INSIDE THIS ISSUE
3 President’s Message 4 MCA Members Corner 6 Listen to the Customer 8 2014 Bill Boal Golf Outing Coverage 12 Reclaim Retrofit, Part 1 15 Serve on the MCA Board!
Phone: 800-610-4512 Email: walilko.h@gcsionline.com www.midwestcarwash.com 120 N. Washington Square Suite 110A Lansing, MI 48933
THIRD QUARTER 2014 | VOLUME 85
GOLF OUTING PHOTOS! Page 8
MIDWEST CARWASH ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
PAUL COFFMAN Breton Auto Wash
SECRETARY/TREASURER
VICE PRESIDENT
STEVE EVERETT Diamond Shine
AL HAUSER Superior Shine Auto Wash
DIRECTORS KEN ALLMACHER Allmacher LLC/Vcard
SHANE ANDERSON Carlovers Car Wash/ The Campbell Group
JOSEPH CHATEL Ride the Tide Carwash
ROB DAVIS Vaughan Industries
SHERYL TURNER Belanger, Inc.
LYNNETTE PEPPLER Mr. P’s Wash World, Inc.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Midwest Carwash Association 120 N. Washington Square, Suite 110A Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: 800.610.4512 Fax: 517.371.1170 www.midwestcarwash.com
Advertising Index Belanger, Inc..........................................OBC Diamond Shine............................................3 DRB Systems, Inc.......................................5 Hamilton Manufacturing.......................10 Mackinaw Administrators LLC...............12 Major Brands Oil........................................4 Michigan Cleaning Fund.........................4 PDQ.......................................................11 Warsaw Chemical Company..................15
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MCA is a membership organization that promotes the interests of Midwest Carwash Operators through interaction, education and information. The Finish Line is a quarterly newsletter published by the MCA. Opinions expressed by guest writers do not necessarily reflect views of the MCA. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement or approval of the product or service advertised. All articles submitted with be considered for publication and accepted at the approval of the editor and MCA Board. The MCA reserves the right to edit submissions for accuracy, clarity and length. Please send address changes, membership inquiries, and advertising requests to the address listed above.
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Third Quarter 2014
FROM THE PRESIDENT By Paul Coffman Breton Auto Wash
Make the MCA Your MCA
S
omething has been on my mind for some time. Is the MCA doing all it can for its members? If not, what more do the members want from their association? How can we gain more operators as members of the MCA? The answers to these questions takes more than myself and the Board to answer. It would be presumptive of me to know what it is that would satisfy the needs of our members without asking. So here I am, with an open invitation to all of you to contact me and let me know what you like about the MCA, what you don’t like, what you would like to see that has not been done, and what you would like to see us bring back that we used to do. The health of a business is often measured by the number of customers that business has. The health of the MCA is measured by its membership. One of the benchmarks for the MCA is how many members we have. How many are new, how many have been retained, how many have been lost. If you are a new member, why did you join? Are you getting all that you expected from the Association? If not, why not? What more can we do for you as your Association?
