LAS VEGAS -- The devil is in the details, or in the case of operators attending the 2006 Car Care World Expo here, it's in the detailing.
Adding detailing options to exterior washes and the boom of exterior express locations were big topics at this year's convention. Exterior car washes have been the biggest trend we've seen in a couple of years, Chris Buscaglia of Stockton Auto Center, Stockton, Calif., told CSP Daily News. In general, it's less expensive, requires less labor, it's fast and it's convenient for the customer.
Buscaglia [image-nocss] was a panelist at an educational session entitled 15 Profit Centers in 60 Minutes, with some of the more inventive options being copy centers, truck rentals, lobby advertising, windshield repair and headlight restoration.
The Expo, which runs through today, is officially the largest ICA convention to date in terms of attendees, vendors and booth space sold, said officials with the Chicago-based International Carwash Association. While attendee numbers had yet to be tallied, officials said 400 vendors (up from 350 last year with 80 first-time exhibitors) had signed up, requesting 160,000 square feet of booth space.
To stimulate trade show excitement this year, the association organized a new product section on its website, www.carcarecentral.com, which features 100 new products and a Most Innovative contest. One of the debut offerings on the trade show floor was a new touchless wash from Mark VII, Arvada, Colo. Tom Frietsche, product manager, said the new model added a horizontal bar that can travel below car bumpers for a better reach. The model also allows for the pumping devices to be stored in an equipment room versus being housed in the moving carriage. The option improves uptime since it lightens the wash's movable components.
Other new products being introduced on the trade show floor included:
An electronic car wash loyalty system that allows operators to build and manage their own loyalty programs. PDQ Manufacturing Inc., DePere, Wis. A control system for in-bay automatics that allows for card-swipe and cash payment. Innovative Control Systems Inc., Nazareth, Pa. Surgical towels in bright colors. Towels by Doctor Joe, Gibbsboro, N.J. A new line of car wash vacuums. Fragra-Matics Manufacturing Co. Inc., Pine Bluff, Ark. Wireless payment systems for car washes. DRB Systems Inc., Uniontown, Ohio.For operator Russ Aubry, owner of Pavillion Touchless Car Wash & Quick Lube, Sacramento, Calif., new products and ideas are always on the menu for the Expo. I love the industry, he told CSP Daily News. I've seen growth in the touchless system that we have, quick lubes, the detail business. I've tried many things and they've been successful.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.