
said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Adding extra
hours provide more options for hard-working taxpayers
to get help with their tax issues. The IRS is
continuing to work hard both during the upcoming
tax season and throughout the year to find ways to
make it easier for people to interact with us.”
“We’re inviting anyone who wants or needs some
assistance to stop by,” added IRS Wage & Investment
Division Commissioner and Taxpayer Experience
IRS launches new online tool for businesses
730, 2290.
• For S corporations, this includes Forms:
940, 941, 943, 944, 945, 8752, 8288, 11-C,
730, 1120S, 2290.
• For partnerships, this includes Forms: 940,
941, 943, 944, 945, 1065, 8752, 8288, 8804,
11-C, 730, 2290.
SOLE PROPRIETORS CAN ALSO
VIEW CERTAIN NOTICES:
• CP080: Reminder - we have not received
your return, credits may be on your
account.
• CP136: Annual notification of Federal Tax
Deposit (FTD) requirements (Forms: 941,
941-SS).
• CP216F: Application for extension of time
to file an employee plan return – approved.
Individual partners and individual shareholders
will be able to access business tax account information
once they have filed a business return with the
Schedule K-1 and it is processed by the IRS. To access
business tax account, individuals must have a
Schedule K-1 for a minimum of one year during the
2019-2022 period on file. They will only be able to
view information for the year(s) they have a Schedule
K-1 on file. New businesses won’t have access
until a business return is submitted, processed, and
on file with the IRS.
Sole proprietors with an Employer Identification
WORDS OF WISDOM
“If you don’t drive
your business, you
will be driven out
of business.”
- B.C. FORBES,
SCOTTISH FINANCIAL JOURNALIST
Officer Ken Corbin. “This is one more way the IRS is
delivering expanded services to help visitors resolve
their tax issues, make a payment or answer general
tax-related questions. Whatever the case, we’re offering
additional time for taxpayers to get the face-toface
help they may need.”
During these additional office hours, TACs will offer
all regular services, however for cash payments,
taxpayers must have an appointment. If a taxpayer
needs in-person identity verification services, they
must bring two forms of identification, and one must
be a current government-issued photo ID. They
should also bring a copy or digital image of the tax
return in question if one was filed. Tax return preparation
is not a service provided at any IRS TAC.
Number (EIN) qualify to access their business tax
account. Also known as self-employed individuals,
sole proprietors with EINs are those who file a
business return under their EIN, such as reporting
payroll taxes and reporting the highway use tax on
trucks and buses.
Sole proprietors who have already set up an individual
account under their SSN or ITIN, and have an
EIN linked to their SSN or ITIN, can use their existing
login to access their business tax account. At this
time, sole proprietors who do not have an EIN are
not eligible to set up a business tax account. Instead,
they can access their tax records by setting up an IRS
individual online account.
Over time, business tax account will be a one-stop
application that provides business taxpayers a suite
of digital products and services, including access to
viewing letters or notices, requesting tax transcripts,
adding third parties for power of attorney or tax information
authorization, and storing bank account
information to manage tax payments.
It will help users manage their tax obligations, reducing
the burden on taxpayers who would otherwise
need to call or mail the IRS. To set up a new
business tax account, or for more information about
this app, visit IRS.gov/businessaccount.
CBK5000
Deluxe Security
All-purpose choice
suitable for many car wash
businesses, especially those
that have an attendant or
are in low-crime areas. Each
box has a durable, 11 gauge
304 stainless steel body
and built-in cam locks to
deter theft.
Deluxe Coin Boxes
Long Hull
Long hull boxes have a separate money drawer underneath the control unit.
Coins drop down a chute into this vault, where they remain until emptied.
Paper money continues to be collected and held within the unit's bill acceptor.
Short Hull
Short hull coin boxes have a compact footprint and are designed for use with
a separate safe. While paper money is held in the unit’s bill acceptor, all coins
drop through a tube into your hidden safe for extra security.
FEATURES:
• Dixmor dgital timer
• Mars bill acceptor
• 10 position “QC” rotary switch
• IDX MA850 coin acceptor
• 11 gauge 304 stainless steel
CBK5000 Long Hull with coin drawer CBK6000 Short Hull vault ready
PS400
2 Bay PS200
3 Bay PS300
4 Bay PS400
5 Bay PS500
6 Bay PS600
KR Coin Boxes
CBK6000
Now available with
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CBK6000HS
High Security
Operator Pro
Pump Stand
VFD Drive with
Direct Drive Pumps
FEATURES:
• Thicker 7 gauge stainless steel
• High security plug locks
• Dixmor digital timer
• Reinforced tmer display
housing
• Added security latches
• IDX MA850 coin acceptor
• Mars bill acceptor
• 10 position “QC” rotary switch
Each box includes high security plug locks and extra security
latches Kleen-Rite high security coin boxes are a great choice
for unattended car washes or high crime areas. While no single
product can completely guarantee against theft, a high security
coin box is a great deterrent! The added safety features make it
harder to access funds, discouraging opportunistic thieves.
High Security Coin Boxes
One of the main highlights of the Operator
Pro is the use of VFDs, or variable frequency
drives, that save on electrical consumption and
reduce wear on pumps. VFDs are used instead
of contactors to slowly ramp up the startup and
shutdown of the pump. Instead of going from
0 to 100% speed, VFDs gradually increase the
speed of the pump when starting (and gradually
decrease when shutting off).
• Cuts down on inrush electrical consumption
for the motor, which is easier on the motor
brushes
• Eliminates rough banging and abuse on the
motor when starting
• VFDs can be used to control what pressure
level you want from each pump - when the
pump can be used in a more versatile way,
it eliminates or drastically cuts down on the
need for auxiliary equipment like spot-free
and low-pressure delivery units
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CBK5000HS Long Hull CBK6000HS Short Hull
Features:
• Dimensions: 71”H x 58”W x 32”D
• Offered in 2-6 bay formats.
• Quiet Design. Electrical motor to pump
connection is direct coupled.
• Smoother start and stopping of electrical
motor to decrease all motor wear.
• Same pump / hose / gun for all High,
Medium & Low pressure applications
doing away with the need for all of
the extra delivery devices within the
mechanical room and hoses to run.
• Weepmizer freeze protection integrated.
• Industry trusted CAT pumps come
standard unless specified by customer.
Standard 8 Options
1. Tire Cleaner
2. Presoak
3. Soap
4. Foam Brush
(Dosatron)
CBK5000HS
5. Wax
6. Rinse
7. Spot-free Rinse
(Delivery only)
8. Stop
WINTER 2024 • 11

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ROCKWASH CAR WASH OF ROCKWALL, TEXAS!
NAMES OF OWNER(S):
Amrit Mattu, Surinder Mattu,
and Ajay Mattu
LOCATION: Rockwall, Texas
Rockwall is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
As of 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated
that the population is 47,251, up from 45,888 in
2019. The estimated median household income in
2021 was $116,890, up from $65,411 in 2000. The
estimated per capita income in 2021 was $45,272,
up from $29,843 in 2000.
How many locations are there?
Just 1!
What type of car wash is it?
Just a self serve.
How many bays does it have?
6 bays with 1 of the bays being oversized for
trucks, trailers, RVs or boats.
What is the location of the
car wash like?
It is suburban by location but urban within the
city type of area, Rockwall is 20 minutes east of Dallas,
separated by a large lake, (Lake Ray Hubbard).
Rockwall is desirable due to its island-like feel being
away from the big city while still providing anything
necessary to residents!
Do you have a lot of competition?
I am the only self serve in all of Rockwall. There
are 3 tunnels within a mile of our location, but they
have minimal impact on the self serve wash.
When did you acquire or
build the car wash?
We purchased the car wash about 3 months ago,
so around November 2023.
Why did you decide to be a
car wash owner?
My parents recently retired after being business
owners for over 25 years. They wanted something
to do… so we decided as a family to purchase the
car wash. The location was great as we live close by!
Is there anything unique about
your car wash that sets you
apart from the competition?
This car wash was built and run by the previous
owner for over 35 years. The residents of Rockwall
knew it was there, but it was on a decline for the
past few years. We assumed from the disinterest of
the sellers, that this was a great opportunity to turn
things around. The closest self serves to us are over
15-20 minutes away, so this makes our location very
unique and desirable for the customer who wants a
DIY experience.
What kinds of renovations
have you done since taking
over the wash last year?
We have recently repainted, and fixed a lot of
structural issues. With the help of Stinger Chemicals,
we Installed all new Dosatron chemical measuring
machines, which has been our biggest upgrade. The
bill changers which used to eat customers’ money
are actually working now after replacing harnesses
and we are about to offer credit card acceptance at
each bay as soon as the parts arrive.evv Our vacuums
were pretty bad when we took over, so we
went through them and now we have great suction
from them. There were many leaks throughout the
building and inside the equipment room and off the
roof due to old hoses, which were repaired also! Our
vending machines are now working as well, and this
was a very easy fix! We have also done some foam
injection to some areas of the ground where puddles
of water were forming.
What are the future plans
for the car wash?
In the future we have plans to repave the entire
lot and add a touchless IBA.
What is your favorite thing about
being a part of the car wash industry?
I have been a huge car enthusiast my whole
life and this gives me a little window into it from
my perspective. Also, as an engineer by trade, the
mechanical side of a car wash is right in my wheelhouse!
My family has let me take the reins on this
and I’m enjoying it!
What do you think is the biggest
challenge to owning a car wash?
I think the biggest thing is dealing with customers
who don’t treat the property well. From dumping
loads of mud to breaking nozzles or vacuum
hoses. Some folks just don’t care and that is the biggest
heartache of this self serve business. Luckily the
breakage doesn’t happen often, but the mud sure
does! We have a great pit clean out crew that comes
quarterly and a wheelbarrow and shovel combo we
use daily make to make it a bit easier to deal with!
What advice do you have for
other self serve owners?
Have a very flexible schedule early on. Listen to
your customers, and fix what issues have been there
for a long time. Go the extra mile to keep your customer
happy. A lot of people say it’s a “side hustle”
and you can do it along with your day job. This is
true but you have to get the wash to that point first.
We are almost there to where it is becoming that.
But it takes time!
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12 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 13

