SARASOTA, Fla. — Clear Sunset Car Wash & Detail Center was recently honored with the Manatee Small Business of the Year for companies with annual gross sales between $600,000 and $3 million, according to the Bradenton Herald.
Professional Carwashing & Detailing recently featured the announcement of the finalists for this award in a past edition of Carwash eNews. You can find that coverage here.
The carwash was cleaning around 70 cars per day when they took over the business in 2008, stated the article, and it is projected to wash approximately four times that number this year.
Furthermore, added the article, revenues are up about 50 percent during the past three years.
“We’ve consistently exceeded our annual projections,” said Tony Milen owner of Clear Sunset Car Wash & Detail Center, in the article.
The family-owned carwash is part of the Michigan-based Jax Kar Wash brand, founded by the Milen family in the 1950s, reported the article, and is the first Florida location for the brand.
The carwash employs 28 full-time workers, informed the article, and recently opened a “fast pass” lane “to increase vehicle throughput at its 5,400 square-foot, automatic wash facility” to cater to monthly carwash members and single-wash customers.
“The Milens provide frequent breaks and hydration stations, as well as lunch and snacks on many days,” stated the article, which helps to keep employees fresh in the hot, labor-intensive work environment in Florida.
Even with more than a dozen full-service carwashes in the area, noted the article, the business has grown its monthly membership passes to over 1,200 customers with a goal of reaching more than 3,000 in the next three years.
“To attract those members and other customers, the carwash offers many services that go beyond washing, waxing and vacuuming,” explained the article. “Add-ons that go toward bringing a vehicle’s looks and feel back to near new include restoring headlight lenses, hand cleaning wheels and leather seat conditioning.”
Read the entire article here.
