In this edition of Market Focus, we cover the growth of Tommy’s Express Car Wash, charity events, acquisitions, a grand opening and a renovation.
Tommy’s Express celebrates national growth
HOLLAND, Mich. — At an exclusive October event in Greenville, South Carolina, Tommy’s Express Car Wash franchise partners and corporate officers celebrated a year of growth and foundation laying, according to a press release.
Beginning with only two corporately-owned washes in the beginning of 2016, the franchise has now grown to five operational sites located in Michigan, California, Kansas and Missouri with a sixth opening in early 2018 in San Antonio, Texas, the release continued.
In all, the release noted, 22 additional Tommy’s express sites are now in various stages of production in the continental U.S. with a 23rd under construction in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
All upcoming Tommy’s Express Car Washes will feature the “Totally Tommy” site plan and a high-performance equipment lineup developed by sister company Tommy Car Wash Systems, the release added.
Sites will utilize the Tommy’s Express App for club program management and will have access to customer franchise marketing services, technical support and a full suite of training tools and hands-on courses, the release concluded.
For more information on the Tommy’s Express franchise, please visit tommys-express.com/franchise.php
Moo Moo Express Car Wash raises over $8,700 and 10,000 pounds of food for The Marysville Food Pantry
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Moo Moo Express Car Wash is proud to announce the donation of $8705.11 in cash and more than 10,000 pounds of food to the Marysville Food Pantry, according to a press release.
The donations were collected from Marysville Moo customers at the company’s Grand Opening/Free Wash Week held from Oct. 13-19, the release continued.
During the Marysville Moo Grand Opening, Moo Moo Express offered a free “Crème De La Crème” carwash in exchange for a monetary or food item donation for the Marysville Food Pantry, the release added.
Moo Moo also purchased and donated a truckload of non-perishable food items, in addition to offering discounted retail gift cards with all proceeds being donated back to the Pantry, the release noted.
Throughout the week-long Grand Opening, Moo Moo gave away more than 4,780 free carwashes, the release stated.
“The outpouring of support for the Marysville Food Pantry and our Marysville Moo was unbelievable,” said John Roush, founder and managing partner of Moo Moo Express Car Wash. “The entire Marysville community should be proud of the difference they have made to hundreds of local families. This is exactly the kind of community that we, as a family-owned business, are thrilled to be a part of.”
National Carwash Solutions adds Arizona Car Wash Systems to its family of companies
GRIMES, Iowa — National Carwash Solutions (NCS) announced a partnership with Phoenix, Arizona-based carwash distributor Arizona Car Wash Systems (ACWS), effective November 7, 2017, according to a press release.
Arizona Car Wash Systems is a MacNeil Wash Systems distributor and has been in business for over 30 years, serving carwash operators and owners in Arizona and New Mexico, the release noted.
ACWS will continue to provide sales, service and support of MacNeil tunnel systems and expand its offerings to include Ryko in-bay carwash systems, CleanTouch Service and the full product line of CleanTouch cleaning solutions, the release added.
“Arizona Car Wash Systems is excited to join the NCS family,” said Pat De Prisco, president of Arizona Car Wash Systems. “NCS is the market leader in the carwash industry. We look forward to this strategic partnership that will allow us to grow and expand. In the end, our customers will benefit the most.”
“We’re thrilled to have Arizona Car Wash Systems join the NCS family,” said Michael Gillen, CEO of National Carwash Solutions. “ACWS is the perfect fit with our family of brands because of its superior customer service and entrepreneurial approach to business. We are pleased to have Pat and his entire ACWS team as an integral part of the NCS family. We couldn’t be more pleased to have them represent MacNeil, Ryko and CleanTouch in the Arizona and New Mexico markets.”
FullSpeed Automotive™ Acquired by CenterOak Partners
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — Grease Monkey International, LLC, (dba FullSpeed Automotive™) was acquired recently by CenterOak Partners LLC, a Dallas-based private equity firm with a focus on making control-oriented investments in middle market companies, according to a press release.
