DID YOU KNOW... W Y NEWS BRIEFS

eather disasters hit 90% of US counties between 2011 and 2021 and affected 93% of the US population. California, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Iowa and Tennessee had the most disasters.

wash site. If designed properly, operators can put the gift card swipes in the bays, on vacuums, vending machines, air machines, mat cleaners and other compatible equipment. This gives customers the flexibility to use any piece of equipment on the property with a single card.

“If a customer has to choose between a site with swipes only in the bay versus a site with them on all pieces of equipment, I think we all know where they are going,” Walter says. “Keep in mind, customers choose a wash for many reasons, but two of the top reasons are speed and convenience. Both of these are achieved with the abovementioned flexible payment options.”

• Does the wash have doors on the bay, and are they closed on cold days?

Once a customer is relatively comfortable in the bay, other additional profit opportunities can be evaluated, Walter notes. Outside of the basic meter box functions, offering carnauba-based waxes, air dryers or ceramicinfused products can help keep customers in the bay longer. As previously mentioned, offering multiple forms of payment can increase revenue and maximize profitability.

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Creating Profitability

To push profitability on a self-serve site, Walter suggests that operators find ways to keep customers happy and in the bay longer. Self-serve owners should remember that they are in the business of selling time.

Walter shares some questions operators should consider: our next car might have a monthly fee, warns consumer advocate Ira Rheingold. Automakers increasingly are charging car buyers to use features built into cars. Examples: Mercedes EQ buyers pay $1200/ year for full acceleration…remote start will cost some Toyota owners $8/ month… and GM requires buyers of certain vehicles to pay $1500 for OnStar. In some countries, BMW charges fees for heated seats and adaptive headlights.

• Are the bays clean and well-lit?

• Does the gun or wand leak all over the customer?

• Do you have good pressure, soap, wax and presoak in the bay?

• How do the chemicals smell and look on the vehicle?

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• As an operator, how would you rate the experience in the bay?

McCarty explains that there are several ways for operators to push a site’s profitability. Wash appearance is the first consideration, and operators should:

• Make sure carwash bays are clean

• Make sure trash cans are emptied

• Make sure no weeds are growing around or in the wash.

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make sure the carwash facility is nice, clean and inviting,” McCarty says.

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Inside the bay, operators should make certain that the functions are working as they should and that the equipment is delivering plenty of chemical for each, McCarty recommends. This ensures a wash is giving customers their money’s worth. Next, ask the chemical provider for products with vibrant colors and great smells. Customers will spend more time in the bay spraying on chemical products that look like they are “painting the

Coastal flooding could cost $34 billion in lost US real estate over the next 30 years. Seas are expected to rise by eight to 23 inches along the northern Gulf Coast and mid-Atlantic. More than 48,000 properties could be entirely below high-tide lines by 2050, mostly in Louisiana, Florida and Texas.

Did You Know continued...

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Another advantage controllers enable is to-the-inch application of chemicals. This precise application means operators can effectively control their washes’ chemical costs. When set up correctly, equipment only sprays the vehicle, not the gap between vehicles, Davy notes. This to-the-inch application continues through the entire tunnel and applies to such services as ceramic coatings, wax applications and other necessary chemistry. This universal control not only saves on chemistry costs, but it also provides customers a better wash experience.

Energy efficiency can be another advantage. “Your tunnel controller also helps you save electricity by driving each piece of machinery in the tunnel, activating your vehicle frequency-driven devices and controlling signage and lighting around your facility,” Davy continues. “Additionally, your tunnel controller can help conserve energy by leaving your dryers on when multiple cars are in the tunnel, avoiding costly start-ups of the dryer system. Without wasting chemical or electricity, you are better able to control your per-car costs and make each service more profitable.”

Bath points to efficient look-ahead features in a carwash tunnel that can include the controller keeping the blowers running for the following vehicle. Again, this step saves energy and creates cost savings. “There are many features that can help operators save power, water, etc. When you understand all these modern-day features, your process will benefit as well as your cost savings,” Bath says.

Best flight-tracking apps. FlightAware tracks real-time flight status and gives information on gate changes, delays, cancellations and more. App in the Air not only tracks flights but also helps organize travel – you can book flights and hotels within the app and keep a searchable log of all trip information. Flightrader24 lets you point your phone toward a flying plane and get real-time flight stats in addition to giving basic flight data. The Flight Tracker gives details on arrivals and departures, terminals, seat maps and weather – and also works offline. Flight Board is a basic app that lists arrivals and departures in easy-to-use form for more than 1,400 airlines traveling to more than 16,000 airports. All apps have free versions – and some also offer paid plans – and are available for Android and iOS.