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with drive-thru washing can be distrib-
uted among more non-specialized em-
ployees. Each mechanic or salesperson
can drive his or her own cars through
the wash, using only one minute each.
This can dramatically decrease your
porter count, eliminating unneces-
sary payroll and benefit expense.
Operational Cost
format, is that it's easy to add extra
services, by installing additional equip-
ment `in line' with the wash. One dealer
added a total surface protectant appli-
cation as an optional buy-up to the free
wash for service customers. At $5.99 per
application, the dealer needs to sell the
service to only 3% of customers to cov-
er the entire labor cost of the car wash.
`Big Thing'
ing automatic tire shining to their
washes. Tire shining is the single-most
popular extra service at retail car wash-
es. Tire shine sales rates of around 30%
of cars and revenue of $3 per shine
are common. Dealers that offer tire
shine could easily move their washes
into a revenue-neutral position, or
even convert them into profit centers.
Service vehicles have a real advantage
in customer satisfaction and loyalty.
system, dealers can eliminate much of
the labor expense associated with car
washing. And by strategically adding
extra services to their car washes, deal-
ers can offset the remaining operation-
al expense while exponentially in-
creasing the wash's value to customers.
cars, but are still washing by hand or
with another time-consuming, labor
intensive method, there remains just
one question: Why are you spend-
ing so much money washing cars?
member of the marketing
team at Belanger, Inc.
car washing method and its
associated labor expense.