10+ Rules of Carwash Marketing

FEATURED TALK - SCWA CARWASH CONVENTION2026

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:02:18 GMT

MEL OHLINGER

Speaker @ SCWA & CEO OF OHMCO

Event: Southwest Carwash Convention (SCWA)
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Date: Feb 25-27, 2026

AI & Carwash Digital Marketing Strategist Helping car wash operators build smarter, AI-powered businesses

FEATURED TALK — SCWA CONVENTION & EXPO 2025

AI-Powered Websites & Washes: How to Future-Proof in 2026 A fast-paced, practical talk covering what AI-powered websites actually are, how AI reads and ranks your site, which tools create real operational value vs. marketing hype, and the single best action operators can take today to future-proof their business.

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR ATTENDEES

#1. AI is infrastructure, not a gimmick. Learn to evaluate tools by operational value, not buzz.

#2.Your website is talking to AI right now .

If it's unclear, AI gives your customers wrong info before they visit.

#3.The best first step is FREE!

Accurate content + a structured FAQ = your most powerful AI move.

ABOUT MEL:

Mel Ohlinger is the CEO of OhmCo, a car wash marketing agency based in Wisconsin. A former U.S. Navy Morse code operator turned digital strategist, Mel brings a systems-thinking approach to AI and web technology. She helps car wash operators across the country build websites that don't just look good — they learn, adapt, and generate revenue. Known for her wit, practicality, and no-hype approach to AI, Mel is a sought-after voice in the car wash industry.

MEL SPEAKS ON:

AI & Technology

AI-Powered Websites
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
Future-Proofing Your Business
AI Tools That Create Real ROI (vs. Hype)
How AI Reads & Ranks Your Website

Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing for Car Washes
Social Media Strategy for Operators
Membership Conversion & Retention
Google Search & Local SEO
Email & SMS Marketing Automation

Websites & Design

Website Design That Actually Converts
Graphic Design & Brand Identity
Car Wash Signage & Visual Branding
Building a Brand Customers Remember
UX & Customer Journey Optimization

Business Operations

Marketing Strategy for Small Business
Revenue-Focused Marketing Systems
Hiring & Building a Marketing Team
Vendor Vetting & Avoiding Gimmicks
Carwash History
Art & Design History

Mel Ohlinger, CEO of OhmCo, speaking at SCWA 2026 Speaking on AI-Powered Carwash Websites and How to Future Proof Your Carwash Website in 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas

SCWA 2026 Recap

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:40:05 GMT

SCWA 2026 Recap

Location & Date: Fort Worth, TX Feb 25-27 2026
Who Attended: Mel Ohlinger, Mike Ohlinger

With another SCWA conference under our belts, we can confidently say that this is one of our favorite shows and is a great way to kick off the year's trade show season. The only downside is flying out of Appleton --- our luck flying out of our regional airport and not hitting crippling delays or Home-Alone-worthy runs to make connecting flights has been...difficult.

Anyways, we arrived down in Ft Worth on Tuesday afternoon and headed to what we called our "Haunted House". Kind of disingenuous to call it that --- the interior was nothing of the sort. The Three Danes in was a huge highlight of our time down there. A charming, historic house with some amazing hosts (and all you can eat homemade pastrie)s. Not a single ghost sighting though. Bummer.

We headed over to the convention center on Wednesday fairly early to catch some of the other early attendees and met some of our industry friends. We've been saying this all the time now, but the smaller regional show footprint just feels more fun, less like a vacation, and more like a family reunion. There's always a friendly face to bump into and something new to catch up on.

Mel Ohlinger, CEO of OhmCo, speaking at SCWA 2026 Speaking on AI-Powered Carwash Websites and How to Future Proof Your Carwash Website in 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas

Shortly after the floor opened, Mel delivered a quick-talk about utilizing AI tools to enhance your website's visibility online. It's a topic we get asked about often, as LLMs are just starting to become more commonplace as a defacto search in lieu of traditional browsers. Making sure that your carwash business can not only rank, but become visible in AI search results and summaries is critical right now, and essential to stay relevant as the tech marches on. It was a great, engaged audience with some good, pointed questions.

Following the presentation, we spent the rest of the afternoon on the show floor. Even though ICA is typically meant to be the place to reveal new products, new tech, new solutions, there were a lot of discussions to be had about what's new . New tech is really accelerating and integrating quickly --- and it's great to see powerful tools get in the hands of small business owners who can make the most use of them.

The next morning we attended the table talks in the main conference room where Mel hosted a table dedicated to social media. These are some of our favorite parts of the show, where conversations start to run in weird directions and we get to know what operators are actually struggling with, or find out what's actually working in the real world.

We ended our trip in Fort Worth by visiting an upcoming wash from some exciting new operators and finding one of the best Cajun places we'd ever been to. We're still busier than ever, but are looking forward to continuing our trade show trek with Heartland next month.

Until next time!

-Mel and Mike --- Ohmco

Mel Ohlinger, CEO of OhmCo, speaking at SCWA 2026 Fast Tracks about Impactful Carwash Social Media 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas

Women In Carwash Conference 2026

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:13:51 GMT

Women In Carwash 2026

Location & Date: ClearWater, FL Jan 18-20
Who Attended: Mel Ohlinger, Mike Ohlinger, the KIDS

Women in Carwash 2026: Sunshine, Mickey Mouse, and a Little Marketing Talk

The 2026 Women in Carwash Conference brought us down to Clearwater, Florida this year. We decided to surprise the kids by bringing them along with us to take advantage of our time in Florida. We packed up the kids, booked the flights, and turned it into something a little bigger than a work trip. It was the kids' first time in Florida, and for Iona, her first time on a plane altogether. Watching her figure out what to make of that experience was worth the trip on its own.

We spent a day at Disney before the conference kicked off, which was our first time there. Mike had been there as a kid, but being there as adults brings into focus the insane logistics behind the operation of the parks. Trying to see behind the scenes, looking for the signature paint colors that subconsciously indicates areas that your brain should ignore (spots that were under construction) was fun. The weather was a little dicey and cold (for Florida's sake), which made for some emergency sweatpant shopping, but it was a great day and night!

Once we arrived in Clearwater and got settled, Mel presented a marketing session at the conference, continuing the work she's been doing to bring practical, operator-focused marketing strategy to the people who need it most. It was wonderful getting to see some of the familiar faces that were there through last year's tricky weather in the Carolinas.

We've been really talking to a lot of people about the value of events like these and how they really differ from some of the product-focused events in the industry. WIC never feels promotional, or like you're being sold to. The purpose is betterment and conversations, and finding new ways to solve problems, or approach segments of the industry that we aren't particularly well-versed in with some practical knowledge, is really exciting and something we always look forward to. From marketing to more practical internal processes like finance and insurance, there's a wealth of content to take home.

Brenda Johnstone is the fuel behind these events and, runs them and coordinates them with such care and purpose that we are always excited to recommend new attendees. If you're considering or are on the fence as to the value of attending, visit their website and check out the next conference, which is in Seattle!

https://www.womenincarwash.com/

OhmCo 2025 Recap

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:35:13 GMT

OhmCo Carwash

Marketing 2025 Recap

Some things happened. And then a few more did. And even more after that.

Busy. That's the word of the year, of 2025. Whenever people ask us how we are, how we're doing, how we've been, my brain immediately calls that word up out of the depths while my eyes automatically drift upwards in the same song and dance. "Busy, but good!".

As a small business owner, every single year brings new challenges, new victories, new skull-splitting migraines, new successes --- but trying to reflect back on this year just brings a bit of an initial blank. It's like when someone runs up to you to ask you what your favorite movie of all time is and you have to stop for a moment and realize you're having a hard time naming any movie, much less your favorite. Mel and myself (this is Mike here, putting pen to paper) have routinely been catching each other in conversations with exclamations that usually start and end with " That happened this year?!".

I just want to clarify --- I'm not painting this kind of busy as a bad thing. In the world of bizz, having an influx of amazing customers and engaging, challenging projects is about everything you can ask and hope for. We've been extraordinarily fortunate to be able to work with some of the most interesting, hard working, kindest people in this industry, and watching them operate and succeed over this past year has been amazing.

Anyways, I'll keep this recap kind of short, because: Busy . It is Christmas break, the kids are home, and that beeping noise that's coming from the kitchen is just getting louder and not going away.

If this is as far as you make it --- THANK YOU to all of the industry professionals, clients, and operators that we've had the pleasure of working with this past year. Thank you for the continued business, trust, and support. We are excited to continue to offer the tools and design to help your business succeed in the carwash industry and can't wait to see what we can pull off in 2026.

Trade Shows, Regional Events, and More!

11th Women in Carwash Conference

Location & Date: Charleston, South Carolina
January 19–21, 2025
Who Attended: Mel Ohlinger

We kicked off 2025 the way we like to kick off most things — by showing up somewhere we could actually be useful.

The year opened at the 11th Annual Women in Carwash Conference, where Mel took the floor to lead educational sessions covering the topics she's spent years living and breathing: social media marketing, digital marketing strategy, and SEO updates specifically built around the realities of running a car wash. Not generic advice pulled from a marketing textbook, but the kind of practical, operator-focused guidance that you can actually walk away from and put to use on Monday morning.

Beyond the sessions themselves, Mel joined Brian Ankney on an industry podcast to dig deeper into the conversations that don't always make it onto a conference agenda. Emerging marketing trends, the real challenges operators are facing on the ground, and how car washes, big or small, can start building digital foundations that actually hold up. It was one of those conversations that moved fast and covered a lot of ground, the kind where you look up and realize an hour has gone by. Getting to spend time at the Babcox studio was exciting and seeing the work that goes into the background of these productions was awesome!

SCWA Carwash Tradeshow

Location & Date: Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas — February 25–26, 2025
Who Attended: Mel Ohlinger & Mike Ohlinger

South Central Car Wash Association

A little later in the year, Mel took the stage again, this time with a session called " Creating Bounce-Back Customers Through Social Media ."

The premise is one we come back to constantly at OhmCo, because it's one of the things we see operators get backwards more often than not. Social media isn't just a megaphone for promotions. It's not about going viral or chasing likes. When it's working the way it should, it's a tool for keeping your car wash in the back of someone's mind on a Wednesday afternoon when they look over at their dirty car and think, "yeah, it's time." That's the bounce-back. That's the repeat visit. That's the member who sticks around for another year instead of cancelling in month three.

The session walked operators through practical, immediately usable strategies: consistent posting rhythms, content built around campaigns rather than random one-offs, and making sure your social presence is actually connected to what's happening with your memberships and promotions rather than operating as its own separate island.

None of it is rocket science, and that's kind of the point. The operators who do social media well aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the fanciest graphics. They're the ones who show up consistently, keep it simple, and treat it like a relationship rather than a billboard. With the rampant rise of AI generated content, the focus on authenticity and "lo-fi" content was also key.

Heartland Carwash Association Trade Show

Location & Date: March 24–26, 2025 — Omaha Nebraska/Council Bluffs, IA
Who Attended: Mel Ohlinger & Mike Ohlinger

Heartland Carwash Association

The Heartland Carwash Association Trade Show brought another opportunity to get in front of operators and have the kind of honest, ground-level conversations we genuinely look forward to. Plus, the is the one trade show that we can trudge our bubble van down to, which is always a plus.

Mel's session there centered on modern car wash marketing strategies, but with a specific lens that we find ourselves coming back to again and again: clarity over complexity. The carwash industry is not short on people telling operators what they should be doing. New platforms, new tools, new trends, shiny objects in every direction. What we hear from operators, consistently, is that they don't need more options thrown at them. They need someone to help them cut through the noise and make smarter decisions about where their time and money actually goes.

The session focused on branding, websites, and marketing fundamentals that hold up in the real world, not just in a conference presentation. Things owners and managers can actually pick up and run with, without needing a full in-house marketing team or an unlimited budget to make them work.

And the Heartland crowd reinforced something we had been hearing all year from just about every corner of this industry. Operators are sharp, they are busy, and they have seen enough overpromised strategies fall flat that they have a pretty good radar for what is genuine and what is fluff. They want straightforward guidance that respects their time. They want to know it works.

We were able to spend some time around the Omaha area, a first for us.

The Car Wash Show (ICA)

Location & Date: Las Vegas, Nevada — 2025
Who Attended: Mel and Mike Ohlinger

International Carwash Association Tradeshow

This one felt like a huge deal for us.

2025 marked OhmCo's first ever exhibiting booth at The Car Wash Show in Las Vegas, and if you know anything about The Car Wash Show, you know that's not a small thing. It's the biggest stage in the industry, and for a long time it was a show we attended as observers. This year, we showed up as exhibitors, and that felt significant.

What the show did deliver was something a lot more valuable than any award. Conversation after conversation with operators, vendors, and partners who wanted to talk about real things. Websites that actually convert. Branding that holds up across a growing multi-site operation. Marketing systems that can scale without falling apart at the seams. The kind of dialogue that reminds you why you do this work and points you directly at what the industry needs next.

While the lights and action were exciting and the conversations non-stop, it was overwhelming . Lots of valuable leads and conversations with people that we've ended up working with throughout the remainder of the year and into 2026, but I think we enjoy the slower pace and more intentional feeling of some of the regional shows.

We're not Vegas people, by nature, so the gambling floors are a little outside of our scope of expertise -- but we were able to take advantage of staying at the Flamingo in regards to doing a little exploration.

Ohio Operator Visit – Soak City

Location & Date: Ohio — 2025
Who Attended: Mel and Mike Ohlinger

We also made a trip out to Ohio this year, which doesn't sound glamorous on paper but ended up being one of those visits that quietly pays dividends for a long time.

The main purpose of the trip was to get eyes on some waterproof and chemical-proof display technology that's currently in testing. There's only so much you can evaluate from a screen or a spec sheet, and when something has the potential to change the way operators present information inside and around their washes, you go see it in person.

While we were out there, we had the chance to visit a handful of washes, and the highlight was easily Soak City up in North Canton. Impeccable is the right word. Stephany Frost and her team run a great operation.

Pennsylvania Carwash Association Dinner

Location & Date: September 17, 2026 — Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, Hershey, PA
Who Attended: OhmCo Team

Carwash Association of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Carwash Association Dinner was a first for us in a couple of ways. First time at the event, and first time in Hershey, PA.

Cameron Alleman, the CAP president, was kind enough to take us on a tour of local washes while we were in town, and that kind of thing is always one of our favorite parts of traveling in this industry. You learn things on a wash tour that you just can't learn anywhere else. Every site is a little different, every operator has made different decisions, and getting to see those choices play out in person gives you context that sticks with you.

Mel got up and spoke briefly about marketing during the dinner. Smaller regional events have a different energy than the big trade shows. There's more room to actually talk, to go a little deeper, to hear what's really on people's minds without the noise and pace of a convention floor competing for everyone's attention.

That's really what we took away from the Pennsylvania dinner more than anything. Regional associations like this one are doing something genuinely valuable. They're creating space for operators in the same neck of the woods to find each other, share what they know, and build something that looks a lot like community. We love seeing it, we love being a part of it when we can, and we left Hershey already hoping we get to come back.

Leadership Worth Following – Growth Summit

Location & Date: September 22–23, 2025 — Arvada, Colorado
Who Attended: Mike Ohlinger

Leadership Worth Following

In the middle of everything in 2025, Mike made time to attend the Leadership Worth Following Growth Summit, a two-day event built specifically around leadership-focused education.

It was created by carwashers, for carwashers, and that distinction matters more than it might sound. There's no shortage of generic leadership content out in the world. Books, podcasts, seminars, all of it broadly applicable and broadly forgettable. When the room is full of people who understand your specific world, the conversations hit different. The examples land. The challenges being discussed are your challenges, not a case study from some Fortune 500 company that has nothing to do with your life.

It was a welcome change from the product-centric nature of the trade shows. Conversations fel t genuine and invigorating enough to actually want to bring some of these concepts home to apply them.

European Car Wash Show

Location & Date: September 24–25, 2025 — Expo Greater Amsterdam
Who Attended: Mel Ohlinger

Car Wash Show Europe

Car Wash Show Europe was a full circle kind of moment for us, and one that we're still pretty proud of when we stop long enough to think about it.

Mel presented on an international stage this year, delivering a session titled "Design Psychology Can Make or Break Your Car Wash Menu." If you've spent any time with us, you know this topic sits right at the center of everything we believe about good design. It's not decoration. It's not aesthetics for the sake of aesthetics. Design is a decision-making tool, and when it's done well, it guides your customers toward choices that are good for them and good for your business at the same time.

The session pulled from behavioral psychology principles that don't get talked about nearly enough in this industry. Anchoring. Social proof. Visual hierarchy. Decision fatigue. These are not abstract concepts. They are the invisible architecture behind every menu board, every price list, every package presentation your customers encounter before they pull up to a wash. The parallel to restaurant menu design was a natural one, because the restaurant industry has been studying and applying this stuff for decades. Car washes are leaving real money on the table by not paying closer attention to it.

The core message was a simple one: small, intentional changes to how you present your packages and pricing can move average ticket value in meaningful ways, without adding a single new service or running a single promotion.

Taking that message to a global audience felt significant. The challenges operators are navigating around purchasing behavior, customer experience, and menu design are not unique to the United States. They are universal, and it was genuinely exciting to be part of those conversations on that kind of stage

Northeast Regional Carwash Convention (NRCC)

Location & Date: October 6–8, 2025 — Atlantic City Convention Center, NJ
Who Attended: Mel and Mike Ohlinger

Northeast Regional Carwash Convention

The 35th NRCC in Atlantic City was one of those shows that reminds you why this industry's conference scene is genuinely worth showing up for. Nearly 1,800 attendees, and the energy that comes with that kind of room, people who traveled to be there, who carved time out of busy operations to invest in getting better. That enthusiasm is contagious and we never take it for granted.

Mel taught a session on website design and SEO, which sounds straightforward until you realize how much ground that actually covers. The big idea behind the session was the same thread we keep pulling on all year: the decisions you make about how your website looks and functions are not just aesthetic decisions. They are sales decisions. The way information is organized, the way a customer moves through your site, the way your services are presented and your brand comes across, all of it is quietly influencing whether someone becomes a customer or keeps scrolling. Operators who understand that connection start making very different choices about what their website should be doing for them.

This was also another show where we had a booth on the floor, which continues to be one of our favorite ways to spend a few days. There's a different quality to the conversations that happen at a booth versus a session. People come over because something specific is on their mind, and those conversations tend to go deeper and faster. Website performance, long-term brand consistency, marketing strategies that hold up as an operation grows. The kinds of topics that don't always fit neatly into a forty-five minute class but absolutely need to be talked about somewhere.

We have a lot of clients in the Northeast, so catching up with them at the show was a great opportunity. It's a different energy out there from Wisconsin --- which is nice to experience.

Mel was Invited To Speak To Governor Tony Evers

Location & Date: October 27, 2025 — Brown County Library's East Branch (2253 Main St, Green Bay)
Who Attended: Mel Ohlinger

In between all of the industry travel, there was a moment this fall that hit a little closer to home.

On October 27th, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers held a roundtable at the Brown County Library's East Branch in Green Bay to talk about something that's been quietly stressing out a lot of small business owners in this state: the potential impacts of a federal government shutdown on ACA premiums and healthcare costs. We were there for that conversation.

As a small business, healthcare is not an abstract policy issue for us. It's a real, recurring line item that affects real decisions, and when the possibility of subsidy lapses gets added on top of an already complicated landscape, it gets your attention fast. Sitting in that room and hearing other small business owners and residents share the same concerns was one of those grounding moments that reminds you that the challenges of running a small business extend well beyond marketing strategy and conference schedules.

Governor Evers was direct about what he wanted to see: less finger-pointing, more action from federal representatives on getting spending bills across the finish line before the people who can least afford disruption end up absorbing the consequences. Hard to argue with that. Regardless of where you land politically, most small business owners just want some stability and a fair shot, and that's a pretty universal ask.

It was a good reminder that the work we do at OhmCo doesn't happen in a vacuum. We're a small business too, navigating the same landscape as a lot of the operators we work with every day

Contests, Local Bizz Outreach, and Everything Else

The Governor's roundtable was actually just one piece of a bigger thread that ran through the second half of 2025 for us.

We've been getting more involved with Main Street Alliance, a small business coalition focused on advocating for the people actually in the trenches running businesses day to day. Healthcare costs, policy impacts, the stuff that doesn't always have a loud enough voice in the rooms where decisions get made. That work has pulled us into a lot of conversations we didn't necessarily expect to be having this year, in the best possible way. One of the highlights was hosting a "Bring Your Own Business" event, a campfire gathering where we brought together local business owners and politicians to do something deceptively simple: just listen. What are the most urgent needs small businesses in our area are actually facing right now? Getting those voices in the same space as the people who have some ability to act on what they're hearing felt important, and the conversations that came out of that fire were the kind you don't forget quickly.

The advocacy work spilled into a lot of other formats too. Interviews on radio, television, newspaper, you name it. If someone wanted to talk about what small business owners are actually dealing with, we were happy to show up and say it out loud.

And then there's this: Mel won the grand prize at the Chippewa Valley Hill Capital Summit pitch competition!

It was a full, genuine win, the kind that catches you a little off guard even when you've put real work into something. And it didn't stop there. We moved on to the next tier of the competition in Minneapolis in November, representing the region and taking the work we do to a bigger stage.

In Closing... it's been another wild year.

Let's see what 2026 brings!

So that's 2025. Or at least the version of it that fits on a page.

Conferences, stages, road trips, pitch competitions, campfires, trade show booths, international presentations, and somewhere in the middle of all of it, the actual daily work of building websites, designing brands, and trying to help car wash operators put their best foot forward. It was a lot. It was good. We are tired in the best way.

Going into 2026, we're not planning to slow down. If anything, this year showed us what's possible when you stay curious, keep showing up, and say yes to the things that scare you a little. We've got more to build, more to contribute, and a few things in the works that we're genuinely excited about.

To every client, operator, partner, and friend who was part of our 2025 in any way, thank you. You're the reason the word of the year was busy and not something worse.

Here's to 2026. We'll see you out there.

Mel & Mike - OhmCo

How to Set up Carwash Facebook and Instagram Ads

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:20:55 GMT

YOUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM CARWASH ADS CHEAT SHEET:

Alas, Facebook is no more. Long live Facebook!

Rumors of Facebook and Instagram being dead or dying platforms are just that: Rumors. Especially in the carwash industry, targeted Facebook and Instagram ads are still some of the cheapest and most effective ways to promote your wash business, push promotions, and cater to a very specific audience type.

Want to get started, but don't know how? Try following the steps below!

Step 0: Open the right tool

Go to Meta Business Suite (from your Facebook Page, tap Professional dashboard or Meta Business Suite ).
In the left menu, choose Ads (or Advertising ).

If you don’t see it, look for All tools → Ads .

Step 1: Create a new campaign

Click Create ad (or Create ).
Choose the goal (Meta calls this the “Objective”): For carwashes, "promote your business locally", is a great way to drum up local organic traffic. "Get More Leads" and "Get More Website Visitors" is a solid goal if you're looking to enhance your membership pool.
Click Continue .

Step 2: Choose your placements (where the ad shows)

Go to Placements .
Choose Advantage+ Placements (recommended) to run on both Facebook + Instagram automatically.

If you want to keep it simple and local, Advantage+ is fine.

If you want more control: choose Manual placements and keep:

Facebook Feed
Instagram Feed
Stories/Reels (optional—works well for quick reminders)

Step 3: Set your audience (Members-first approach)

Option A (Easiest): Location-based “members live here”

Go to Audience .
Set your Location :

Enter your wash address
Choose a radius (often 3–10 miles depending on your market)

Set Age to your typical buyer range if you want (or leave broad).
Skip interests unless you need them.

This works because members are local and Meta will learn who responds.

Option B (Best if you have data): Custom audience

If you have a list of members (email/phone) or app users:

Go to Audiences (in Business Suite: All tools → Audiences )
Click Create audience → Custom audience
Choose your source:

Customer list (email/phone)
Website (pixel events, if set up)
Instagram account engagement
Facebook Page engagement

Create it, then select it in your campaign’s Audience section.

Member targeting expert move:
Use Engaged with Instagram/Facebook in the last 365 days as a “warm member-like” audience if you don’t have a member list.

Step 4: Budget & schedule

Choose Daily budget (simple) or Lifetime (fixed total).
Start modest, then scale after you see results.
Schedule:

For member reminders, consider running 7–14 days at a time.
Or run continuously and swap creatives monthly.

Step 6: Build the ad (creative + copy)

Choose the Facebook Page and Instagram account .
Add your media :

A real photo of your wash, tunnel entrance, or a clean car exiting
Keep it authentic (stock photos usually underperform)

3.Write your primary text (member reinforcement,

not sales).

Plug-and-play member ad copy (use one)

Option 1 (Salt reminder)
“The roads were salted again this week. Good reminder that your Wash Club membership is here to protect your vehicle—not just make it look clean.”

Option 2 (Routine reinforcement)
“Busy week? That’s why members stop in more than once. Quick in, quick out—one less thing to think about.”

Option 3 (Usage reassurance)
“If you’ve only washed once this month, you’re still using your membership exactly the way it was meant to be used—flexible and ready when life gets messy.”

Add a Headline (short):

“Wash Club Reminder”
“Salt’s Back”
“Stop In Anytime”

2.Choose a Call to Action :

Get Directions (best if you have a map listing)
Learn More (if you send to a member page)
Send Message (only if someone will reply)

For members, “Get Directions” is usually the highest-intent CTA.

Step 7: Double-check before publishing

Before you hit Publish, confirm:

Audience is local and/or custom members
Objective matches your goal (Engagement/Traffic)
CTA makes sense (Directions > Website in many cases)
You’re not accidentally promising a discount

Then click Publish.