FullSpeed Automotive’s brands include Grease Monkey®, SpeeDee®, LubePro’s® and Monkey Shine® carwash, the release noted.
The retail operations division also operates Havoline® xpress lube® locations in addition to Grease Monkey and SpeeDee centers, the release added.
“FullSpeed Automotive has grown tremendously in the last five years under the leadership of President and CEO John B. Adams, and I am very proud of the team’s accomplishments,” said Chester Stokes, outgoing chairman of the board and, formerly, the primary shareholder of the company. “The company has proven that it is ready for even greater growth with the successful acquisition of SpeeDee® Oil Change & Auto Service this past February.”
“We are very excited about the growth potential in the automotive service industry and see an attractive opportunity for future consolidation,” said Randall Fojtasek, managing partner of CenterOak. “Acquiring a company like FullSpeed Automotive — already performing above industry growth rates with its well-known brands — provides the ideal investment platform to accelerate both organic growth and footprint growth through acquisitions.”
The current FullSpeed Automotive management team will continue to serve under the leadership of President and CEO John B. Adams, the release stated.
“The company has accomplished great things through smart investments, open collaboration, excellent execution and unrelenting commitment, yet there is so much more we can achieve with this formula for success,” said Adams, expressing gratitude to outgoing board members, existing franchisees and the ongoing support team. “We look forward to partnering with CenterOak, which has the resources and expertise necessary for the next chapter of unprecedented growth.”
Connect Lazerwash opens in parking garage
COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to www.columbusunderground.com, after the Klean A Kar carwash closed down to make way for the construction of the new Home2 Suites hotel, there was no longer even a single carwash in downtown Columbus; that changed, however, when Connect Lazerwash opened in a renovated parking garage at 60 E. Long St. on Nov. 2nd.
“We’ve been doing a few tweaks to it over the weekend, but it’s been doing a great job,” explained Brad DeHays, founder of Connect Realty, the owner of the garage and carwash business. “There’s a learning curve for people to figure out, but once they do it one time, they can see how fast and easy it is.”
This learning curve DeHays mentioned regards pulling up to the payment kiosk in the garage; the kiosk gives you three levels of carwash services, ranging from $9 to $13, the article continued, and once you have your ticket, signs point you towards the carwash entrance and then direct you back onto the street (as opposed to inside the parking garage) upon completion.
“You don’t have to park in the garage to use it,” said DeHays. “It operates just like any other carwash and is actually 100 percent brushless, so nothing touches your car. You pull in and park, and the machine uses ultrasound to tell where you’re parked, and everything moves around you. There’s no track to scuff your rims, so this is really the least intrusive carwash you can get.”
Carwash getting high-tech renovation
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — According to www.theforecaster.net, Chris Tyll has begun renovating the former Bay Harbor Car Wash and is changing the name to Crystal Clean Car Wash.
The carwash will be renovated to include a dog wash, self service carwash, detailing service and a fully automated car/truck wash that can wash commercial vehicles, the article continued.
The carwash will be open 24 hours per day, and the dog wash will have two self-serve areas as well as Wi-Fi and a vending machine that will include products to remove skunk odor, the article noted.
Tyll purchased the carwash about four years ago; furthermore, he is a former Navy SEAL and also owns the Easy Day restaurant and bowling alley; 33 Hill Street, a contracting business; and Pat’s Pizza Old Port, the article added.
In addition, Tyll graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in ocean engineering and a minor in coastal erosion and environmental studies, the article stated.
“Finding the balance between business and the environment can be made,” he said.
As such, all products used at the carwash will be biodegradable, and the building will use energy-saving LED lights, a high-efficiency natural gas boiler and radiant heat in every bay, the article noted; furthermore, the new systems will use significantly less water and electricity.
According to Tyll, the business motto is, “Your car, our planet, spotless.”
