Recently in the car wash industry we have seen carwash industry analysts and consultants fall on their butts. One recently filed bankruptcy, while another just wrote another new book and still another has failed miserably and he is going to go back and teach school. Interesting. These gurus and know-it-alls had all the best data, sold that data and even charged others for this data and their studies.

Many analysts in the industry help larger carwash consolidators with surveys, data, site selection and reports to help raise money for their clients with investment bankers and/or investors. The carwash companies hire out these firms and in case something goes wrong they can always fall back on their data as an excuse? So many industry consultants and marketing companies make me wonder; Are you sure you are not justifying the norm of the industry, where everyone copies everyone else and they all do the same thing, make little money and are pissing off customers, so they go for higher per car up-selling, rather than concentrate on volumes?

Most of these customers butts are sore from coming in for a basic wash and leaving with a $45.00 charge on their credit cards, look what is happening to Jiffy Lube? Same scenario. You know, someone needs to shake this industry and wake these people up. But nothing in your questions leads me to believe that your clients have the balls to make that happen? These are standard questions, typical industry crap. May I ask; "Who cares?"

So much of the data in the carwash industry, which is collected for industry surveys for the four major industry rags or trade journals is irrelevant. Information that only a professor who has never achieved would ask in class project questions. Information that only a consultant, who wants to prove themselves right without looking outside the box and really looking at the industry from a reality based perspective.

Only someone who is interested in attaining Investment Banks and venture capital asks this stuff, no one who is intent on winning the market thinks like that or would even bother with such questions, they are irrelevant. Only a person designing a business plan with fluff asks this stuff. In fact I would NEVER invest in a company putting such irrelevant data into a business plan. But I would have them taken out back and shot for wasting my time and money. For the car wash industry analysts, I have a question for you now; What would you say? Think on it.

Lance Winslow

Currently Lance is retired at age 40 and is running an Online Think Tank Forum while traveling North America. Perhaps considering something extremely challenging to do that will exercise his mind and utilize all his experiences, observations and skills. Any ideas?