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.
Synergy Solutions celebrates 20th anniversary
Synergy Solutions, a leading family-owned and
operated technology-driven car wash chemical
manufacturer, proudly announces its 20th anniversary
in business, a press release stated. For two
decades, Synergy Solutions has been at the forefront
of product innovation, delivering Advanced
Polymer Solutions to its customers and contributing
to the growth of the car wash industry.
Founded in 2003 by Peter Denissoff, Synergy
Solutions has evolved from a humble startup to
a dynamic force in the industry. The company’s
commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction,
and technological advancement has propelled it to
new heights, establishing a reputation for reliability,
service, and innovation.
Peter Denissoff, the visionary behind the company’s
success, expressed gratitude and excitement
about reaching this significant milestone. “Celebrating
20 years in business is a testament to the
hard work, dedication, and passion of our team. We
started as a family venture, and today, we stand as
a thriving business, delivering exceptional value to
our customers.”
The company’s success is attributed to its ability
to embrace the ever-changing car wash market, invest
in great talent, and foster a culture of innovation
and service.
Stephen Denissoff, Synergy Solutions’ Operations
Manager, commented on the anniversary celebration,
saying, “We are incredibly proud of what
we have achieved over the past two decades. This
milestone is a celebration of our journey, the relationships
we’ve built, and the positive impact we’ve
had in car washing. As we look forward, our commitment
to pushing the boundaries of innovation
and customer service remains unwavering.”
OPW acquires Transchem Group
OPW of Hamilton, Ohio, announced in a January
18 press release that it has acquired Transchem
Group (“Transchem”), one of the largest suppliers
of cleaning, water and site management solutions
for the car wash industry. Transchem will now
become part of OPW’s Vehicle Wash Solutions
platform (“OPW VWS”), which also includes renowned
brands like PDQ, Belanger and Innovative
Control Systems (“ICS”).
Headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, Transchem
offers a variety of chemical and cleaning
products including premium brands, such as Turtle
Wax® Pro and Autolux chemistry; True Vue 2
chemical management; ClearWash water reclaim
systems; and Soax pressure washers. Transchem also
offers private label and custom chemical blending
solutions, as well as Digital Mosaic, a proven technology
platform that helps car wash operators manage
their subscriptions and loyalty programs.
“We are excited to have Transchem join the
OPW team, expanding OPW VWS’ portfolio of
world-class solutions that helps our customers’
car washes perform better, safer and more sustainably,”
said Keith Moye, Vice President and General
Manager of OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions, in the
press release. “With Transchem, OPW VWS will
now offer a variety of chemistry solutions to help
drive success for car wash operators around the
world. And like OPW VWS, Transchem has been
serving the vehicle wash industry for decades with
an intense focus on crafting products that help
keep people and the environment safe.”
OPW’s portfolio of vehicle wash solutions is
one of the most comprehensive in the industry, offering
tunnel and in-bay automatic wash systems,
payment terminals, process controls, management
software, automation systems and now chemistry
and water reclaim systems.
“At Transchem we pride ourselves on building
true long-term partnerships with our customers,
and we are excited to join a company that shares
the same values,” said Nathan Ewing, President
of Transchem, in the press release. “OPW Vehicle
Wash Solutions is the perfect partner to continue
driving Transchem’s growth and maintaining high
standards of customer service for our existing and
new customers.”
To learn more about the complete range of vehicle
wash equipment and payment systems offered
by the companies of OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions,
please visit opwvws.com.
OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions was formed in
January 2019 and consists of PDQ Manufacturing,
Inc., Belanger, Inc., Innovative Control Systems
(ICS) and Kesseltronics. PDQ is a preeminent provider
of in-bay automatic wash systems and payment
terminals, while Belanger is an innovative
leader in soft-touch tunnel and in-bay automatic
wash systems. ICS provides industry-leading car
wash technology, like payment terminals, process
controls and software management and automation
systems, and Kesseltronics designs machine
controls for successful tunnel wash operation. Together,
they create a revolutionary single source
for all vehicle wash needs.
Transchem Group has over 45 years of expertise
providing the car wash industry with innovative
chemistry and equipment. Its mission is to
build a legacy by providing industry-leading car
wash products and services that are effective and
environmentally sustainable. Turtle Wax® Pro,
Autolux brand chemicals, True Vue 2 chemical
management, Soax pressure washers, Clearwash
reclaim systems and the Digital Mosaic technology
platform are part of Transchem’s portfolio.
Ammori Equity Partners in buys 19
Zax Auto Wash locations
Car Wash Advisory, a Florida investment banking firm exclusively focused
on advising privately owned car wash businesses, has sold 19 Zax Auto Wash
locations to Michigan Wash Co., a press release stated. Michigan Wash Co.
was formed by Ammori Equity Partners in Birmingham, Alabama. Terms of
the transaction were not disclosed.
Zax Auto Wash is a metro Detroit car wash brand that is among the top 100
car wash companies in the United States, according to the press release. AEP
says it sees this acquisition as an opportunity to leverage its core competencies
that have led to more than 30 years of success in customer service businesses.
“With the acquisition of Zax Auto Wash, we are embracing the future of the
car washing business while focusing on customer service and delivering quality
washes at affordable prices,” Saber Ammori, founder and managing partner
of Ammori Equity Partners, stated in the press release. “Our operational background
and team focused culture will propel us into a new era of innovation,
growth, and opportunities to develop a world class brand.”
Ammori adds that customers can expect an elevated level of service, offerings,
and a dynamic new customer experience at each location.
“The AEP acquisition is an exciting new chapter for Zax,” says Brian Blaskay,
founder and CEO of Zax, in the press release. “I believe that this strategic
move will allow the local brand to benefit from a new perspective and larger
corporate operating structure, something that we believe will allow each location
to continue to thrive in the ever-changing car wash landscape for years
to come.”
Tidal Wave Auto Spa expands to
230 locations
Tidal Wave Auto Spa, based out of Thomaston, Georgia, one of the nation’s
fastest-growing express car wash companies, celebrated the grand opening
of two brand-new South Carolina locations this week in Aiken and Myrtle
Beach, according to a January 16 press release.
“The opening of our Aiken and Myrtle Beach washes officially extends our
footprint to 230 locations,” said Tidal Wave Auto Spa founder and CEO Scott
Blackstock, in the press release. “We’re proud to have operated in South Carolina
since 2014, and these two new locations mark an exciting milestone on our
journey to bring our industry-leading car wash experience to more communities.
We’re looking forward to providing clean, efficient, and enjoyable car care
to folks in Aiken, Myrtle Beach, and the Palmetto State for years to come.”
To celebrate the Grand Openings, both new locations offered eight days
of free car washes from January 16-January 23. This limited-time promotion
provided an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave’s premium
wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. the press release stated. Additionally, any
new customer that joined a Clean Club unlimited wash membership plan
during the grand opening week was given their first month of unlimited washes
for only $9.97 – saving up to $40.
Tidal Wave Auto Spa has operated in South Carolina since 2014 and currently
has 21 express wash locations throughout the state. The company plans
to open several additional South Carolina locations in 2024, including brandnew
locations in Myrtle Beach and Clover opening in the coming months, the
press release stated.
14 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 15

Whistle Express Car Wash debuts across the
Midwest and Southeast
Magnolia Wash Holdings, of Charlotte, North
Carolina, is now Whistle Express Car Wash, unifying
more than 100 car wash locations from a
variety of local and regional chains and independent
operators under one cohesive brand, offering
customers an elevated wash experience, no matter
where their travels take them within the company’s
nine-state footprint.
According to a December 11 press release,
Whistle Express is currently the 10th largest car
wash brand in the country, but with an aggressive
growth plan that will add up to 50 additional locations
in 2024—funded by a recent investment by
funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management,
L.P.—CEO Jose Costa plans to climb the rankings
quickly. The move to consolidate under one name
stems from a desire to create consistency among
the brand’s extensive network of car washes, many
of which were locally owned and operated with a
very loyal fan base. Costa, who spent time at Bojangles
Restaurants, Inc., and Driven Brands prior
to taking the helm at Magnolia Wash Holdings in
May 2022, said the efficiency and affordable membership
structure appeal to the growing number of
consumers who take pride in meticulously maintaining
one of the largest investments they’ll make
in their lifetime.
Now, all 200,000 of the brand’s Unlimited Wash
Club members can leverage their memberships
at any location, ensuring a consistent, top-notch
wash experience anytime, anywhere. The brand is
committed to reinventing the consumer experience
through technology and innovation that take
the utmost care of our customers’ vehicles. From
a gentle, touchless prep process to top-tier application
of products designed to clean and protect,
each trip through Whistle’s was tunnel leave cars
sparkling and spotless.
“The feeling of driving around in a clean car is
a little win that can brighten any day, and Whistle
Express makes those little wins quick, easy, and
affordable,” Costa said in a press release. “Wherever
they may find themselves, our customers will
come to know that the Whistle Express brand is
synonymous with quality and efficiency.”
In addition to competitive membership pricing,
customers can expect a multi-sensory experience
including in-tunnel lights and uplifting scents that
offer a brief escape from the every day hustle .
Drivers can also take advantage of free self-vacuum
stations, floor mat cleaning machines, towels
and sprays, all of which deliver a seamless wash
experience resulting in high-level shine. Whistle
Express locations will also use state-of-the-art
technology that reclaims 85 percent of the water
used in a wash and uses 91 percent less water
when compared to a home wash.
16 • WINTER 2024
National Carwash Solutions acquires
International Drying Corporation
National Carwash Solutions (NCS), of Grimes,
Iowa, a carwash service and systems provider in
North America, proudly announced the strategic
acquisition of International Drying Corporation
(IDC), a leading manufacturer of proprietary drying
systems, flat belt conveyor systems, and related
components. According to a December 8 press
release, this acquisition reinforces NCS’s commitment
to providing a comprehensive, one-stopshop
solution for carwash operators.
IDC, renowned for its dedication to the quality
and customer-focus of wash owners worldwide,
brings a wealth of expertise to the NCS family.
The addition of IDC’s best-in-class suite of dryer
products, including the Black Widow, Stealth, and
Stealth Predator lines, and its new King Cobra flat
belt conveyor system, enhances NCS’s ability to
offer a differentiated and comprehensive range of
solutions.
Art Stephens, a dynamic leader with a long and
successful history in the car wash industry, joins
NCS as part of the acquisition. His proven track
record in product development, design, and engineering
will contribute to the continued success of
NCS in providing innovative solutions to its customers,
while IDC’s outstanding production team
delivers on this vision from day to day.
“After 42 years in this industry, partnering with
NCS and its incredible team is a tremendous privilege,”
said Arthur D. Stephens, President & CEO of
IDC. “Thanks to the entire NCS team for making
us feel like part of the family. We eagerly anticipate
serving the industry with our new family for
years to come.”
“We are thrilled to welcome International Drying
Corporation into the NCS family,” said Jesse
Wurth, CEO of NCS, in the press release. “This
strategic move allows us to strengthen our business
line and offer an unparalleled bundled solution
to our valued customers. The expertise and
dedication of the IDC team, combined with the
leadership of Art Stephens, will bolster our commitment
to excellence and innovation.”
NCS, founded in 1973, has established the
only direct end-to-end customer service and support
network in the industry. The NCS family of
brands includes well-known names such as Mac-
Neil, Ryko, Vacutech, PurClean, TSS, Baywatch,
Armor All Professional®, Rain-X®, Blue Coral®,
and Black Magic®.
WINTER 2024 • 17