Step 8: How to tell if it’s working (without overthinking)

Inside Business Suite → Ads → Results:

If Engagement objective: watch Reach, Frequency, and Post engagement
If Traffic objective: watch Link clicks and Landing page views (if available)

Offline reality checks:

Ask your cashier/attendant: “Are people mentioning seeing us online?”
Watch member wash counts and cancellations week-over-week

Retention ads often look “quiet” in the dashboard but show up as stability.

Option A (Recommended): Run Instagram Ads Through Meta Ads Manager

Step 1: Open Ads Manager

Go to Meta Business Suite (from Facebook) or business.facebook.com.
Click Ads (or All tools → Ads Manager ).

Step 2: Create a campaign

Click Create ad (or Create).
Choose the goal (Meta calls this the “Objective”): For carwashes, "promote your business locally", is a great way to drum up local organic traffic. "Get More Leads" and "Get More Website Visitors" is a solid goal if you're looking to enhance your membership pool.
Click Continue

Step 3: Set the budget and schedule

Choose Daily or Lifetime budget.
Set start/end dates (or run continuously).

Step 4: Choose Instagram-only placements

Go to Placements.
Select Manual placements .
Uncheck everything except Instagram:

✅ Instagram Feed
✅ Instagram Stories
✅ Instagram Reels
✅ Instagram Explore (optional)

4.Continue.

Tip: If you want "easy,” choose Feed + Stories/Reels and skip the rest.

Step 5: Define your audience

Simple member-focused audience (no list needed):

Location: set your wash address + a radius (ex: 3–10 miles)
Age: keep broad unless you know your buyer range
Interests: optional—don’t over-layer

Better member audience (if you can):

Go to Audiences (All tools → Audiences)
Create a Custom audience from:

Instagram account engagement (people who engaged with your IG)
Customer list (emails/phones of members, if available)

3.Apply that custom audience in the Ad Set.

Step 6: Build the Instagram creative

Choose your Instagram account.
Add your image or video (prefer real wash content).
Write your caption (Primary Text).

Plug-and-play member ad copy (Instagram-friendly):

“Salt’s back on the roads. That’s your reminder—your Wash Club membership is here to protect your vehicle, not just make it look clean. Stop in anytime.”
“Busy week? That’s exactly why you joined. Quick wash, quick reset—one less thing to think about.”
“If you’ve only washed once this month, you’re still using your membership the way it was meant to work: flexible, ready when life gets messy.”

Choose a CTA:

Get Directions (best for local visits)
Learn More (if you have a member page)
Send Message (only if you respond quickly)

Step 7: Publish

Review everything.
Click Publish .

Step 8: Check performance

In Ads Manager, look at:

Reach and Frequency (are members seeing it enough?)
Link clicks (if Traffic)
Engagement (if Engagement)

For retention, also watch:

member visit frequency
cancellations week-over-week
“I saw you on Instagram” mentions

Option B (Fast): Boost a Post on Instagram

Step 1: Post normally

Open Instagram.
Post a photo/video that feels real and relevant (salt, rain, seasonal).

Step 2: Tap “Boost post”

On the post, tap Boost post.

Step 3: Choose your goal

More profile visits
More website visits
More messages

For members: More profile visits or More website visits is usually best.

Step 4: Choose audience

Tap Create your own audience.
Set:
Location near your wash
Age (optional)
Interests (minimal)

Step 5: Set budget and duration

Pick a modest daily budget and a short run (ex: 7 days), then start.

Step 6: Pay and publish

Confirm payment method and run.

Important note: Boosting is easy, but less controllable than Ads Manager. Great for beginners, not ideal for tight ROI optimization.

Try It

Ad spend can go a long way on these social media platforms, even today. Devising an incremental ramp for your ad spend to see what sticks and what doesn't is key --- eventually you'll find that sweet spot between daily spend and ROI.

Shore up your creative, brainstorm some promotions that will resonate with your local demographic, and start pushing your content towards to-be washers!

SECWA Wash Talk Wednesday

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:58:23 GMT

SECWA
Wash Talk Wednesday

SECWA Wash Talk Wednesday: Don’t Get Scammed

How OhmCo Helps Car Wash Operators Avoid SEO Pitfalls

Search engine optimization has become one of the most confusing—and most commonly exploited—areas of car wash marketing. Operators are flooded with unsolicited emails promising “guaranteed rankings,” claiming their site is “broken,” or offering one-size-fits-all SEO packages that deliver little value. These tactics prey on busy business owners who don’t have time to decode technical jargon or verify what’s legitimate. As a result, many operators end up paying for services that don’t improve visibility, don’t drive revenue, and don’t move their business forward.

This week’s SECWA Wash Talk Wednesday features Mel Ohlinger , CEO of OhmCo, for a focused discussion on how car wash operators can protect themselves from SEO scams, understand what real optimization looks like, and make confident digital decisions that support long-term growth.

Mel brings more than twenty years of experience in marketing, design, web development, and strategic branding—expertise that has made her one of the most trusted voices in the car wash industry. As the head of OhmCo, an international car wash marketing agency known for custom websites, creative problem solving, and intentional brand strategy, she works daily with operators who have been misled by unclear SEO promises or misguided digital advice. Her mission is clear: educate operators on how SEO actually works, what impacts rankings in today’s AI-driven search landscape, and how to invest wisely rather than fearfully.

Mel’s background gives her a rare blend of technical and creative instincts. Before her career in design, she served as a Cryptologic Technician (CTR) specializing in Morse code and working with the NSA—training that sharpened her precision, analytical thinking, and ability to interpret complex systems. After earning her BFA from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, she combined that analytical rigor with her artistic skill to build a career defined by clarity, innovation, and deep technical understanding. Today, she uses those same skills to decode SEO, protect operators from misinformation, and translate complex digital concepts into practical, actionable strategies.

Mel and OhmCo are also firmly rooted in the car wash community. They are strong advocates for regional car wash associations , including SECWA, believing deeply that these organizations are the backbone of the industry. Regional associations support the small businesses that make up the majority of the car wash market, elevate and distribute new technology, and serve as the first line of defense in protecting operators against harmful or misguided government policy. OhmCo credits much of its industry growth and insight to its involvement in these associations and remains committed to supporting and uplifting them.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mel is an accomplished painter, an aspiring children’s book author and illustrator, and a mother of two who embraces her identity as a lifelong nerd. Her multifaceted background fuels OhmCo’s human-centered, creative approach and the strong relationships she and her husband Mike have built across the industry. Under their leadership, OhmCo has become synonymous with design excellence, meaningful client partnerships, and results-driven marketing systems that help operators elevate their brands and grow sustainably.

In this Wash Talk Wednesday session, Mel breaks down the warning signs of SEO scams, explains how operators can evaluate digital partners with confidence, and outlines the essential steps every wash should take to strengthen their online presence. Her message is empowering and direct: good SEO is transparent, measurable, and grounded in strategy—not fear-based pitches or empty guarantees.

Operators throughout the Southeast and beyond will gain practical tools, a clearer understanding of modern search, and renewed confidence in navigating the digital side of their business. For anyone who cares about protecting their wash and investing wisely, this is a conversation not to miss.

Mel Ohlinger and Mike Ohlinger are strong advocates for regional car wash associations, recognizing them as the true backbone of the industry. These associations support the small business owners who make up the majority of the car wash community, creating spaces where operators can collaborate, share knowledge, and access resources that would otherwise be out of reach. They play a crucial role in elevating new technology, fostering industry innovation, and helping operators stay ahead of rapid changes in digital tools, equipment, and customer expectations. Just as importantly, regional associations serve as the first line of defense in government affairs, protecting operators from harmful legislation and advocating for policies that strengthen local businesses. Mel, Mike, and OhmCo credit much of their industry insight and growth to the relationships built through these organizations, and they remain deeply committed to supporting, uplifting, and investing in them. Interested in joining SECWA?

Built for Your Wash, Built for the Future: How OhmCo Designs, Supports, and Powers the Car Wash Industry

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 23:56:48 GMT

Custom-Built Car Wash Systems & Digital Solutions: Why Top Operators Choose OhmCo for Websites, Branding, and Growth

In today’s competitive car wash market, customized solutions aren’t a luxury—they’re a requirement. Every successful wash is built on a unique combination of layout, equipment, chemistry, traffic patterns, labor needs, and customer expectations.

That’s why the most innovative operators and manufacturers are moving away from cookie-cutter tools and choosing custom-designed, built-to-order systems that are engineered specifically for their wash.

And that philosophy is exactly what drives everything we build at OhmCo , the car wash industry’s leading agency for websites, social media, branding, SEO, signage, and digital growth systems .

If your equipment is custom-built…
your marketing should be too.

Why Custom Solutions Matter in the Car Wash Industry

Companies like Sgt. Sudz are redefining what operators expect from automation. Instead of generic panels or stock configurations, they’re building fully customized control systems , engineered to each wash’s exact specifications and assembled in the USA. ��

That approach is powerful because it solves real problems:

Better equipment performance
Cleaner wash cycles
Reduced downtime
More reliable automation
Easier scaling and upgrading

At OhmCo, we apply the same philosophy —but to your brand, website, and digital strategy.

Operators shouldn’t settle for “off-the-shelf” marketing any more than they’d settle for off-the-shelf equipment.

Your wash isn’t generic.
Your digital presence shouldn’t be either.

OhmCo: The Industry Leader in Custom Car Wash Websites, Branding & Marketing

OhmCo is uniquely positioned in the car wash space because we don’t operate like a traditional marketing agency.

We operate like a manufacturer for your digital ecosystem .

Everything we create is designed for car washes—built with the same care, precision, and customization that companies like Sgt. Sudz bring to automation.

Our work is organized into specialized Labs, each engineered to support operator growth:

Web.Lab — The #1 Car Wash Website Platform Built for Operators

Web.Lab sites are not templates.
They are custom-designed , built on a platform engineered for the car wash industry.

SEO-optimized.
High-converting.
AI-search-ready for 2026.

Operators choose Web.Lab because we deliver:

Fast performance and perfect mobile layouts
High-converting wash menus
Rinsed and DRB integrations
Local SEO structures that drive traffic
Drag-and-drop backend access (no developers needed)
Custom widgets built specifically for car washes

OhmCo websites consistently outperform DIY platforms and generic agencies—because we build sites around real operator needs, not guesswork.

Co.Lab — Social Media Marketing That Actually Drives Car Wash Sales

Social media isn’t about posting pictures.
It’s about controlling demand , creating repeat behavior, and building customer loyalty.

Co.Lab offers both DIY tools and full-service content creation:

Unlimited social posts through our white-labeled platform
Professional graphics, videos, and campaigns
Membership promotions
Text club and email funnel content
Local engagement strategies
Paid ads optimized for car wash ROI

This is not generic marketing.
It’s car wash–specific social media engineering .

Design.Lab — The Premier Car Wash Branding Team

Your car wash logo, signage, and brand identity influence:

Customer trust
Perceived wash quality
Menu clarity
Purchase behavior
Membership sales

Design.Lab creates branding systems that look as crisp and intentional as the best equipment on the market.

We design:

Logos and brand identity
Tunnel signage
Menu boards
In-bay signs
Canopy art
Meter box graphics
Vehicle wraps
Promo campaigns

Everything is built to match your wash—not a template or a recycled design.

Data.Lab — Analytics, SEO, and Performance Reporting for Car Wash Operators

If equipment manufacturers like Sgt. Sudz are pioneering remote-access operational data, OhmCo is doing the same for digital performance data .

We track:

keyword rankings
membership conversions
user behavior on your website
ad performance
SEO trends
organic traffic growth
competitor positioning

Data.Lab gives operators clear, actionable insights so they know exactly what’s working—and what needs optimization.

Sign.Lab & Photo.Lab — Visual Systems That Increase On-Site Revenue

Customers buy with their eyes.
Signage clarity and photo quality are two of the strongest revenue drivers inside a wash.

Sign.Lab designs signage that:

reduces confusion
improves upsells
speeds up decision-making
elevates the entire customer experience

Photo.Lab produces editorial-level imagery that boosts:

social engagement
website conversions
brand professionalism

Looks matter.
And we make operators look exceptional.

The OhmCo Advantage: Built Like a Manufacturer, Delivered Like a Partner

Most agencies outsource, over-template, and over-promise.
OhmCo builds.
We craft.
We engineer.
We innovate.

Every Lab is designed to function like a production facility—with systems, standards, and expert craftsmanship behind every deliverable.

This is why the industry trusts us.
It’s why operators rely on us to scale.
It’s why manufacturers and distributors partner with us.

We don’t just make things look good.
We make things work .

The Future of the Car Wash Industry Is Custom. Let OhmCo Build It With You.

The companies leading the industry—whether in automation, chemistry, equipment, or digital infrastructure—share one core belief:

Custom-built solutions drive better results.

That’s why operators who are serious about growth choose OhmCo.

If you want:

more memberships
better branding
a high-performing website
stronger SEO
consistent social media
higher ROI
and a partner who understands the industry

You’re in the right place.

Your wash is unique.
Your digital system should be too.

Let OhmCo build it—Lab by Lab.

In today’s competitive car wash industry, customized solutions are no longer a luxury reserved for large operators; they are a fundamental requirement for long-term success. Every high-performing wash is built around a unique combination of layout, equipment, chemistry, traffic patterns, labor needs, and customer expectations. Because no two washes operate the same way, the tools that support them must be capable of adapting to these differences. That is why the most forward-thinking operators and manufacturers are moving away from prefabricated, generic tools and choosing systems built specifically for their wash. This same philosophy is at the heart of everything we create at OhmCo, the industry’s leading agency for car wash websites, social media, branding, SEO, signage, and digital growth systems. If your equipment is custom-built, your marketing and digital infrastructure should be equally intentional.

Companies like Sgt. Sudz have helped push the industry forward by demonstrating what truly custom engineering looks like. Their control systems are not pulled off a shelf or re-labeled from a mass-production line. Instead, they are designed to match the exact specifications of each wash, built to order, and assembled in the United States. This approach solves real-world operational challenges by improving equipment performance, increasing reliability, reducing downtime, and offering operators systems that fit their physical space and workflow. At OhmCo, we apply the same principle to the digital side of the business. Operators should not settle for generic marketing solutions any more than they would accept generic equipment. Your wash has a unique identity, audience, and revenue model, and your digital presence must reflect that.

OhmCo is distinct in the car wash industry because we do not function like a traditional marketing agency. We function more like a manufacturer of digital systems. Everything we produce is designed from the ground up for car washes, using processes that are modular, repeatable, customizable, and scalable. Our work takes place inside specialized Labs that act as focused production environments, each built to support operators through a different phase of their digital ecosystem.

Web.Lab serves as the foundation of this ecosystem. Unlike template-based website platforms or generic agencies, Web.Lab delivers fully customized websites designed around the operational realities of modern car washes. Each site is built for performance, speed, and conversion, with structures optimized for local SEO, membership growth, and AI-driven search. Integrations with systems like Rinsed and DRB are supported at the platform level, and operators receive drag-and-drop backend access that lets them update content easily without technical knowledge. The result is a custom-built digital control center that performs at a higher level than any off-the-shelf website solution.

Co.Lab expands this ecosystem by providing a social media studio tailored specifically to the needs of car wash operators. Rather than relying on random content or recycled graphics, Co.Lab creates messaging and campaigns that increase demand, lift engagement, and drive sustained membership behavior. Operators can choose between a DIY scheduling solution powered by our white-labeled automation platform or a full-service, agency-driven social media strategy that includes creative production, storytelling, paid advertising management, and monthly performance analytics. Everything is designed around measurable revenue outcomes rather than superficial engagement metrics.

Design.Lab provides the visual infrastructure that shapes a wash’s identity. Branding, logos, signage packages, menu boards, wraps, and themed visual systems are created with the same level of craftsmanship and precision that equipment manufacturers apply to their builds. Strong branding influences customer trust, purchasing behavior, and perceived value, and Design.Lab ensures that every touchpoint inside and outside the wash reflects a consistent, high-quality identity.

Data.Lab complements this by giving operators the analytics they need to understand how their digital ecosystem is performing. Website traffic, user paths, search engine rankings, keyword movement, ad conversion rates, and membership behaviors are monitored and translated into actionable insights. Just as equipment manufacturers like Sgt. Sudz are building systems that allow operators to access operational data remotely, OhmCo is doing the same for digital performance data, ensuring operators can make informed decisions from anywhere.

Sign.Lab and Photo.Lab strengthen the on-site customer experience. Signage clarity and high-quality imagery play a critical role in how customers perceive a wash, how quickly they make purchase decisions, and how effectively they navigate the property. Our signage systems reduce confusion, strengthen upsells, and elevate the perceived quality of the wash, while Photo.Lab delivers professional, editorial-style imagery that enhances marketing materials, websites, and social content.

Every Lab at OhmCo operates with the same discipline and intentionality found in top-tier manufacturing. We do not outsource randomly, recycle old templates, or promise results built on guesswork. We build. We refine. We engineer solutions that work. This is why operators trust OhmCo not just as a marketing provider but as a long-term strategic partner. Our systems are constructed to solve real business challenges, drive measurable growth, and position operators for the future of AI-driven search, digital customer behavior, and increasingly competitive local markets.

The companies shaping the future of the car wash industry—whether in automation, chemistry, equipment, or digital infrastructure—share a single guiding belief: custom-built solutions deliver better outcomes. This is why operators who are serious about growth choose OhmCo. If you want stronger branding, higher membership conversions, a high-performing website, consistent social media, improved SEO, and a partner who understands the realities of your business, you are in the right place. Your wash is unique. Your digital system should be equally unique. At OhmCo, we are ready to build it with you, one Lab at a time.

Is your website costing you customers?

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:41:08 GMT

Your Website Is Costing You Customers

(and How to Fix It Without Breaking the Bank)

(Based on Mel Ohlinger’s 2025 NRCC Presentation in Atlantic City)

We’re headed back to Atlantic City this October 6–8 for the 35th Annual Northeast Regional Carwash Convention (NRCC), and this year’s event is extra special: Mel Ohlinger, founder and CEO of OhmCo, is taking the stage. Yep — our very own leader will be sharing insights alongside some of the top voices in the car wash industry. If you couldn’t make it to the live session, here’s the full story behind her presentation, “Why Your Website Is Costing You Customers (and How to Fix It Without Breaking the Bank),” reimagined in essay form.

Your Website Is Costing You Customers

(and How to Fix It Without Breaking the Bank)

Back in the day, if customers didn’t spot your car wash from the road, they found you in the Yellow Pages. Visibility was physical — a sign, a billboard, a phone book listing. But times have changed. Today, your website is the Yellow Pages, and if it’s slow, outdated, or invisible on Google, you’re losing business before your customers even pull into the lot. Your website is your digital front door — the first impression, the 24/7 greeter, the salesperson who never calls in sick. But if that digital presence doesn’t perform, it quietly erodes your reach, your reputation, and your revenue.

Over the past two decades, how people search for businesses has transformed dramatically, and now we’re standing at the edge of the biggest shift yet. For 25 years, Google worked in a predictable way: you typed a few keywords, got ten blue links, maybe clicked on a paid ad. But since ChatGPT hit 700 million users, people stopped typing short phrases and started having full conversations. We don’t “search” the internet anymore — we talk to it. And Google is adapting by shifting to AI Mode, an agent-based model that reads, interprets, and responds to natural conversation. Soon, instead of typing “car wash near me,” customers will ask, “What’s the best express car wash near me with ceramic coating?” and Google’s AI will recommend a business based on everything it already knows — the customer’s car type, location history, spending patterns, and preferred routes.

I Don’t Build Websites for People

— I Build Them for Robots to Find.

This marks a complete redefinition of visibility. For the first time, your website isn’t just being read by people — it’s being interpreted by machines. These “robots” are constantly crawling the internet, indexing information, and using it to make decisions about which businesses to show in search results. If those robots don’t understand who you are or what you do, your business simply won’t appear as an option.

How Google’s Robots “See” Your Website:

Google's SEO Starter Guide

✔ One <H1> Tag per page
✔ Subtopics as <H2> & <H3>

✔ Short, scannable headings
✔ Internal links for Navigation

✔ Mobile friendly

✔ 200 words per page: Give Google content to read

✔ Regular updates: New or refreshed content quarterly

At OhmCo, we build a lot of car wash websites. And while our goal is always to create something visually stunning for humans, we also know that websites must first be legible to robots. Google’s bots don’t see beauty — they see structure, clarity, and consistency. Think of your website as an essay: the H1 tag is your title, your H2s and H3s are subheadings, and your internal links are transitions between ideas. Your images include alt text — captions that describe what’s on screen for those who can’t “see.” SEO, or search engine optimization, isn’t about tricking the system. It’s more like proofreading. A well-structured essay gets a better grade. A well-structured website gets a better ranking.

In my 18 years of designing and optimizing websites, I’ve learned that great SEO doesn’t come from secret hacks or expensive monthly services — it comes from consistency, structure, and care. Start by making sure your logo in the top left links to your homepage. On that homepage, write a short paragraph that describes everything you do. Every page should have its own unique meta title and description, which is the text Google displays when your site shows up in search results. Every image needs alt text that accurately describes what’s pictured, because those invisible details are what search engines actually “see.” Keep your pages alive by updating or republishing content regularly, and make sure your footer includes navigation links, your address, contact information, a sitemap, and a privacy policy. Add links to your social pages, include a copyright line, and aim for at least 200–500 words of real, readable content per page. These aren’t expensive fixes — they’re thoughtful, structured practices that make your site easier for Google’s robots to read, index, and share with new customers.

Mel’s SEO Starter Guide

✔ Logo top-left, linked to home

✔ Homepage: Short paragraph summarizing what you do

✔ Meta titles + descriptions: Unique for every page

✔ Optimize images: Add alt text and keyword metadata

✔ Redirects: Fix or delete broken pages

✔ Footer: Navigation links, sitemap, privacy policy

✔ Social links: Show activity and credibility

✔ 200–500 words per page: Give Google content to read

✔ Regular updates: New or refreshed content quarterly

These aren’t expensive fixes — they’re smart, simple habits that make your website legible to robots and visible to customers.

Metadata, Alt Text, and Open Graphs: The Hidden Goldmine

To understand how this works in action, think about metadata and alt text. When you search online, the blue title you see in the results is your meta title, and the snippet below it is your meta description. Most car wash sites use the same title across every page or leave them blank, which hurts rankings. We’ve made this process easy at OhmCo. Our Web.Lab platform connects directly to ChatGPT, allowing car wash owners to generate optimized meta titles and alt text instantly. Even better, our built-in SEO scanner flags missing data and helps users fix it on the spot, ensuring every image and page is properly labeled. These small details may seem invisible, but to Google, they’re the difference between a site that looks alive and one that looks forgotten.

These invisible pieces may seem small, but together, they’re what make your website “speak robot.”Training Google’s AI: Data In, Customers Out

When it comes to search visibility, your website isn’t just a static document — it’s a living signal. Every time you update your hours, post a photo, or add a new page, you’re training Google’s AI to understand your business. Every outdated menu or broken link sends the opposite signal — that your information is unreliable. Think of it as data hygiene. Just as you wouldn’t ignore a maintenance issue in your wash bay, you shouldn’t let your website deteriorate either. A quarterly SEO checkup is the new norm. Verify your hours, replace outdated photos, update your privacy policies, and post something new. Each small update compounds like interest, building trust over time.

Blogs, FAQs, and the Power of Fresh Content

One of the easiest ways to keep your site fresh is through blogs or FAQs. Each new article gives Google more context about your expertise and helps answer real customer questions. You don’t have to be a writer — just start by answering things you hear every week. Should I wash my car after it rains? What’s the difference between wax and ceramic coating? How often should I clean my undercarriage in winter? A short 500-word blog post that answers these questions, mentions your city, and links back to your homepage gives you twelve new opportunities a year to show up in search results. Each post also doubles as a social media caption, a Google Business update, or even a quick video script. One good idea can fuel content across every platform.

Reviews, Maps, and Local SEO

Beyond content, reviews and maps are becoming even more powerful in AI-driven search. Reviews are the internet’s word-of-mouth, and they directly influence how search engines evaluate your trustworthiness. The more reviews you have, the more visible you become. Keywords inside reviews help you rank, and your replies to customer feedback show engagement — something Google increasingly rewards. To take advantage of this, claim your listings on Google Maps, Apple Maps, Bing, and Waze. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are identical everywhere. Add a “See Our Reviews” link in your footer, and make a habit of asking one happy customer every day to leave feedback.

Even your website footer — the part most people overlook — plays a big role in credibility. Think of it as your business card at the bottom of every page. It should include your full address, phone number, key navigation links, a sitemap, privacy and terms of use pages, and, if possible, links to reviews or certifications. Google’s crawlers scan footers for consistency, and older users often scroll straight there for contact info. It’s a small section, but it can make a big difference.

The importance of SEO isn’t theoretical. We’ve seen it in the data. Two nearly identical car wash sites with only a fourteen-point difference in SEO score had dramatically different traffic results. The higher-scoring site saw 6,200 more visitors per month — that’s over 12,000 extra eyes on the business every month, simply because it was easier for Google to read.

All of this comes back to one idea: your website is equipment. It needs to be maintained, cleaned, and updated regularly. No website is ever perfect — and perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is. Every small fix builds momentum. Every update teaches the robots a little more about who you are. The more they know you, the more people they’ll bring you.

You don’t need to spend a fortune on SEO packages or ads. You just need clarity, structure, and consistency. Show up with accurate information, keep your content fresh, and give search engines something solid to work with. Over time, your website stops being a cost center and starts becoming a true asset — one that’s open 24/7 and quietly bringing customers to your bay.

