 |
It's all a matter of perspective!
Do you see a dump or a castle?
|
| So it’s time for school again. Personally I (my wife and I) have four kids ages 23, 22, 18, and 17. That’s 3 in college (my oldest just went back to school after getting a degree from Boston College) and a senior in high school. My 18 year old son James just started college. I was act... |
| Read On ... |
|
Where are we?
Weather, Gas, Econony, Elections, and Car Washing
|
| I had the usual conversations recently. Discussions on just what is happening in the world and how it is affecting the car wash industry. Typical topics included gas prices, the overall economy, the presidential election, and the weather. No surprises there! What’s interesting ... |
| Read On ... |
|
The Rules According to Dad
Reflections from the 2008 ICA Car Care World Expo
|
| I called my wife from the convention in Orlando recently. I told her there was a guy with gray hair and wrinkles looking back at me when I was shaving. When did this happen? I have been in this industry since I was 22 years old. Next week I turn 50. I remember being one of the young guys at ... |
| Read On ... |
|
Big Box or Gas?
The Next Wave of Competition
|
| Is there a segment of the car washing industry about to transform in such a way as to change the dynamic of the market? Is there a group about to get so serious about car washing that you should at least keep an eye on them in your area and be aware of what they are doing? I won’t pre... |
| Read On ... |
|
The New Face of Competition
Evolution of the Car Wash Veteran
|
| Six months have passed since ICA President Frank Lash delivered his state of the union address at the ICA Car Care World Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the time, I thought I completely understood his argument that the industry was changing. I enjoyed his use of Dr. Spencer Johnson’s bo... |
| Read On ... |
|
Bad Weather Cycles
Work hardest – when the going is good
|
| We all knew that bad weather cycles are a part of this business, and always have been, long before global warming became a topic of regular conversation. The focus shouldn’t be on what to do when the weather is bad, but rather, how to strengthen your market position when things are goo... |
| Read On ... |
|
Car Wash Branding
Will Regional Brands Be King?
|
| Is clean, dry, and shiny enough? What makes you different than the other wash doing the same thing? If everything else is equal, will the customer choose the branded location over the unbranded location? Recently I was having a conversation at a trade show with one of my clients. I sa... |
| Read On ... |
|
Express-Exterior Takes a Turn
Paul Predictz... Express Tunnels and In-Bay Automatics in Small Markets
|
| Faster, better, cheaper. Few industries escape the constant pressure to advance and car washing is no exception. Every day, in every trade, a new business opens to provide customers with what they believe will be a better value than other competitors. Some succeed and some fail, but ea... |
| Read On ... |
|
Bristle is Back?
Paul Predictz... Making a comeback - does it have a place?
|
| Did you notice all the different wash materials on the floor at the ICA show? It was interesting to see at this year’s Expo in Las Vegas, that SONNY’S wasn’t the only manufacturer to introduce a bristle based product for getting a better result. Why bristle, the product that had... |
| Read On ... |
|
Business 101
Paul Predictz... Looking to our businesses and customers to find the right answers
|
| Reduce the costs to produce your product while adding more value and quality to it – typically through added machinery therefore reducing the labor head count. Give more value to an ever changing, more demanding customer – typically by providing new product offerings to your menu o... |
| Read On ... |
|
View Quote