EXTRA!
Workers were surprised
to see this coming out
of woman’s car
Yes, that’s right…a groundhog was found stuck
to a woman’s car. The driver pulled into Mike’s
Car Wash last September in Fort Wayne, Indiana,
to wash off her grill after a bird got stuck in it.
Employees at a Jiffy Lube told WPTA that employees
next door at Mike’s Car Wash needed
their help with an “unusual” situation.
The car wash employees said they noticed the
groundhog when they were checking the front
bumper of the woman’s vehicle.
“It was definitely an odd day at work,” Jiffy Lube
Manager Dalton Brenneke, said in the story. “The
last thing I expected was to be pulling apart a front
bumper to remove a groundhog.”
Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control was also
contacted. They helped in taking parts of the car
apart to free the groundhog.
“He was cute but definitely mad that we were
trying to take him from his warm home,” Brenneke
EXTRA!
said in the story.
Workers said they ended up having to not only remove
the front bumper of the car but also a rear left
tire to free the groundhog, according to the story.
Presenting the news stories
featuring self serve car washes
Brenneke said the team involved in freeing
the groundhog ended up naming him Mike after
Mike’s Car Wash. The animal was handed over to
an officer after the rescue, according to the story.
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Iowa self serve
says, ‘bring on the
competition!”
The car wash competition is heating up In Iowa,
but one self serve owner says they aren’t worried,
according to a January 28 from The Gazette. According
to the story, the number of car wash businesses
increased 26 percent between 2017 and 2021, going
from 228 to 289, according to the U.S. Census. In
the five years before that, from 2012 to 2017, the
number of car washes increased 7.5 percent, going
from 212 to 228, according to the census.
“It’s the gym membership style where the top
10 percent of users you don’t make a lot of money
on, but as it winds down you get people washing
two or three times a month that you do better
with,” said Brett Arends, one of the owners of the
Blue Lagoon Car Wash in Cedar Rapids and the
Awesome Car Wash in Clinton.
The Blue Lagoon car wash has five self-serve car
wash bays, and two automatic bays, according to
the story. Arends said they don’t offer a monthly
membership at the Blue Lagoon because it would
be hard to keep up with the demand.
“It can be difficult for in-bay automatics to do
a subscription just because for our top wash, it
takes about six-and-a-half minutes to get your car
washed,” Arends said in the story.
Arends said part of the reason they will stay
afloat with all of the competition is because they
have an adjacent storage facility. “Income is very
irregular with a car wash,” he said in the story.
“One month we’ll do really well, the next month
you’ll have freezing weather and lots of snow, like
we’re having right now… We have consistent storage
income year-round, and that helps us weather
the peaks and valleys of the car wash business. …
We also have a really nice location on Blairs Ferry
Road, but a lot of the small guys I know have been
hurt fairly significantly by the tunnels.”
Small business
owners are saying:
Everything is
awesome!
According to a J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Merchant
Services Satisfaction Study, small business owners
are optimistic about the future, with 88% indicating
the financial state of their individual businesses
is about the same or better off than a year ago.
In a February 2 story by Crowdfund Insider,
“small business financial optimism is “correlated
with increased sales processed by merchant services
providers.”
There are 94% of merchants “that now accept
debit or credit cards; 88% that accept digital
wallet; and 54% that accept Buy Now, Pay Later
(BNPL) payment methods,” the story stated in reference
to the J.D. Power study.
“The past couple of years have been very challenging
for most small businesses, but industry-wide
efforts to simplify payment processing
fee structures, ramp up customer support and
speed up payments have had positive effects on
merchant services satisfaction,” said Paul McAdam,
senior director of banking and payments intelligence
at J.D. Power.
Other key findings of the study include:
• Small businesses say they are receiving
payments faster. More than one-third
(34%) say the typical amount of time from
transaction to funding their merchant
accounts was faster than expected, up 10
percentage points from a year ago. Likewise,
65% of small businesses say they’ve received
faster funding, so card payments are settled/
posted same day or on non-business days,
up 14 percentage points from 2021.
• Provider responses to COVID-19 earn goodwill
among small businesses. Nearly threefourths
(73%) of small business customers
say they are aware of at least one proactive
measure their merchant services provider has
taken in response to challenges caused by
the pandemic, which has driven a 71-point
increase in satisfaction with cost of service.
Specific actions taken by providers in response
to the pandemic include offering discounted
products and services, updated fraud controls
and faster funding turnaround times.
The FusionX is a customer choice
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SCAN
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18 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 19

EXTRA!
EXTRA!
New self serve
going up in
Shepton Mallet,
England
Work is under way on a self serve car
wash in Shepton Mallet, England, according
to a January 22 Shepton Mallet
Nub News story.
The car wash promises advanced
features like underfloor heating, softened
water, hot wax and pre-soak
options. This project is transforming
a previously unused plot and will be
called the Smart Auto Spa. Recent
developments include the installation
of a large commercial water tank and
the addition of a heavy-duty gas pipe,
the story said. Operating hours are
planned from 7 am to 11 pm, and the
facility will include modern lighting
and a roof for weather protection.
Customer retention report includes need for loyalty programs
Smallbiztrends.com released a report on December
8, all about customer retention.
The website gathered the customer retention findings
from a variety of sources. Here are the following
statistics, according to Smallbiztrends.com:
Insure with the
INDUSTRY
LEADER
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Since 1986
• The probability of selling to an
existing customer is 60-70 percent.
The probability of selling to a new
prospect is 5-20 percent.
• 80 percent of your future profits
will come from just 20 percent of your
existing customers.
• 65 percent of a company’s business
comes from existing customers.
• 32 percent of executives say retaining
existing customers is a priority.
• A typical American business will lose
15 percent of its customers each
year.
• 27 percent of small business owners
estimate that 11-20 percent of firsttime
customers don’t return to their
business.
• 80 percent of businesses
surveyed rely on email marketing for
customer retention.
• 56 percent of survey respondents
considered email marketing to be the
most effective method of reaching
customer retention goals.
• 36 percent of U.S. retail
professionals said organic search
drives customer retention.
• 43 percent of U.S. retail
professionals said paid search drives
customer retention.
• 44 percent of U.S. retail professionals
said social media drives customer
retention.
• 37 percent of U.S. retail
professionals said retargeting drives
customer retention.
• 21 percent of U.S. retail professionals
said affiliates drive customer
retention.
• 18 percent of U.S. retail
professionals said referral marketing
drives customer retention.
• 8 percent of U.S. retail
professionals said mobile
marketing drives customer
retention.
• It costs 5 percent more to acquire a
new customer than it does to keep a
current one.
• It costs 16x more to bring a new
customer up to the same level as a
current one.
• 82 percent of companies agree that
retention is cheaper to execute than
acquisition.
• A mere two percent increase in
customer retention can lower costs
by as much as 10 percent.
• 82 percent of consumers in the
United States said they stopped
doing business with a company due
to a poor customer experience.
• Companies lose 71 percent of
consumers due to poor customer
service.
• 68 percent of customers leave you
because they perceive you are
indifferent to them.
• 60 to 70 percent of customers will do
business with a company again if it
deals with a customer service issue
fairly even if the result is not in their
favor.
• 47 percent of customers would take
their business to a competitor within
a day of experiencing poor customer
service.
• 66 percent of consumers
who switched brands did so because
of poor service.
20 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 21

EXTRA!
EXTRA!
Creek runs red due to
car wash run-off
Food trucks galore are the answer,
says car wash owner
David Dunn, owner of Cornelius Car Wash in Cornelius, North Carolina,
is adding food trucks, a farmers’ market and entertainment to some unused
land on the car wash’s property, a January 9 Cornelius Today story said.
“My vision for this piece of property is to be a centerpiece of the community,”
Dunn said in the story.
Dunn intends to add a 12 foot by 15-foot stage for local performers. Food
vendors will pay $500 per month for renting out a space.
Some of the vendors include Ruff Roasting Coffee, Factory Hot Dogs, Your
Mom’s Donuts and Taco Mobile.
Do you agree? 5 things small
business owners wish they knew
An in-depth report by MSN, reveals the top five things small business
owners said they wished they knew before starting out. The January 28
story includes:
1. You’ll need to delegate more than you like.
2. You have to be ruthless with your processes.
3. You’ll spend more time running the business than you think.
4. You’ll need to manage your cash.
5. You’re responsible for building an audience.
And in Richardson, Texas, we have something you would see in Game of
Thrones as a creek was babbling with bright, red-colored water, thanks to
soap run-off from a nearby car wash, Fox 4 reported on January 29.
Soap from the Clean and Shine Car Wash made its way into the Floyd
Branch Creek, causing quite the site: The car wash owner began to hastily
fabricate a temporary fix to a blockage, illegally directing wastewater into
the creek, the story said. Richardson Health Director Bill Alsup said in the
story, “The car wash had kind of fabricated some temporary housing and
piping and was discharging some of their automotive detergents into the
storm drain from their base.”
An environmental cleanup crew helped curtail the creek water to prevent
the tainted water from spreading. Over 21,000 gallons of contaminated
water were extracted. “The spill has been successfully cleaned, and water
quality tests show normal results,” according to a statement from the city.
The Clean and Shine Carwash now faces a fine for causing the spill.
“Luckily, the car wash detergent is, is it, you know, terribly hazardous to
speak of we haven’t noticed any kind of environmental impact to aquatic
life or the foliage or anything,” Alsup said in the story.
LESS WORK.
MORE
CLEAN.
Iowa self serve says, ‘bring on the
competition!”
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The car wash competition is heating up In Iowa, but one self serve owner
says they aren’t worried, according to a January 28 from The Gazette.
According to the story, the number of car wash businesses increased 26
percent between 2017 and 2021, going from 228 to 289, according to the
U.S. Census. In the five years before that, from 2012 to 2017, the number
of car washes increased 7.5 percent, going from 212 to 228, according to
the census.
“It’s the gym membership style where the top 10 percent of users you
don’t make a lot of money on, but as it winds down you get people washing
two or three times a month that you do better with,” said Brett Arends,
one of the owners of the Blue Lagoon Car Wash in Cedar Rapids and the
Awesome Car Wash in Clinton.
The Blue Lagoon car wash has five self-serve car wash bays, and two automatic
bays, according to the story. Arends said they don’t offer a monthly
membership at the Blue Lagoon because it would be hard to keep up with
the demand.
“It can be difficult for in-bay automatics to do a subscription just because
for our top wash, it takes about six-and-a-half minutes to get your car
washed,” Arends said in the story.
Arends said part of the reason they will stay afloat with all of the competition
is because they have an adjacent storage facility. “Income is very irregular
with a car wash,” he said in the story. “One month we’ll do really well,
the next month you’ll have freezing weather and lots of snow, like we’re
having right now… We have consistent storage income year-round, and that
helps us weather the peaks and valleys of the car wash business. … We also
have a really nice location on Blairs Ferry Road, but a lot of the small guys
I know have been hurt fairly significantly by the tunnels.”
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WINTER 2024 • 23