At OhmCo, that’s what we build for. We don’t just make websites that look great — we make websites that work. If you’re ready to start improving yours, our Web.Lab platform giv es you everything you need: drag-and-drop simplicity, AI-powered SEO tools, and real support from car wash industry pros. Your physical wash may run on water and chemistry, but your digital presence runs on data and trust. And when both are working together, your business shines — online and on-site.

Texas SB140 and Text Message Marketing - What you need to know.

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 17:41:45 GMT

Car Wash Marketing Just Got a Little Trickier in Texas (and Beyond). What's in Texas SB140?

SMS marketing has been a solid tool for operators to stay in easy contact with their members, sell washes, promote features, and send important site or weather updates. UNTIL NOW!

Kidding....kidding. But if you're a Texas operator, or an operator that sends marketing text messages to Texans, there's a new senate bill that can land you in some very hot water if you aren't compliant, and it's already in effect as of this post's publication (and Ken Paxton, for better or worse, is a very active attorney general.)

Key Points to Know

Sales Texts = Telemarketing
If you’re sending sales-related texts to Texas residents (think: “Join our Unlimited Wash Club today” or “Half off your next wash!”), those messages are now considered “telephone solicitation” under Texas law.
Registration + Bond Required
Businesses may need to register with the state, pay a $200 annual fee , and provide a $10,000 surety bond .

Note: You don’t hand over $10,000 in cash. Instead, you pay a bonding company a small annual premium, and the bond covers you as required.

May Apply Beyond Texas Residents
While there’s still some debate, the law could also apply if your business is based in Texas , even if you text customers outside the state.
Timing Matters
Texas already restricts telemarketing calls to between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. . It’s not 100% clear yet if this applies to texts, but to play it safe (and avoid annoying your customers), stick to those hours.
Lawsuits Are a Real Risk
Violations can be costly: up to $5,000 per message . On top of that, customers can sue for economic or mental anguish damages, and courts can award up to triple damages if the violation was knowing or intentional.
Federal Rules Still Apply
The federal TCPA requires prior consent for marketing texts. That hasn’t changed—SB 140 just raises the stakes in Texas.

Registration Requirements

If you fall under these new rules, here’s what Texas will expect:

Register with the Texas Secretary of State for each business location.
Pay a $200 annual filing fee .
Provide a $10,000 security deposit via bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit.
Submit your business details (owners, addresses, sample text messages).
Renew registration every year.

Exemptions

Some businesses don’t need to register. Exemptions include:

Car washes (or other businesses) that have been contacting current or former customers under the same name for at least 2 years .
Public companies, financial institutions, schools, nonprofits, and food marketing businesses.
Brick-and-mortar retailers (like a car wash) operating for 2+ years where most sales happen in-store .
Businesses contracting with exempt sellers (3+ years in operation, 75% of contracts with exempt entities).
One-off, isolated transactions not part of a regular pattern.

If your wash has been around a while and most of your promotions go to existing members or customers, there’s a good chance you fall under one of these exemptions.

Best Practices for Car Wash Operators

Even if you qualify for an exemption, SB 140 is a wake-up call to tighten up SMS marketing practices. Here’s how to protect your wash:

Check Your Message Content – Is it truly marketing, or is it informational? (Example: “We’re closed today for maintenance” ≠ telemarketing. “Get 20% off today only” = telemarketing.)
Know Who You’re Contacting – Customers vs. leads. Existing customers may be exempt; leads likely aren’t.
Respect Timing – Keep sends between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the customer’s time zone.
Get Prior Consent – Always have clear opt-ins before texting. Document everything.
Make Opt-Out Easy – Let people unsubscribe quickly and track it across your system.
Talk to Legal Counsel – Laws like this are still evolving. An attorney can help you make the right calls.

Keep On Textin'...Responsibly

Like any new piece of legislation, it'll take some time to see how this really impacts Texas operators. If you're already working with a marketing agency that handles sms marketing on your behalf, checking in to make sure that you're compliant is a good first step. If you handle this internally, taking some time to look over your current practices and making sure that they align with everything outlined in the bill is a good idea as well.

The next few years are going to be weird in the world of carwash marketing. With the federal government melting down daily, leaving states to start increasing regulations on everything from SMS marketing to use of AI, coordinating marketing efforts between multiple locations in multiple states is going to get dicey. Keep your customer lists up to date, understand the privacy and data protection laws that apply to you, and, if the return isn't quite worth the trouble, start diverting marketing resources to less risky channels.

Why the 2025 LWF Growth Summit Matters for Car Wash Leaders

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:50:42 GMT

Why the 2025 LWF Growth Summit Matters for Car Wash Leaders

Where Real Car Wash Leadership Meets Real-World Strategy

At OhmCo, we’ve worked alongside car wash owners, operators, and growing teams long enough to know one thing for sure: The biggest factor in a car wash’s long-term success isn’t equipment or marketing—it’s leadership.

That’s why the 2025 LWF Growth Summit caught our attention. Happening September 22–23 in Arvada, Colorado, this two-day event from Leadership Worth Following (LWF) is built for car washers, by car washers and focused entirely on helping car wash professionals lead with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Why This Summit Stands Out

Unlike most industry events that center around new tech or flashy tools, the Growth Summit is all about people—and the power of investing in them. Whether you’re an owner, site leader, or emerging team member, the event is designed to help you grow in your role and lead your team with intention. From peer roundtables to breakout sessions on team dynamics, sales, and culture-building, the focus is clear: help car wash leaders become people worth following.

Speakers from Across the Industry:

LWF has put together a strong lineup of speakers including:

Nick Lopez , Bubble Bath Car Wash
Amanda Beckett , Paek Group
Destiny Baker , Mammoth Holdings
Ryan Easter , The Allied Advantage
Matt DeWolf , MK Quinn Media

Attendees will also receive the LWF Growth Guide , a post-event workbook designed to help bring insights back to the business and put them into action.

The Bottom Line

If you're serious about growing as a leader—or developing a team that drives your business forward—the 2025 LWF Growth Summit deserves your attention.

We all know that equipment matters, marketing matters, and customer service matters. But when it comes down to it, the real differentiator in a car wash business is your people. And yet, finding real, actionable leadership development in this industry isn’t easy.

That’s exactly what makes the LWF Growth Summit different.

Built for car washers, by car washers, this event brings together forward-thinking professionals who are committed to growth, culture, and impact. It’s not about buzzwords or hype—it’s about practical leadership strategies you can take home and put to work.

Whether you’re just stepping into a leadership role or have years of experience, this summit is designed to challenge your thinking, unlock your potential, and help you build teams that lead with purpose. You’ll be surrounded by a community of peers who push each other to grow—not just professionally, but personally.

Through keynote sessions, breakout discussions, and peer-led roundtables, attendees will explore what it really means to lead with curiosity, commitment, and empowerment. You’ll leave with more than just inspiration. You’ll leave with a plan.

�� Learn more or register here: https://www.leadershipworthfollowing.org/

We’re excited to see how this event continues shaping the future of the car wash industry through people-first leadership—and we’ll be cheering on everyone who chooses to grow.

Why We’re Headed to Atlantic City for the 35th NRCC — And Why You Should Too

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:40:48 GMT

Why We’re Headed to Atlantic City, NJ for the 35th NRCC

And Why You Should Too

We’re headed back to Atlantic City this October 6–8 for the 35th Annual Northeast Regional Carwash Convention (NRCC) — and this year’s extra special: Mel Olinger from OhmCo is taking the stage.

Yep, you read that right. Our very own founder will be sharing the mic alongside some of the top minds in the industry.

Mel's Topic? Websites That Actually Work

Mel’s session is called “Why Your Website is Costing You Customers (and how to fix it)” , and it’s built for operators who are ready to stop treating their website like an afterthought — and start treating it like a revenue stream.

Whether you’re launching your first location or managing a growing brand, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to:

Fix what’s broken on your current site
Avoid the top five mistakes we see over and over
And finally, turn your website into your best-performing location

It’s fast-paced, practical, and (of course) kind of fun.

The Education Hits Different

What makes NRCC stand out? The education is unsponsored . That means every speaker is there to teach — not pitch. From sales and signage to site design and staff training, these sessions are full of actionable, practical insight. We’re especially excited for:

Garry Ridge , former CEO of WD-40, delivering a powerful keynote on leadership and building trust
Col. Pilar McDermott teaching how to have tough-but-necessary conversations with your team
And yes — we’re even speaking! Our own Mel Olinger will cover how your website might be costing you customers (and what to do about it)

Our Favorite Session? The Virtual Carwash Tour

Every year, Suzanne Stansbury curates an epic virtual tour of some of the most innovative car washes from around the world. This year’s lineup includes locations from the Netherlands, Canada, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

“It’s always packed,” Suzanne says. “People look forward to it. You barely see anyone on their phone — they’re all watching.”
We’re already blocking our calendar for that one.

More Space, More Connections

This year, the show floor expands to over 54,000 square feet — and there’s a clear focus on connection. More informal meetups. More social events. More chances to build relationships with vendors, operators, and leaders you’ve only known by name. And did we mention the food? From hot breakfasts to the Simoniz Celebration, we’re not complaining. Whether you're running a single site or scaling a multi-location brand, the NRCC is where real conversations happen — and where growth begins.

We’ll see you in Atlantic City.

NRCC Is More Than a Trade Show

If you’ve never been, NRCC isn’t just booths and brochures. It’s packed with education that isn’t sponsored — which means every speaker is there to teach, not sell. The sessions are useful, the people are real, and the connections are the kind that actually lead to results.

Plus:

Garry Ridge , former CEO of WD-40, is this year’s keynote
Col. Pilar McDermott will train leaders on how to have hard conversations
The Virtual Carwash Tour is back (and it’s always packed)
And there’s more food, more networking, and more energy than ever

�� Stop by our booth. Grab a coffee. Let’s talk carwash websites, marketing, and how to make your digital presence as strong as your wash.

�� Register at nrccshow.com
�� Want to learn more? Check out https://nrccshow.com/

Grow Car Wash Memberships with Gaffney Consulting

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:28:28 GMT

Grow Your Car Wash Membership Program — Without the Gimmicks

How Gaffney Consulting Helps Car Washes Drive Real, Repeatable Revenue

How Gaffney Consulting Helps Car Washes Drive Real, Repeatable Revenue

In today’s competitive car wash landscape, having a great membership program isn’t optional — it’s essential. But launching a program is only half the battle. Selling it, training your team, and actually growing your recurring revenue month after month? That’s where most operators struggle.

Enter James Gaffney .

As the founder of Gaffney Consulting , James has spent his career helping car wash operators strengthen the systems that actually drive membership growth. No gimmicks. No endless discounts. Just clear, proven strategies that work — especially in the real world of in-bay automatics and express tunnels.

What Gaffney Consulting Offers:

James specializes in hands-on, on-site consulting designed specifically for car wash businesses that want to:

Train staff to confidently and consistently sell unlimited plans
Increase membership sign-ups without relying on discounted pricing
Boost retention through smarter conversations and better service
Create a membership culture that turns front-line staff into salespeople
Streamline sales messaging and align it with signage and POS

He works directly with your team, in your location, using the tools and systems you already have. Whether you’re using Rinsed, Car Wash App, DRB, or something else entirely, James knows how to help your people succeed — and make your program profitable.

Built for Real Car Washes

James has helped grow membership programs in express washes, in-bay automatics, and hybrids across the country. He understands the operational realities of this industry — from staff turnover and tight labor markets to complex platform transitions. His style is straightforward, results-driven, and easy for teams to implement quickly.

Already have a membership program in place and staff on-site? You’re ready for James.

Why Partner with Gaffney Consulting?

At OhmCo, we recommend James to car wash operators who need more than just good design or solid branding. If you’ve got the tools but not the traction, James can help you:

Build a stronger sales process
Get more out of your POS and signage
Train your staff to believe in your membership program
Increase long-term revenue — not just wash volume

He only takes on a limited number of clients each year, so every engagement is personalized, in-depth, and focused on ROI.

Ready to Grow?

If you're looking to build a membership program that actually sticks — and sells — we strongly recommend reaching out to Gaffney Consulting .

�� Contact James Gaffney Now
(Let him know OhmCo sent you!)

P.S. Want to get your signage and branding in sync with your new membership strategy? Let’s talk — we’re already collaborating with James to make sure your visual messaging supports the sale.

OhmCo & CarWashApp.com Join Forces to Supercharge Carwash Memberships

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:09:25 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OhmCo and CarWashApp.com Join Forces to Supercharge Car Wash Memberships

Neenah, WI – June 16, 2025

OhmCo, the design-focused digital marketing agency for the car wash industry, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with CarWashApp.com, a brandable, progressive web app built to help car washes of all types and sizes run their memberships, promotions, and online sales—simply and affordably. This partnership brings together OhmCo’s powerful digital marketing tools—including Web.Lab, Co.Lab, and Data.Lab—with CarWashApp’s sleek and scalable customer engagement platform. Together, the two companies make it easier than ever for car wash operators to fully brand, launch, grow, and retain profitable membership programs—without the hassle of juggling multiple systems or vendors.

“We’re thrilled to work with CarWashApp.com,” said Mel Ohlinger, Founder and CEO of OhmCo. “Our clients want simple, effective ways to set up wash promotions to partner them with current events and holidays to create better customer experiences and community engagement. This platform delivers exactly that—and fits seamlessly into the websites, branding, and marketing campaigns we already build for car washes nationwide.”

CarWashApp.com is the only car wash app with a capped monthly fee, so operators can scale their business without sacrificing a growing percentage of revenue. The app integrates with most tunnel controllers, in-bay automatics, self-serve bays, vacuums, and dog wash stations—empowering customers to sign up in seconds, manage their accounts, and refer friends with ease.

Paired with OhmCo’s Web.Lab platform (for high-performance car wash websites), Co.Lab (for social media and content scheduling), and Data.Lab (for marketing automation and analytics), this integration creates a full-service solution that allows even the smallest operators to compete with national chains. Operators can launch a fully branded app experience—including referral programs, promotional campaigns, and online memberships—in as little as 7–10 days with this powerful combination of carwash technology and teams.

About OhmCo: OhmCo is a creative digital agency built specifically for the car wash industry. Their suite of services includes web development (Web.Lab), social media management (Co.Lab), digital marketing (Data.Lab), branding, design, and automation tools—all tailored to help car washes grow revenue and build loyal customer bases. To learn more or launch your own branded car wash app, visit:
https://www.carwash-marketing.com/carwash-app

Media Contact:

Mel Ohlinger (Founder & CEO of OhmCo)

HELLO@ohmco.co

The Car Wash Show 2025: OhmCo Recap

Wed, 21 May 2025 14:40:22 GMT

The International Car Wash Show 2025 (ICA 2025)

HOW TO WORRY ABOUT SHIPPING SO MUCH YOU GET AN ULCER

We made it to Vegas—and back! The Car Wash Show 2025 was a wild ride from start to finish, full of surprises, laughter, and some very real “what on earth is happening?” moments. We had issues with nearly every flight and ended up staying at home for what was supposed to be our first night in Vegas because our flight didn't go out. There were SO MANY UNEXPECTED things, but we also got to see SO MANY friendly faces and hear what everyone was up to! While the third day was totally dead, the first two days were pretty good. I wasn't sure if I would do it again, but... keep reading to find out, haha.

Getting There? Chaos.

Our original flight? Cancelled. The backup? Rescheduled. Our itinerary turned into a puzzle that even ChatGPT couldn’t solve (okay, maybe it could, but we weren’t thinking straight). Mike and I split up and both waited in different lines to try and get the best opportunity to find different flights. We were even prepared to drive to Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison or Chicago! However, none of them were an option. So that first night we ended up staying at home. The nice part was we got to see the kids again before we left. The scary part was that all our luggage had disappeared. Mike had the good sense to put tracking tags in everything and we got to watch it fly away. After hours on hold, we found out we'd have to track it down in Minneapolis between flights the next day. SOOOOO that was a relaxing, haha. Somehow, we manage to get a few hours of sleep, up early the next day, found the luggage, found our tradeshow booth, and then landed in Vegas with all our gear and just enough energy to walk around Vegas, find a CVS and stock up on snacks and water, get an amazing hot dog for dinner, a little gelato, and got to bed at a good time to make it to setup.

Set-up was hard only because we've never done it before. While we had rented out a room at our local library and did a preliminary run, we've never put all the pieces together at the same time. Some things were smashed in transit and we had to figure out a way to hide the bumps and lumps. It all worked out just find and we were pretty proud of the final result... with our favorite being the inflatable!

The Booth? Inflatable (Yes, Really).

I designed an inflatable booth—and kept it a secret until showtime. It was a hit! People came over just to ask about it, and now we’re getting requests to make inflatables for other people. Our friends would smile just the biggest, cheesy smiles when they saw it and said they'd never seen anything like it at the carwash show before. And to be honest, that's what we wanted to hear!

We’ve made booths for clients before, but designing one for ourselves was an entirely different kind of design project. I thought it was so fun and it came to me quite easily. When working with the engineering team, we only needed two design rounds to get the correct height and shape for it to support itself. I always tell Mike that in another life I was an architect, haha. SO if anyone wants a customized inflatable for their carwash, I can do it! It's SO FUN!

But the main goal behind the inflatable was to have a tradeshow booth that would fit in a suitcase. Our buddy Aden at Air Freshener Marketing had, had bad luck with booth stuff not showing up, and to avoid that having a checked bag seems preferable. However, when that almost went missing somewhere between Wisconsin and Minneapolis, that nearly everything gave me a second ulcer (not figuratively). From shipment schedules to carpet costs (don’t even ask), it was a logistical tightrope walk. But it worked—and we loved it.

Big thanks to Jim at https://carwashbizcenter.com for taking a picture of us on the first day with our matching red outfits. We didn't think to do that the first day because there was so much going on, so it was such a lovely surprise to see the OhmCo featured on Carwash Biz Center! It was nice to see us looking all cute at our inflatable booth.

LWF + OhmCo = A Party in the Corner

One of the crazy last minute projects before the show was to finish and launch Leadership Worth Following's (LWF) new website . It was down to the last second, but we managed to get it done with the help of their amazing new president, Tara Baugher, and the editing guru, Matt Dewolf. I don't even know if everyone knew that we got it done, but in honor of getting that project done, and bringing attention to their new leadership Event, everyone gathered at our booth to celebrate the launch (check it out if you haven’t!).

We were in a corner spot—by choice, thank you very much. ICA didn’t “put baby in the corner,” we picked that spot on purpose. It’s cozy. We were next to our buddies. We like it, haha.
#naughtykidsclub

So even with this very boring post from LWF, we still had a full booth despite our terrible tradeshow spot:

LET'S MEET UP!

Join us at the ICA Expo in Vegas for a fun social gathering and meet-up. Introductions and getting acquainted with leaders of our industry.

Hope to see you there!

Saturday @ 3:00p local time
OhmCo Booth #2903

DONE WITH DAY ONE

Pack up was a sinch each night! All we did was unplug and deflate! It was SO EASY! You might have noticed the red phone? That was a fun idea we had so if we had to leave the booth to help film, photograph, or go to the bathroom, that we still had a way to take calls. True to car washing form, we didn't get any serious leads on the phone call, but we did get a lot of hilarious messages. By the way, you're all a bunch of trouble makers and I'm telling your moms.

Meddy from Hello Wash set us up an entire messaging service and it was THE COOLEST THING! Unfortunately I could not figure out how to make it work for the show, but I want to do it for NRCC. Meddy was one of our booth neighbors and it was a blast being next to him. Sometimes Mike and I can be shy, but Meddy doesn't allow that to happen and he pushes us to be the best us. For example, he said to me, "Tell me about websites and graphic design..." and I was so thrown off that I replied, "We do websites and graphic design." And the LOOK OF DISAPPROVAL HE GAVE ME was the worst and the best at the same time. It's burned into my brain. Oh my gosh, he cracks me up.

The Best Part? Always the People.

We got to reconnect with so many of our favorite customers and meet a ton of new folks. We got to be right next to Petit and Jason Hayes, which is the entire reason we have a business. I know nearly everyone knows, but we love working with them. They're lovely. We also got to be next to Dencar too, which finally getting a chance to talk to Shara (we've only really emailed before this) was so helpful and it helped us roll out the updates to all our Dencar customer websites. So even though we had a really weird corner spot because we're newbies, it was really fun to be next to our buddies. It was a great first show spot.

I hate that we were so far away from some of our friends though. Arcadian was doing live demos and we had to sprint across the show floor multiple times. Luckily Matt DeWolf uploaded all his interviews so we got to tune in. Brian did a preview of a car repair kit and I totally missed it. Sgt. Sudz, Wash Brands , and HydroSpray weren't terribly far from us, but because they were blocked by giant booths, it was like crossing the Himalayas to get to them. And don't tell me that Wash Brands is supposed to be our enemies because they're our competitors. We love them and can talk to them all day. We have a lot in common, you know, haha. Carwash marketers UNITE! :)

Honestly, we’re still laughing at some of the jokes we heard. (You know who you are.) We even launched a website while we were at the show—because of course we did. Congrats to David on your new website, haha! We also squeezed in some good eats (Batista’s Hole in the Wall— I had the ravioli and I won’t stop talking about it), supported our friends at Car Wash After Dark and Talk Car Wash , and finally put some real faces to names we’ve known for years.

Trade Show Lessons (the hard way)

Carpet is shockingly expensive.
Electricity upgrades are even worse.
A music case makes an excellent shipping crate/desk combo.
Sleep is optional but highly recommended.
Don't forget your tradeshow booth insurance. We didn't, but I think it's a good reminder, haha.
Use tracking tags in everything.
Get ulcer meds to make it easier to eat.

Coming Home? Also Chaos.

Our flight home was delayed. Mike and Mel didn’t even get to sit together. We ran to our gate in Minneapolis like it was the final scene in a rom-com. Spoiler alert: we made it, but just barely. Then we slept, got sick (as per usual), got better, and started doing a million meetings to catch up after the show.

What's Next?

We weren’t sure we wanted to do Nashville… but we signed up. Yes, the booth location isn’t great again (we’re sensing a trend), so if you’re reading this and planning any events, invite us—we bring snacks, inflatable booths, and great conversation.

Thanks to everyone who made Vegas worth the stress. We came home with new projects, exciting meetings, and very full hearts (and carry-ons).

Packed up and ready to go home to Wisconsin! Give us a call to start your next carwash website, digital marketing, and design project!

Heartland Car Wash Show: A Look Back, A Look Forward

Thu, 01 May 2025 23:01:02 GMT

The Heartland Car Wash Show 2025

A Look Back, A Look Forward

Last week, Mel and I had the chance to attend the Heartland Car Wash Show in Council Bluffs, Iowa—a regional event that’s trying to find its footing again after a few bumpy years. If you’ve never been, the Heartland Show has historically drawn together car wash professionals from across the Midwest, but this year’s event came with some caveats. While it wasn’t the most polished affair we’ve attended, we walked away with the impression that there’s real potential for this show to evolve into something meaningful. That is, if the organizers can push through the growing pains.

A Show in Recovery Mode

Let’s call it what it is: this year’s show felt like a reboot. After not being held for several years, Heartland is clearly still in recovery mode. That said, the bones of something valuable were there. Attendance was light—especially on the operator side—but given the circumstances, it wasn’t surprising. The show had originally been scheduled for September but was bumped up, leading to some understandable confusion and hesitation among vendors. There wasn’t a major promotional push leading into it either, and from what we heard on the floor, there was uncertainty right up until the final weeks about whether the show would even take place.

Despite the setbacks, there were bright spots.

A Bare-Bones Setup, But Valuable Content

Visually, the expo floor was sparse. Booths were simple—think folding tables and standing banners. It wasn’t a flashy, big-budget showcase. But what Heartland lacked in polish, it made up for in some surprisingly strong content.

Mel spoke on behalf of OhmCo about building brand loyalty through targeted social media campaigns. We’re obviously a little biased, but the session was well-received, and the feedback was encouraging. One standout presentation came from Nikita Klinisovs with McClean Solutions, who delivered a practical and engaging talk on boosting self-serve and in-bay automatic (IBA) revenue through site maintenance and strategic upgrades. His no-nonsense approach to improving profitability at underperforming sites was something attendees could take home and implement immediately.

The event itself was organized in part by Brad Quay of Quality Wash Solutions, a current board member of the Heartland Carwash Association. Brad was one of the more energizing forces behind this year’s show, and it’s clear he’s passionate about turning Heartland into a hub for meaningful regional connection. For those unfamiliar, Brad’s company, QWS, has been gaining traction across the Midwest with its focus on quality installs and customer service. It’s worth watching their growth.

We believe Heartland is one to keep on the radar. Next year’s event will be held at the same venue in Council Bluffs, and if the right steps are taken to improve marketing, vendor confidence, and attendee engagement, it could become a strong player in the trade show circuit.

Opportunity for In-Bay Thought Leadership

If you’re someone with expertise in the IBA space, there’s real opportunity to bring some much-needed thought leadership to the Heartland stage. There wasn’t a ton of focus on the IBA model this year, which feels like a missed opportunity considering how many operators in the Midwest are working with aging equipment and looking for solutions. A well-structured presentation on modernization, ROI-focused upgrades, or revenue diversification for in-bays could resonate deeply with this audience.

If that sounds like something you'd be interested in for 2026, let us know. We’d be happy to facilitate an introduction to Brad Quay if you haven't connected already. He’s been instrumental in keeping the association moving forward and would be a great resource as the Heartland team plans next year’s agenda.

Beyond the Booth: Four Innovators to Watch

While we’re on the topic of car wash innovation, we also wanted to float a few names your way—folks we’ve worked with or been following who are doing standout work in their respective corners of the industry. If you’re building out podcast content, working on media features, or simply looking to broaden your network, these people are worth a closer look.