put ideas for answers into your head. I want your feedback, your ideas, your opinions. It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes five states to raise the MCA. To our vendor members: Your support of this association means more to us than just a check. As operators we rely on our suppliers to keep us educated so we can remain in the forefront of this industry. If we fall behind, everyone loses. Sometimes in the short term, always in the long term. Whether you have provided financial, physical or educational support, the MCA would not be able to do what it has done without you. Thank you. As business owners we all have busy days that sometimes become busy nights and even weekends so I know convenience is important. The most accessible form of communication is email. My email address is MCACarwashGuy@gmail.com. For those that prefer speaking with a human voice, you can call me at 616940-3752. I may not be able to speak to you right away, but I will return your call as soon as I am able. To exist and grow we need you, all of you. ~Paul
As a returning member, in addition to the questions above, why have you decided to stay? To the operators who have left the Association, why did you leave? What expectations did you have that were not met? What could we have done better? What would it take to have you return? For those operators who have never been members: Most of us over time have become business or personal friends with other operators who are not members of the MCA. When you ask them why they are not members, what are they telling you? Do you keep that information to yourself or have you relayed this feedback to a board member? I don’t want to Third Quarter 2014
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Steve Everett 1340 E. 298th Steet Wickliffe, Ohio 44092 800.843.SOAP (7627) Cell 810.624.3069 severett@diamondshine.com www.facebook.com/pages/Steves-Car-Wash-Chemicals/688995957777618 @stevecwchemical
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MCA Members Corner MacNeil Issued Patent For New Powerlock Energy Saving Air Valve Reduces Noise, Provides Healthier Environment MacNeil Wash Systems, a leading supplier to the tunnel car wash industry, announced today the assignment of US Patent No. 8,621,707 for their new PowerLock, a lightweight energy saving air valve that allows dryers to operate continuously while preventing air flow between vehicles and minimize peak load charges, resulting in increased energy efficiency and a dramatic cut in kilowatt hour charges. The PowerLock incorporates sound deadening materials, providing a cost-effective way to significantly reduce the sound generated by car wash dryers, resulting in a healthier and quieter carwash environment. When equipped with automatic sensing technology, the PowerLock engages instantaneously to either delay or eliminate drying for pick-up beds or soft-top convertibles, resulting in a safer, cleaner tunnel and increased customer satisfaction. The PowerLock features an all-aluminum construction and stainless steel and UHMW glide surfaces, allowing it to withstand the harsh car wash environment. The PowerLock embodies the unmatched innovation, design excellence and quality engineering that are hallmarks of MacNeil.
Major Brands Oil Company is pleased to provide our customers with the Simoniz line of car wash products. Simoniz USA is an industry-leading manufacturer of cleaning and protection products for auto dealerships and professional car washes. Liquid High Foam Detergents
Whitewall and Wheel Cleaners
Drying Agents
Rust Inhibitor
Polishes, Sealants & Glass Treatment Major Brands Oil Company is also an Oil and Lubricant distributor of Quaker State, Shell, Pennzoil and other major brands. For any questions or inquiries please call Major Brands Oil Company.
462 West 23rd Street Holland, MI 49423 1.800.968.9000 616.392.5936 MajorBrandsOil.com
Your Association Workers’ Compensation Program
giving back an average premium return of Do you know of an MCA member who deserves recognition? Contact Hillary Walilko at 800.610.4512 or walilko.h@gcsionline.com with the details and we will feature it in a future edition of MCA Members Corner.
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Third Quarter 2014
DRB Mktg ad MCA Finish Line:Layout 1
8/13/14
4:22 PM
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With SiteWatch® from DRB Systems, Inc.®
Proven Tools for Reaching and Retaining Customers •
Through Mobile and Email Marketing with SmartCodes® – Create your own barcodes and QR codes for digital coupons and prepaid washes sent to customers’ smartphones and email inboxes.
•
Offsite with WashCAP – Sell washes from retail fuel pumps, even when you don’t own the service station!
•
Online with Website ConnectTM – Generate viral buzz online by offering Internet-only specials on your website.
•
Onsite with Loyalty Promotion Module – Offer frequency discounts and VIP club incentives.
•
At the Point of Service with Intelligent Receipt Messaging – Print targeted sales messages on receipts.
•
With Monthly Passes Using ARM® (Automatic Recharge Module®) – Recharge passes every month to lock in customer loyalty.
ance Proven Perform in the Real World
SiteWatch is used by quality operators around the country, including: • Seven Flags Car Washes, Vallejo, California • The Car Wash Barn, Killeen, Texas • Triple Play Car Wash, Attleboro, Massachusetts • Rainstorm Carwashes, Forsyth, Illinois • Cactus Car Washes, Charleston, South Carolina
Contact DRB Systems at 1-800-336-6338, or visit www.drbsystems.com for more information.