FUN&
GAMES
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
Think these two pictures taken at a self
serve car wash are the same? Think again!
There are six differences. Can you spot them all?
ELEVATE YOUR CAR WASH
EXPERIENCE WITH
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Why Hoffman Mint Tokens?
When washing your car
is the pit….stop
In London, England, we have a
hybrid prank/advertisement for Mobil 1
motor oil. In the video, a self serve car
wash customer pulls into a bay and is
immediately surrounded by a pit crew
similar to the ones seen in professional
racing. According to the website
description:
“In this real life stunt, we bring an
unsuspecting carwash customer closer to
motorsports.
With Mobil 1 Synthetic Motor Oil
inside many race engines, we’re so close
to motorsports it’s personal.”
5. Hose and wand are missing
6. #11 is misisng in sign
3. Second ceilding light
4. Different taillight
1. Neighborhood has changed
2. Cement is a different color
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There’s never a baaaaaaaaa day to wash a goat
Nothing is off limits in South Africa!, according to a story from EastCoastRadio.
It looks as if petrol station workers were somehow tasked with washing someone’s
goats (did I really just type that?). It is unclear if car wash soap or a soap made
specifically for animals was used, but according to the video, no wands were used.
See us at the upcoming Southwest Car Wash Show
and International Car Wash Show!
24 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 25

CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
*All events are subject to changes
due to current circumstances.
2024
FEB 28 - MARCH 1
Southwest Car Wash
Association
Fort Worth Convention Center
Fort Worth, Texas
MAY 13-15
Car Wash Show
Nashville, Tennessee
AUGUST 13-15
Car Wash Show Australia
International Convention Centre,
Sydney, Australia
SEPTEMBER 17-18
Heartland Product and
Equipment Show
Mid-America Center
Council Bluffs, Iowa
OCTOBER 7-9
Northeast Regional
Carwash Convention
(NRCC)
Atlantic City Convention Center, New
Jersey
Association News
Southwest Car Wash Association
• Emmitt Smith to
serve as SCWA’s keynote
The SCWA is excited to welcome professional
football icon Emmitt Smith, as its 2024 keynote
speaker at the SCWA Convention and Expo
taking place February 28 to
March 1 at the Fort Worth,
Texas, Convention Center, a
press release stated.
Emmitt Smith is one of
the greatest to ever play the
game. As a first-round pick in
the 1990 NFL Draft, Smith
was the cornerstone of the
Dallas Cowboys offense for
13 seasons, the SCWA stated.
In his 15 seasons as a running
back in the National Football
League, Smith amassed many
records that still stand today,
including:
• Most career rushing
yards and most career
rushing touchdowns.
• Three Super Bowl
championship rings,
• Induction into the Pro
Football Hall of Fame
• Selection to the NFL
100 All-Time Team
(honoring the best
players of the NFL’s first
100 years).
• Surpassed Walter
Payton as the NFL’s all
time leading rusher.
• The eight-time Pro
Bowler
After his playing days,
Smith has served as a football TV analyst and
then took his television career a step further when
he won the third season of ABC’s Dancing with
the Stars, the press release stated. He also added
author to his list of accomplishments, publishing
Game On, which outlines the principles that
helped him succeed both on and off the field.
Smith has now transitioned to the role of businessman
and entrepreneur running several companies
spanning real estate, construction, and
technology. He is active in charitable outreach in
the Dallas area and on a national level, providing
educational opportunities and unique experiences
for underserved youth.
Smith has become a co-owner of a NASCAR
team partnering with Jesse Iwuji Motorsports for
the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
“Smith will offer an inspiring and motivating
perspective on how the principles of his success
in sports has ignited his success in business and in
life,” stated the SWCA.
In other news, the SCWA announced that Stu
Crum, CEO of True Blue Car Wash, will host the
CEO Forum taking place on Wednesday, February 28.
True Blue Car Wash has 65
locations in Arizona, Texas,
Illinois and Indiana with its
headquarters in Tempe, Arizona.
True Blue was purchased in
February of 2023 by Alimentation
Couche-Tard (Circle K).
Previously, Crum served as
Chairman and President of
Bridgestone Retail – a $4 billion
business unit of Bridgestone
Americas, a SCWA
press release stated. Stu had
leadership oversight of operations
for 2,218 company-owned
tire and automotive
service centers across the
United States operating under
the Firestone Complete Auto
Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires
Plus and Wheel Works brands;
all of which employ more
than 23,000 people.
Stu also served as former
President of Jiffy Lube International,
overseeing more
than 2,100 franchised service
centers serving approximately
22 million customers
annually throughout North
America. He held numerous
other leadership roles
with Shell during his 13-
year tenure there, including
Vice President of National
Accounts, North American
Automotive Consumer Products; General Manager
Strategy & Portfolio, North America; General
Manager Sales & Operations, Caribbean, Central
America, Northern South America; and Director
of Marketing. Prior to joining Shell, Stu worked
for Texaco Inc., serving in various marketing and
retail capacities.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing
from the University of Tulsa, where he attended
on a full football scholarship before spending
three years as a professional place kicker in the
NFL and USFL.
“Stu will bring our attendees great insights and
ideas for our car wash operations from his vast experience
in the business world,” stated the SCWA.
The Best for Your Success !
The Best for Your Success !
D&S Car Wash Supply
26 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 27

Carwash
Zierco’s Original Swivel and
Boom Assembly, with
New Rebuildable
Cartridge
Boom Assembly
MODEL 203
• Feather light rotating action
• Twin compression springs are
tension-adjustable for a variety
of hose and gun weights
• 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
• Longer hose life as spring
prevents kinks
• Ruggedly built, satisfaction
guaranteed
Carwash
Boom
Assemblies
Zierco’s Easy Service Swivel and
Boom Systems with
MODEL 204 and 206 FEATURES
• Twin compression springs are tension-adjustable
for a variety of hose and gun weights
• 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
CONVENIENCE
STYLE B
Flat Plate
Mounts directly
to the ceiling or
beam.
Easy to Use -"Feather Light" rotating action
STYLE C
Swivel Base
Mounts directly to
the ceiling.
MODEL 206
OFFSET Overhead Carwash Boom
Allows for TWO Center Boom Installation
STYLE D
Wall Bracket
Mounts to wall and
is adjustable so
boom swings
to wall when
not in use.
Ideal for foaming brushes.
FOR COMPLETE
INFORMATION
CALL
414-764-6630
FAX: (414) 764-9763
www.ziercowaterboy.com
7355 S. 1st. Street
Oak Creek, WI 53154
sales@zierden.com
VISA and Master Card accepted
DISTRIBUTOR INQUIRIES INVITED
107C Cartridge Features:
• Field Repairable
• 100% 304 Stainless Steel Internal
Materials Eliminate Failure Due to
Corrosion
• Double O-Ring Design Uses Any
Type of Grease
OPTIONAL
107C CARTRIDGE
QUALITY PRODUCTS SINCE 1937
TM
FOR COMPLETE
INFORMATION
CALL
(414)-764-6630
www.ziercowaterboy.com
7355 S. 1st Street
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Fax: (414) 764-9763
sales@zierden.com
CONVERSION KIT
204B
To Convert Model 203
to a 204 Assembly
Remove boom body
from hinge plate
QUALITY PRODUCTS SINCE 1937
EASY 3 STEP PROCEDURE
TO CHANGE SEALS.
NO TOOLS REQUIRED.
Rotate hinge plate
counter clockwise to
remove seal elbow
TM
Replace O-Rings
DISTRIBUTOR
INQUIRIES
INVITED
VISA and Master Card
accepted
28 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 29