1. James & Subeth Vanderwiele – Sgt. Sudz

We’ve worked with James and Subeth for several years now, and their approach to manufacturing Motor Control Centers (MCCs) is a breath of fresh air. Sgt. Sudz is a family-run business that prides itself on doing things the right way—no outsourcing, no fluff. They build what they sell, and they do it with a huge emphasis on quality and backroom efficiency.

What sets James apart is his ability to break down complex automation into plain English. He’s a natural storyteller, especially once he gets behind a mic. For anyone interested in exploring the backbone of automation in car washes—from MCC wiring to logic flows—James could deliver a killer podcast episode or feature interview.

2. Brian Donegan – AllWater Technologies

Brian is another standout voice in the water treatment and reclaim space. We’ve been collaborating with AllWater for a few months now, and their bio-based reclaim system has some truly wild use cases—especially for closed-loop environments and difficult soil conditions.

Brian is currently seeking media partners who can help tell their story. Their product line offers an alternative to chemical-heavy reclaim systems and helps car washes cut down on sludge, maintenance costs, and odor issues. If you're looking to feature environmentally conscious (and cost-conscious) innovations, this would be a fascinating angle.

3. Meddy – Hello Wash

We met Meddy a few years ago, and his company, Hello Wash, is really starting to turn heads after a strong debut at the SCWA show this year. Their flagship product is an AI-driven virtual assistant built entirely in-house. Unlike some of the larger tech players in this space, Hello Wash has created a lightweight, open-source system that’s significantly more affordable—and, honestly, more intuitive—than many of the incumbents.

The software can answer incoming calls, hold natural-sounding conversations, and even create service tickets automatically. It’s futuristic, but very grounded in car wash customer service needs. PC&D has already reached out to Meddy to appear on their Wash Talk podcast, so now would be the perfect time to connect before they start getting too much mainstream attention.

4. Brad Quay – Quality Wash Solutions

We already mentioned Brad, but he deserves another shoutout. In addition to helping organize Heartland, he’s built QWS into a standout service and installation company across the Midwest. They’re fast, transparent, and customer-obsessed. Brad’s experience on both the vendor and association side makes him a great candidate for a deeper conversation—especially if you're interested in what it takes to grow a brand in a highly fragmented market.

Marketing Momentum: Petit’s Growing Investment

On a side note, we were excited to meet Jay last week and hear more about Petit’s growing investment in marketing and internal talent. It’s a good sign. As equipment manufacturers, there's a natural tendency to focus heavily on engineering and technical innovation—which is great—but it’s even better when companies start telling their story more proactively.

Having more in-house marketing support can be a game-changer. You can already feel the momentum building, and we’re hoping it translates to stronger outreach, more consistent messaging, and a bigger footprint at events like Heartland and SCWA.

Wrapping It Up

So yeah, this message might have started as a bit of a brain dump, but there are some solid takeaways in here:

Heartland’s rebuilding – It’s not perfect, but it’s got potential. Low attendance this year doesn’t mean it can’t rebound. It just needs better prep and positioning.
Next year is a shot to contribute – If you've got expertise in in-bay systems or modernization strategies, consider speaking. That voice is missing right now.
New voices are emerging – From reclaim systems to automation tech, there are people doing great work who haven’t gotten much spotlight yet.
Petit’s marketing ramp-up is encouraging – If they keep investing in outreach, they’ll see dividends.

Let us know if you want intros to any of the folks we mentioned—we’d be more than happy to connect the dots. Between podcasts, trade media, or future collaborations, there’s plenty of room to build valuable conversations around what’s coming next in the car wash world.

And hey, if you’re still knee-deep in website chaos, we feel you. We’ve all been there. Let us know if we can jump in and help out.

Thanks for reading,
—Your Friends at OhmCo

Google Ads Changes

Thu, 01 May 2025 22:58:54 GMT

Google Ads Update: New Rules About Who’s Paying for Your Ads

What Car Wash Owners Need to Know About Upcoming Changes

Starting in May 2025 , Google is rolling out an update to its Ads Transparency policy that affects all advertisers — including car wash businesses like yours. This change is designed to give users more visibility into who is paying for ads, and it’s important that your account reflects the correct information.

Here’s what you need to know:

Phase 1: Starts in May 2025

Google will begin displaying the payer name — not just the advertiser name — in the Ads Transparency Center and “My Ad Center” panel. This means:

If your payment profile name is different from your Google Ads account name, users may see that name listed instead.
If you're working with an agency (like OhmCo), and the payment profile belongs to the client (you), that client name will show — not the agency name.
Agencies incorrectly verified as direct advertisers must re-verify as agencies before May 31, 2025 , or risk showing the wrong name.

Phase 2: Starts in June 2025

You’ll gain the ability to edit your displayed payer name :

Head to the advertiser verification page under your billing settings.
From June onward, any changes made to the payer name here will be shown to users instead of the payment profile name.
If you’re creating a new Google Ads account , the system will default to showing the payment profile name — unless you change it during the advertiser verification process.

Special Note for Election Ads

HAHAHA! Just kidding. We don't mix carwashes and politics... unless we need to BUT if you run election-related ads (very rare in the car wash world, but just in case), those verification policies stay the same. If you need to update your payer name, you'll have to go through election ad verification again .

What This Means for You

If OhmCo manages your ads and billing, rest easy — we’ll make sure everything is verified properly and displayed the way you want. But if you pay Google directly or have your own billing profile, now is the time to double-check your verification settings.

We’re here to help if you have any questions or want us to verify how your business name appears in Google’s system.

Questions?
Shoot us an email at hello@ohmco.co and we’ll walk you through it. As always, we’re on top of the tech so you can stay focused on running your wash.

The official letter from google:

Dear Advertiser,

Google is updating the Ads Transparency policy to include the display of additional information about the entity that pays for the ads. This update will take place in two phases.

In May 2025, Google will display the payment profile name as the payer name for verified advertisers, if that name differs from their verified advertiser name. For verified agency accounts, the client payment profile will be used for the payer name if that name differs from the verified advertiser name. The payer name will be visible in the “My Ad Center” panel and the Ads Transparency Center. Note: agency advertisers who are currently incorrectly verified as direct advertisers should reset their advertiser verification and re-verify as an agency before May 31, 2025 to ensure that the payer name is not incorrectly displayed as the agency name if that is not the intention.

In June 2025, Google Ads advertisers will be able to edit the displayed payer name by navigating to the advertiser verification page under billing. From that point forward, any changes an advertiser makes to their payer name will display instead of the payment profile name. Advertisers creating a Google Ads account will have their payment profile name displayed as the payer name unless they change it when they go through advertiser verification.

Election Ads verified advertisers have already provided their payer name during the verification process and their displayed payer name will continue to be managed under existing Election Ads verification policies. If an Election Ads verified advertiser wishes to update their payer name, they will need to complete election advertising verification again.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Google Ads Team

Precision, Pressure, and a Pitch: The Allen Jones Legacy

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 01 May 2025 21:10:05 GMT

Precision, Pressure, and a Pitch: The Allen Jones Legacy

By Mel Ohlinger
CEO of OhmCo

Before “touch-free” and “touchless” became buzzwords, they were the radical vision of Allen Jones—a mechanically minded Kiwi whose ingenuity changed the car wash industry forever. Today, drivers around the world enjoy high-tech washes that never touch their vehicles. Among the most iconic examples is the PDQ LaserWash: laser-precise, high-pressure, and renowned for delivering safety, speed, and shine. But few know the story of the New Zealand engineer who made it all possible.

The Spark of an Idea

Allen Jones grew up in New Zealand and launched his career in industrial automation, designing machines to streamline complex manufacturing processes. But inspiration struck during a stop at a gas station in the 1980s. Convenience stores were booming, but the car washes attached to them were outdated, inefficient—and often caused damage to vehicles.

These rollover-style systems with nylon bristles had dominated the petroleum industry for decades, but they had a poor reputation for cleaning performance, reliability, and profitability. “They were usually out of order,” Allen recalls, “and often offered as a free add-on after filling up with petrol.”

He saw an opportunity: What if this neglected part of the gas station could actually clean cars safely—and make money doing it?

Allen began to wonder—what if a standardized, scalable machine could be built to replace the one-off systems he’d been designing? What if it could use sensors, or even beams of light—lasers—to clean cars without contact?

As he began developing his concept, Allen focused on operators who could benefit the most from this breakthrough—gas jobbers, oil companies, and owners of self-serve sites who might convert a bay or two to a new kind of in-bay automatic system. “I always sold the car wash owner,” Allen explains, “but I focused on the needs of their customer.”

The First LaserWash

In 1984, Allen began developing a new kind of car wash—one that relied entirely on high-pressure water and smart controls. Inspired by large-scale train-washing systems he’d seen in Chicago; he designed a gantry-style unit that mapped the vehicle envelope with sensors and cleaned with advanced chemistry and precision water jets. He called it the LaserWash. The name—suggested by his then father-in-law, Mike Majchrzak—perfectly captured the machine’s futuristic appeal. It was years ahead of its time and ready to reshape the industry.

From New Zealand to Green Bay, Wisconsin

To commercialize the LaserWash, Allen founded the Pacific Car Wash Company and his team launched their New Zealand-manufactured, high-pressure LaserWash 3000 units into the U.S. market in 1986. But shipping from New Zealand posed serious challenges and costs. Facing a tough global economy, Allen made a bold move and relocated to the U.S. in 1988—bringing production, and his firstborn son Damon Jones, to Chicago. There, he began building the next-generation LaserWash 4000, which was introduced to the industry in 1989 at the McCormick Place Car Wash Show.

As Allen, Damon, and the Pacific Car Wash team prepared for that major trade show, their prototype was barely finished. They worked four straight days and nights to get the car wash show-ready. Damon remembers the paint still being wet as they set it up—and having to pick bugs out of the finish.

But the effort was worth it, because it was at that show that Allen crossed paths with Red Lewis—the heart of the Green Bay car wash community and founder of PDQ Manufacturing. Red had started PDQ in 1984 and was known for building his own equipment when nothing else met his standards. While most in the industry assumed PDQ stood for “Pretty Damn Quick,” Red gave it a more fitting meaning for his operation: Performance, Dependability, and Quality.

However, Red wasn’t immediately sold. He wanted to see real-world installations. So after visiting a few sites around Chicago in the following days, he saw Allen’s vision and was convinced that the LaserWash was the future of car washing. Allen and Red met again in Green Bay, where they agreed on terms of a merger—sealed with a handshake and stock options. From there, everything changed. Allen brought the invention; Red brought the platform to scale. Together, they launched LaserWash production in Wisconsin.

The Timing Was Perfect

By the early 1990s, the car wash industry was on the brink of a seismic shift due to changes in automotive paint. For decades, friction-based washes had ruled the landscape. Their spinning brushes functioned almost like buffing wheels—effective on the older lacquer and enamel finishes, which were tough enough to withstand the pressure.

But new environmental regulations required automakers to reduce VOC emissions. In response, they transitioned to basecoat/clearcoat paint systems with softer, water-based clear finishes. By 1994, nearly all vehicles featured these newer, more delicate coatings—finishes that did not respond well to harsh physical contact.

The shift validated Allen’s vision. What had once been a niche or novel idea was now a market necessity. Customers were worried about micro-scratches and clearcoat damage. Operators needed safer options. Customers wanted peace of mind. The market was primed for the LaserWash. Suddenly, everyone wanted—and needed—a “touch-free” way to wash.

Scaling a Revolution

The success of the LaserWash wasn’t just about smart engineering. It was about building trust. Operators who once doubted the power of a brushless wash soon shared stories of lower maintenance, happier customers, and better revenue. The LaserWash quickly earned a reputation for reliability—especially after surviving brutal Wisconsin winters while competitors failed. Allen, Red, and a third key player—Charlie Lieb—formed a powerhouse team. With relentless innovation and business savvy, they turned doubt into dominance. PDQ refined the system for different regions, climates, and car wash types. The LaserWash became a staple in gas stations, a hero in harsh environments, and a reliable in-bay automatic for self-serve sites.

One story that circulated widely among operators was about a LaserWash that ran flawlessly through one of the harshest Wisconsin winters on record, while other systems seized up in the cold. That rugged dependability helped elevate PDQ from niche innovator to industry leader.

PDQ also took things a step further. They dialed in the chemistry and calibration for different climates, ensuring that the LaserWash worked in coal towns, southern suburbs, and icy northern cities alike. It thrived in the petroleum industry as a premium add-on at gas stations, but it also became a standalone solution—often installed alongside self-serve bays in the in-bay automatic model we still see today.

At the same time, Allen kept innovating. With collaborators like Mark Cuddeback and Doug Diemel, he introduced dual chemical injectors, onboard dryers, heated soap systems, and vehicle contour-sensing. By 2000, the fifth-generation LaserWash—dubbed the G5—featured seven unique patents and a blend of mechanical simplicity and software intelligence. Allen’s drive pushed touch-free technology far beyond novelty—it became the standard. And once it took hold in Green Bay, the momentum was unstoppable.

They also nailed the branding. Instead of using the generic “touchless,” PDQ coined “Touch Free”—a cleaner, more distinctive term that stuck. National brands like Mobil took notice and began partnering with PDQ to install LaserWash systems across the U.S. and around the world. The LaserWash 4000 would go on to become one of the most successful in-bay automatics ever built.

One early installation at a Mobil convenience store in Boston captured just how impactful this shift was. Allen arrived at the brand-new twin LaserWash site with C-store executives in tow. When they asked the cashier how things were going, his response said it all: “We’re making more money washing cars than selling cigarettes—and with no damage or complaints.” At the time, cigarette sales were the highest source of income for these stores. That response marked more than just a success story—it was the beginning of the end for free car washes with a fill-up and the start of a new era of car wash profitability.

Allen’s Lasting Legacy

Allen Jones now resides in sunny California and continues to bring big ideas into new industries—but his legacy in the car wash world is undeniable. Without Allen, we wouldn’t have Washworld car washes. Without Allen, we wouldn’t have Petit Auto Wash Equipment. He holds a long list of patents that refined everything from spray arches to chemical control systems, vehicle profiling, and onboard drying, but he didn’t stop there. He kept driving our industry forward because technologies like the TouchFree Loading System and Smart 360 didn’t just improve car washing—they made intelligent wash bays possible. And because Allen dreamed big, the modern car wash became smarter, more accessible, and more precise.

But Allen’s mark on Green Bay didn’t end at the car wash.

He and his son Damon also introduced rugby to the region. Allen negotiated a $1-per-year lease for land and helped transform it into Green Bay’s first permanent pitch. They even fabricated the original goalposts using the same machines used to build the LaserWash. Those posts still stand—a testament to Allen’s craftsmanship and community spirit.

So yes, Allen Jones changed the way we wash cars. But he also changed the way Green Bay plays. His legacy lives on in every LaserWash bay, every spotless finish, and every try scored under Wisconsin skies. Because when Allen Jones builds something—whether it’s a car wash or a rugby field—it’s made to last. The LaserWash wasn’t just a machine. It was a clean break from the past and the start of a smarter future.

The Car Wash Show 2023: OhmCo Recap

Thu, 01 May 2025 14:41:46 GMT

The International Car Wash Show 2023 - Las Vegas

This is Getting weird

While we've been swimming around in the car wash industry for a few years now, it still feels like we're getting our sea legs when it comes to navigating everything it has to offer. Vegas in 2023 was a little bit of a wake up call to just the vast scope of things --- the amount of operators who are running successful enterprises, the new, emerging technologies and equipment, and getting a bigger glimpse of some of the historical aspects to the industry as well. We met a ton of people, learned a lot, and spent some time convincing our current customers and new ones alike that our name change away from Rule of Design is a good thing. It is. We promise.

Mike joined this year for his first ICA show. Coming from a technical background that kept him more in the realm of the cubicle instead of hobnobbing on a trade show floor was a transition. And, Mel's second ICA show was more about resuming connections rather than feeling a little overwhelmed from the year before. There's a theme here. Somewhere.

Vegas First

We're fairly well traveled. At least, Mel is. After her stint in the Navy, living full time in England, biking across Crete, and moving all over certain portions of the country, it's a title that can be given confidently. We've never been to Las Vegas, though --- our Midwest dork factor comes out hard in places like this. Pasty skin in a swim up bar and marveling over a sixty dollar check for two drinks is definitely on-brand.

We were lucky enough to have a few good friends guide us around to some of the good spots. We spent a day hiking in Red Rock Canyon, hung out at the Pinball Hall Of Fame, and made the mistake of getting hot pot on the strip (don't do this. Really. Don't ever do this). I'm not going to expound anymore on the city, because you've likely all been here before and know everything I'm about to say --- but it was fun, overwhelming, and weird (some ways better than others). It was also really hard to get around.

Logistics

In addition to everything else, we learned a few very specific lessons in regards to trade show booth vendors. The biggest, and most important one being: Quadruple-check with your trade show booth vendors to make sure that they actually shipped their materials, even though they assured you multiple times over multiple weeks that the materials had actually, in fact, shipped.

We spent our very short layover scrambling on the phone with quick-turnaround vendors in Vegas to print some materials that should have been sent ages prior. We are now calling it a learning experience, but at the time, it was a little stressful .

While we didn't have a booth this year ourselves, we did help several of our customers with their content. It was fun getting to see this work firsthand on the show floor!

The People

Ah yes. People. The People. All of them! Most of them!

The most exciting part, for us, was getting to actually meet some of our customers in person for the first time. We've had these remote relationships for years, but having the opportunity to talk outside of a computer screen was refreshing and fun. Getting to hang out in a more informal environment and hear some of the stories, warts and all, of how they got started in the industry, what led them here, how they used their brains and brawn to build their businesses was extremely fascinating. There are so many different perspectives from so many different backgrounds --- it's really exciting to be part of such a diverse group of people!

Whether it was some of the older connections that we were checking in on, or brand new friends, it was worth the price of admission alone to get a better idea of how we fit in this industry.

What's Next for Us?

We're just continuing to grow. Exponentially. It's a little scary, to be honest.

The show in Vegas this year was a stepping stone for us --- some of the ideas and connections that we came away with have thrown some (friendly) wrenches into how we plan to approach the rest of the year and beyond. It's exciting to be home and, even moreso, to feel invigorated about what we want to prioritize in the coming months and year.

Keep an eye out for more updates --- we promise there's more behind our recent name change that meets the eye. And thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with us during this year's show! It was great meeting ALL of you.

Bye for now.

Carwash Myths & Hollywood Hype: The First Automatic Car Wash Was NOT in California

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 16:14:38 GMT

Carwash Myths & Hollywood Hype

THE FIRST AUTOMATIC CARWASH WAS NOT IN CALIFORNIA

For a long time, a certain story has drifted through the car wash world like a sudsy ghost. You’ll hear it in conventions, on websites and blogs, whispered reverently by folks who swear their uncle told them about it once: that the first automatic car wash opened in Hollywood, California in the 1940s. That it used a winch system to pull cars through a tunnel while attendants handled the scrub-down and drying. That it wasn't a FULLY automatic carwash, but it had the first automatic component - a winch and pully system to bring cars through a tunnel. Some claim it even used a tractor or a team of horses to automate the chain system.

It’s the kind of story that sounds just believable enough. Hollywood. Innovation. A little carwash showmanship. You can picture it, can’t you? Neon lights, gloved attendants, a 1938 Buick Y rolling through on a carpet of suds with carwash attendants in spiffy aprons and hats scrubbing down it's enamel as a ugly chain is strapped to the bumper. It's the perfect blend of mid-century optimism and industrial Hollywood automotive glamour.

Only... it never happened .

BREAKING DOWN THE MYTH

I’m a nerd for correctness — and I own that. Whether it’s the history of signage, the psychology of branding colors, or the overlooked symbolism in vintage typography, I’m the person who notices the tiniest inconsistencies and can’t let them go. I’ve always had a weird relationship with pattern recognition and lateral thinking — a psychology professor once told me my brain doesn’t even register functional fixedness, (which felt like the highest compliment) so when I kept stumbling across this vague sentence — “The first automatic car wash was in Hollywood, California” — I had questions and I started to dig to FIND this Hollywood carwash. And over and over I came up with the same: no name.

Not only was there no name, but no address. No founder. No business license. No equipment specs. No DBA. No archived records. Just a vague legend that gets repeated like it’s fact. But where’s the proof? When I kept seeing that same unsubstantiated claim repeated—no owner, no DBA, no plans, no origins—I knew something didn’t add up. It just didn’t pass the sniff test. And sure, it sounds glamorous — Hollywood, the golden era, the glint of chrome under neon lights. But I’m not here for made-up origin stories. I’m here to get it right.

While researching the orgins of Elephant Carwash, I came across the suspected first automatic car wahs in Hollywood - a black-and-white photo of a Mark C. Bloome gas and tire station floating around the internet, being reproduced and sold as a 1942 historic photo.

And that’s where things got interesting.

The image was often mislabeled and misdated. I recognized some of those fonts as late 1940s and I saw the photo being credited as early as 1942. It shows a brightly lit service station in Hollywood offering a 15-minute car wash for 69¢ (with an extra 6 cents charge on the weekends in tiny font on the bottom of the car wash sing). At a glance, it’s tempting to call it groundbreaking. But if you slow down and actually study it, the cracks in the story start to show. For one, Gilmore Gasoline signage is visible, and Gilmore was bought out by Socony-Vacuum (which would later become Mobil) in 1945. After that, Gilmore branding started to fade out. Second, the Kendall Motor Oil “2000 Mile Oil” signage seen in the image didn’t hit peak usage until the late 1940s and into the 1950s. And finally, that 15-minute wash time? It’s the dead giveaway. In the early days of actual automatic car washes, marketing proudly emphasized speed — “minute washes” were often advertised as 5 to 9 minutes long. A 15-minute wash was manual. Labor-intensive. Probably a team of attendants with hoses, rags, and elbow grease. There’s no conveyor, no brushes, no mechanical infrastructure visible — and no reason to think this was anything more than a speedy hand wash at a stylish gas station, a way to boost profits and keep customers spending money.

NICE NEON, BUT NO RECIEPTS

But of course, that's not even enough for me. I ran the image through AI to check my suspicions, and it was also determined to be 1946-1950, so even if that wash has automatic parts, that still confirms Detroit made it to the market first with the first automatic car wash - which makes sense because it's home to the automobile. There is no known record, business license, photo, ad, trade journal entry, or archived interview supporting the claim that the first automatic car wash opened in Hollywood, California. In short: this was not from 1942, and it was absolutely not the first automatic car wash. It’s vintage eye candy, sure — but historically? It doesn’t hold up under even the lightest rinse. It’s more likely from 1946 to 1950, and it’s definitely not the first automatic car wash — and maybe not even the first automatic wash in Hollywood.

Separating Fact from Fiction in Car Wash History

So What Actually Happen?

Thankfully, we don’t have to guess. We have proof — in the form of an original September 22, 1947 issue of LIFE magazine, which documented the real deal. The article, titled “Two-Minute Car Washer”, introduces the world to Paul’s Auto Wash in Detroit, Michigan, built in 1946 using technology from Minit-Man Inc., the first known automatic car wash equipment manufacturer, founded by Leo Rousseau.

The spread shows multiple photos of the system in action:

A chain-driven conveyor towing vehicles through
Spinning brushes and high-pressure sprayers scrubbing every surface
Top-mounted brushes and hot-air drying ducts
A system that could handle 750 cars a day with the help of 11 workers

This wasn't a gas station gimmick — this was full-blown, mechanized, assembly-line-style car washing. And yes, the LIFE article made a point to mention that it was the first of its kind. This Detroit wash was fast, efficient, and mechanical — the first of a new era. It washed cars in two minutes flat, decades before California started adding light shows and air fresheners to the mix.

WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW FOR AUTOMATIC CARWASH HISTORY:

1914 – The First Car Wash Opens in Detroit

Frank McCormick and J.W. Hinkle launch the Automobile Laundry in Detroit, Michigan. It’s not automatic — cars are pushed through by hand. Workers clean them manually in a staged process (soap, rinse, dry). Often called the first production-line-style car wash.

1946 – The Semi-Automatic Breakthrough

Thomas Simpson invents the first semi-automatic car wash system. Conveyor belt attaches to a vehicle’s bumper. Overhead sprinkler system + three sets of hand-operated brushes. Finishes with a powerful 50 HP air blower for drying. Huge labor-saving advancement over full manual washes.

1946 – The First True Automatic Car Wash

Leo Rousseau founds Minit-Man Inc., the first car wash equipment company. Sells his first system to Paul Maranian in Detroit. Paul opens Paul’s Automatic Auto Wash, widely considered the first fully automated tunnel wash.

1947 – LIFE Magazine Confirms It

The September 22, 1947 issue of LIFE Magazine features Paul’s Auto Wash in a multi-page article titled “Two-Minute Car Washer.” Showcases conveyor, mechanized brushes, high-pressure sprayers, and drying system. The wash could clean 750 cars a day with 11 workers and minimal physical labor. This national spotlight cements Paul’s wash as the industry's first true automatic tunnel system.

1948 – Automation Expands to Indiana

Joe Dahm opens Mike’s Minit-Man in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Uses Minit-Man equipment to open the state’s first automated car wash. The business eventually grows into Mike’s Carwash and Crew Carwash — both still operating today.

