Wrapping up the Car Wash Show Europe
Over 2,600 visitors from 75 countries came to Amsterdam for Europe’s largest car wash show. It has had some wonderful feedback. Both exhibitors and visitors look back on a successful fair, where they saw new innovations and had the opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas with each other.
As on the first day of the fair, there was plenty of activity at the fair. In addition to the booths and the Innovation Alley, there were knowledge sessions on a variety of topics that will play an important role in the carwash industry in the future.
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Here’s our report of the second and last day of the fair.
How to keep your staff
As in many other industries, carwashes throughout the US and Europe are currently struggling to find and keep employees. According to operations manager Suzanne Huisman of Blinkie Carwash in Maaseik, Belgium, it is important to find out exactly what motivates employees within your company. “It is easy to give people you want to retain more money or have a bonus system, for example.
My experience is: involve your crew, let them have their say and listen to their idea’s. Ask them what tasks they like best to within the company. Make sure you become a family.
That’s the main reason we start every day together with a good cup of coffee. That way everyone stays involved and feels an indispensable part of the company.” Blinkie Carwash, a family business, with a 50-meter chain lane, is considered the premier carwash in Maaseik, Belgium.
Want a successful carwash formula? Build a community!
Soapytopia
Carwashes that work fast, well, safely, customer-friendly and deliver top-quality wash results are plentiful. So what do you need to do for your carwash to be distinctive and successful? How do you become a formula that consumers prefer and they enjoy going to every week? ‘Create a community!” says Anne Mauler, vice president of marketing at carwash formula Soapy Joe’s Inc. in San Diego, USA. Started in 2011 with one location, the formula already has 30 car washes and soon wants to grow to 50. “We built Soapytopia,” Mauler told Car Wash Show Europe. This is a membership community in which members are tied to the carwash formula in every possible way. “We want to be on your radio, we want to be in your phone, we want to be where you are”, she said. But it has to happen in a playful way. When they noticed their customers have more dogs than kids, they decided to start a campain around a Magic Pet Parade. It resulted in 400 % more interaction and leads, compared to other campaigns. It’s important to create an emotional connection with your customers, to build a lasting relationship,” Maurer said.
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Innovation Alley
Surprises abound at the cozy Innovation Alley, where Holger Dziadek is eager to talk about his e-Scrubber+. A handy little wireless device with a powerful motor that was originally developed to rid swimming pools of algae but also turns out to be great for waxing and detailing. “Here, just put your hand on this brush,” says the German entrepreneur as the thing spins around. The motor turns out to be a reliable tool even at low rotation, something Asian car detailers find very important, we learn. “In this way, you can apply multiple layers of wax much better,” Dziadek explains.
Smart traffic light
The tiny one-person company e-Scrubber is a nice contrast to his neighbors from Parksol. A fast-growing Lithuanian IT company active in various automotive sectors (parking, car wash guidance, hospitals), Parksol is at the CWSE with a smart traffic light that indicates whether the wash bay is occupied or not. The Parksol Self-Service Car Wash Guidance System is “especially useful for businesses with multiple wash bays and a busy on-call,” says Kristina Šašilaitė, one of the company’s developers. A sensor sees if there is a vehicle in the box, then a red cross flashes on and the routing is adjusted if desired.
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We hope to see you again on the next edition of Car Wash Show Europe, around september 2025.
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