In addition, the carwash will separate sediment to be hauled away instead of going into storm drains, the article noted.
The detail bay will be a full 2.5-hour bay with courtesy ride service available to customers, and a 30-minute express detail will also be offered, the article reported.
Of the four self-serve bays, two will be “super bays,” according to Tyll, that will feature extreme pressure washing that works well for boats, and two will be automatic wash bays — one touchless and one soft touch bay that uses sonar to scan each vehicle, the article added.
A second floor will be added over the bays to accommodate employee and tech space as well as storage, the article continued; finally, the cupola will be removed from the building, and it will have a modern look when completed.
Tyll hopes to reopen the carwash on January 1, 2018, subject to equipment deliveries, the article concluded.
Soapy Joes donating carwashes for veterans
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Soapy Joes is providing thousands of free carwashes for veterans on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11th, at all of their 10 locations, according to a press release.
In addition to providing free carwashes, Soapy Joes will be launching a “Soapy Joes Salutes” series to honor local veteran heroes who have served and are making a difference in the community, the release continued.
The first launch series will be showcasing Perry Yee, former Navy SEAL and founder of Active Valor, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that was created to give new purpose to the lives of those who have served our country by redirecting their passion towards making a positive change in their local communities, the release noted.
Executive Vice President and Cofounder of Soapy Joes Brian Sheena was an immigrant born in Iraq, the release added.
Sheena and his family fled Iraq in 1980 to avoid persecution, which at the time was being directed towards Christian minorities that were at the hands of Saddam Hussein, the release noted; the CEO and cofounder of Soapy Joes, Lorens Attisha’s family fled Iraq in 1974 to escape the war in the northern part of the country.
Sheena and Attisha both experienced escaping to find freedom and are thankful for our military as they protect the freedom they were not able to receive in Iraq, the release noted.
Sheena said, “I am blessed to have come to America to build my dream. Coming to this country allowed me to have freedom. And, I want to do all I can to give back to those who have fought and sacrificed their lives.”
Sheena and Attisha have given away carwashes to veterans for over thirteen years on Veteran’s Day to honor the brave men and women who have served our country, the release concluded.
7 Flags Car Wash is partnering with Grace for Vets to thank all veterans
SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. — 7 Flags Car Wash is proud to be partnering with Grace for Vets to offer a very special thank you to all that have served our country; on Nov. 11th, 7 Flags Car Wash will be thanking our active duty military and veterans by offering a free $6.99 Express Exterior Car Wash or a $6.99 credit for any upgrade, according to a press release.
7 Flags will also be offering a 40 percent discount on any detail services and 40 percent off any extra services from its express lube for any active military personnel or veteran that day, the release continued.
To all active duty and retired military personnel, we salute you, the release concluded.
Mike’s Carwash honors veterans with free carwashes
LOVELAND Ohio — Mike’s Carwash will be giving free Basic Washes to veterans and active military personnel at all 22 of its locations on Saturday, Nov. 11th, according to a press release.
Mike’s will also offer veterans the option to upgrade to the Ultimate Wash for just $5 with the proceeds donated back to Ride 2 Recovery’s Project Hero, the release continued.
The washes will be given away in honor of Veterans Day as a token of appreciation to all the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the tremendous sacrifices they have made to defend our country, the release added.
Donations will be collected to support Ride 2 Recovery’s Project Hero throughout the day, the release noted.
Project Hero hosts rehabilitation programs that bring the benefits of R2R to more veterans with one important goal: more riders riding more often, the release stated.
“This is the second year that we have partnered with Ride 2 Recovery for our Veterans Day promotion,” said Greg Ries, vice president of Mike’s Carwash. “And, as a veteran myself, I love the fact that we have the opportunity to do something special for those who have served our country. Last year, we raised $16,551.32 for Ride 2 Recovery’s Project Hero and this year, we are hoping for great weather and lots of customers to help us exceed that number.”