1950 – Elephant Car Wash Enters the Scene

In Seattle, the Anderson brothers (Archie, Dean, and Eldon) form A.D.&E. Corp. Later evolves into Elephant Car Wash, featuring their own version of the conveyor tunnels, fully mechanized brushes, automated drying system. They're often credited as the first fully automatic car wash with all components integrated (unconfrimed)

STILL A FEW THINGS TO WORK THROUGH

Of course, no history is ever that squeaky clean — and there’s one international wrinkle that can’t be ignored. Some early industry materials, especially from Hanna, reference a Mexican car wash that may have featured automation before or alongside the developments in Detroit. The details are vague, usually just a passing line about how the design or concept was inspired by a system observed in Mexico. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to verify this with primary sources — largely because I’m not bilingual, and the U.S. historical archives don’t track Mexican car wash innovation with any real depth. But it raises a compelling question: could the true first automatic car wash have been developed outside the U.S., only to be refined and commercialized here later? It’s entirely possible. Until someone fluent in Spanish with access to regional archives can take a deeper dive, the Mexican chapter of this history remains untold — and wide open. I have however learned how to say first carwash in Mexico: El primer lavado de autos en México, busca. But if that's wrong, please let me know, haha.

That’s not the only loose end still swirling in the rinse cycle. The claim to the first car wash dryer is another partially obscured detail, with Thomas (now Clementine’s) Carwash in Louisville making a credible but hard-to-pin-down case. Then there’s the mystery of the first carwash vacuum system — when did it emerge, how was it integrated, and who gets the credit? The records are fuzzy, and the photos even fuzzier. And finally, we’re still left asking: where did the Hollywood wash information come from? I'm suspecting it's the incorrectly dated photo, but if it wasn't that, where did it come from? Was it carwash competition, gossip, or just a well-branded hand wash station with fast service, or did Hollywood have its own claim to early automation that’s been lost to time and neon haze?

For now, the answers remain elusive — but that’s half the fun. If you’re holding a piece of the puzzle, I’d love to hear from you. This isn’t just about nostalgia — it’s about giving real innovators the credit they deserve and making sure the story of our industry shines as brightly as the cars it cleans.

Cheers,
Mel Ohlinger
CEO of OhmCo

Protecting Car Wash Businesses Like Never Before: Carwash Insurance

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 18:34:44 GMT

Protecting Car Wash Businesses Like Never Before

How Gibson Insurance is Changing the Game

The car wash industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years, yet when it comes to insurance, it remains one of the most underserved sectors. Historically, car wash owners and operators have been left with generic, boilerplate policies that fail to address the unique risks they face. That’s where we come in.

At Gibson Insurance, we’ve launched a dedicated Car Wash Niche in Property and Casualty insurance, designed specifically for the needs of car wash businesses. With Tony Gaipa’s background in law (JD) and business (MBA), combined with Chuck Burnham’s extensive experience in commercial insurance, we understand both the complexities of coverage and the realities of running a car wash. We’ve developed best-in-class programs that protect owners and operators in ways they’ve never seen before.

The Problem with Traditional Insurance Policies

Car washes are dynamic businesses with unique operational risks, from equipment breakdowns to water damage, slip-and-fall liability, and environmental concerns. Despite this, many policies available today are generic or “off the shelf”, failing to provide the tailored endorsements needed to fully safeguard a car wash operation. When the unexpected happens, many owners are left frustrated by coverage gaps, slow claims processing, and unexpected exclusions.

A Smarter, Specialized Approach

As specialists, we know the ins and outs of car washes—literally. We understand what coverages and endorsements are needed and how to secure them at a reasonable price. We don’t offer one-size-fits-all policies; we craft insurance solutions that ensure our clients are fully protected, no surprises.

Why do businesses buy insurance? In the instance of a claim. And when it comes time to file one, you want a policy that reacts the way you expect it to. That’s why our programs are designed with claims responsiveness in mind, ensuring that when our clients need their coverage most, it delivers.

The Gibson Difference

With our specialized car wash insurance programs, we provide:
Tailored coverage options that address industry-specific risks
Competitive pricing through efficient risk assessment and underwriting
Claims advocacy to ensure fast and fair settlements
Proactive risk management strategies to help prevent losses before they occur

Risk Management: A Key to Better Coverage

At Gibson Insurance, we don’t just sell policies—we help businesses actively manage risk. Through detailed risk assessments, safety programs, and operational best practices, we work with car wash owners to identify and mitigate potential hazards before they lead to costly claims. By taking a proactive approach to risk management, we not only help prevent losses but also position our clients in the best possible light with carriers. Insurance providers are more willing to offer competitive rates and favorable terms when they see that a business is actively managing its risks. This strategic approach allows us to secure better coverage and pricing, ensuring our clients get the protection they need without overpaying. We’re not just another insurance broker—we’re partners in protecting your business. By working with industry specialists who truly understand car washes, owners and operators gain peace of mind knowing they have the right protection in place.

The car wash industry deserves better insurance solutions. At Gibson Insurance, we’re here to

deliver them. Let’s talk about how we can safeguard your business today.

Heartland Car Wash Show: Mel's Mother's Day Car Wash Campaing

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:07:19 GMT

Unlocking Loyalty Through Social Media: What We Shared at the Heartland Show

How a Mother’s Day Campaign Can Turn First-Time Car Wash Visitors Into Lifelong Customers

This April, OhmCo founders Mike and Mel Ohlinger packed their bags and headed to Council Bluffs, Iowa for the Heartland Car Wash Show. While the event itself is still finding its post-pandemic footing, one thing was clear: there’s a huge appetite for new ideas that actually work.

Mel had the chance to take the stage and share a campaign framework that’s helped dozens of car washes build real customer loyalty—and she used Mother’s Day to show just how powerful social media can be when done right. Here’s a quick recap of Mel's speech on how to make Mother's Day campaigns for car washes.

Why Social Media?

Social media isn’t just a marketing “extra.” It’s one of the most affordable and powerful tools car wash operators can use to attract new customers and bring them back again and again.

Your customers are already scrolling on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. If your car wash shows up with the right message at the right time—especially around holidays like Mother’s Day—you create moments that build trust, encourage sharing, and humanize your brand.

And when people trust your brand, they come back.

Why Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day is a people-based holiday —and people-based marketing works.

It’s emotional, universal, and gives your wash a chance to be generous. Moms rarely take time for themselves, and a surprise free wash or kind gesture (like handing out flowers) goes a long way in generating buzz and goodwill.

Plus, it gives your social content a natural storytelling hook. The goal?
A mom posts a picture, tags your wash, and suddenly her network is hearing about you—not through ads, but through trust.

Our Campaign Framework: Build. Organize. Execute.

1. Build – Find the Big Idea

Ask yourself:

What do you want moms to feel?
What message will stand out in your community?
What small gift or touchpoint would feel memorable?

You don’t need to give away the farm. Even a free air freshener , flower , or premium vac pass can do the trick with the right messaging. One of our clients handed out flowers with free washes—customers posted about it all day.

2. Organize – Timeline & Tools

Start early. Work backwards from Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11, 2025):

6 weeks out: Plan your campaign and verify your promo works in your POS.
4 weeks out: Create teaser content, employee stories, and community events. Submit to local chambers and newspapers.
2 weeks out: Announce the promotion on all channels.
1 week out: Countdown begins!
Mother’s Day weekend: Go BIG on social posts and on-site experiences.
Afterward: Thank everyone, share highlights, and tease what’s next (hint: Father’s Day).

We also encourage clients to use tools like Co.Lab—our car wash-focused social scheduling platform—to keep content consistent across platforms.

3. Execute – Post With Purpose

Make sure every post has one clear purpose:

Engage (ask questions or run polls)
Inform (give clear instructions on hours, deals, and how it works)
Inspire (share customer stories and behind-the-scenes content)
Entertain (light humor or kid-driven posts—never make fun of moms!)

And yes, track your analytics. Use tools like QR codes, promo codes (like “MOM25”), or built-in platform analytics to see what worked.

From Visitors to Members

It doesn’t stop at the post or the promo. To build loyalty, follow up:

Thank customers
Feature user-generated content
Offer a next step (like a membership offer)
Keep content going year-round

We reminded attendees that social media is not a magic bullet —it’s a consistent conversation. The more human you make it, the more people will trust you.

Final Thoughts from Mel

This campaign isn’t hard. It just takes a little planning—and the belief that your car wash is more than a transaction. It’s a place where memories are made, backseats are vacuumed, and families take care of each other.

If you’re looking for help pulling together a seasonal campaign like this one, or want us to manage your content completely, that’s what we do every day at OhmCo.

We’ll see you at the next event—and until then, stay shiny.

—
Need help building your next campaign?
�� hello@ohmco.co
? ? ️ www.carwash-marketing.com

What is DNS (and What’s a URL)?

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 20:30:39 GMT

What is DNS?

And what’s a URL?

AND HOW DOES IT ALL WORK TOGETHER?

What is DNS (and What’s a URL)? You’ve probably heard of DNS (Domain Name System) and URL (Uniform Resource Locator), but what do these terms mean, and how do they work together to bring websites to life? Let’s break it down using OhmCo’s website, ohmco.co , as an example.

What is a URL?

A URL is like a parking spot for your website on the internet. For OhmCo, our URL is ohmco.co . Just like every parking space has an address or a number, every website has a unique URL that directs people to its location online. URLs are how you tell the internet where to “park” your browser so it can load the website you’re looking for.

What is DNS?

If the URL is the parking spot, then DNS (Domain Name System) is like the set of driving instructions that help your computer navigate to that spot. DNS translates the human-friendly URL, like ohmco.co , into the numeric IP address that computers understand, such as 192.0.2.1 . Without DNS, your browser wouldn’t know how to find the website or “park” it in your view.

How It All Works Together

Here’s how the process works when you type ohmco.co into your browser:

You Enter the URL: Just like selecting a parking space, your browser begins the process by using the URL you’ve entered.
DNS Kicks In: DNS acts as your GPS, converting ohmco.co into its IP address (the unique numeric identifier for OhmCo’s website).
The Website Loads: Once the IP address is found, your browser parks the website (the "car") on your screen.

Without DNS, you’d need to remember a complex IP address instead of a simple URL like ohmco.co , making navigating the internet far more difficult.

Why is DNS Important?

DNS is what keeps the internet running smoothly. It’s responsible for connecting users to websites, sending emails, and even enabling apps to function. Without it, the internet would feel like trying to navigate without road signs or a map.

Managing Your URL, Website, and DNS with OhmCo

At OhmCo, we make it easy for you to manage your domain, website, and DNS settings. Here are some common tasks you can do with DNS:

Point Your Domain to Your Website: Use the A record to park your website (the "car") on your URL (the "spot").
Forward Your Domain: Redirect your URL to another location, like a social media page.
Set Up Email: Ensure your emails reach their destination with the correct MX records.
Add Subdomains: Create subdomains like store.ohmco.co to expand your online presence.
Update Nameservers: Move your DNS management to another provider if needed.

DNS changes usually take effect quickly but can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide.

Stuck? We’ve Got You!

We know DNS and URL management can feel like learning a new language. That’s why OhmCo is here to help! Our team offers easy-to-follow guides, step-by-step videos, and friendly support to get your website running smoothly.

Ready to park your website online? Or ready to start building a really great website? With OhmCo, managing your domain, DNS, and website is simple, so you can focus on building your carwash business.

How Car Wash Owners Can Prepare for the Social Media Shakeup

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:00:05 GMT

How Carwash Owners Can Prepare for the TikTok and Social Media Shakeup

Attention Carwash Owners: Big Changes Ahead for Social Media Marketing

The social media landscape is shifting quickly, and as carwash business owners, it’s crucial to stay informed and prepared. If you’ve been using TikTok to connect with customers and promote your business, you’ve likely heard about the potential sale—or even shutdown—of the platform. With 170 million U.S. users and countless small businesses thriving on TikTok, this could have a significant impact on how we market and reach our audiences. So what is the dirt? What are social media marketers actually seeing right now?

Here’s a closer look at what’s happening, how it might affect your business, and practical steps you can take to adapt and maintain customer engagement—regardless of how social media evolves.

The Challenges of Socials in 2025

Constant Algorithm Changes : Staying visible is harder than ever with frequent updates to social media algorithms. Platforms are constantly tweaking how content is shown, making it a challenge to maintain consistent engagement and reach.
Increased Competition : With more businesses doubling down on social media marketing and throwing big dollars at platforms, it’s becoming harder for smaller brands to stand out. Larger companies with bigger budgets often dominate the spotlight, leaving smaller players struggling to gain traction.
Zero-Click Searches : Just like zero-click searches on Google, social platforms now prioritize keeping users on their apps. Features like in-app answers, previews, and product tags often lead to users engaging with the platform itself rather than your content, making it tough to drive meaningful traffic or conversions.

What’s All the Drama About TikTok? Here's the DIRT:

In short, TikTok is facing pressure to sell its U.S. operations over concerns about national security. But the soap opera doesn’t end there. Here’s the dirt:

TikTok’s estimated value is $20 billion, yet some are trying to scrub that down with a forced sale at a discount.
Instagram and Facebook (Meta) have been losing their sparkle as TikTok’s content trends dominate the social sphere. (Fun fact: A huge chunk of Instagram’s Reels content is just reposted TikToks!)
Some folks argue that if TikTok’s a security threat, why aren’t similar concerns bubbling up about other apps like Temu?
Oh, and there’s chatter about how this could set a slippery precedent for freedom of speech and how tech companies operate.
And then the unexpected flocking of TikTok users to RedNote... because users say if their data is going to be compromised anyway, they want it to be their choice.

Although it's said to be rumors of a possible TikTok shutdown or blackout, we've had the government and CEO of TikTok confirm it will shut down on January 19th (Sunday). The news is reporting that creators and small businesses are stuck wondering, "What’s next?" but I've found that most of us have already developed a plan, archived our accounts, and adjusted our goals. With younger generations increasingly boycotting Facebook and Instagram, there’s a growing push to respect your audience by meeting them where they are—in the real world. Consider redirecting your focus to in-person engagement, local community events, and loyalty programs to foster genuine connections.

Rethink How You Connect with Customers

If you’ve been using TikTok to share engaging content, promote your wash packages, or build your carwash’s brand, it’s time to face the reality: TikTok is no longer a reliable platform. Its looming shutdown has left businesses and creators scrambling for alternatives.

Many creators are optimizing their Instagram and YouTube accounts, while some are experimenting with newer platforms like Red Note. However, this shift offers a unique opportunity to rethink how you connect with your customers—beyond social media. With younger generations increasingly boycotting Facebook and Instagram, there’s a growing push to respect your audience by meeting them where they are—in the real world. Consider redirecting your focus to in-person engagement, local community events, and loyalty programs to foster genuine connections.

Social media strategies still have their place, but this shakeup is a reminder to diversify your approach. Take this chance to “rinse and reset” your marketing efforts to ensure your business continues to shine, both online and offline.

Exploring Alternative Marketing Strategies & Using Analytics

Here’s How Carwash Owners Can Stay Ahead of the Game

1. Polish Up Your Online Presence

When social media bubbles burst, your website and Google Maps profile are your bread and butter.A great website is essential for any carwash looking to grow and thrive in today’s digital-first world. It’s often the first impression customers have of your business, so a well-designed, user-friendly website helps build trust and professionalism. Customers expect convenience, and features like online booking, membership sign-ups, and detailed service information make it easier for them to choose your carwash over competitors. A strong website optimized for local SEO boosts your visibility when people search for “carwash near me,” driving more traffic to your location. It’s also the perfect platform to showcase your services, highlight unique features, and support marketing campaigns with promotions or membership drives. Additionally, a website helps build customer loyalty by offering programs and exclusive deals while keeping your business competitive in the market. In today’s world, if you’re not online, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities to connect with customers and grow your business. If you are online and your website is kind of terrible, the same thing applied - you're missing our on valuable opportunities.

Google Maps TLC: Claim your business profile, keep hours updated, and encourage your customers to leave five-star reviews. They’re like little gold medals for your business!

A Clean and Sleek Website: Make sure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, and loaded with useful info like wash packages, hours, and an FAQ for your customers.

2. Diversify Your Marketing Bucket

If TikTok disappears, don’t rely solely on Instagram and Facebook to keep customers in the loop.

Email Blasts and SMS: Let your customers know about deals, events, and new services with direct communication.
Free Community Advertising: Post on local apps like Nextdoor or partner with nearby businesses to cross-promote. It’s like a two-for-one wash deal for your marketing!

3. Save Your TikTok Treasures

Got a vault of TikTok videos? Don’t let that content go down the drain.

Archive your videos and reuse them on other platforms or your website. A funny carwash clip or a satisfying power-wash video never goes out of style!

Track your TikTok analytics now so you can replicate successful ideas on other platforms.

4. Scope Out New Platforms

The TikTok drama has given rise to new platforms like BlueSky and Red Note , which are quickly gaining traction. Start experimenting with these to see where your soapy storytelling can shine next.

5. Make a Splash in the Community

Sometimes, the best way to attract customers is the old-fashioned way: getting out there and making connections. With younger generations increasingly boycotting Facebook and Instagram, there’s a growing push to respect your audience by meeting them where they are—in the real world. Consider redirecting your focus to in-person engagement, local community events, and loyalty programs to foster genuine connections.

Host a local event, like a charity carwash or a customer appreciation day.

Partner with schools, sports teams, or other local organizations to sponsor events. Every “thank you” banner is like a billboard for your wash.

Use dynamic posters and designs on your wash site to stay fresh in your customer's minds.

What If TikTok Shuts Down?

I don't know why I keep saying "what if" it's absolutely going to happen unless to government intervenes in a super unethical way. The TikTok CEO has said that if forced into a corner, they will just pull the plug rather than sell the app. This will leave creators and businesses—like yours—scrambling to adjust. But don’t worry, the carwash industry is all about adaptability. After all, we’ve weathered everything from rainy seasons, giganto snow storms, ice caves, and unexpected wash repairs.

When/If TikTok does go offline, here’s how you can keep your customers coming:

Focus on in-person loyalty programs like membership discounts or punch cards.

Lean into your local SEO (Google and Bing searches) to make sure you’re the first wash they see online.

Keep those email and SMS campaigns sudsy with exclusive offers and fun updates.

Keep Your Marketing Machine Well-Oiled

As carwash pros, we know that staying shiny and efficient means adapting to whatever comes our way. By polishing up your website, exploring new platforms, and connecting with your community, you’ll be ready to weather any social media storm—and come out sparkling on the other side.

Remember, every change is just another chance to get creative and think outside the wash bay. So keep scrubbing, shining, and sharing your story—because clean cars and happy customers will never go out of style.

Got any questions or ideas for staying ahead of the social media spin cycle? Drop them in the comments below! Let’s keep the conversation rolling. ��✨

2025 Car Wash Tradeshows: Plan Your Year Here

melanie@ohmco.co (Melanie Jayjack) — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 23:37:53 GMT

2025 Car Wash Tradeshow Opportunities

WHICH SHOWS ARE YOU ATTENDING THIS YEAR?

Looking to explore the top car wash trade shows in 2025? While everyone knows about the big one—the International Carwash Association’s (ICA) Car Wash Show—there are many more tradeshows out there that are worth checking out. Events that used to be small are growing while new events are continuously in the works. Plus, browse through to see where the OhmCo pros will be participating!

Got a show you’d like to add? Send us a message! We’d love to include your event and share a link for others to join.

Trade shows and conventions hosted by industry associations are the best way to enhance your knowledge and skills in the car wash business. Whether you're facing a unique challenge or curious about a new trend, there’s a high chance someone else has dealt with the same issue and will be discussing it at these events. While labor has always been a popular topic, today’s trade shows are also diving into subjects like wash efficiency, eco-friendly solutions, site conversions, and business strategies in a slowing economy. You never know what you'll learn while networking with others in your field!

Be Sure to catch mel's Presentation:

Securing Your Digital Assets:
Essential Strategies for Car Wash Teams

Women in Carwash™

Women in Car Wash Convention

Dates: January 19-21, 2025
Location: Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Just a decade ago, women in leadership positions within the car wash industry were few and far between. Today, they represent twenty percent of the industry's leaders, with their presence steadily increasing. This conference is a place to thrive together, positioning each other to succeed and lead confidently.

In the ever-evolving car wash sector, women are now being celebrated as some of its most innovative and influential leaders!

Securing Your Digital Assets: Essential Strategies for Car Wash Teams

Presented by: Mel Ohlinger

OVERVIEW:
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, carwash businesses can prioritize the security of their digital assets through good organization. Explore some fundamentals of Digital Asset Management (DAM) and get offer practical, cost-effective strategies to protect your business from potential threats. Learn how to identify and safeguard what you own, manage logins, and implement simple software solutions that ensure long-term growth and security for your team. Discover how to stay ahead in a competitive market by organizing and protecting your digital future.

National automobile dealers association Show 2025

The Auto Industry Event of the Year

Dates: January 23-26, 2025
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

The NADA Show 2025 offers four days of dynamic learning, networking, and exploration for automotive professionals. With over 60 workshops, engaging Super Sessions, and inspiring Main Stage speakers like Ryan Leak, Frank Caliendo, and Coach K, attendees can stay ahead of emerging trends and strategies. The reimagined Spotlight Series provides direct access to industry visionaries, discussing key topics such as AI, China’s automotive dominance, and the economic outlook.

Networking opportunities abound, from Franchise Meetings with OEMs to peer brainstorming sessions, and the NADA Expo showcases the latest solutions from over 500 companies. The event culminates with a festive welcome reception in New Orleans, featuring live music, local cuisine, and unique entertainment.

PACEshow 2025

PETROLEUM and convenience EXPO

Dates: February 6-7, 2025
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States

The PACEshow provides access to cutting-edge, industry-focused insights and valuable professional connections from across the central Midwest.

For over 20 years, it has been the most effective and valuable event for learning how to boost profits, save time and labor, and enhance your bottom line.

WPMA expo 2025

WESTERN PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION EXPO

Dates: February 18-20, 2025
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

The Western Petroleum Marketers Association (WPMA) is a regional trade association of petroleum marketers, C-Stores, carwashes, and other related professions. If you attend the show, you can expect regional state reports, updates on federal legislative changes, keynote speakers, and plenty of networking opportunities!

Be Sure to catch mel's Presentation:

Creating Bounce-Back Customers Thru Social Media

SCWA EXPO 2024

SOUTHWEST CAR WASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: February 26-28, 2025
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, United States

The event will feature an expansive EXPO floor with over 400 exhibit booths showcasing the latest car wash, lube, and detailing equipment, supplies, and services.

Beyond the EXPO, attendees can look forward to Premier Education Sessions, the highly popular Quick Talks, the Car Wash Academy, and exceptional hospitality and social networking opportunities that contribute to the SCWA's continued growth and success each year.

Creating Bounce-Back Customers Through Social Media

Presented by: Mel Ohlinger

OVERVIEW:
Unlock the power of social media to not only attract customers, but to keep them coming back! We’ll explore how to use social media marketing to build a brand that reflects your carwash, creates lasting customer relationships, drives repeat business, and turn one-time visitors into loyal advocates for your carwash. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned marketer, this session will provide the insights and tools on where to get your data and analytics and use "social listening" to turn your social media presence into a customer loyalty machine. Get ready to inspire bounce-back behavior and create lasting connections through the platforms your customers already use every day!

CARWACS 2024

THE CONVENIENCE U CARWACS SHOW

Dates: March 4-5, 2025
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Explore the latest products, innovations, and opportunities to boost traffic and profits at The Convenience U CARWACS Show. Connect with hundreds of industry-leading exhibitors, top brands, and key decision makers. Whether you're a vendor, supplier, or retailer/operator in convenience, gas, or car wash, this event is the perfect place to grow your business.

Canada’s largest Convenience, Gas, and Car Wash Industry event will be held live and in-person at the International Centre (Hall 5). Don’t miss out on discovering the newest trends and strategies to elevate your business.

THE REALLY BIG EXPO 2025

SOUTHEAST PETRO-FOOD MARKETING EXPOSITION

Dates: March 5-6, 2025
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States

The Southeast Petro-Food Marketing Exposition is the largest regional petroleum and convenience store show in the southeast, attracting key decision-makers from various industries. Attendees can learn strategies to increase profits across several categories, exchange insights with retailers and suppliers, and gain a competitive edge.

The event offers opportunities to expand product lines, introduce new profit centers, and discover fresh ideas from new exhibitors. Educational seminars tailored to the industry will be available, alongside valuable networking opportunities with industry leaders and suppliers.

Be Sure to catch mel's Presentation:

Social Media & Carwash Marketing:
Let's Build A Campaign!

heartland product & equipment show 2025

heartland carwash association

Dates: March 24-26, 2025
Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States

The Heartland Carwash Association is inviting your organization to exhibit at their Annual Product and Equipment Industry Trade Show. Strengthen the professionalism of the carwash industry in their nine-state region through the dissemination of information, opportunities for idea exchanges, networking, lobbying efforts, and access to the latest in equipment and supplies.

The Product Show is a great way to showcase your business to a targeted audience of current and potential carwash owners, operators, and other professionals. If you are looking to sell more products or services, grow your business, and network with other industry executives, the HCA Product Show is the ideal event for your organization.

Social Media & Carwash Marketing - Let's Build A Campaign!
Panel Discussion II

Presented by: Mel Ohlinger

M-PACT 2025 FUEL & CONVENIENCE TRADESHOW

MIDWEST PETROLEUM & C-STORE TRADESHOW

Dates: April 1-3, 2025
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Join the Midwest's premier regional tradeshow, M-PACT! Held at the Indiana Convention Center, this exciting three-day event draws participants from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and beyond.

With over 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest products, services, and technologies, along with a series of engaging educational sessions led by industry experts, M-PACT offers a unique opportunity to advance your career and grow your business. Since 2002, M-PACT has been the leading event for high-quality education and networking in the Midwest.

UMCS 2025

upper midwest convenience store & energy convention

Dates: April 7-9, 2025
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota , United States

The Upper Midwest Convenience Store and Energy Convention (UMCS) is a collaboration between FUELING MINNESOTA and the FUELIowa trade associations, representing over 1,200 member companies and 420 associate companies across Minnesota and Iowa.

