Stories Archive
Facing a Big Decision? Take Some Advice from a Poker Champ
Steadfast commitment is an attribute of an entrepreneur, but it also can be one of the worst.
Quitting isn't always failing. Sometimes, it makes more sense to cut your losses and redirect your time, money and energy. To see more exclusive content from CAR WASH Magazine, join ICA.
Read More | 2 minute Read
Before You Seal the Deal
With the M&A market adjustments, changes are also occurring with contract terms, prices.
In recent years, the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape has been marked by feverish activity and robust growth. Recent changes in the broader economy, however, have brought a sudden shift in that market, according to experts. Sellers will need to adapt to the new climate. Join ICA for more exclusive content from CAR WASH Magazine.
Read More | 5 minute Read
It's All Your Fault!
Manage customer complaints without getting emotional or defensive to turn them into positive interactions.
Listen to their whole story and start with "yes"— but don't admit fault.
Read More | 5 minute Read
Cross-Industry Inspirations
From fitness chains to fast food empires, lessons learned in other businesses influence car wash decision-makers.
Every type of business has its unique problems and opportunities, but at the core all share at least a few common concerns. Here’s how four leaders of car wash companies have leveraged their previous experiences in other industries to inform and improve their current businesses’ operations.
Read More | 5 minute Read
Cookies
Have you ever wondered how different websites can display hyper-specific ads to you and your buying habits? This tailoring is because of something called internet browsing cookies.
Cookies are a way for marketers to give their audience a more tailored experience based on their behaviors and habits. How do cookies work, and how can you maximize their use for your business growth?
Read More | 2 minute Read
Safeguarding Customer Data
License plate recognition technology raises concerns over data security, privacy.
Recent headlines show that LPR technology is sparking concerns over data security and privacy, leading to a robust debate over how LPR data should be collected, stored and used.
Read More | 5 minute Read
The Evolution of Email Marketing
Emailing has been the reigning champion of marketing, but is that reality shifting?
Emailing has been the reigning champion of marketing for the past several years. That is what we’ve known to be the case, but is that reality shifting? With social media and digital ads gaining popularity, the question of the next best thing is on marketers’ minds.
Read More | 6 minute Read
Building Your Marketing Team
No matter your business goals, a strong marketing team is critical to help drive more sales and attract and retain customers.
While marketing may be crucial to the foundation of a successful business, it can often be difficult for owners to justify the investment of building out a team.
Read More | 7 minute Read
Vehicle Technology Trends
Five things to consider when it comes to technology trends to position your car wash for the future.
Future trends in vehicle technology will be having an impact on the car wash industry. Know what five things you should be preparing for first.
Read More | 5 minute Read
Doing Business on the Edge
During Pitch, suppliers share tips on getting an edge over the competition.
During Pitch, suppliers create short, data-packed presentations explaining their products, then hop on camera to showcase them to ICA members in an ICA-hosted webinar. ICA doesn’t endorse or support the products, just gives the suppliers a platform where they can share the most interesting and impactful aspects about their products.
Read More | 2 minute Read
What to Expect from the Labor Market: Recruiting, Wages and Legislation
Recruitment and unemployment, wage growth, minimum wage and the legislative outlook are all going through massive changes, especially in light of the interest rate increases.
Many economists are concerned that the interest rate increases approved by the Federal Reserve will slow economic growth and cause a recession. It’s too soon to know, and although the labor market remains strong, there are some signs of changes ahead.
Read More | 4 minute Read
Soapy Joe’s Dives Into Digital Collectibles
Soapy Joe’s air fresheners are available in the form of non-fungible tokens or NFTs.
Many car washes are toying with various digital marketing platforms, but only one car wash to date is making its digital media a collectible. Well known for its limited-time-only air fresheners, San Diego-based Soapy Joe’s created a promotion to provide its air fresheners as digital assets.
Read More | 3 minute Read
The Next Place for Digital Advertising
Social media outlets such as YouTube and TikTok are providing click results that are simultaneously surprising and welcome.
Car wash marketing teams should be sending out digital messaging via multiple channels in order to maximize efficiencies, but there are a couple that are better suited to the car wash customer than others.
Read More | 6 minute Read
The Science of a Great Landing Page
Drive business to your car wash by creating a landing page that converts potential customers into high lifetime value customers.
A business’s website can attract a treasure trove of potential customers. But, finding ways to convert your potential customers into actual high lifetime value customers requires a top-notch landing page and a great conversion strategy.
Read More | 5 minute Read
How Transparent Do You Need to Be?
With rising costs, supply chain challenge and pricing pressures, finding the right way to communicate price increases with your customers can be tricky.
As companies are forced to increase prices to offset the cost of doing business in today’s environment, how should they communicate those shifts with their customers? Or should they at all?
Read More | 5 minute Read
Want to Grow Your Car Wash? Google It.
Google page setup is one of the easiest ways to tee up your business for success.
Google is unarguably the leading search engine, with around 5.6 billion searches each day and a 92% market share. That means it’s extremely likely that your target market is on Google, possibly looking for the products and services that your company sells. It follows then, that you better have your organization’s Google presence ready for action.
Read More | 7 minute Read
The Power of Customer LTV and Retention
Using Data and Influencers to Increase the value of your best customers.
Customer lifetime value represents a business’s customer value over the entirety of their relationship. The measurement helps show that increasing the value of your existing customers can help drive growth at a lower cost than acquiring new ones, putting an emphasis on retention and building long-term relationships with high-value customers.
Read More | 6 minute Read
Every Deal Is Different When Financing
First-hand tips on making important funding decisions.
A variety of options exist for funding for everything from construction and renovations to additions and technology. But, sorting through those options can be a daunting task.
Read More | 7 minute Read
LEAD Program Wins Award
ICA’s educational platform earns recognition in the category of Best Association Professional Development Program.
International Carwash Association’s LEAD Car Wash Manager training program has been honored with the Brandon Hall Group Bronze Award for Best Association Professional Development Program.
Read More | 2 minute Read
Lessons From Netflix
Is subscription fatigue real and how does differentiation and content figure into a membership strategy?
Netflix’s struggles and the saturation of the marketplace with subscription-based businesses across a wide variety of industries raise the question of if subscription fatigue is real — and if it could apply to the car wash industry one day.
Read More | 7 minute Read