U S I N G T E C H N O L O G Y T O E N H A N C E Y O U R C U S T O M E R’ S E X P E R I E N C E
800-336-6338 Green, Ohio / www.drbsystems.com © Copyright 2013. All rights reserved DRB Systems, Inc.
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Listen to the Customer... They Will Lead You in the Right Direction By David VanGorder
I
entered the carwash industry in late 1999, after spending the earlier part of my life and career in the automotive industry in engineering and sales. The only thing I knew about the carwash industry at that time was that I could both wash and vacuum my car myself (at a self-serve) or I could have someone else do it for me (at a full-serve). Through a friend, I came across the opportunity to become the owner of Doyle Vacuum, which I jumped at, not because I had a passion for vacuums, but because I relished the opportunity to have my own business. I tell you this not to give you my life story, but to confirm to you that I knew nothing about the industry until I jumped in with both feet – I took over the company in early 2001.
was much smaller… and the list went on. As it turned out, these were not hurdles, they were opportunities to develop new ideas and ways of doing things, and in the end, they led to a new generation of Doyle Vacuums, that were (and are) unlike anything that anybody else is making – they are different, and they are better! The end result was the 3-Chamber SuperVac
One thing that always stood out to me about my company was that Doyle Vacuum had a solid reputation in the industry for manufacturing the best vacuums on the market. My goal has always been to build upon that reputation and ensure that we would continue to be a leader in that regard. Along the way, something kept gnawing away at me – yes, we did build a good vacuum, but how were we really different than our competition? This bothered me greatly for several years, and it ultimately had a negative effect on our sales and our margins. People (customers) looked at vacuums as little more than a commodity… “A vacuum is a vacuum is a vacuum – they are all the same” they would say… that really bugged me. I wanted to find a way to make a Doyle Vacuum better than, and different than all of my competitors, but how? Ultimately, it was not I that had the answer I was looking for, it was the customer. I don’t remember who it was, but it was at a trade show… a man said to me “Dave, have you ever tried to collapse a tank liner full of dirt when the weather is freezing… you can’t do it… the dirt in the vacuum freezes into a solid chunk and you have to chip it out… why can’t someone just build a vacuum with a 5-gallon bucket in the bottom that I can take out and dump… and if I need a new one, I always have a 5-gallon bucket sitting around”. For me, this really struck a chord; what a great idea! What a simple idea! It wasn’t my idea, but I was going to own it, and I was going to make it happen. Upon returning from that trade show, I approached my team and told them that we were going to build a new vacuum, from the ground up, and the starting point was a simple 5-gallon bucket for the dirt container. There were numerous hurdles to be addressed along the way… the doors would need to be larger to get the bucket in and out… the dirt would need to be funneled into the bucket… we couldn’t make the vacuum too tall… the filter compartment
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• There is a standard 5-gallon bucket for dirt collection. • There is a funnel plate to funnel the dirt into the bucket. • There are two high-efficiency pleated cartridge filters for superior filtration and ease of cleaning – no more reaching up inside a dirty, smelly tube filter to pull out God knows what. • The meter box compartment is large enough to accommodate the installation of virtually any combination of controls and payment systems anyone may want or need… displays, coin acceptors, bill acceptors, credit card systems, etc. • The entire meter box compartment is the vault… not only is your money secure, but so are your high-end electronics. In my opinion, all of these bullet points are indicators of a superior product. All of these features are intended to make the owner/operator’s life easier over the long haul, and to allow the vacuum to be upgraded in the future to include any form of payment or control that may come down the line. Here are some other examples of products and services we have developed based upon input, feedback, and requests from our customers:
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The Wall-Mount PowerVac In this case, numerous customers inquired as to whether or not we had a smaller vacuum that could be mounted on the wall, or on a pole. They wanted a vacuum that was high in quality, reliable, and powerful – in other words, they wanted a Doyle Vacuum to fit that need. The resultant product has been a tremendous addition to our product line, and has been very beneficial to our business. Also, the Side-Mount 3-Chamber SuperVac
Here, the customer saw our 3-Chamber SuperVac, and loved to concept of the 5-gallon bucket and the cartridge filter system. However… He needed to mount his vacuum up against a building, and needed to have complete access to the unit from the front – we did not have that configuration available at that time – so we designed and built a version with a side-mounted meter box and frontaccess dirt and filter doors. And finally, custom fabrication The same customer that needed the side-mount, frontaccess version of our 3-Chamber SuperVac also had concrete vacuum pads that looked terrible. We proposed a custom manufactured, stainless steel, pedestal cover that slipped over the top of the existing pedestal, and gave it a whole new look. The before and after pictures are above – and the customer was very happy. Now we offer custom design and manufacturing services, and have built several custom meter boxes, replacement meter panels, and some specialty machines…
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Like our NEW Vacuum and Windshield Washer Fluid Dispensing Machine So enough about Doyle Vacuum (although it’s nice to get a little PR), and back to the broader point… This applies to any business - If you listen to your customer, they will help lead you in the direction you need to go to make your business more successful. If you talk to your customers, and listen to your customers, you might pick-up on some things that they want, that you currently don’t offer - be it products or services. Don’t be close minded about it, but rather, look at each request as an opportunity… does it fit within your core competency? In other words, is it something that is just a further extension of the business you already perform, or is it something that is drastically different? If it is just an extension of what you already do, or similar in some way, then you should consider doing it. On the other hand, if it is outside of your core capabilities, then I would be very cautious. A new product or service could be just the thing to help revitalize your business and help you to be more successful. So listen to the customer… they will lead you in the right direction. David VanGorder is the President/Owner of Doyle Vacuum Systems, LLC.
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2014 Bill Boal Mem
Thank you to all the golfers that came out a We hope to see even
Sponsor List on Page 10 Finish Line
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morial Golf Outing
and golfed with us at beautiful Timber Ridge! more of you next June.
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Thank you to our golf Sponsors Eagle Sponsors
Lunch
Belanger, Inc. Car Wash Insurance Program Gallop Brush Company Michigan Cleaning Fund
PECO Car Wash Systems
Tee Sponsors Allmacher/Vcard Diamond Shine Wash Solutions
Prizes
Dinner
Car Wash Insurance Program Rowe Bill Changers Vaughan Industries
Doyle Vacuum Systems
Golf Carts
Motor City Wash Works
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Reclaim Retrofit
Install Process Exposed, Part 1
I
remember the day very distinctly. I was at the Car Care World Expo in Las Vegas attending a meeting about the advantages of water reclaim in the car wash industry. The panelists were executives from different reclaim-equipmentmanufacturing companies, one of whom asked the audience of car wash owners: “Who in this room has had water bills over $500?” Most of the hands in the room went up. Then he asked: “Who has had water bills over $1,000?” Many of the same hands went up. He then systematically moved from $1,500 through $2,000 all the way up to $6,000, resulting in fewer and fewer raised hands. When he finally reached $6,500, guess who still had his hand in the air? You’re right; it was little old me.
Michigan Car Wash Association C & C Underwriters along with Mackinaw Administrators, LLC have worked together in order to provide a comprehensive insurance package for members of The Midwest Carwash Association Our program is available for:
Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana Through years of experience we have come to appreciate that no one likes to wait until the end of the year for a possible dividend. We are pleased to provide you with an opportunity to purchase insurance that rewards you for your safety record and good experience at the inception of your policy. Credit may be given based on your experience and which results in premium being reduced right up front, so you start saving immediately!