Each year, UMCS grows bigger, offering an award-winning show floor, keynote speakers, educational workshops, and exceptional networking opportunities, including hospitality nights, expanded workshops with specialized tracks, a prayer breakfast, and much more.

UMCS 2025 is designed to help DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS forward!

Be Sure to STOP BY OUR BOOTH:

BOOTH #2903

The Car Wash Show™ 2025

INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: April 26-28, 2025
Location: Las Vega, Nevada, United States

This year, The Car Wash Show will take place from Saturday to Monday, with an exclusive sneak peek on Friday night.

Packed with exciting opportunities to boost your business and profits, The Show gives "clean energy" a whole new meaning. Whether you're seeking solutions to staffing challenges, revitalizing your loyalty program, or enhancing your leadership skills, The Car Wash Show’s exceptional education program offers the perfect blend of valuable insights and inspiration.

2025 WFRA Convention

WISCONSIN FUEL & RETAIL ASSOCIATION

Dates: June 3, 2025
Location: Wisconsin Dells , Wisconsin , United States

This event features educational talks, economic insights, networking opportunities, entertainment, and over 100 exhibitors presenting their latest products and services. You’ll find all the resources you need to help your business succeed, all in one place.

We’re excited to offer FREE convention registration for WFRA member fuel marketers, jobbers, and their employees.

Be sure to stay for day two and enjoy our popular Summer Golf Outing, with both events happening back-to-back this year!

SW Fuel & convenience expo 2025

southwest fuel & convenience association

Dates: June 9-11, 2025
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, United States

The Southwest Fuel & Convenience Expo is the premier event for fuel, food, and convenience retailers in the Southwest United States. It’s your ultimate "one-stop-shop" to connect with owners, operators, top executives, buyers, and merchandisers all in one place! Network, share insights, showcase your products and services, and generate leads that will help grow your business.

Sunshine Expo 2024

FLORIDA PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Dates: July 28-30, 2025
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida, United States

The mission of the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, Inc. is to protect the industry and advocate on its behalf. They strive to promote a growth-oriented business community in the state of Florida and work to ensure that all of our members reap the benefits of a fairly regulated and business friendly environment. They support their mission goals by holding the Sunshine Expo every year around July.

Mid-Atlantic C-Store Expo 2025

Virginia Asian American Store Owners Association

Dates: September 18, 2025
Location: Richmond, Virginia, United States

The Mid-Atlantic C-Store Expo offers opportunities for retailers as well as suppliers to come together and strengthen business relationships. We are continually striving to develop benefits for our members through our Preferred vendors, With 175 + C-Store vendor booths and 9,000 + C-Store Owner/Operators personally invited by mail from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland, you're sure to meet someone who can help you make your business boom.

CAR WASH SHOW EUROPE 2025

THE LEADING CAR WASH TRADE FAIR IN EUROPE

Dates: September 24-25, 2025
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Car Wash Show Europe is the premier event for car wash professionals looking to expand their knowledge and network. With expert-led sessions on topics ranging from water recycling to effective marketing strategies, attendees gain valuable insights to help grow their businesses and customer base. The exhibition features the latest products, services, and cutting-edge technologies from top exhibitors across Europe.

Interactive workshops, the Innovation Alley, and multiple networking areas ensure a dynamic and engaging experience for all participants. Don’t miss your chance to be part of Europe’s biggest car wash exhibition!

NRCC 2025

NORTHEAST REGIONAL CARWASH CONVENTION

Dates: October 6-8, 2025
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

The Northeast Regional Carwash Convention (NRCC) was founded in 1988 by a group of carwash operators from Connecticut to provide a regional alternative to the national trade show. The first convention, held in 1989 in Newport, RI, offered educational opportunities, equipment exhibits, and a platform for networking.

Today, the NRCC is a collaboration of five carwash associations from the Northeast, and it hosts the event annually, typically in Atlantic City, due to its large attendance and profitability. The convention includes educational seminars, keynote speakers, and a growing trade show, with attendance reaching as high as 1,921 in recent years.

NACS 2025

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES

Dates: October 14-17, 2025
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

The NACS Show is the premier event for convenience and fuel retailing, attracting over 23,500 industry professionals from around the globe. It provides a dynamic environment for buyers and sellers to connect, exchange ideas, and form partnerships. The 430,000 sq. ft. expo showcases thousands of products and services across five key areas: Facility Operations, Foodservice, Fuel Equipment & Services, In-Store Merchandise, and Technology.

The Cool New Products Preview Room offers a sneak peek at the latest innovations, while the event also features education sessions tailored to address industry challenges and provide solutions for businesses of all sizes.

SEMA SHOW 2025

SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION

Dates: November 4-7, 2025
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

The SEMA Show is unlike any other trade show, offering an unmatched experience where you can explore thousands of product innovations from both new and iconic exhibitors, discover the latest custom vehicle trends, and enhance your professional skills with over 99 free education sessions led by industry experts.

It's the ultimate destination for networking and making career-changing connections, all while gaining valuable insights into the newest automotive performance products and trends. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve or develop your expertise, the SEMA Show provides everything you need for growth and success in the automotive industry.

Is SEO a waste of time in 2025?

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:59:05 GMT

Is SEO a waste of time in 2025?

SEO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MOVING TARGET. hOW DO WE COMPETE IN THE NEW YEAR?

SEO has always been a moving target, but with Google’s latest updates for 2025—from AI-driven search results to enhanced zero-click searches—it’s fair to wonder if all the effort is still worth it. While SEO has become more complex, the answer isn’t as simple as giving up on it altogether. Let’s explore whether SEO remains a viable strategy or if it’s time to shift focus.

The Challenges of SEO in 2025

Constant Algorithm Changes : Google’s frequent updates, including AI and core algorithm changes, make it hard to maintain consistent rankings.
Increased Competition : With more businesses investing in SEO, it can feel like smaller sites are losing out to larger, more established players.
Zero-Click Searches : Approximately 60% of searches now end without a click, as Google provides answers directly on its platform. This shift has led to frustration for businesses relying on organic traffic.

How to Make SEO Work For You in 2025:

Despite these challenges, SEO remains a valuable tool—if approached strategically. At OhmCo, we're rule follower because we know that following the rules is going to save you money in advertising in the long run. In the land of web design, we call it White Hat SEO and we follow those principles because it creates longevity in digital formats. It's not talked about as much as it should be, but White Hat SEO refers to ethical search engine optimization practices that comply with the guidelines and rules set by search engines (but really we mean Google). These practices are supposedly for "providing genuine value to users while improving a website’s visibility and rankings" but really it's to keep all those scammy websites and crappy news sources with a million pop-ups from ruining the internet world. So we like to view it as the best way to keep people online and keep them reading. So for 2025, make sure you focus on:

Content Quality and Relevance :
High-quality content that directly answers user questions can still rank well.
Emphasizing E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) can establish your site’s credibility.
Adaptation to Zero-Click Searches :
Leverage rich snippets, FAQs, and knowledge panels to build brand awareness.
Even without clicks, being visible in search results helps establish trust and recognition.
Mobile-First Indexing :
With Google prioritizing mobile experiences, businesses that optimize for mobile can outperform competitors.
AI and Intent-Based Optimization :
Using AI tools to understand user intent can help create highly relevant content that meets search demands.
Local SEO :
For small businesses, optimizing for local keywords and maintaining accurate listings on Google My Business can drive significant foot traffic.

Key Elements of White Hat SEO:

White Hat SEO not only helps achieve long-term ranking success but also builds trust with users and establishes credibility in the digital space. It’s the ethical approach to growing your online presence sustainably.

Quality Content Creation : Everyone says this time and time again, but we gotta say it again: producing high-quality, original, and relevant content that addresses the needs of your audience. The reason why this is important is because when the algorithm is against you, and when bots aren't scanning your pages, it's human who are going to make the algorithm change.

Keyword Research and Optimization : Identifying relevant keywords and incorporating them naturally within your content without overstuffing.

On-Page Optimization : Structuring your website with clear headings, meta tags, and proper HTML coding for better accessibility and performance.

User-Centric Design : Ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience, including fast loading speeds, mobile responsiveness, and easy navigation.

Link Building : Earning backlinks from reputable and authoritative websites through genuine partnerships or by creating share-worthy content.

Adherence to Search Engine Guidelines : Following Google’s webmaster guidelines, avoiding practices like cloaking, keyword stuffing, or link schemes.

Exploring Alternative Strategies & Using Analytics

If SEO alone isn’t delivering the results you need, diversifying your approach is key. Paid advertising, social media campaigns, and influencer marketing can provide immediate visibility and engagement. By exploring alternative strategies, businesses can connect with audiences in new ways while complementing their SEO efforts. Additionally, leveraging analytics tools to track performance allows for data-driven decision-making. With OhmCo websites, we have built-in analytics that are always tracking and it can help you identifying what works—and what doesn’t—and can help redirect marketing resources toward channels with the highest ROI, ensuring a more effective and adaptable overall strategy.

If SEO alone isn’t delivering the results you need, diversifying your approach is key:

Paid Ads : Complement SEO efforts with targeted ad campaigns to boost visibility and drive immediate traffic.
Social Media Marketing : Build relationships with your audience and drive engagement through platforms where they spend time.
Influencer Partnerships : Collaborate with influencers to expand your reach and tap into new audiences.

The Bottom Line

SEO isn’t dead, but it’s no longer a one-size-fits-all solution. Success in 2025 requires a balanced approach that combines SEO with other marketing strategies. By focusing on high-quality, intent-driven content, watching you analytics, and adapting to Google’s changes, businesses can still thrive in search.

So, is SEO a waste of time? Not at all—but it’s time to rethink how you approach it. Stay informed, stay flexible, and keep exploring ways to connect with your audience. What do you think? Share your thoughts on how SEO fits into your strategy this year. With our Co.Lab and Web.Lab platforms, we have all that great stuff built in to make SEO easier in 2025 and beyond.

Why OhmCo Websites Are Your Best Investment

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:29:18 GMT

OhmCo: Where Design Meets Results

Why OhmCo Websites Are Your Best Investment

At OhmCo, we don’t just build websites—we create tailored digital solutions designed to elevate your brand and deliver measurable results. Here’s how our features work seamlessly to offer the perfect combination of performance, design, and reliability:

OhmCo Websites Are the Smartest Investment for Your Business

At OhmCo, we craft websites that don’t just look great—they work hard for your business. With cutting-edge features, seamless integrations, and a focus on driving measurable results, our websites are built to help your business stand out, grow, and thrive.

Custom Design That Captures Your Brand

Our intuitive design tools and customizable templates bring your vision to life with a polished, professional edge. Whether you need a fresh design or a complete overhaul, OhmCo ensures your site is as unique as your business.

Seamless Functionality to Grow Your Business

From advanced eCommerce solutions to integrations with text message marketing and drip campaigns, our websites are designed to drive engagement and sales. Whether you’re nurturing customer relationships or promoting special offers, OhmCo websites make it easy to manage and scale your marketing efforts.

Complete Control at Your Fingertips

Enjoy full access to your website’s backend with tools that let you manage, update, and monitor your site effortlessly. Team logins enable collaborative updates, while our drag-and-drop editor makes adjustments easy for everyone—no coding required.

Powerful Hosting and Unmatched Security

OhmCo websites run on AWS servers with built-in redundancy for 99.999% uptime. Paired with SSL certification and ADA compliance, your site is not only fast and reliable but also safe for your customers and business.

Optimized for Performance and Results

With integrated SEO tools and advanced keyword research, your website will rank higher and attract more traffic. Enhance your customer outreach with features like SMS marketing, automated drip campaigns, and custom landing pages to maximize conversions.

Built-In Analytics and Insights

Track customer behavior and website performance with integrated tools like Google Analytics, Snowplow, and more. Gain actionable insights that help you refine your strategy and grow your business.

All the Features You Need, All in One Place

Text Message Marketing: Engage your customers with targeted SMS campaigns directly from your site.
Drip Campaigns: Automate customer follow-ups with personalized messaging that drives loyalty and sales.
Motion Graphics and Photo Editing: Make your site visually stunning with professional design tools.
Custom Integrations and Widgets: Adapt your site to your specific needs, from scheduling apps to payment systems.
Domain Management and Branding: Ensure consistent, professional representation of your business online.

OhmCo: Where Design Meets Results

Our websites are built to help your business succeed. Whether it’s boosting engagement through drip campaigns, driving traffic with SEO, or delivering a flawless user experience, OhmCo combines design and functionality to exceed your expectations.

Ready to transform your online presence?

 Let’s get started today.

How to Build a Carwash Kiosk Sales Pitch

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:26:45 GMT

How to Write a Kiosk Sales Pitch for Your Car Wash

Using Company Culture and Client Psychology to Maximize Sales

Crafting an effective kiosk sales pitch for your car wash is about more than just selling a service—it's about creating a memorable experience that reflects your company culture and connects with your customers' needs. By blending psychological principles, customer service excellence, and strategic communication, you can create pitches that not only drive sales but also foster long-term loyalty.

The Foundation of a

Great Kiosk Sales Pitch

At its core, a sales pitch at a car wash kiosk should be:

1. Customer-Centered:

Focus on solving the customer’s immediate problem—getting their car clean.

2. Concise & Clear:

People at kiosks are often in a hurry, so keep your message short and to the point.

3. Emotionally Engaging:

Use language that makes the customer feel good about their choice.

5 Key Elements of a Winning Kiosk Sales Pitch

1. Highlight the Benefits

Start by emphasizing the value and results your services deliver. Make it clear how your car wash enhances the customer’s experience. For example:

"Our advanced wash system removes even the toughest dirt and grime, leaving your car looking brand new!"

"Protect your car’s paint with our premium wax coating—it’s like sunscreen for your car!"

Psychological Insight: Customers are more likely to purchase when they see tangible benefits. Highlighting the visual transformation and protection resonates with their desire to maintain a polished, well-cared-for vehicle.

2. Promote Membership Plans

Membership plans, like Starbucks Rewards, encourage repeat visits and provide long-term value. Offer this option to customers at the kiosk:

"Join our 'Shiny Ride Club' today and enjoy unlimited washes for just $30 a month! It’s the most affordable way to keep your car looking great year-round."

Example from Experience: One car wash operator shared that loyalty programs like text clubs or memberships can yield tremendous results. For example, giving away air fresheners with a QR code for joining their text club captured over 6,000 phone numbers, creating a valuable customer database for future promotions.

Psychological Insight: People love the idea of savings and exclusivity. Framing your membership as a way to save money while enjoying premium services taps into this desire.

3. Upsell Additional Services

Just as Starbucks upsells with whipped cream or an extra shot of espresso, you can increase your average ticket size by promoting premium add-ons:

"Would you like to add a fresh coat of wax to your wash today for an extra shine? It’s just $5 more!"

"Enhance your wash with our tire shine—it’s like a pedicure for your car!"

Psychological Insight: Small add-ons feel like indulgences rather than major expenses. Present these as affordable, value-adding options to make the customer’s decision easier.

4. Leverage Seasonal Specials

Seasonal offers create excitement and urgency. Take inspiration from Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes to promote limited-time packages:

"This week only, try our 'Winter Shield' package! It includes undercarriage protection and a wax coat to shield your car from road salt and grime."

Psychological Insight: Limited-time offers trigger FOMO (fear of missing out), motivating customers to take action immediately.

5. Use Personalized Recommendations

Tailor your pitch to the customer’s needs by observing their car’s condition:

"Based on how your car looks today, we recommend our 'Ultimate Detail' package. It includes a deep clean, premium wax, and tire shine for a like-new finish."

Psychological Insight: People are more likely to trust a suggestion when it feels personalized and comes from an expert. This also makes customers feel valued and understood.

Sample Kiosk Sales Pitches

Here are a few ready-to-use pitches for different situations:

Basic Wash Pitch:
"Get a quick clean with our basic wash for just $10—it’s perfect for light dust and pollen."

Premium Wash Pitch:
"Upgrade to our 'Executive Shine' package for only $15 more. It includes a premium wash, tire shine, and hand-drying for that showroom-quality look!"

Membership Pitch:
"Sign up for our 'Shiny Ride Club' today! Unlimited washes for just $30 a month—it’s less than $1 a day to keep your car spotless."
Add-On Service Pitch:
"Would you like to add a tire shine for just $5? It’s the perfect finishing touch to make your car look amazing."

The Role of Company Culture in Sales Success

Your sales pitch should reflect your company’s culture and values. A customer-focused, friendly culture will shine through in your team’s tone, language, and demeanor at the kiosk. Consider these points:

Hospitality Mindset:
Greet every customer warmly and make them feel valued. Use language like: "We’re so glad you’re here today! Let’s get your car sparkling clean."
Team Training:
Teach your staff the importance of rapport building. Encourage them to validate customer choices: "That’s a great choice—our 'Ultimate Shine' package is one of our most popular!"
Brand Consistency:
Align your pitches with your overall brand image. For instance, if your brand emphasizes eco-friendliness, highlight water conservation or biodegradable products in your pitch.

Using Client Psychology for the Best Results

Keep It Simple: Use clear, jargon-free language. Instead of “hydrophobic coating,” say “a protective wax that repels water and dirt.”

Create a Sense of Value: Bundle services or highlight savings: "With our membership plan, you’ll save $10 every time you wash compared to paying per visit."

Tap into Emotions: Help customers feel good about their purchase, "Treat your car to something special today—it deserves a little pampering!"

Practical Tips for a Winning Sales Pitch

Use Visual Aids: Display clear, attractive signage that showcases your wash packages and add-ons. Highlight benefits like “Protect your paint!” or “Save time and money!”

Focus on Efficiency: Mention your fast process to appeal to busy customers, "We’ll have your car sparkling clean in just 10 minutes!"

Adapt to the Customer: Pay attention to their needs and adjust your pitch. For instance, if they’re driving a muddy SUV, suggest a deep clean or undercarriage wash.

Wash Wrap Up

Writing a great car wash kiosk sales pitch requires understanding your customers, reflecting your company culture, and using psychological triggers to encourage upgrades and memberships. By focusing on the benefits, offering personalized recommendations, and promoting memberships with a Starbucks-inspired “treat yourself” approach, you can create pitches that boost both customer satisfaction and sales.

Start with these strategies today, and watch your sales soar as you connect with customers on a deeper level and provide them with exceptional service that keeps them coming back! Need help getting started? Reach out and book a meeting!

OhmCo Turns Five: Celebrating with Halloween Candy Instead of Cake!

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:59:04 GMT

OhmCo Turns Five!

Celebrating with Halloween Candy Instead of Cake

Happy Halloween from OhmCo! As we celebrate all things spooky today, we realized we never even got a chance to celebrate our business birthday—OhmCo turned five this year! Life has been a lot, and while we didn’t stop for cake, we’re taking a moment now to look back on everything we’ve built and all the people who helped us get here.

OhmCo started as a one-person design project and has since grown into a full-fledged international marketing agency that specializes in all things carwash and water treatment. If you don’t know our story, here’s a little background. Our founder, Mel Ohlinger, is a Navy veteran and UWO alumna who went from Cryptology & Design to becoming a designer and marketing expert in the carwash industry. After falling in love with the world of in-bay automatics, Mel started freelancing from home when her littlest child was born. Fast-forward to now, and what was once a home-based design gig has turned into a carwash marketing agency!

This year, OhmCo has hit some big milestones. We expanded our team with amazing people like Mike, Melanie, and Carrie, launched our Labs for specialized services like social media, websites, graphics, analytics, and photography, and secured our first round of business funding to fuel even more growth. Plus, we’ve been working on a book featuring interviews with some of the pioneers in car wash technology, and we had the chance to take OhmCo global, traveling to the Australian Car Wash Association’s show. Mel & Mike even got a chance to bring her kids to The Carwash Show in Nashville so they could finally see why Mom and Dad disappeared for a week every Mother’s Day, haha.

Here at OhmCo, we believe in **Good Design That Drives Sales.** We’re carwash enthusiasts through and through, and we’re here to create memorable brands that help operators sell their washes and grow their customer base. We’re super proud of our reputation for information - we don’t make things complicated or leave you feeling overwhelmed. One of our guiding values is simply: **We Don’t Want You to Feel Stupid.** We’re here to make things easier, not harder, with straightforward support and cost-effective digital marketing solutions that work.

OhmCo is still family-owned and independent. Mel herself has been busy too—she spoke at the 2024 Carwash Show about AI in marketing, represented the car wash industry at the White House Small Business Forum, and even helped advocate for paid family leave and get it passed in Minnesota. Her passion for this industry, for business supporting people, and for helping carwashes grow is what fuels us every day.

So as we’re handing out candy and celebrating Halloween, we want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported us over the years. Whether you’ve shared a post, sent some advice our way, or just cheered us on, we couldn’t have done it without you. Here’s to five incredible years—and many more to come! ��

Cheers,
Mel Ohlinger

50 Carwash Marketing Ideas to Attract More Customers

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:46:59 GMT

50 car wash marketing ideas to attract more customers

Key takeaways

Offer onsite amenities that provide comfort and convenience to attract new customers and encourage repeat business
Improve your online presence so it’s easy for people to find your car wash, including harnessing the power of social media
Try traditional advertising techniques such as direct mail, community sponsorships, and referral programs

Offer onsite amenities

Adding onsite amenities to your car wash can make your location a more appealing place to stop and attract new customers with a novel or time-saving experience.

1. Install a vending machine

Vending machines can attract customers to your car wash because they give drivers an additional reason to stop—to pick up a snack or a drink—while also providing your car wash business with an additional income stream.

2. Offer free coffee and tea

Many car dealerships and repair shops offer free coffee and tea in the lobby or waiting area—why not do the same with your car wash? It’s a low-cost way to add value for customers while making their pit stop a more comfortable experience.

3. Provide games for kids

Going to a tunnel car wash can be fun, but if you run a self-serve car wash, offer a few toys or games in your waiting area so the kids can be entertained while their parents wash their cars.

4. Sell ice

Attract drivers who are on their way to a party or family get-together by installing ice machines onsite. Instead of having to stop at a gas station or convenience store, customers can buy ice and get their car cleaned at the same place.

5. Put TVs in the lobby

Give customers something pleasant to do while they wait for a car wash or detailing services. Not only does it give them a chance to watch the local news or latest sports event, but it also boosts the chances of additional sales if you have a vending machine or snacks for sale.

6. Offer free Wi-Fi

Customers can watch shows, work, or play games on their mobile device without maxing out their data plan. It’s just another way to make your place appealing and show you care about your clients.

7. Install EV chargers

As electric cars gain in popularity, charging locations are in demand. Offer customers a pay-per-minute charging station—or even 30 minutes of free charging—to give them one more reason to stop by your car wash on their way to work or on a road trip.

8. Provide clean restrooms

Compete with other local businesses by offering free restrooms. Even if drivers don’t use the restroom every time they have their car washed, they’ll be more likely to think of your business the next time they need a car wash.

9. Offer bike pumps or repair tools

Bike commuters may not be your target audience, but many bicyclists are car owners too. Setting up a bike pump or repair station is one way to find a community need and create a solution that generates foot traffic and goodwill for your business.

Master online marketing

Many car wash operators focus their marketing efforts entirely on onsite amenities, but a successful marketing campaign also requires building your online reputation .

10. Maintain a website

If you aren’t selling anything online, your website doesn’t need to be elaborate. Still, it should provide your address, contact information, hours of operation, and a description of your services. Follow these three steps to build a free website for a small business .

11. Improve your local SEO

Search engine optimization helps you show up higher in online search results and rank ahead of other similar businesses. Use relevant keywords to point search engines toward your website, and highlight your geographic location to improve your local SEO.

12. Start a blog

Maintaining a blog keeps your website fresh—and recent content shows up higher in search results. Use your blog as a form of content marketing , and write articles about car care tips or how your car wash service is different from other local businesses.

13. Launch an email campaign

Email marketing helps you maintain relationships with customers, even when they aren’t currently in need of your services. Collect email addresses from new or loyal customers, and send them useful tips or special offers to keep them coming back.

14. Claim your Yelp Business Page

When you claim or add your Yelp Business Page , it shows customers that your business is genuine and makes it easier for them to find you online. Businesses with a photo, website, phone number, and business hours listed on their Yelp Business Page averaged 7.6x more page views per month than businesses without that content.

15. Create a special customer experience to inspire online reviews

Many customers look up businesses online before visiting them to see what others have said about their experiences. When you deliver great customer service, your patrons are more likely to feel inspired to leave an authentic review—giving others insight into what they can expect. You can also request a “Find Us on Yelp” sticker to show visiting customers that you’re on Yelp.

16. Respond to customer reviews

Reading and responding to reviews helps you understand how customers feel about your business and shows that you care about what they think. Follow these tips for responding to reviews —both positive and critical—to make a good first impression.

17. Gather customer testimonials

Testimonials are collections of satisfied customer feedback that help you show potential clients what past customers think of your work. Ask loyal customers if they’d be willing to write a testimonial that you can post with their name to your website or on your social media platforms.

18. Try cost-per-click advertising

Sometimes free car wash marketing strategies aren’t enough to get the customer boost you need. With cost-per-click advertising you can reach more potential customers who are looking for car wash services. For example, Yelp Ads puts your business in a number of key places on the site and app, including above search results and on competitors’ Yelp pages.

19. Create a lead magnet

A lead magnet is an incentive—like a free video or ebook—that users can access when they provide their email address or other contact information. Use lead magnets to encourage more customers to subscribe to your email list.

20. Host a social media giveaway

A social media giveaway can be an effective customer engagement marketing strategy to build brand awareness about your business. Ask customers to tag their friends and offer prizes that are valuable to your target market, such as a free wash, free detailing upgrade, or gift card. Be sure to follow local guidelines and policies for giveaways.