Association News
Western Carwash Association
• Hello, Hawaii!
The Western Carwash Association (WCA) is
hosting a retreat in Maui, Hawaii, this October.
According to the WCA, the event is being called
Destination Paradise! Leadership Retreat Maui,
and it will take place from October 9-10, 2024, at
the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. The WCA added
Hawaii to its list of states back in 1991. Today, the
Association covers 12 states including California,
Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Montana,
Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Washington and Nevada.
Self serve experts to offer input at ICA Show
Along with the event being hosted in Maui,
the WCA wants its members to know that it is
working hard to host more “in-person” events. In a
posting on its website, the WCA stated: When you
think of WCA, you think of experience. That has
been one of our focal points these last couple of
years, upping the association game with in-person
experiences worth attending. We look to continue
this trend in 2024 with our exciting destination
events in Nashville and Maui. We are also looking
forward to bringing more focused attention to the
self-serve industry. If you have attended The Car
Wash Show in the last few years, you know that
our self-serve centric education is standing room
only. The audience’s participation is remarkable,
whether they are posing questions to a panel of
operators or discovering methods to optimize
their system for maximum profit using customer-centric
business strategies.
The 2024 Car Wash Show will take place in
Nashville, Tennessee, from May 13-15. The time
and date of the Self Serve Car Wash session has
not yet been announced.
Carwash Association of
Pennsylvania
CAP recognizes industry
leaders
The Carwash Association of Pennsylvania recognized
two very special people at its dinner on
September 13, according to a press release. These
individuals have made a lasting mark on the carwash
industry in Pennsylvania and beyond and we
are grateful for their service, stated CAP.
Pennsylvania Carwasher of the Year: Scott Soisson
CAP was proud to present Scott Soisson, Carwash
Category Manager of Sheetz, Inc, with the
Pennsylvania Carwasher of the Year award. Scott
served 21 years in the United States National
Guard and has utilized Grace for Vets for Sheetz,
Inc to give away 200,000+ free car washes to veterans
since 2014. For this year’s Grace for Vets
event, Sheetz, Inc gave away 38,000 washes!
Grace for Vets is an annual event which promotes
the giving away of free car washes to veterans and
Car Wash Operators of New Jersey
• ICA president visits NJ
car washes
The Car Wash Operators of New Jersey’s (CWONJ)
Fall Membership Meeting, took place November 8, at
the Suburban Golf Club in Union, New Jersey. According
to a CWONJ press release, the event featured
International Carwash Association (ICA) President
and Benny’s Car Wash co-owner Justin Alford. Alford,
a third generation carwasher who hails from Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, made the trip with his wife Juliet
and daughter Helen, a fourth generation carwasher,
to speak at the annual meeting. The event attracted
around 60 attendees. “It was an honor to have Justin
come to New Jersey and share his family’s incredible
and successful carwashing story,” said CWONJ President
Dino Nicoletta, according to the press release.
Prior to the annual membership meeting Alford
got the opportunity to visit some washes in the
state. “What a great day,” said Alford according to
the press release. “We were able to visit so many
really interesting washes and spend time with
some of my carwash friends old and new,” he said.
“What a great group of operators.”
Alford, whose grandfather started in the industry
in 1951, owns nine Benny’s car washes in the
Baton Rouge, LA, market with his father Ben and
brother Jason. They run successful conveyor locations
with full service, express, oil changes, gas,
detail and c-stores. In fact, Benny’s and Innovative
Control Systems (ICS), of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
the event’s hors d’oeuvre sponsor, were instrumental
in launching the first express car wash in
the United States back in 2001.
Alford shared his company’s growth and evolution
and educated the group on all things Baton
current military personnel on Veteran’s Day. Over
260,000 cars are now washed each year worldwide
on Veterans Day and over three million cars have
been washed since this program was founded.
Honoring Grace for Vets: Mark Curtis
CAP was proud to present a proclamation from
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to its Keynote
Speaker, Mark Curtis of Splash Car Wash and
President of Grace for Vets.
Rouge complete with Mardi Gras beads that featured
the wash’s mascot. “What a great meeting,”
added Nicoletta. “Justin is a true professional and
a really outstanding guy.”
Also during the meeting Princeton Public Affairs
Group (PPAG) lobbyist Sam Weinstein updated
attendees on the two-year efforts to push
legislation through the state that would deem car
washes “essential” if COVID or another similar epidemic
shuts down businesses. “Sam and the team
at PPAG are pushing hard on our behalf and with
a little more effort we hope to get to the finish
line,” Nicoletta stated in the press release.
New York State Car Wash
Association
• NYSCWA Holds Event at
JMA Dome
The New York State Car Wash Association (NY-
SCWA) held an informal event at the JMA Wireless
Dome (formerly The Carrier Dome) on September
23, 2023, when the Syracuse Orange took on the
Army West Point Black Knights for a noon football
game, according to a press release. The event was
sponsored by Simoniz USA and Micrologic.
A pre-game was hosted by K & S Car Wash and
catered by Lasca’s Restaurant, both of Auburn,
New York. “We were happy to help out and provide
some great food for those in attendance,” Chris
Kubarek, with K & S and an NYSCWA board member,
stated in the press release. “It was a fun day.”
The Orange were victorious beating the Black
Knights 29 to 16. Added NYSCWA President Walt
Hartl in the press release. “Thanks to our sponsors
and to those who were able to come out to the
game. You’ve got to love college football!”
Also, retired Colonel Mark Ferraro was the
Guest Speaker as he is the Executive Deputy Secretary
for the Department of Military and Veteran
Affairs, CAP stated. He serves as the primary advisor
to the Adjutant General. He spent his career
in the United States Army and Pennsylvania Army
National Guard. He has served in a variety of operational
and leadership positions in both the Active
Army and Pennsylvania National Guard.
self serve
& support equipment
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
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
UNDER $11,000.00
*STARTING AT UNDER $11,000.00
CARWASH IN A BOX
• Marinas
• RV Parks
• Beaches
• C-Stores
• Apartments
• Car Rental
• 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
Here
30 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 31

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.
Money behind the message
Our billboard lease is coming up for renewal and I am wondering what
some of you with a billboard are getting per month? Right now ours is
2 sided on a 14k car per day road. [We currently get] $125/month but
the current lease is from 2002 so that might have been good back then
because we did not own the property at that time… - DYLANBENNETT
I always thought the rent paid for these things was way
too low. Had a guy approach me once for an electronic
billboard and I was going to get a small percentage of
the time on the billboard as rent. I told him I wanted
10% of the gross. He ran away angry. You could have
a similar situation. They pay whatever now but could
make a boatload more money if they upgrade to an
electronic version with multiple advertisers. - EARL WEISS
I don’t have one on my property, but I rent one for
another business I own....we pay $225 a month....for 1
side of the billboard. - RFREEMAN
It’s probably worth your time to get a company that
specializes in billboard negotiations. As you know billboard
leases are usually long term. The billboard company
representative negotiates billboard leases all day
He’s not heavy,
he’s my dumpster…
I was emptying buckets of sand from my SS bays (not pit mud) into the
dumpster when I overloaded the front and it tipped over. I’ve never
had this be an issue in my past 25 years. Thought I’d just throw it out as
a warning to the young guys and some of the older guys that aren’t quite
as nimble as I am. - ERIC H
Had that happen at my place once. Not fun to reload
and get it back up.
- EARL WEISS
I had dumpsters like that, but some of the front
wheels were attached like outriggers, and were about
6-8” ahead of the front of the dumpster. Apparently,
you are not the only one this has happened to. - I.B.
WASHINCARS
32 • WINTER 2024
long, most businesspeople may do it once or twice in
their lifetime. You need a pro on your side. Make them
pay for electricity if they are using your power. - KENO
They have their own meter for the billboard and the
only thing I can find is it rents for at least $1500 a
month minimum their website shows the range for the
area being $1500 to $6000 a month. - DYLANBENNETT
We currently have a three-sided billboard on our
property that has been there since the eighties. My
father said that it was put there with only a verbal
agreement, currently we are being paid a total of
$2,000.00 + per year for all three signs. My question
is ….should we have a written agreement, and is this
a fair price? This billboard sits in a major intersection
that sees probably 10k cars per day. - WSM 1989
Wouldn’t want to think of the outcome if a kid was tagging
along with you and got caught up in that, yeesh!
Never seen a bin like that.
Is there a reason why you load it on the sloped side
and not the reverse where there’s no chance of it trying
to bite your legs off ? - EDREDTOP
It’s easier for the driver to get the dirt out if it is towards
the front. Any water that is in the dirt or other
liquids drain to the bottom of the can and freeze. On
long cold spells I can lose half of the capacity of the
Presenting some of the best self serve
discussions from CarwashForum.com.
SSCWN EDITOR CHIMES IN:
As of 2022, the billboard industry for
the United States is worth $8.5 billion,
according to VCoutdoor.com. Today,
there are over 370,000 billboards in
the United States, with over 15,000
added each year.
Our car wash was built around a large 2-sided billboard.
We’re located on a prominent corner in our
city, with 102,000 cars per day. We renewed our
10-year contract 3 years ago. We used to get $1500/
month, but they reduced it down to $1000/month.
I wasn’t happy about the reduction in rent, but had
no wiggle room. I had a billboard attorney review it
too. Outfront Media owns the billboard base to the
ground, and was willing to remove it if I didn’t agree.
I can’t complain too much. $12,000 a year is better
than nothing. The billboard is a landmark and makes
it easy to find my wash. They have their own meter,
and pay for their own electricity. - KIMBERLY BERG
dumpster with paper frozen to the bottom.
I had less issues with the square dumpsters that are
used on front loader garbage trucks. - ERIC H
I wouldn’t have something that dangerous on my
property. It’s a safety hazard. I’d be calling the garbage
hauler and would ask for a square dumpster. I
have a square 2-yard dumpster on wheels that gets
dumped twice a week. - RANDY
Let’s talk trash
I manage a car wash in Florida. We have 6 SS bays, 1 in bay automatic plus vacs,
etc. In past years we would occasionally have a contractor or off-road enthusiast
trash one of our bays. Over the past year we’ve had an explosion of this. It has
become a multiple-times-a-day issue and is affecting our labor costs, pit pumping
costs, and our reputation. We’ve put up signage, asked them nicely when we
see it, and had some egregious offenders trespassing. Any advice would
be greatly appreciated. - MH12956
I had a software company create a program where
I can remotely turn off each bay. If I see something
on the camera, I just turn it off. If they call, I explain
to them and ask them to clean it up. If they won’t
then I won’t turn it back on. Sometimes if I see it
beforehand, I just turn it off before they even have
a chance to wash. - SUNAHARA
Comes with the territory, unfortunately. The best
thing to do is raise prices so those off-road guys
spend some good $ getting that mud off. - AXXLROD
It takes a lot of time and patience to train your customers.
Some say it’s not worth it and just tolerate
it. Some look forward to the business and will
happily clean it up. To discourage the unwanted activity
you have to be willing to spend time on site
and learn when the offenders come in. I noticed a
10th BI-ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
pattern of my bays being trashed at one wash on
Sunday night during hunting season. All the people
that go hunting all weekend would come in and
wash it off before they went home. I started closing
down on Sunday nights and over time that greatly
reduced hunters washing mud as I trained them to
go elsewhere. In the past I’ve also closed the bays on
rainy days because very little “good” business happens
on rainy days.
The wash that is closest to me is old school and welcomes
all washers. He has a place to dispose of the
mud onsite whereas I do not. I’ll send the big mess
makers to his wash, and he happily accepts them.
I used to know an owner who literally would sit
in his truck for hours at a time watching customers
like a security guard. He ran a clean wash but IMO
that was a bit too much. You can get a lot of cleanup
done in an hour at a wash. - GREG PACK
I draw the line at stuff that doesn’t go down the
drain. Mud goes down into the pits, so I don’t kick
the off-roaders out, even though I don’t enjoy their
patronage. Users I don’t allow:
• Contractors that spray out construction debris
like wood scraps, nails, drywall pieces, etc...
• Landscapers that spray out mulch or yard waste.
• Horse trailers that spray out hay or horse ^%$#.
Users I call police on:
• Spraying out spilled wet paint.
• Roofers spraying out tar.
• Carpet cleaners dumping their wastewater.
• RVs dumping their waste tanks. - AXXLROD
10th BI-ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
Salt Lake City, Utah
June 16-18, 2024
This conference is our place to thrive
together, positioning ourselves to succeed
and lead confidently. It’s a designated space
for professional women in the car wash
industry, becoming a movement to educate,
inspire, and support each other in various roles.
email: bjj@womenincarwash.com
204.489.4215 | www.womenincarwash.com
WINTER 2024 • 33

