the wash. For example, "What would you
do if you were the boss?" The site would
allow the folks of our town to register and
become a member of the White Duck Club.
Members would receive special discounts
throughout the year and also receive gifts
such as free tee shirts and hats. We would
offer links to other sites, joining with the
community to offer combined advertising
with the local businesses. We could also
link to the Chamber of Commerce, sponsor
local teams, show the school sporting
schedules and important town news as
well as charity events. The Web site would
become the town site to go to for all kinds
of information. We would advertise the Web
site everywhere and sit back and watch the
business grow."
Richard Palacios, owner of five
carwashes, submitted a variety of plans for
each of his locations.
at his Bubble Bee Car Wash in Fort
Myers, Florida, Richard Palacios, says, "The
$50k would be spent rather quickly on a
combination of building repairs and new
equipment. We only need two pieces of
equipment: a poodle brush and an online
tire dresser. The building would get some
much-needed roof repairs finished off by
some fresh paint. Monies remaining would
be used to upgrade my point of sale system.
There's still more to be done, but it would
require another $50k.
"The $50k would be split between image
and equipment for my northlite auto spa,
located in Kannapolis, north Carolina,"
says Palacios. "We desperately need some
awnings in the prep, vacuum, and detail
area. new signage would complete the
image. The new equipment would start with
a pair of prep gun units, followed by a new
central vacuum system. The last item would
be a new point of sale system. all these
items would allow me to increase cars per
hour and prepare my site for the future.
"The $50k would be used at my ultimate
Car Wash in Dania Beach and Parkland
Florida sites predominately on equipment
purchases. I would install a poodle brush
and six more blowers," says Palacios. "My
plan is to prep cars less while still producing
a clean, dry car. any remaining cash would
be spent on signage.
with at my Quick Car Wash in Deerfield
Beach, Florida. First would be a fresh coat
of paint. The building is five years old and
needs a spruce-up. second would be some
equipment add-ons. I would get triple-foam
spray guns and in-bay air dryers for my self-
serve bays. That would give customers more
services to choose from. Finally, I would add
credit card readers in my self-serve bays.
That would provide the convenience for
those who carry little cash."
Robert Wulfe, owner of the smudge Car
and DogWash in Colorado springs, says, "I
would use the $50k to update the carwash
equipment to further promote our monthly
family wash packages, making it possible
for the customer to renew packages online
and at the coin box. We have had great
success with our monthly packages. having
the multiple options for the customers
to renew their packages would help keep
customers' packages active."
Mark Curtis, president of splash
Carwashes, headquartered in Connecticut,
responded, "I would probably use the
funds for new equipment, especially cost-
reducing equipment. an example would
be the new wheel washers that would allow
faster processing, less labor and a more
consistent result."
"If I was given $50,000 with the mandate
that it be spent on my business, I would
spend up to one-half of that money
building a custom canopy over the drying
area to shade the crew and make it easier to
work on the vehicles," says steve Berkman,
owner of the Foothill Car Wash and Detail
Center in La Canada Flintridge in California.
"alternatively, I would like to further
upgrade the computers that control our
wash equipment. Despite a recent $300,000
upgrade, parts of the system are getting
rather old. add two extra 0's to the prize
and I would donate the whole business to a
good cause and retire!"
editor and she makes her home in
colorado springs, co.
--Mark Curtis, president of
Splash Carwashes
already have in place."
--Mark Ellis (left) and Sean Ellis
(right) of Southland Auto Wash
--Richard Palacios, Ultimate
Car Wash and Detail Center