21. Run an influencer campaign

Influencer marketing can be one of the best ways to advertise your small business and appeal to younger demographics you may not be able to reach easily through traditional advertising. You don’t have to spend a lot of money either. Instead of trying to partner with a celebrity or social media star with tens of thousands of followers, find a local or niche influencer who can introduce your brand to their followers.

22. Use hashtags

If you don’t have the marketing budget for an influencer campaign, use hashtags to get attention on social media platforms. Either create a new hashtag that’s unique to your business, or tag your posts with a relevant hashtag that’s already trending.

23. Start a car wash challenge on TikTok

If you’re trying to reach younger users, TikTok is the place to be. It wouldn’t be the first car wash challenge on the social media app, but you can come up with a new spin to make it your own and create more brand awareness for your business.

Don’t forget traditional advertising

It’s important to stay on top of digital marketing, but time-tested traditional advertising has its place too. Consider these ideas as part of your car wash marketing plan.

24. Use direct mail

Direct mail is an outbound lead generation strategy that involves sending advertising material directly to people’s homes. If you’re a new car wash in the area, direct mail can be a cost-effective way to let people know you’re around.

25. Start a loyalty program

Running a loyalty program is an effective method for building loyal customers because it gives them an incentive to make repeat visits. For a car wash, it could be as simple as a punch card that gives customers a free wash after every 10 visits.

26. Establish brand partnerships

Team up with an established company or local business owner to cross-promote each other’s services. Maybe a major automotive brand will let you splash their logo across the side of your business or endorse you as an affiliated partner. Or perhaps you can partner with a local coffee shop, bakery, pet shop, or other business that offers your customers a discount with proof of purchase and vice versa.

27. Sponsor community clubs or sports teams

Getting your business name onto sports jerseys or signage can help build brand awareness. By sponsoring a sports team, car club, drama group, or other community events, you’ll get your name out there and show support for your local community.

28. Offer coupons

Coupons are a tried-and-true way to drive traffic to your business. You can use printed coupons or coupon codes that customers can redeem for a discount. Whether it’s 10% off or a free wash for new customers, coupons are an appealing incentive.

29. Use discount sites

Discount sites like Groupon and LivingSocial offer deals on car washes, oil changes, car detailing, and more. From package deals to time-sensitive offers, bargain sites expose your brand to new customers and can increase conversions.

30. Start a referral program

A referral program offers discounts or other incentives to customers who recommend your business to someone else. Give customers an extra reason to tell their friends about you, and soon word will get out that you’re the best car wash around.

31. Hand out branded swag

Giving out free stickers, magnets, and other swag gets your name onto refrigerators, backpacks, and other places where people are likely to see it. Even better, get your branded items included in a swag bag at a local festival or conference.

32. Advertise on a vehicle

If your business owns a car, it’s a no-brainer to promote your car wash with a large decal or wraparound ad. If you don’t, you can still get your logo onto local vehicles with bumper stickers or by paying for a vehicle advertising service.

33. Buy radio or podcast ads

Radio is a great place to advertise a car wash since many listeners will be in their vehicles when your ad comes on the air. But local radio stations aren’t as popular as they once were, so consider podcasts to reach a wider demographic.

34. Publish a calendar

Give out free calendars for the upcoming year with seasonal discounts built-in. Stick with a race car or classic car theme that customers will want to hang on their wall.

Creative car wash marketing ideas

If you’ve already tried digital and traditional advertising, it could be time to think outside the box. Here are some unique car wash marketing ideas to consider.

35. Get creative with signage

Need to compete with other car wash businesses in your area? Try using bright colors, flashy lights, digital displays, and unconventional retail signage to attract customers.

36. Play unique music

Instead of going with the same old playlists as everyone else, choose a distinct genre, like rock or reggae, to play in your tunnel or in-bay car wash.

37. Get a mascot

Come up with a fun mascot to be the face of your brand. A cute animal mascot outside your shop is sure to attract more attention (and eventually more customers).

38. Invest in a high-tech tunnel

Sometimes, driving through the car tunnel is an attraction in itself. Install LED lights or other fun displays inside the tunnel to keep customers and their kids entertained.

39. Host a concert

Invite a local band to perform outside of your car wash to attract customers. This is an especially good idea for a grand opening party if you’re a new business.

40. Hold a special event

Celebrate Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July, and other holidays with an outdoor BBQ or holiday celebration with free food and drink from other local businesses.

41. Commission a mural or street art

Hire a local street artist to paint the outside of your building with an eye-catching mural or other memorable street art.

Bonus car wash marketing ideas

Try these bonus car wash marketing ideas for even more ways to attract new customers.

42. Stay open 24/7

Make a name for yourself as the only 24/7 car wash in town. Even if you can’t staff the business around the clock, you can leave some self-service bays open.

43. Add a pet wash

Do you have room to install a self-service dog wash? That way, drivers can stop by to wash their car and the family pet at the same time.

44. Invite a food truck

If you have unused space in your parking lot, invite a food truck to set up shop. You can rotate between food trucks or make one a permanent installation.

45. Refresh your menu

Sometimes, refreshing your list of services with new prices and descriptions can attract customers who may have driven right past before.

46. Cater to trucks or RVs

Many trucks and large vehicles can’t fit into the tunnel or bays at a typical car wash. By making your business accessible to trucks, you can cater to more customers.

47. Host a workshop or tutorial

Host a DIY workshop where customers can learn how to change a tire or pick the right cleaning products to take care of their car.

48. Join HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is a free website that connects reporters with local industry experts. Sign up as a source and you could be contacted the next time a reporter needs to talk to a professional car wash owner.

49. Join the chamber of commerce

The local chamber of commerce is an organization that helps business owners network and share ideas and resources. By signing up, you can get your car wash listed in their membership directory.

50. Attend conferences and trade shows

Attending industry conferences is another way to get your name out there. Although you won’t be interacting with customers directly, you can network with other entrepreneurs and business owners and grow your reputation as a professional car wash owner.

Creating your own car wash marketing plan

Depending on your marketing budget, you’ll likely pick just a few of these 50 car wash marketing ideas to focus on at a time.

Start by adding inexpensive onsite amenities and mastering online marketing. Then consider traditional methods like direct mail and cost-per-click advertising to reach more people in your target audience fast.

Trying other creative, often inexpensive marketing techniques can also help take your car wash business to the next level. Don’t be afraid to experiment and branch out.

FAQs

How do you promote a car wash?

There are many ways to promote a car wash, ranging from paying for advertising to generating free publicity through word-of-mouth or social media accounts. The 50 car wash marketing ideas here are just some of the ways to promote a car wash business.

How do I stand out in a car wash business?

You can use a combination of car wash marketing strategies to stand out in the industry. First, focus on improving your brand awareness and online presence . Then, attract potential customers with effective marketing campaigns like a giveaway on social media or engaging emails and blog posts. Finally, refine your business model and encourage repeat customers by offering quality car wash services and a pleasant, convenient experience.

Where is the best location for a car wash business?

Ideally, your car wash business should be on a busy street or intersection where drivers can easily access your entrance. If your car wash is located off of the main road or in a less busy area, consider other ideas on this list to advertise your car wash services.

What type of car wash is most profitable?

According to FinImpact , a self-service car wash can generate $40,000 to $100,000 in revenue per year, while an in-bay automatic car wash can bring in $75,000 to $150,000. Full-service and tunnel car washes are more profitable, with $200,000 to $400,000 in revenue, but they have higher upfront costs and operating expenses.

The information above is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and may not be suitable for your circumstances. Unless stated otherwise, references to third-party links, services, or products do not constitute endorsement by Yelp.

Partner With OhmCo To Enhance Your Marketing Strategy And Build A Great Website!

Professional marketing assistance can make your ideas stand out. Partnering with OhmCo, specialists in the car wash industry, gives you valuable insights to build a tailored, data-driven marketing strategy that drives results. Everyone can benefit from expert guidance, and OhmCo has been helping car wash operators boost sales and increase ticket averages with our comprehensive suite of services. Let us help you create a winning business plan that sets your car wash apart from the competition. Reach out today, and we’ll help make your car wash a more exciting, successful business.

5 Reasons It’s Time to Update Your Carwash Website

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:37:53 GMT

5 Reasons It’s Time to Update Your Carwash Website

get a new carwash website

In today’s digital world, your carwash’s website is like the new version of the old yellow pages – it’s often the first place potential customers check you out! Whether they’re looking for A “CARWASH NEAR ME” or just curious about what you offer, having a sleek, modern, and easy-to-use website can make all the difference in getting them to drive into your physical location. If your site looks outdated, doesn’t match your brand, isn’t mobile-friendly, or doesn’t show off your current services, you could be losing out on of customers who might drive elsewhere.

But a well-designed website isn’t just a marketing tool – it’s key to connecting with customers and keeping them happy. We love to build websites that are more than just a get directions link, we like to make websites work for you. Your website should be your ultimate sales tool. So, if you want to stand out in your wash market, a top-notch website is a must-have to build trust and keep those cars rolling in!

NOT SURE? LET'S LOOK AT YOUR WEBSITE TO FIGURE OUT IF WE SHOULD GET STARTED...

Here are five key reasons why it’s time to update your car wash website to keep your business running smoothly—and ahead of the competition.

1. First Impressions Count

Your website is like the front door of your car wash business. When potential customers visit, you want to make sure it looks professional, inviting, and up-to-date. If your site is cluttered, slow, or difficult to navigate, you could lose visitors within seconds. A fresh, modern design helps convey trust and professionalism, encouraging people to choose your car wash over competitors.

For car washes, a visually appealing website with clean graphics, service descriptions, and easy-to-find pricing can make all the difference in converting visitors into loyal customers.

2. Customers Want Mobile-Friendly Sites

More and more people are finding car washes via their smartphones. Whether they’re checking for locations, prices, or available services, your site needs to be fully optimized for mobile devices. A non-responsive or poorly designed mobile site can frustrate users, causing them to look elsewhere.

A mobile-friendly update ensures that your website looks and functions perfectly on all devices, offering a smooth user experience no matter how customers access it. This is especially crucial for people on-the-go who may be searching for a quick wash on their phone.

3. Better Visibility with Improved SEO

Is your car wash website showing up in local search results? If not, it’s time for an SEO refresh. Search engine algorithms have evolved, and if your website hasn’t kept up, you’re likely missing out on valuable traffic. Regularly updating your content, optimizing for local search terms (like “car wash near me”), and improving your site speed can significantly boost your search engine rankings.

By keeping your site fresh, fast, and optimized for search engines, you can drive more potential customers to your car wash, ensuring you stay visible when they’re ready to clean their vehicles.

4. Showcase New Services and Promotions

Has your car wash added new services like ceramic coating, memberships, or detailing packages? Or maybe you’re running a limited-time promotion? Your website should be the first place you announce these updates. An outdated website that doesn’t showcase your current offerings can leave customers in the dark and reduce sales opportunities.

Updating your site allows you to highlight these new services, offer online booking, or promote deals like unlimited wash plans—all of which can increase engagement and boost revenue.

5. Stay Competitive in the Market

Car wash competitors are embracing modern website designs and features like online booking, mobile apps, and loyalty program integrations. If your website is stuck in the past, you risk falling behind. By regularly updating your website, you ensure that your business stays competitive, offering features that today’s customers expect—like easy scheduling, pricing transparency, and convenient online payment options.

A modernized website that reflects your current brand, services, and tech-savvy customer preferences can give you an edge in the competitive car wash market.

Need help getting started?

Keeping your car wash’s website fresh, mobile-friendly, and optimized is no longer optional—it’s essential. From creating a great first impression to ensuring your services are easily accessible and visible in local search results, updating your website is a key investment in your business’s success. However, we know how busy carwash businesses and carwash operators can be, so we've developed a super easy way to get a carwash website. Just reach out and give us a call!

In today’s digital-driven landscape, your carwash's website often serves as the initial point of contact for prospective customers. It’s the modern equivalent of the yellow pages. Whether individuals are looking for a nearby wash or exploring your services, a polished, contemporary, and user-friendly website can significantly enhance your ability to capture their interest. If your site appears outdated, lacks mobile compatibility, or fails to showcase your current offerings, you risk losing valuable customers. Establish your carwash website effortlessly for just $58/month. You can build it yourself or have us create it for you, guaranteeing a secure site and reliable hosting. Customize with ease, ensure Google-friendliness, and enjoy top-notch design, 99.999% uptime, and robust security. Join OhmCo's Web.Lab for a striking, professional site in no time. Benefit from seamless mobile functionality, tailored designs, and straightforward editing. Make your mark with our industry-leading templates. OhmCo: the premier Website Builder for carwashes!

Ready to upgrade your car wash website and attract more customers? Let us help you create a modern, user-friendly site that showcases your business and services in the best light. Contact us today!

5 Ways to Maximize Your Car Wash Marketing with Tara Baugher

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:55:53 GMT

5 Ways to Maximize Your Car Wash Marketing

Customized Car Wash Consulting for Long-Term Success with TARA BAUGHER

In the fast-paced and competitive world of car wash businesses, effective marketing isn't just about attracting customers—it's about creating lasting relationships and delivering consistent value. While eye-catching promotions might bring in first-time visitors, it's the overall experience and strategic approach that turns them into loyal customers.

One of the things that makes Tara stand out is her commitment to providing solutions as unique as your operation. There’s no copy-paste consulting here—Tara works closely with you to understand the ins and outs of your business and develops a strategy that’s perfectly suited to your needs. Whether you’re dealing with operational bottlenecks or need to revamp your marketing, she’s got the insights and expertise to guide you.

Let's explore five key strategies that can elevate your car wash marketing from good to exceptional.

1. Ditch the Discount Addiction

It's tempting to rely on hefty discounts or freebies to draw in customers, but this approach can be a double-edged sword. While price cuts might boost short-term traffic, they can also erode your profit margins and, more importantly, devalue your services in the eyes of your customers.

Instead of constant discounting, focus on communicating the unique value your car wash provides. Do you use premium chemicals? Highlight their benefits. Do you offer superior customer service? Showcase how your staff goes above and beyond. Are you committed to environmental sustainability? Share your eco-friendly practices.

When you do decide to offer discounts, make them strategic:

Introduce time-based specials to drive traffic during off-peak hours
Create bundle deals that increase the average transaction value
Offer referral programs to encourage word-of-mouth

Remember, the goal is to attract customers who appreciate the quality of your service, not just

those hunting for the lowest price.

2. Build a Strong Loyalty Program

In the car wash industry, customer retention is king. A well-structured loyalty program can transform occasional visitors into dedicated fans who choose your car wash every time.

Consider these options for your loyalty program:

Points-based system: Customers earn points for each visit or dollar spent, which they can redeem for free washes or upgrades
Tenure-based program: Offer increasing benefits as customers maintain their membership
Frequency-based model: Provide a free wash after a certain number of paid washes, encouraging repeat visits

The key to a successful loyalty program is to make it easy to understand and rewarding to use. Ensure the benefits are attainable and genuinely valuable to your customers. You might offer exclusive services, priority lanes, or even partnerships with local businesses for added perks.

Also, leverage technology to make your loyalty program seamless. A user-friendly mobile app can help customers track their rewards, book services, and receive personalized offers, enhancing their overall experience with your brand. Or consider incorporating SMS marketing into your loyalty program. Text messages have high open rates and can be an effective way to send personalized reminders, exclusive offers, or updates directly to your customers' phones.

3. Launch Strategic Short-Term Campaigns

While consistency is crucial in marketing, well-timed, short-term campaigns can inject excitement and urgency into your marketing mix. These campaigns can drive traffic during slower periods and introduce customers to new services.

Ideas for effective short-term campaigns include:

Seasonal promotions: "Spring Cleaning" specials or "Winter Protection" packages
Flash sales: Offer significant discounts for a very short period (e.g., 50% off memberships for 3 days)
Community partnerships: Team up with local sports teams or schools for fundraising events

The key to successful short-term campaigns is proper planning and execution. Ensure your staff is well-informed and your operations can handle any increase in traffic. Use a mix of channels to promote your campaign, including social media, email marketing, and on-site signage.

4. Your Car Wash is Your Best Billboard

Your marketing efforts don't end when a customer pulls into your car wash—in many ways, this is where they truly begin. The quality of your on-site operations can make or break your marketing success.

To ensure your operations support your marketing promises:

Maintain impeccable cleanliness throughout your facility, from the entrance to the exit
Train your staff in customer service excellence, ensuring they're friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable
Greet every customer as they come in, retail and member
Optimize your queue management to minimize wait times
Implement a quality control process to ensure every car leaves spotless

Remember, a satisfied customer is your best marketing tool. They're likely to return, recommend

your services to others, and leave positive reviews online. By focusing on operational excellence, yo're not just washing cars—you're creating brand advocates.

5. Prioritize Internal Marketing

Your employees are the face of your brand, interacting directly with customers and representing your values. Internal marketing—the process of training and motivating your staff to deliver on your brand promises—is crucial for consistent, high-quality service.

To excel at internal marketing:

Regularly communicate your brand values, service standards, and current promotions to all staff members
Provide training on customer service, technical skills, and upselling techniques surrounding specific campaigns or promotions
Encourage feedback from your staff—they often have valuable insights into customer preferences and operational improvements

When your employees understand and believe in your brand, they're more likely to deliver exceptional experiences that reinforce your marketing messages.

Conclusion

Effective car wash marketing is a multifaceted endeavor that extends far beyond traditional advertising. By rethinking your approach to discounts, building strong customer loyalty, launching strategic campaigns, strengthening your on-site operations, and prioritizing internal marketing, you create a comprehensive strategy that enhances the customer experience at every touchpoint.

Remember, in the car wash industry, your product isn't just a clean car—it's the entire experience from the moment a customer hears about your service to the time they drive away with a gleaming vehicle. By focusing on these five key areas, you'll not only attract new customers but also build a loyal customer base that values your services and becomes advocates for your brand.

Implementing these strategies requires time, effort, and sometimes financial investment. However, the payoff—a thriving business with a strong reputation and loyal customer base—is well worth it. Start by assessing your current marketing approach, identify areas for improvement, and gradually implement these strategies. With consistency and dedication, you'll see your car wash business shine brighter than ever before.

Ready to work with Tara?

If you’re ready to take your car wash business to new heights, Tara Baugher is the consultant who can get you there. Her hands-on experience in the field, paired with her expertise in sustainable marketing and operational efficiency, make her the ideal partner to help you not just grow—but thrive. Connect with Tara today and see how her tailored strategies can transform your car wash.

The Allied Advantage with Ryan Easter

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:37:25 GMT

The Allied Advantage with Ryan Easter

Unlock Your Full Potential Ryan new Coaching Program

I'm sure you've already heard about Ryan Easter. He's one of those guys in the car wash industry that is warm, friendly, helpful and super interesting. He is a creative thinker, a natural problem solver and a boat enthusiast. Recently, Ryan launched his new high-performance coaching program called The Allied Advantage , where he combines his industry knowledge with executive coaching to help make an impact on people to help them change their lives.

(To Learn more about it, click on the image below)

What we know Ryan best for right now is how he and Erin (Ryan's sweetheart) redefined their lives by choosing adventure, embracing change, and making small adjustments that led to something extraordinary — living their lives full-time on a boat! Ryan doesn’t just talk about helping people lead the life of their dreams; he lives it. Watching their journey has been an absolute joy, whether it’s taking the twins to explore a park by dinghy or holding my breath as Ryan climbs 30 feet (or more) to the top of the boat mast. And how about those sunset posts? Absolutely breathtaking, and even more amazing to know that his family is living a life where they choose beauty and joy first.

One thing I can say for certain about Ryan is that he truly cares about helping people succeed. With the support of his family, he’s not one of those coaches who promises quick fixes or instant success. Instead, Ryan offers real, actionable strategies that help you grow both personally and professionally. Whether you’re managing a car wash business or striving for a better work-life balance, his approach equips you with the tools you need to achieve your goals.

How Ryan’s Coaching Helped Me Take Control of My Inbox

Ryan and I were talking about the stressors in life and one thing he said that really stood out to me was his Email Bucket System. Now, if you’re anything like me, your inbox can get out of control fast. Over this past weekend I took four days to dedicate to this way of email organization and it was pretty exhausting. I sorted, answered, delegated, and saved things until my brain was pounding and my eyes were bleeding (not for real, but it was pretty intense, haha). Before I started using this system, I had 436 unanswered emails sitting there, haunting me every time I logged in. But after learning and applying Ryan’s simple approach to email management, I was able to reduce that number to just four!

Here’s how his system works:

First set up your email so you have three categories or "buckets". I used gmail, so I set up priority folders so that I can automate my system to sort automatically after I've set my parameters.

1. Five Minutes or Less (Do Right Away)

Handle the emails that can be knocked out in five minutes or less. It feels great to get these off your plate immediately.

2. Delegate

Don’t try to do everything yourself. Delegate the emails that someone else can handle. Whether it’s a team member or another department, passing these on will save you tons of time.

3. Defer (Schedule for Later)

For emails that require more thought or effort, schedule a time to deal with them later. Don’t let them pile up—flag them and give yourself a dedicated time to respond.

After you get through your backlog, you go forward only answering emails for two hours each day - once in the morning and once in the evening. After I got through my backlog I was able to finally start responding to all the friends we made at the Australian Car Wash Show. We've been home for a month, but I fell so far behind that it seemed like I would never be able to get through everything. This system has saved me so much stress and time and t’s just one example of the kind of practical advice Ryan shares in his coaching.

Why You Should Check Out The Allied Advantage?

Ryan is the real deal. His coaching isn’t about fluff or quick wins—it’s about helping you achieve real success, both personally and professionally. He takes the time to understand where you are and what you need, then tailors his approach to fit your unique goals. Whether you're trying to grow your car wash business or you’re just overwhelmed by everything life’s throwing at you, Ryan has a way of helping you cut through the noise and focus on what really matters.

Here are a few reasons why I think *The Allied Advantage* is worth checking out:

1. It’s Personal:

Ryan doesn’t do one-size-fits-all coaching. He gets to know you and your challenges, then works with you to create a customized plan to move you forward.

2. Focus on What Matters

Success isn’t just about the bottom line—it’s about living a life that’s fulfilling and balanced. Ryan’s coaching helps you focus on your personal growth as much as your professional success.

3. No Gimmicks

Ryan isn’t selling shortcuts or magic solutions. He’s offering proven strategies that require hard work, discipline, and consistency. But trust me, the results are worth it.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re ready to level up your life and your business, I highly recommend giving Ryan a call. He’s offering a free consultation, and it’s a great way to see how his coaching can make a difference for you. Whether it’s learning time management strategies like the Email Bucket System or figuring out how to balance your personal and professional goals, Ryan is the coach who can help you get there.

I’ve seen firsthand how *The Allied Advantage* has helped me, and I know it can do the same for you. If you’re looking for a coach who’s genuine, knowledgeable, and invested in your success, Ryan Easter is your guy. Go ahead and schedule that free call—it could be the start of something amazing.

10 Best Practices for Createing a Car Wash Marketing Plan:

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:08:51 GMT

10 Best Practices for a Car Wash Marketing Plan

Effective Marketing Plans for Car Washes: Tips to Boost Sales, Smiles & Your Customer Base.

In the fast-and-furious world of car washes, a slick marketing plan is your secret weapon to make your business gleam. With the U.S. car wash industry raking in $15.21 billion in 2022, it's clear the suds are booming – so if you want to stay ahead, you've got to stand out. Long gone are the days when slapping up a sign and crossing your fingers did the trick. These days, you need a marketing plan that grabs attention faster than a sports car in a soap bay. And sure, it needs to dazzle, but it also has to work like a well-oiled machine. So, buckle up – here are a few top tips for crafting a car wash marketing strategy that really shines!

1. Identify Your Target Market

Understanding your target market is essential for success. Are your customers busy parents needing a quick, convenient wash, or luxury car owners seeking premium care? By defining your audience, you can tailor your promotions and customer experience to meet their needs, leading to higher satisfaction and increased sales.

2. Develop a Strong Brand Identity

This is where OhmCo can really help - building your carwash brand! A strong brand identity is key to standing out. From eye-catching signage to a memorable logo, your brand should represent your values and quality. Highlight the unique aspects of your car wash, such as eco-friendly services or luxury vehicle care, to differentiate yourself from the competition.

3. Optimize Your Local SEO

OhmCo can help with SEO too! SEO reports for you and your competitors are just $99/report for our existing customers. Local search engine optimization (SEO) is critical to making your car wash visible online. Optimize your website with relevant keywords, post informative content about your services, and create a Google My Business listing. This will help improve your search rankings and make it easier for local customers to find you.

4. Boost Customer Retention With a Membership or Loyalty Program

Retain customers by implementing a loyalty program that rewards them for their repeat business. Whether it's a points system or discounts on future purchases, a loyalty program shows customers their business is valued and encourages them to keep coming back.

5. Grow Your Customer Base With a Referral Program

Once you got them through the door... err wash bay... it's easy to get them to come back. What boosts sales even more is getting those customers to refer you! Your current customers can be your best advocates. Offer them incentives for referring friends and family, and reward both the referrer and the new customer with a special promotion. This can increase your customer base while strengthening relationships with your existing customers.

6. Collaborate With Local Businesses for Growth

It's a back scratching world! If you help a local business, they're going to help your business too. Partner with local businesses like cafe, lube centers, auto repair shops or dealerships. These collaborations create a win-win by pooling resources for promotions and expanding your customer base while strengthening community ties.

7. Offer Complementary Services to Increase Sales

Enhance your car wash experience by offering complementary services like vacuum stations or air fresheners. Dash wipes, window cleaners, vacuum stations, towels, and vending machines can really make your car and carwash shine! These added conveniences can increase customer satisfaction and boost sales with minimal extra labor.