That’s a pretty good list. I like to add to the list:
people who try to do maintenance on their cars and
people who try to wash off their old engines and car
parts. - OBZENMATT
One of my favorite pics.
February- huge busy day.
This was about 10 trucks
worth. Colder than hell!
Greg is right - it takes
time to train customers.
After all these years we
now have customers policing
customers. You catch
some people on camera.
The big offenders are
usually a landscaper, tow
truck, septic pumper etc.
with a name or number on the truck. Call the boss
and call them out on it.
Word gets around and problems go way down!
I can also shut the bays off from home but no
longer watch the cameras that close. - SHINEPRO
How do you rig shutting your bays down? I’ve got
to do it. We all train our customers but there will always
be that element. [This one guy was] was spraying
his truck bed out yesterday and I could see the
degreaser he was spraying the bed down with. I was
50 minutes away at my other wash watching this idiot.
Would’ve loved to cut power on him! - TRAVELER17
I have a system from a company in Utah.
Controlled by the website. It’s a relay system that
wires into the bay boxes in the workroom or any
other function you want to hook it to.
I can shut the bays off, put time on a bay, close
the automatic, open the automatic doors, turn the
attic heat on, check the temp in the attic trough,
turn the change machine off, turn the workroom
lights on… and this can all be done from my phone.
Pretty [darn] handy system.
A word of caution: Shutting the bay down on
someone is something I rarely do anymore because
1 in 5 will get pissed and you end up fixing the
wand after they slam it to the ground! - SHINEPRO
You guys can rig up something simple with a home
automation system like YoLink. They sell a tiny wifi
relay that will handle 5 amps. just kill the power to
the timer or (better yet) just open the timed output
circuit. Would cost $25 for the hub and $25 for
each device you want to control. I haven’t mounted
one remotely in a bay yet. I’ll try to put one in a meter
door and make sure it gets an adequate signal.
Another option are the inexpensive four channel
relays you can buy on Amazon for around $25.
To use that though it may have to be centrally
located in the equipment room and wiring run
to the bay. Although tempting to try, I don’t
think I look at my cameras often enough to
catch offenders. - GREG PACK
If you stay open after a snow and salt event, not
trying to be mean, but what do you expect?
When this happens, I spend a lot more time at
the car wash and keep the snow and salt clods
pushed out of each bay. Other washes in town
let it build up so bad people don’t use their
wash. I’m a firm believer that you get what you
put into it....I make really good $$$ when it’s like
this and work a little harder to make sure all customers
have a good experience! - 2BIZ
This is probably the worst part of owning the car
wash, people will do this $%^*. I have just learned
to try to embrace it the best I can. It is too darn
hard to chase every one of them down and there are
so many folks going through that trying to educate
them will not work for me. - DESIGNFLAW
The 10 relay boards were about $500 each.
Plus, the boxes, wiring, etc. $1500.
Go to their website– they have a demo of their free
app. - SHINEPRO
You are right....I totally
misunderstood.
The topic was trashed
bays!!! This is what
trashed bays look like!
Yep, that is paint!
…Luckily it was a
water-soluble latex
paint....Took me a few
hours with my 4400
psi pressure washer to
get it cleaned up. - 2BIZ
I caught one doing the same thing about a year or
so ago, I asked her if she would like it if I pulled in
her driveway at her home and did something like
that, her response was, “I wouldn’t mind” ...my response
was. “Then, why the hell are you doing it
here!!!” Her options after that were to pay me $500
for the clean-up or the next step was I was going to
call the law. She pulled out $500 and left. Took me
about 3 or 4 hours to clean it up as well. - CBCHEVY4X4
I came in this morning to find one of my bays completely
coated with mud. It took close to an hour to
wash down all the walls and floor. About an hour
later I got a new 3 star Google review from a guy
complaining about being charged $20 for 20 minutes
and he didn’t even finish washing when it hit
the limit. The actual charge was 30 minutes for $20.
I checked the charges on Nayax and figured out he
had to have been the one that destroyed the bay. I
replied to his review stating the actual price and
time then found him on Facebook, now I know
who he is and I can’t wait to run into him around
town. - HEYVERN
I also use the Control By Web relay (X-WR-4R3-I)
to turn off 24v to the bay meters and toggle the
power to the change machines to reset them. I use
(X-408) to monitor the status of everything like
power outages, water leaks, changer - out of service,
bay power tripped, and door open/closed. It runs
through an app on your phone that you can customize
to fit your needs and then set your notifications
accordingly. I had previously used, and still do use
a few sensors, from a company called Monnit. It’s a
wireless platform that works well but has a little lag
time in the ability to turn the bay power off. - SCOTT S
I think we all draw our own line about what is
“acceptable.” We have an unattended wash in
a rural location, near too many 4WD tracks.
So, mud, hay and manure are all just part of
life for us. But from time to time we have had
paint and grease all over a bay, which has been
a huge headache to clean up. And my discovery
of a bay full of maggots was completely out of
line! - GREG_T
I’ve had the same...Dumped out maggot infested
fish! Maggots completely covering the bay floor
and in the pit! Of the two, I would take latex
paint any day! Maggots are harder to kill than I
expected… - 2BIZ
Eternal sunshine of the spotless hydrominder
I’m having problems with a hydrominder. The water pressure coming through is
barely noticeable. I’m not getting any chemical pull through due to the low pressure.
I took it apart and the valve is in pretty rough shape. I’m thinking this is the problem
but don’t have a replacement confirmation. Anyone have any insight? - NOOB
The black plastic vertical piece is called an “educator.”
Take it off and take it apart and see if any gunk has accumulated.
- EARL WEISS
The first thing to check would be the screen on the
water inlet. I’d order the plastic valve and the diaphragm
kit that goes into the valve. - RANDY
I checked the screen, and it looks pretty clear. I have
good flow before entering the hydrominder. I believe
my constriction is coming from the minder. - NOOB
You might want to replace the valve, stem kit and the injector.
Or just replace the complete hydrominder. - RANDY
We had this problem when we re-opened at one of our
IBAs after who knows how many years. A rebuild kit solved
the issue. It probably just needs the rubber diaphragm, but
might as well replace it all while you are in there. - KENO
Any time I have low flow I clean the inlet screen and
change the diaphragm and that usually fixes it. The
diaphragms are available individually for just a few
bucks. - GREG PACK
A diaphragm usually fixes it. You can replace the whole
stem kit if you want, but probably not necessary. These
are parts you need to have on hand, so order a stem kit
and a few diaphragms. - I.B. WASHINCARS
34 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 35

O Canada?
Will this wash succeed?
Hey everyone! I have an opportunity
car wash (4 vacuums) however, I need
Site fundamentals:
to take over a car wash that has been
closed for less than 1 year. The landlord
operated it for 3 years and decided he
no longer wanted to be an operator. I
scouted the location and left a note to
get in contact with this landlord. The
plan is to sign a long-term lease (10-20
years) and retool the 6 bay self-serve
some guidance with how to negotiate
the starting lease price. We have
already agreed to an abated rent for 12
months, which is awesome! The total
lot size is 12,000 SQ/F and the building
size is 4100 SQ/F. Do car wash leases
go by $/sqf or is there another formula
to determine a starting rate?
• Key demographics (borderline)
• Traffic count (poor)
• Competition (excellent)
• Site visibility (great)
• Site accessibility (good)
• Retail draw (good)
I look forward to your input on this! -
TRISTAVENDRYES
Competition....excellent (meaning there aren’t other
washes close by?
Lease property........
This would be a “no” deal! Just on the first two I
would pass on it. Add that it’s a lease then for sure it’s
a “no thank you.”
Why did he decide he didn’t want to be an operator
anymore? Maybe income wasn’t worth the work due to
the factors you listed above. 12 months free rent?
Sounds like a poor location. - RFREEMAN
The building is perpendicular to the road, the bays are
pull in/back out, and it’s not eye-catching in any way.
Looks like if the customer does choose to use the place,
it’s going to be a pain to use.
I’d recommend passing. - DAN KAMSICKAS
Competition....excellent (meaning there aren’t other
washes close by????)
This means little competition- nearest car wash is
20-minute drive away
Lease property........
The demographic report does not account for the
military base (thousands of people as their address is
not registered to the city)
Why did he decide he didn’t want to be an operator
anymore? Maybe income wasn’t worth the work due to
the factors you listed above. 12 months free rent?
Car washes are not for everyone, he learned this
quickly. I am taking it over for free, I just need some
insight on how to make an offer for the monthly lease as
I don’t want to overshoot it.
- TRISTAVENDRYES
You said there is excellent competition, what does that
mean? People want convenience. What if you did get
busy during a rush part of the season, how is anyone supposed
to wait on a bay? Ask yourself if you would pull
in and sit behind somebody waiting to pull out. Sounds
like an accident waiting to happen. Listen to the advice
above. Just the layout of that building is a “No” and a lease
in a small town is a hard “no.” I bought my first wash in a
small town and if I had a lease on it, I wouldn’t make any
profit. There is a reason that place isn’t open. If it were
making money, I promise the guy wouldn’t be so eager to
give away 12 months of rent. How much money needs to
be put back in this place ? Does any of the equipment operate?
How much was this place generating 3 years ago?
LOTS of questions - TRAVELER17
Folks, some of the points are valid, however I would
not be so negative on the opportunity. It’s like buying
a house, everything is overpriced until you settle on a
fair price.
In this case, maybe the landlord will make the rent
a small amount with an option to buy the place in the
future and forgo the rent entirely until the renovations
are covered. There is more than one way to look at a
potential deal if the location is good. Hard to evaluate
a place remotely as it takes eyeballs on the place to see
the true potential or lack thereof. I recall a wash I made
an offer to purchase after visiting the site for several
days for a few hours to see how the place looked with
customers. If one just looked at Google demographic
data, you would have passed on the place because the
town was under 2000 people. The wash was on a major
road which changed the picture entirely. - ROZ
Yes. Pull in/back out is a pain. Perpendicular to the road
usually signifies a narrow lot which further complicates
the traffic flow on site. I can think of 4 washes like that
built around here during the boom of the 90s and everyone
had multiple owners over the years that were
convinced they got a sweet deal on it so they could for
certain make a go of it. Everyone eventually failed and
the sites were bulldozed. - DAN KAMSICKAS
Don’t put yourself on the hook for 10 years. Get:
A. 2-year lease with lots of options
B. Right of First Refusal.
C. Try to get an option to buy. - EARL WEISS
There is some validity to Dan’s observations. I own a
“Canadian Style” self service location. We converted the
place to a self storage location as the location was not
great. The benefit of that style is that wind will not blow
through the bays, so they do not get as cold in the wintertime.
We also have garage doors on each bay that we
closed prior to a snowstorm.
I would still kick the tires on the place. The real reason
the place closed may be due to competition nearby.
In our case an Exxon station was built that has two IBA
(TF and SC) which is what people want. They get a discount
on gas with a wash so most people moved away
from self washing their cars. - ROZ
Silver lining- If conventional operations don’t work it
would be an easy site to convert to gated wash.
Have one (buy used) paystation with a fixed price
($10) and entry gate. Have one exit gate. Everything behind
the gate is included in the entry price. The pull-inback-out
bays would reduce the undesirable customers
at a gated wash which are big vehicles or trailers. I’d give
it a go with a short-term lease with options to extend
if it worked. Could probably do this conversion with a
used paystation for 15K Advantages- reduces theft concerns
(all money is at the gate near the road) and simplifies
money collection. Easy to run if it works. - GREG PACK
Thanks for your insight. The location has a lot of traffic,
and only 1 other operational self serve car wash that is
20 minutes away. I don’t want to own this land and that
is why I connected with the landlord of the property to
negotiate a long-term lease to get the car wash business
for free. He has already agreed to this and I will have the
rights to the business. Good idea for the winter as this
is a hurdle I will need to tackle since it is close to Ottawa-
(winters are brutal). My next step is meeting with
a distributor to see what would work best for the lot.
We can constantly go over as to why the previous operator
failed, but once someone knows what they are
doing and cares about the business it will be successful.
That is what I plan to do… I have a structure and strategy
where I am already winning by not having to buy the
business outright, not paying rent for 1 whole year to
cover the costs of re-tooling the equipment.
I live in Toronto and there are plenty of car washes
that are EXTREMELY successful and have terrible traffic
control and people will still come and use them. I am
also looking for a mentor in this space so please let me
know if you are willing to share any additional knowledge
by connecting via email or phone. - TRISTAVENDRYES
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WINTER 2024 • 37

