Market Focus: Carolina Pride celebrates 50th anniversary and grand opening of new distribution center

In this week’s Market Focus, we cover a combination anniversary and grand opening celebration, a patent for a radio and control button restoration product, a distribution center grand opening and Grace for Vets participants.

Carolina Pride: 50 years young and growing

TIMBERLAKE, N.C.— Carolina Pride Carwash Systems and Solutions celebrated 50 years in the carwash industry with a grand opening luncheon at its new 90,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Timberlake, North Carolina, on Oct. 25th, according to a company press release.

Carolina Pride President and Owner Dale Reynolds, the release continued, hosted the grand opening luncheon for over 200 guests at the new facility in Timberlake.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, Roxboro Mayor Merilyn Newell, Person County Commissioner Chairman David Newell, Person County Board of Education Chairman Gordon Powell and Piedmont Community College President Dr. Walter Bartlett were among the special guests, the release noted.

The founders of Carolina Pride, Billy and Kay Reynolds, were the honored guests of the event, the release stated.

Owner Reynolds said that “the new facility is an opportunity for us to continue to grow,” and publicly thanked the staff for the current success of the company.

Reynolds emphasized the growing need for training, both for customers and future potential employees, and was gratefully thanked by Gordon Powell, chairman of the Person County Board of Education, for Carolina Pride’s financial gift to help fund the Electrical Trades Program at Person County High School, according to the release.

Powell spoke about how Carolina Pride and The Person County Board of Education have worked together to develop high school training in specific areas that will help train students for employment opportunities in the carwash industry, the release noted.

In addition, Dr. Bartlett, president of Piedmont Community College, announced that Carolina Pride has initiated a student scholarship endowment in honor of Billy and Kay Reynolds, the release noted.

President Reynolds noted how Carolina Pride has grown to 62 employees and evolved over the years with the addition of many new products and services, the release added, and he concluded the event by presenting Governor McCrory with a token of appreciation for his service and support of businesses in North Carolina, specifically in Person County.

For more information about Carolina Pride Carwash Systems and Solutions, call 800-421-5119 or go to www.cpcarwash.com.

Odessa automotive professional awarded patent for restoring radio and control buttons on aging vehicles

ODESSA, Texas — After waiting more than two years, automotive professional and product developer Don Sauls of Don Sauls Auto Sales in Odessa has been awarded US Patent 9,249,341 B2 for his innovative Control Panel Restoration System and Method, better known as Control Button Renu, according to a press release.

Sauls’ innovative and newly patented Control Button Renu is a simple automotive repair that restores faded, scratched and flaking front-facing radio and control buttons on the control heads of aging or used vehicles, the release stated.

The only alternative has been to replace the whole unit or the faceplate at a cost of hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars, the release noted, and on classic and vintage automobiles, any equipment replacement decreases the vehicle’s overall value.

Using Control Button Renu’s patented system, the release continued, it takes less than 10 minutes to preserve the original parts by quickly and easily renewing the graphics on worn out control buttons.

The finished product looks and feels just like the original manufacturer’s button and the light shows through, even on backlit buttons, the release added.

“I am a lifelong car man and I know something about prepping a used car or truck for resell,” says Sauls. “There are economical methods for repairing windshield cracks, paint, scuffed bumpers and vinyl and cloth interiors, but there was no practical solution to worn and faded control buttons on the AC, radio, steering wheel, and window controls.”

Sold in kits with all the tools and materials needed to replace the graphics on most makes of cars and trucks, the Control Button Renu repair lasts the lifetime of the vehicle with no peeling around the edges, the release stated.

Don Sauls is actively seeking technicians interested in purchasing the kits and adding another revenue stream to their automotive appearance services, especially mobile techs, scratch repair specialists, detailers, interior repair specialists and even window film and automotive service techs at body shops and car dealerships, the release added.

For more information about Control Button Renu’s new patented technology, contact Don Sauls at 432-889-2089 or visit www.ControlButtonRenu.com.

Kleen-Rite opening new distribution facility

COLUMBIA, Pa. — Kleen-Rite Corporation is announcing the opening of its new 102,000 sq. ft. distribution facility in Mt. Joy, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 31st, according to a company press release.

The new facility will enable Kleen-Rite to continue to service its customers at the highest level while increasing same-day service to a growing customer base, the release stated.

This move is a consolidation of the company’s warehouse facilities in Columbia, the release continued, and will be serviced using existing employees.

Kleen-Rite also has distribution facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Grand Prairie, Texas, the release added.

Carwashes participating in Grace for Vets

CHICAGO — “Grace For Vets,” which is an effort by carwash operators internationally to provide free carwashes to honor those who have chosen to serve their countries, whether observing Veterans Day, Remembrance Day or Armistice Day, will occur on Nov. 11th.

Two of the carwash companies participating in this special event are SpeedWash Car Wash of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Rio Car Wash of Fredericksburg, Virginia, according to separate press releases.

SpeedWash Car Wash will offer free carwashes for veterans and military service personnel at their two locations in Bowling Green at 4882 Scottsville Rd. and 120 River Place Ave., a company press release stated.

Rio Car Wash will provide veterans with free carwashes at all of their locations in Virginia, another release noted, including their two locations in Fredericksburg at 70 Sebring Dr. in Stafford and at 10050 Jefferson Davis Hwy. in Massaponax.

Jeff Small, owner of Rio Car Wash, said, “My father, Neil Small, is a Marine Corp veteran and I am honored to offer those who have or are serving, the opportunity to enjoy a clean automobile as a thank you for their service.”

In order to receive a free carwash, veterans are asked to let the attendant know they are a veteran or in the armed forces; no proof of status will be required.

For more information, visit speedwashusa.com and riocarwash.com.