We would welcome the opportunity to provide you with a quote! Please contact: Dale Hourigan, C & C Underwriters 734-422-7850 dhourigan@ccunderwriters.com
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By Buzz Glover
It was at that point I realized I needed to do something about my water costs. Around the same time, my expartners from the second wash I’d built in 2007 called me to make me aware of the situation they were facing. They had paid an estimated sewer impact fee of approximately $10,000 to the local municipality. The figure was based on an erroneous usage estimate given to the local authority. The real numbers were in and the new impact fee was in excess of $110,000. You can imagine the shock that everyone was feeling after that bill arrived. Fortunately, a reclaim system solved some of the problem.
Information about the various types of reclaim systems — and their advantages and disadvantages — is readily available in trade magazines and on the Internet. Little has been shared, however, about the real-world savings these systems offer and about what owners should expect when they install a reclaim system. I will tackle three subjects in this article: Page 12 Third Quarter 2014
•
Real-world money savings
•
The install process
•
Other factors to consider
REAL-WORLD MONEY SAVINGS Below is a year-to-year water-bill summary with and without reclaim. I started using reclaim in September 2010. Keep in mind that there are outside circumstances that affect these numbers — mostly car counts and weather. Of course, equipment type and type of wash involved — self serve, full serve, express exterior, etc. — will also have an effect. My wash is equipped with two in-bay automatics and three self-serve bays. I elected not to tie my self-serve bays into the reclaim system. Also, my top-selling wash still uses fresh water passes on one high-pressure rinse, one high-pressure clear-coat application, and on the spot-free rinse. I also use fresh water in all my chemical tanks. But in a broad sense, here is a year-to-year comparison on what happened after I installed reclaim.
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As you can see, the savings are significant, especially in the months with bad winter weather when there are cars lined up around my building waiting to wash. You will notice a few irregularities in savings from year to year after the reclaim install. This can be attributed to different weather patterns and car counts. Logically, your biggest savings are during the high-volume months, when car counts are high. Slower months show only nominal savings. A further factor is the tiered pricing for water and sewage in my area. In the next issue we’ll examine the install process in detail. Buzz Glover owns two car washes in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA. He is also the author of Car Wash Business 101, The #1 Car Wash Start-Up Guide available on Amazon.com and www.carwashbusiness101.com. This article was reprinted with permission. The articles in this series first appeared in Auto Laundry News.
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Don’t miss anything the MCA has to offer...
Join Today!
2014 Associate Membership Form Company Name _________________________________________________________ q Renewal
q New Member
Other Business Name (if applicable) ____________________________________________________________________ Business Type (check all that apply)
q q q q q q q
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q q q q q q
Detail Shop Self-Serve Credit Card Processor Insurance Provider Soap Mfr. POS
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Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________ City _____________________________________ State ______________________________ Zip _________________ Contact Person _____________________________________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________
Fax ______________________________________________
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q Operator Member Annual Dues $150
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Credit Card Number: ________________________________________ Expiration: _____________ Code: ____________ Name: _______________________________________ Signature: ____________________________________________ MAIL FORM AND PAYMENT TO :
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Midwest Carwash Association 120 N. Washington Square Suite 110A Lansing, MI 48933 Or Fax to 517.371.1170
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QUESTIONS?
Contact Hillary Walilko at walilko.h@gcsionline.com or call 1.800.610.4512
Third Quarter 2014
HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE 2014/2015 MCA BOARD The MCA is extending an invitation to you to have an active role in your association and industry as a member of the MCA Board of Directors. Each year the MCA looks to its members for individuals who are willing to be decision makers in advancing the direction of the association; provide input in developing our goals, policies and services; and to act as representative of the MCA to help the MCA membership expand always in all ways. Eligibility for the MCA Board requires that you are a paid member in good standing of the MCA for 2014 and directly involved in operating or owning a car wash or provides services or products specific to the car wash industry. New Board Members are voted in by the current Board Members. If you would like more information about what it’s like to be a MCA Board Member or become a Board Member, please call Paul Coffman at 616-940-3752 or email at: mcacarwashguy@gmail.com.
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warsaw-chem.com Car Choice ®. “If your car could choose.”
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120 N. Washington Square Suite 110A Lansing, MI 48933
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