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WINTER 2024 • 39

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: Plans for 2024
What are you going
to accomplish at your
car wash this year?
Install lp salt neutralizer and bug remover in
self serve bays including ten position rotary
switches. Install 5 more security cameras Put
up new “car wash” plastic letters on building. -
WAXMAN
Add booms to my vac Islands. Replace floor
heat boiler with an instant tankless system. -
TIMMB
Remove rust and repaint the roof, re-sheet 2
bays, and re-build 1 of the equipment rooms.
- DESIGNFLAW
Replace and reface pole sign with new graphics,
and add an ATM. - MUDMONEY
Tidy up our landscaping. Get the bays painted
to freshen them up. I keep saying “When I
have time...” but that doesn’t happen, so we
will hire a painter. Keep our clean up staff,
who have been excellent. - GREG_T
All new mitter and brush microfiber/foam/
nylon in the tunnel. - WASHNSHINE
Raising the start up time to $4 for 4 minutes
and offer 3 minutes free when they use 8
minutes. - JMMUSTANG
I installed new coin boxes last month. I’m
going to put new decals on the vacuums and
seal coat the lot. A good “spring cleanup”. - BILL
CAPRON
POLL:
No rest for the turkey
Are you open on
Thanksgiving?
Open 365 days a
year! - 2BIZ
Why would we
want to close,
it’s a busy time
of the year. The
only time we
close is when it’s
too snowy or icy. -
RANDY
Yes: 100%
Yep I was at my wash this morning washing
down bays and washing towels. - WAXMAN
Open @ 23 degrees and overcast, lite traffic
mostly hunters from out of state. - MUDMONEY
One of the busiest days of the year! No way we
close. Everyone wants to clean their car before
going to mom’s for turkey! - RFREEMAN
REMEMBERING
MEP001
It was a sad day when
we learned that frequent
carwashforum-user MEP001,
Miles Edwards Parris, passed
away. He was a helpful and
active member of the self
serve community and his
posts were fun and plentiful.
He joined the forum in August
2007 and as of his passing,
he posted 16,667 times.
Just 58 years old, Parris was from Round
Rock, Texas. According to his obituary,
“After attending high school Miles went
on to work in the commercial car wash
business. He was an expert in all
aspects of the business—management,
leasing, car wash technology,
technician, safe cleaning solutions,
environmental factors, supplies, sales,
maintenance, and repair.
He passed away on October 7, 2023. He
is also survived by his beloved girlfriend Terri
Gosnell.
Terri took to the carwash forum to post about his
passing. She also mentioned that the forum was his
second home.
“Miles left us Saturday morning at 5:30am. This is
such a tragedy. He was a brilliant, funny man. He had
the kindest heart with the sharpest tongue. Please, look
after your health. We are not invincible. Forgive often and
express kindness and love. Thank you for all the kind
wishes,” she wrote.
Terri also added, “He truly did work very hard all of
his life and had refined his craft. The last few years
we have been able to enjoy life a little and slow
down so I am grateful for that. He did not
have a large circle in the offline world but
you guys made up for it. You were the
ones he wanted to interact with. He loved
sharing his tips and tricks and he was full
of them. Aside from the hole this has left
in my heart, I know that it has left a huge
hole in the car wash community. I had been
urging him to write a book of some sort so
that this knowledge would not be lost. I wish he
had. Today I spent the day figuring out how to get the
foam brush up and working at a wash and also helped
assemble some pump plumbing he had been working on.
I feel like he was hanging around, cursing us and praising
us. I honestly thought I’d never be able to look at another
car wash after all this. Maybe I will pick up the mantle
and carry on. I just don’t know. It’s crushing to do this
without him but I don’t think he’d want the business to
crash. I will probably lurk in here to pick up information.
I hope it won’t freak anyone out. He’d be tickled if
someone thought he was haunting the place…”
40 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 41

A LEADING MANUFACTURER OF CONTROLS,
INCLUDING DIGITAL TIMERS FOR THE CAR WASH INDUSTRY.
CONTACT YOUR
DISTRIBUTOR
TODAY!
Going up?
What self serves are charging
throughout the country
Raising your prices. It’s a slippery slope of worrying
you’ll upset regular customers and also not being
able to stay afloat. There’s also the factor of whether
or not a more expensive wash will weed out the
stragglers and vagabonds. It’s a ping pong dilemma,
do this or do that? If you raise them can you lower
them if customer visits decline? One way to see
if you’re on track is to check out the competition.
What are they pricing? Is there car wash in a nice
area? Is it neat and well-kept and worth the cost of a
42 • WINTER 2024
wash? There’s also the time allotted and then a game
of math and division comes into play. Maybe you
should just try raising them and see what happens.
One way to see if what you’re charging measures
up, we collected the prices of various self serves from
across the county. And, while demographics are different
in San Francisco, California, compared to
Monowi, Nebraska, it’s still an interesting consideration
for your pricing strategy.
Erie, Minnesota
Bays: $1 for 1:40 minutes
Vacs: $1 for 4 minutes
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Bays: $2 for 4 minutes
Vacs: 75 cents for 3 minutes
Western New York
Bays: $4 start up, $1 per minute
Vacs: $2 for 4 minutes
Atlanta, Georgia
Bays: $2 start up, $1 per minute
Vacs: $1 vacuum for 4 minutes
Atlanta, Georgia
Bays: $3 for 4 minutes, $1 for 80
seconds
Vacs: $2 for 5 minutes
WWW.DIXMOR.COM
1-888-234-9667 FOR A DISTRIBUTOR IN YOUR AREA.
WINTER 2024 • 43

North Ogden, Utah
Bays: $3 to start, $1 for 1:04 minutes
Vacs: $1.50 for 5 minutes
Central City, Nebraska
Bays: $2 to start (cash), choice
of $3, $5, $7, or $10 for credit cards
Vacs: $1 for 5 minutes
St. Louis, Missouri
Bays: Cash $3 for 4 minutes,
credit card $4 for 4 minutes
Vacs: Cash $1.50 for 4 minutes,
credit card $2 for 4 minutes
Albany, New York
Bays: $6.48 credit card startup
(because we have to charge tax
on credit cards in New York State).
Count up timers $.92 per minute
Cash startup/count down timers:
$4 for 3.5 minutes, $6 for 8 minutes
Vacs: $3 for 5 minutes
I think that generally speaking car wash prices are too low. I see a lot of that
evidenced here in this survey.
My car wash is in a middle to lower income region of Massachusetts. I also
offer car detailing. We have gone up considerably on our prices in the last 7 to
10 years. I realized I was working far too hard and never seemed to get ahead.
Our overhead is very reasonable, so a price increase was implemented. People
do complain about the detailing prices and for some reason they think they can
negotiate. However, I have a good manager in place, and I delegate customer
service in the detail department to him. I tend to get insulted when people try to
“talk me down” so I removed myself from that part of the business.
When I had Autowash Maintenance install my new razor a few years ago I ran
Numbers and contemplated pricing for quite some time. I finally settled on a nice
high price and while some customers do protest it’s actually not that many and
you would be surprised at my percentages for the top package. I also raised my
start up price in the self serves and vacs.
Business is much more enjoyable when there is a bit of extra money to make
improvements etc. that’s why we’re here!
We have the cleanest & most modern SS
car wash within 25 miles. We have in-bay
dryers, new vacuums, accept credit cards,
offer mobile payment app and absorb all the
card fees. No complaints from customers
& we’re still busy on a cold, winter day!
- Waxman, Western Massachusetts
I am scared to raise
the prices. I feel
like, my customers
will run away.
I don’t understand, with the cost of business going up every month
how you can not raise your prices to match and keep your bottom
line where you need it? Every situation is different but let’s presume
in your opinion you have the best wash in your area, the cleanest, upto-date,
and everything works 99% of the time. Just as an extreme
example, if you raise your prices and lost 10% of your customers
which is almost ridiculous. You still have 90% paying your increased
price and you’ve probably lost your worst customers anyway. You’re
still making more money with less customers! Over the last 34 years in
business 28 of those attended, when I raised my prices, the attendant
only had to deal with the people who didn’t put enough money in the
box and said “my bad” I should have noticed. Do the math otherwise
you’ll end up working for nothing. You’re in business to make a fair
PROFIT on what you’re doing.
- Timmb, Albany, New York
I’m going to raise prices on the SS I just bought, and I am
not going to display any signage about it. The thing is I am not
going to change the $2 start. I am only going to change the
time per quarter. Right now, its 30 seconds per quarter and I
am going to drop it to 25 seconds.
The next price increase will come whXen I switch from
quarters to dollar coins and people will be forced to pay in
dollar increments instead of 25 cents (We will still accept
quarters if the customer brings their own).
Western Massachusetts
Bays: $5 start, $1 per minute
Vacs: $2 for 4 minutes
Houston, Texas
Bays: 50 cents for 1:40 minutes
Vacs: 50 cents for 3 minutes
Maryland and West Virginia
Bays: Cash $3 to start for 4 minutes
Credit card is $5 to start at the same rate as cash.
Vacs: $2 for 5 minutes
Ocean Shores, Washington
Bays: Cash $2 to start, $1 per minute,
credit card $3 minimum, count up, $15 max.
Vacs: $1 start for 2 minutes
Citrus Heights, California
Bays: $4 for 5 minutes (.80 / minute)
Vacs: $2 for 4 minutes (new Doyle vacuums)
Southern California
Bays: $5 for 6 minutes, 83 cents per 1 minute
Vacs: $2 for 5 minutes
- Kimberly Berg, Citrus Heights, California
- Designflaw, Houston, Texas
- UtahYoutubeGuy
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44 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 45

Northern Montana
Bays: $4 for 4 minutes (cash only)
Combo vas and shampooer:
$2 for 4 minutes
Central Tennessee
Bays: $1 to start, $0.50 per minute
Vacs: $1 for 4 minutes
Cleveland, Ohio
Bays: $4 to start, $1 per minute
Vacs: $2 for 3 minutes
Southern California
Bays: $4 for 4 minutes (thinking
about making it $5s), $1 per minute
Vacs: $2 for 3 minutes
Northern Minnesota
Bays: $5 to start, $1 per minute
Superbay: $6.25to start,
$1.25 per minute
Vacs: $2 for 4 minutes (coins only)
Northeast Texas
Bays: $2 to start for 4 minutes
Vacs: $1.50 for 4 minutes
It’s all about ‘Elasticity’
In microeconomics, the technical phrase for
knowing how responsive sales are to price changes,
everything else the same, is the price elasticity of demand.
Just substitute the word “responsiveness” for
“elasticity” to make the concept simple.
In general, how responsive sales are to price
changes is determined by several factors with the
most important being the availability of substitutes.
More substitutes implies greater elasticity (responsiveness)
and the opposite. Salt essentially has no
substitute and its demand is very price inelastic (unresponsive
to price changes). Fresh tomatoes have
Overseas:
Victoria, Australia
In Australian dollars,
$1 = 1 minute, 30 seconds.
many substitutes and the demand for them is relatively
elastic (responsive to price changes), again everything
else the same.
For self-serve car washes, the three major substitutes
are the full-service car washes (tunnels?), washing
at home, or just to live with the dirt and salt. Since
there is no published study that tries to estimate the
price elasticity of demand for self-serve car washes,
we have to rely on anecdotes.
Having a commonsense idea of how price changes
have affected sales in the past will be a good guide
to determining what to do.
Current Inflation Rates for the United States
Source: USInflationCalculator.com
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?
Reach out to Editor Debra Gorgos
debgorgos@gmail.com to share
your story with our readers.
“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…”
Some
conversation
starters:
“We were struggling with low
volumes when we decided to…”
“The funniest thing a customer
ever did at my wash…”
46 • WINTER 2024
WINTER 2024 • 47

DARWIN at
the
CARWASH
OUR
SUPPORTOUR
ADVERTISERS
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.
Let’s give a round-of-applause to this car wash owner, as he not only caught a
litterer on camera, but also got him sent to jail! In Huntington, Tennessee, Christopher Ethan Johnson,
was arrested back on January 14 for littering and vandalizing the A1 Pro Wash. According to The Banner,
police were dispatched when business owner Anthony Thomas said he had a person on his video camera
dumping garbage in one of the bays.
Johnson also apparently did some damage to the boom, foam brush and weep gun as he was leaving
the bay, the story said.
A man who apparently didn’t read Jason Bourne’s autobiography, was
caught trying to pretend to be a car wash employee before stealing a customer’s car. But, he
was wearing the wrong colored clothing, was seen loitering around the car wash before hand
and he was also caught on video. The car this man risked his record for was a Honda Civic.
The incident took place in Malaysia in November. According to The Rakyat Post, a 25-yearold
man brought his aunt’s Honda Civic hatchback to the car wash, and handed over the car
keys to a person he thought was an employee.
According to the car wash’s cameras, the suspect, who was dressed in black and green attire,
had been loitering outside the car wash. Note, however, that the car wash employees wear blue
and black attire. After he got the keys to the car, he swiftly drove away. The car wash owner
posted CCTV footage on Facebook, hoping for input from the public.
Acting on the information received, an arrest was made on 23 November at 6:10 a.m.
and the car was recovered. The suspect is a 26-year-old unemployed male with a history of 2
drug-related offenses, the story said.
Apparently the pandemic made this next guy way too comfortable with his
mask. In Odessa, Texas, a man was caught on a car wash’s surveillance camera because he pulled
down his mask before robbing an employee at the car wash. Yes, you read that right: It was before the
robbery. As in, “now is not the time to expose one’s face.” He was one of three men. The two other
men had masks on and have not been identified. But, you know who was? Ding, ding, ding! The guy
not wearing a mask!
It all took place last August when according to an August 24 Odessa American report, employees
of the Mighty Wash called 911 around 8 p.m. to report that an employee had been robbed.
“When officers arrived, a 20-year-old employee said one of the men pushed him and the other
pointed a gun at him before he stole roughly $1,000 from a back room, the report stated. Three other
employees corroborated the man’s story.
Two of the three men were wearing masks, but one of the men didn’t have one on, for some reason.
That man was identified and arrested.
48 • WINTER 2024
In something out of a spaghetti western,
a huge brawl broke out at a car wash in
Cadishead, England, on October 4, according to the
Manchester Evening News.
It seemed as if different fights broke out all over
the place…Maybe it was rehearsals for a West Side
Story reboot?
According to the story, officers were called to the
scene outside the Meera hand car wash around 11.15
a.m. on a Wednesday (October 4). Police said a man was
attacked by another man after ‘entering the forecourt of
a business,’ but not much else is known. He was taken to
hospital with serious and life-changing injuries.
According to witnesses, it seemed as if the fight
included two groups of men. The sharks and the
Jets, perhaps?
Cranberry sauce, green-bean
casserole and turkey and a whole lotta
vandalism.
If there were a Thanksgiving version of The
Grinch, then it would be this guy. In fact, I looked
up mean pilgrims from back in the day and decided
Colonist George Weymonth was one of the worst.
So, we can make him the Thanksgiving Day bad guy
from now on. In Nashua, New Hampshire, we have
an unthankful man who vandalized a car wash on
Thanksgiving day.
According to the Newport Dispatch, the incident
occurred at the Golden Nozzle Car Wash, where
employees reported on November 24 that car wash
equipment had been damaged while the business was
closed for the holiday.
Video surveillance footage showed a man deliberately
damaging brushes, hoses, and sprayers in the car
wash bays. Bah humbug! Or, whatever the Thanksgiving
equivalent of the saying is… The amount of damages
equals about $3,000. Thanks to the footage, police
tracked down the culprit and were able to arrest him.
WINTER 2024 • 49

Neither the driver or any
customers were hurt.
A literal dumpsterfire took place in Crossville,
Tennessee, according to a 38 MediaNews.com story. And,
according to surveillance cameras, it was deliberate.
Firefighters were called to the parking lot near a dumpster and propane tank,
to put out a fire. Does anyone else immediately sing the Johnny Cash song when
they are talking about a fire? Just me?... Okay.
Police also discovered a young man inside one of the car wash bays. Video
surveillance showed the man apparently throwing items into a pile and intentionally
setting the fire. And the flames went higher. And it burned, burned, burned….The
suspect told police that he did not remember setting the blaze. He did, however,
request a trip to the hospital, and told police he had a medical condition.
Whether it was due to a medical condition or not, we’ll wait and see if the
judge presiding over the case send the suspect into a burning ring of jail time.
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Thankfully, Alka’s car
wash has three other bays
which were not impacted
by the crash.
This isn’t really a crime, unless the driver
was inebriated, but if he was not, then what the heck was
wrong with him? According to a November 11 CT Insider story,
an out-of-control van swerved through traffic and crashed into a
local car wash, wiping out three self serve bays.
Ilir Alka, the owner of Mr. Touchless Car Wash of Waterbury, Connecticut,
said in the story, “My business is destroyed for a few months,
and I depend on these months to make money during the busy season.
Those are the busiest and most up-to-date bays that I have.”
The crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. on a Friday, according to
the car wash’s surveillance footage. Video shows the van narrowly
missing another vehicle as sparks fly from underneath. Then it slams
into a sedan parked inside one of the bays.
Sunday morning an individual wearing a Ghillie
suit, broke into the car wash in Head of Island. The
alarm scared him away before he could steal anything.
He was driving a new model, white Toyota tundra
truck: Notice the American flag on the dash and a
spare tire on the passenger side. The driver side back
In a twisted case of “Isn’t it Ironic,” a YouTuber was
identified and arrested after being caught ... on camera of
all things.
In Colorado Springs, Colorado, a man filmed himself speeding on his motorcycle
at 170+ miles per hour. He was caught thanks to a car wash’s camera, according to
a February 5 NBC 9News report. The YouTuber, identified as Rendon Dietzmann,
32, of Texas, uploaded a video last year that was titled “...driving from Colorado
Springs to Denver in 20 minutes.” The video shows Dietzmann traveling up to 173
mph on a motorcycle as he darts between numerous drivers while heading north on
Interstate 25, the story said.
The affidavit, authored by a Colorado State Patrol investigator, describes how
security camera footage from a car wash and convenience store taken on September
28, 2023, helped in identifying the motorist.
According to the affidavit, footage clearly shows Dietzman purchasing Red Bull
inside an Exxon station.
There is still a warrant out for his arrest.
A Facebook post showing images of an attempted theft at a car wash in Port Vincent,
Louisiana, led to one arrest. The post, by Blane Smiley, included the text:
window is either spray-painted over or covered, (the
license plate looks to be removed)... If you have any
information, please call or text…
He also offered a $200 reward for any information.
The post was dated January 14, but also updated
on January 14 with the following message:
This individual has been arrested by Livingston
parish sheriff’s office! But not before he went to our
Port Vincent car wash location a couple nights later
and while in the process of a theft there , did some
pretty serious damage! Thankfully, we are back up
and running now!
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WINTER 2024 • 51

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52 • WINTER 2024