8. Run Targeted Advertising Campaigns

To stand out in a crowded market, invest in strategic advertising. Use both traditional media (like TV and print) and online ads to reach your target audience. Promotional offers like “buy two, get one free” or monthly subscriptions can help attract new customers and increase long-term retention.

9. Leverage Social Media Marketing

Social media is still the cheapest way to advertise... for now. Take advantage of it! Engage with potential customers on social media by sharing before-and-after photos, promotions, and car wash tips. Social platforms are a powerful way to showcase your services, connect with your audience, and grow your business.

10. Track and Analyze Your Results

Tracking the performance of your promotions, sales, and customer feedback is crucial for optimizing your marketing strategy. Use metrics like customer engagement and ROI to refine your campaigns. Surveys and feedback forms can provide valuable insights to help improve your services and customer satisfaction.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll strengthen your brand, grow your customer base, and increase your revenue—helping your car wash business thrive.

11. BONUS - Have a Great Carwash Website!

A well-designed, user-friendly website is the cornerstone of your online presence. Your website should clearly communicate your services, prices, and promotions while making it easy for customers to book appointments or purchase memberships online. A great website builds credibility and trust with potential customers. Make sure your website is optimized for mobile, loads quickly, and features strong calls-to-action to convert visitors into paying customers. With a strong website, your car wash can stand out from the competition and make it easier for customers to engage with your business.

By having a great website, you'll not only enhance your digital presence but also drive more traffic, ultimately boosting your bottom line.

Partner With OhmCo To Enhance Your Marketing Strategy And Build A Great Website!

Rinsed Carwash Websites with OhmCo

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 21:23:14 GMT

An Easy Way to Sell CarWash Memberships Online

Rinsed CRM

& OhmCo Websites

Easily expand and manage your carwash membership with the Rinsed platform, powered by OhmCo. Our web.lab carwash website platform is specifically designed for the carwash industry, aimed at boosting traffic to your business. By integrating the Rinsed platform with a carwash website powered by OhmCo, you can simplify online sales and gain valuable insights into customer information. Known as the Car Wash CRM, Rinsed seamlessly integrates with your existing Point of Sale system. Sell plans online and automate your email and text messaging. Experience an all-in-one platform designed to grow your carwash, brought to you by OhmCo.

Grow your car wash online sales 10x with Rinsed.

SPEEDWASH

Buy a carwash website template and get started building your new website! It's as easy as a ride through an Express Wash. This is for the template only. Each site is $58/month after we go live (or 30 days - whatever comes first).

GREEN CLEAN

AUTO SPA

MR. EXPRESS

CAR WASH

Get A Quote

Fill out the quote form below or call to discuss your carwash website vision!

CARWASH WEBSITE THAT SELLS CAR WASH MEMBERSHIPS

IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE YOUR CAR WASH...

WE CAN HELP!

OHMCO'S RINSED

WEBSITES HAVE...

RESPONSIVE DESIGN

Don’t worry about the device. We design sites that work perfectly on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

HOSTING WITH THE MOSTING

All of our websites are hosted on Amazon AWS, so count on 99.99% monthly uptime.

FRIENDLY IT SUPPORT

Our website support team is here to ensure that things runs smoothly for you online. You’ll always find the help you need.

TEAM EDITING

ON THE GO

Once your site is up and running, you and your team can edit it anytime, anywhere. Even from your mobile device.

BETTER SEO & METADATA

We’ll get your site Google ready with customized SEO. That way, more customers can find you fast.

START SMALL & KEEP GROWING

Watch your profits increase as you turn your website into your best sales tool and an income generator.

Rinsed integrates directly with your website to give your customers an easy one-page checkout form optimized for every device. With Rinsed checkout forms on an OhmCo carwash website you can:

Optimize your online shopping process with a sleek website;
Link your POS system to your online store
Enable one-click online checkouts;
Customize graphics and buttons with tech support;
Track visits and conversions;
Boost sales with automated abandoned cart emails;
We're fully PCI and CalOPPA Compliant.

5 Basic Carwash Marketing Strategies

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:45:45 GMT

5 Basic Carwash Marketing Strategies

Easy Ways To Get Your Carwash Marketing Rolling

Whether you’re just starting out with your carwash marketing strategy or you’re taking the time to review and refine it for the upcoming year, it’s crucial to maintain a keen awareness of the ever-evolving marketing industry. This vigilance will enable you to construct a marketing campaign that not only captures attention but is also successful in attracting new customers to your business. While developing an effective marketing campaign doesn’t necessarily require a substantial financial investment, it does demand innovative and creative marketing ideas that can resonate with your target audience. However, generating those ideas can sometimes be easier said than done, especially with the myriad of options available. To help you navigate this landscape, here are the top ideas to kickstart your successful carwash marketing strategy and set you on the path to growth and increased customer engagement.

Need a carwash website?

5 Essential Marketing Tips for Growing Your Car Wash Business

In today’s fast-paced, tech-savvy world, running a car wash business requires more than just providing excellent service. To truly stand out and attract more customers, you need to adopt smart, cost-effective marketing strategies that will help your business thrive. From establishing a strong online presence to fostering community relationships, here are five essential marketing tips that will take your car wash business to the next level.

1. Get on Google Maps

Google Maps has become the modern-day equivalent of the Yellow Pages. It’s one of the most powerful tools to attract local customers, boost your online visibility, and grow your car wash business without having to spend a fortune. Being listed on Google Maps ensures that your car wash shows up when people in your area search for nearby services.

Start by creating or claiming your Google My Business listing. This is where you can connect all your important links, like your website and social media pages. It’s also where potential customers can find essential information such as your operating hours, location, and contact details. Additionally, encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews on Google can significantly boost your credibility and trustworthiness. Google Maps not only helps drive foot traffic to your car wash, but it also helps bring bots to your website, improving your overall search engine ranking.

2. Get Active on Social Media

Having a presence on social media is a must for any business today, and car washes are no exception. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer an excellent way to connect with your local community, promote your services, and engage with your audience – all without breaking the bank.

When creating social media pages, it’s important to consider your target audience. Facebook and Instagram tend to be the go-to platforms for businesses that cater to a broad demographic, making them ideal for car washes. Use these platforms to post engaging content, such as special promotions, behind-the-scenes videos of your car wash in action, or user-generated content from happy customers.

If you’re working with a tight marketing budget, a well-maintained Facebook page can even serve as a temporary alternative to a website. It’s an effective way to share all the necessary information about your business, such as hours of operation, pricing, and services. Over time, if your budget allows, you can invest in targeted ads on social media. These ads allow you to hone in on potential customers in your area, driving more traffic to your car wash.

3. Develop a Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs are becoming increasingly popular across many industries, and they can be a game-changer for your car wash business as well. A well-designed loyalty program not only encourages repeat customers but also fosters a sense of connection and engagement with your brand. To create a successful loyalty program, it’s crucial to first understand your customer base. Who are they, and why do they choose your car wash over others?

Once you have gathered this data, you can brainstorm with your team to develop a loyalty program that aligns with your business goals. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based) goals for your program to ensure it’s both effective and trackable. For example, you might offer discounts after a certain number of washes or special perks for long-time customers.

To maximize the impact of your loyalty program, you could integrate it with a mobile app or website, making it easy for customers to sign up and track their rewards. Remember, a loyalty program is not just about giving out free washes—it’s about creating an ongoing relationship with your customers that keeps them coming back.

4. Collaborate with Your Local Community

Getting involved in your local community is one of the best ways to grow your car wash business while also giving back. Partnering with nearby businesses, schools, or charities can help you build goodwill and encourage locals to choose your car wash over others.

Consider joining your local Chamber of Commerce, as many chambers offer free ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses, which could get your car wash featured on local news. You can also explore partnerships with schools, offering fundraising programs where a portion of your profits goes to a chosen school or charity. These types of collaborations not only boost your business's visibility but also showcase your commitment to supporting the local community.

You can also incentivize nearby business employees or customers to visit your car wash by offering special discounts or promotions. This helps create a network of loyal customers who feel connected to your business through shared community values.

5. Build a User-Friendly Website

In today’s digital age, having a well-designed, functional website is no longer optional—it’s essential. Your website is often the first place potential customers will go to learn about your services, promotions, and pricing. A strong online presence can give your car wash the edge it needs to stay competitive.

When creating your website, focus on making it user-friendly and visually appealing. Include all the necessary information about your business, such as hours of operation, services offered, and a contact form for inquiries. Additionally, consider integrating features like online appointment scheduling or an FAQ section to make the customer experience as seamless as possible.

Your website is also a great place to promote your loyalty program or offer special deals for customers who sign up for your newsletter. This not only encourages people to visit your car wash but also helps you build a list of potential repeat customers. Don’t forget the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure your website ranks well in search engines and attracts local traffic.

Need help?

Building a strong online presence and engaging with your local community are crucial steps toward growing your car wash business. At Ohmco, we specialize in creating marketing solutions that help car wash businesses thrive. Whether you need a visually stunning website, a loyalty program strategy, or help managing your Google and social media accounts, we’ve got you covered.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve your business goals and bring your car wash to the forefront of the local market.

Need a carwash website?

OhmCo's Website FAQs for new carwash websites

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:40:46 GMT

OhmCo Website FAQs

Why do I need a carwash website from OhmCo's and their Carwash Website Builder?

OhmCo's Website Builder (Web.Lab) is your all-in-one car wash for your online presence. It creates a sleek, responsive site that looks great on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Your customers will have a smooth, sudsy experience no matter what device they’re using.

What is a responsive site?

A responsive site is like a car wash that adjusts its nozzles based on the size of your vehicle. It changes how content is displayed depending on the device, ensuring everything looks shiny and new whether on a phone, tablet, or desktop.

What advantages does a responsive site offer?

Responsive sites are like having different-sized sponges for different messes. They allow you to tailor your visitors' experience based on their device, ensuring everything is sparkling clean no matter how they access your site.

Is OhmCo responsive design?

Absolutely! OhmCo uses responsive design to ensure your content looks fantastic on any device. You can decide which content to show and how it should be displayed based on the viewer's device. It’s like choosing the right soap for the job.

How is OhmCo's Website Builder smarter than responsive design?

OhmCo's Website Builder goes beyond just being responsive. It minimizes the data sent to each device, ensuring fast load times even for smaller screens. Plus, you can customize content based on variables like date and more – it's like having a custom cleaning schedule for your site!

Do I need to pick a device?

Nope! OhmCo's Website Builder makes sure your site looks splash-tacular on desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. You can choose to hide content from certain devices, but your website will still shine on any screen size.

How is OhmCo's Website Builder best for business?

OhmCo's Website Builder is a one-stop solution for all your web needs. No need to fumble with code or build separate sites for different devices. Benefits include:

Easy to use:

Change your site with an easy editor. Want to change some text? Just click and type.

One site, all devices:

OhmCo sites automatically fit and display on mobile and tablet versions, so your customers can find you no matter what device they're using.

Powerful options:

Features like click-to-call buttons, restaurant menus, and mobile maps are easy to add and customize.

Fast setup:

Once you hit publish, your site is live.

Integrated hosting:

Hosting is included with all OhmCo subscriptions, so you don't need to worry about it.

Is this only for business sites?

Nope! OhmCo's Website Builder is versatile and powerful enough for any purpose, whether it's for your car wash business, car wash distribution, water treatment, family, club, street, or town.

How much does it cost?

We charge for the website design, and then after launch you have a bundled pack of goodies that you pay for with a low monthly fee. Right now it's $58/month, but subject to change. Want to get a quote? That's a great idea!

How does hosting work?

Your multi-screen website is hosted with OhmCo, and hosting is included in the price. Sites built with OhmCo must stay on our platform and cannot be exported to a different host.

Are there limits to the number of sites, pages, and what I can host from my account?

There’s no hard limit on the number of sites you can build. You can create up to 1000 site pages and popups, and 1500 blog pages. Dynamic pages don’t count towards this limit. There’s also no bandwidth limit, and you can embed various file types.

Can I completely migrate my existing site to OhmCo?

Currently, you can recreate your site using our platform, but direct migration isn't supported.

Can OhmCo's Website Builder import my existing site?

While OhmCo can pull content from most sites, it can't import content written in Flash, Java, or similar external applets, or content gated through AJAX, JavaScript, or jQuery.

Do I need to already have a site?

Nope! You can start from scratch or import content from your Facebook page or one of our pre-designed templates.

Can I export and host my OhmCo site on another host?

Unfortunately, you cannot export your OhmCo site to another host due to the nature of our SAAS platform. However, you can always make changes within the OhmCo editor.

Can I create and save a custom template?

Yes! For more information, see our Create Site Templates section.

Does OhmCo's Responsive Website Builder support eCommerce?

Yes, our builder has a robust eCommerce system built-in. While it can’t automatically import shopping carts, products can be imported via CSV.

How do I set up my Domain in OhmCo's Responsive Website?

You can purchase a domain name within the OhmCo publish flow, and it will be configured automatically. If you already own a domain, you can point it to your new site with a few simple steps.

Do I need a domain name? Does OhmCo sell domains?

OhmCo doesn’t currently sell domain names, but you can use a custom subdomain of ohmco.co or purchase a domain name within the publish flow.

Is there an API?

Yes, see our API section for more info.

Can I add banners to my site?

Yes, you can add AdSense and other third-party ads using our HTML feature.

Can OhmCo build my website for me?

Yes! It's what we do best! It's why we've launched SO MANY car wash websites!

Which browsers does OhmCo's Responsive Website Builder support?

We support the latest versions of all major browsers, including Chrome, IE (latest), Edge, Safari, Opera, and Firefox. Chrome is recommended for editing.

Which languages does OhmCo's Responsive Website Builder support?

Our builder supports multi-language pages, so you can display your site in different languages.

FAQs for current OhmCo Mobile customers

OhmCo's Responsive Website is a separate product from OhmCo Mobile. Sites built on OhmCo Mobile remain unchanged.

What functionality is available for partners?

OhmCo's Responsive Website Builder is available with full white label capability through our OhmCoPro partner program. Partners can display previews to customers or allow them to build sites themselves.

Is there customer support for the OhmCo Responsive Website Builder?

Yes, our builder comes with high-quality support. For more information, see How to Contact Support.

#1 Carwash Website Design Services

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:54:10 GMT

Seven Sudsy Reasons Your Car Wash Business Needs a Website

Boost Business Your Carwash Business Online!

In today's digital age, having an online presence is crucial for the success of any business, including car washes. A well-designed website can be a powerful tool to attract new customers, showcase your services, and build brand loyalty. As a leading website design agency, Ohmco has helped numerous car wash businesses establish a strong online presence and achieve their goals. Here are seven compelling reasons why your car wash business needs a website:

Increased Visibility and Accessibility for Car Wash Services

A professional website makes your services visible and accessible to a broader audience 24/7. By optimizing your site for search engines, you can improve your online visibility and make it easier for potential customers to find your car wash when searching for terms like "car wash near me" or "car wash services in [your city]." This increased visibility helps attract more local customers and helps your business stand out from the crowd.

Showcasing Your Car Wash Services and Offerings

A well-designed website is like a shiny new coat of wax for your business, effectively showcasing your range of car wash services, including exterior and interior cleaning, waxing, and detailing. By featuring your competitive pricing options and any ongoing promotions or special offers, potential customers can access all the information they need to choose the best service to meet their needs. This comprehensive presentation helps customers make informed decisions and enhances their overall experience.

Enhancing Customer Experience for Car Wash Businesses

A meticulously crafted website can significantly elevate the overall customer experience. It serves as a central hub of valuable information, including details about your location, operating hours, and contact options. By ensuring that customers can effortlessly access the information they seek, you enhance their satisfaction and increase the likelihood of securing their continued patronage.

Establishing Credibility and Trust for Your Car Wash

In today's competitive market, a well-designed and informative website is essential for establishing your car wash as a credible and trustworthy business. Showcasing your expertise, customer reviews, and relevant certifications on your website can build trust and set you apart from the competition. This can lead to increased customer engagement and loyalty.

Offering Convenience and Flexibility for Car Wash Customers

A dedicated website allows customers to conveniently access information about your services, promotions, and operating hours without needing to visit your physical location or make a phone call. This flexibility benefits busy customers who prefer researching and making decisions online, allowing them to plan their visit to your car wash at their convenience.

Generating Leads and Driving Sales for Your Car Wash Business

An effectively crafted website plays a crucial role in driving lead generation for your car wash business. It can motivate visitors to engage with your services, whether scheduling an appointment or enrolling in a loyalty program. By integrating clear and compelling calls-to-action and user-friendly forms, you can seamlessly transform website visitors into loyal customers and boost sales for your business.

Staying Competitive in the Car Wash Market

In the current digital environment, having a strong online presence through a well-designed and functional website is essential. With the increasing use of the internet and digital technologies, having a website is no longer just an option but a necessity. This online platform is crucial for staying ahead in the competitive market, catering to evolving customer preferences, and establishing a solid foundation for sustained business growth and success.

Conclusion

At Ohmco, we understand the importance of establishing a strong online presence for car wash businesses. Our skilled designers and developers are proficient at creating visually appealing websites that deliver results. By incorporating the seven reasons mentioned above, we can help you create a website that attracts new clients, enhances your brand's reputation, and ultimately boosts the growth of your car wash business.

Contact us today to explore our car wash website design services and learn how we can help you achieve your business goals.

FAQs For Your Car Wash Business with Ohmco

Does my carwash need a website?

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:45:14 GMT

Your Carwash Needs A Website. Here's Why.

Seven Compelling Reasons Your Car Wash Business Needs a Website

Increased Visibility and Accessibility for Car Wash Services

Showcasing Your Car Wash Services and Offerings

Enhancing Customer Experience for Car Wash Businesses

Establishing Credibility and Trust for Your Car Wash

Offering Convenience and Flexibility for Car Wash Customers

Generating Leads and Driving Sales for Your Car Wash Business

Staying Competitive in the Car Wash Market

FAQs For Your Car Wash Business with Ohmco

So What's SEO, Anyway? Make your carwash website GREAT!

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 21:17:07 GMT

So What's SEO, Anyway?

Understanding the Basics of SEO for Your Website

All our websites come with Snowplow Analytics integrated, but when you're not getting visitors to your site, it means you need SEO. So how do we get people to your website? There isn't a magic formula to instantly send your site to the #1 search result on Google, but there are basic principles to follow for a strong starting point. These principles are called White Hat SEO, and we're proud of how Google-friendly our websites are. Our car washes can customize every level of their keywords and metadata to make your website compete online and rank first in "Car Wash Near Me" searches.

Top 8 SEO Practices for Websites Today

Explore the essential 8 SEO practices that modern websites must implement to boost their online presence and stay ahead in search engine rankings. From optimizing content and keywords to incorporating strategic link building techniques, it's crucial for websites to stay abreast of the latest SEO trends to drive organic traffic and enhance visibility in the highly competitive digital landscape. Uncover the key strategies that can help your website achieve better search engine results and attract more targeted visitors.

Want an SEO report for you carwash website to see how you can improve?

GET AN SEO REPORT FOR $199

1. Write for People AND for Robots (Search Engines)

Why It's Important:

We always say that our websites are made for robots to find the people. We c raft original keyword-filled content to make your website compete with that carwash down the road. We make your content relevant to your audience, fit the community you serve (we don't want to sell salt removal in Florida), and optimized for robots (a.k.a. search engines). And we'll try to make it as error-free as possible, but when it comes to car wash, carwash, or auto wash, Google gives us a little wiggle room.

Best Practices:

Search engines like Google can easily detect content that is stolen or duplicated from other carwash websites. Google also downgrades websites that contain errors or ones that are keyword-stuffed with non-related content. Some website builders link unrelated web pages to your website to make your site look bigger, like those annoying recipe blogs. But Google knows better... if you're a car wash, why would you have a recipe blog?

Focus on creating REAL content for your audience that naturally incorporates relevant keywords that matches your industry without bloating your site with spam.

2. Add a Blog to Your Site and Use Rich Media

Why It 's Important:

Search Engines love websites that are updated regularly. By maintaining an active blog, you continually add new content to your site, which signals to search engines that your site is active and relevant. When you include images and videos, you engage your site visitors and blog readers, create posts that include non-textual media like photos, videos, or original visualizations (infographics).

Best Practices:

Follow what we're doing on this page! We're following the advice we give! Having that extra content, especially if it's captivating, will increase the time users spend on your site and the likelihood they will share your site with their own community. In this case, we also want to show our customers the value of what we do behind the scenes to make sure that our websites work great compared to other sites.

3. Offer a Positive User Experience Throughout Your Site

Why It's Important:

Some people say that Google can tell if you're using your site to aggressively advertise your service or if you're being too pushy. We have not found any evidence of that, but we have found that websites get less traffic when links are broken, pages are deleted, and buttons are not set-up. So we like to run through it with our customers to make sure everything works.

Best Practices:

This is one of those do what we say, not what we do sorts of situations. While we do this for our customers, our own website kind of gets ignored. Mel only gets a chance to update our website once a year - usually on Christmas Vacations when the Grandmas and Grandpas are keeping our kiddos busy. Anyway, always aim to offer your car wash website visitors a pleasant experience on your site. This means clear content, listing your chemicals and services, and offering support when needed, with always having an option to go back or back to the top of a page.

4. Create a Network of Internal Links

Why It's Important:

Internal links help users navigate your site and provide additional context to your content.

Best Practices:

Add links between different pages of your site and your blog organically. Link between pages that make sense; for example, on your services page, link a certain industry-specific term to a blog post that gives more information on that term. On your wash menu page, link through to your unlimited membership program to drive sales.

5. Always Check Your Site's Core Web Vitals

Why It's Important:

Core Web Vitals are a site performance standard created by Google. While other search engines use other tools and rules, lots of them just pay Google to use their robots to crawl pages, so the Google website rules tend to be THE RULES (apart from any legal rules, which you should follow those too). And no, Google Core Web Vitals and Google Analytics are not the same; they serve different purposes within the realm of website performance and user experience. There are SO MANY Google tools out there, we're just scraping the surface here.

Best Practices:

The report shows site owners how their site pages perform in real life, how long it takes for site visitors to load pages, and offers ways to fix issues if there are any. Core Web Vitals are a set of specific factors that Google considers important in a webpage’s overall user experience.

Components:

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures loading performance. LCP should occur within 2.5 seconds of when the page first starts loading.
First Input Delay (FID): Measures interactivity. Pages should have an FID of less than 100 milliseconds.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures visual stability. Pages should maintain a CLS of less than 0.1.

Focus:

These metrics focus on real user experiences, particularly the speed, responsiveness, and visual stability of a page.

Implementation:

Core Web Vitals are integrated into Google's overall ranking algorithm, meaning they directly impact your site's SEO performance.

6. On-Page SEO Optimization

Why It's Important:

On-page SEO ensures that your website is search-engine friendly, follows the laws, follows the rules, and is accessible to everyone.

Best Practices:

Optimize title tags (meta tags), meta descriptions, and headers. Use descriptive URLs and include keywords. Ensure your content includes internal links to other pages on your site. Every web page needs and H1 Header. Every image needs descriptions. Every page needs to be accessible to every user on the internet (A.D.A Rules) and follow the European Union's and CALOPPA's rules for Data Collection. Luckily, this is one of the places we really shine because we've already built this into our website platform. You have access, and we have access, so there's always help available.

7. Backlin ks and Link Building

Why It's Important:

Quality backlinks from reputable sites increase your site’s authority and ranking.

Best Practices:

Earn backlinks by creating high-quality, shareable content. Reach out to industry influencers and bloggers for guest posting opportunities. Monitor and disavow harmful backlinks to maintain your site's credibility.

Want an SEO report for you carwash website to see how you can improve?

GET AN SEO REPORT FOR JUST $199

Free Advertising --- Reigning in your Review Rage

mike@ohmco.co (Mike Ohlinger) — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:27:13 GMT

You're Better Than That...

Back when I was working in various realms of retail before, through, and after college, the managerial strategy to handling irate customers on-site involved recalling the ancient mantra of "The Customer Is Always Right". In modern terms, this meant that the irate, red-in-the-face man screaming at me in the big-box store lumberyard because the fourteen foot long treated 2x6 that he just purchased would not, in fact, fit in the back of his aging Toyota Corolla would be given an in-store credit for his troubles along with a hearty apology. Likely, his angry complaints would make it to paper, which would float up through the ranks and checks and balances of the big box corporate structure, and out of some printer in a distant land, a coupon would print and get slated to be mailed to his address. Because, the "Customer is Always Right".

That phrase actually originated back in the early 1900's from a man named Harry Gordon Selfridge, and had four additional, conveniently absent words on the back half of it that completely changes the context. The full phrase is "The Customer Is Always Right, In Matters of Taste". This means that if the customer insists on purchasing a product or service, it's the business's obligation to supply that, regardless of the opinion of the business.

So, in the example of the customer with the too-long-boards for his too-small-car, the customer was right. What came after requires a new phrase --- something modern and applicable.

As a carwash operator or as someone in the carwash-adjacent space, you've likely dealt with the tiny-car person countless times. Whether their startling anger originated from a billing issue, their credit card declining at the pay-station, equipment not working to the customer's expectation, or some perceived vehicular damage, it all usually ends up pointing towards one conclusion: a negative review. You can sometimes spot them happening in real-time, like in the instance of this very professional illustrated diagram below.

The difference between you, as a carwash operator, and the big-box lumberyard in my example above, is that the one star review is going to impact your business far more. You likely don't have a conveniently established corporate process in place to buy off anger, deserved or not. You probably don't have a PR person on stand-by to spin the story in your favor or a team of financial analysts working up cost projections to mitigate damage.

All you have is a glaring, one star review sitting like a piece of slowly rotting fruit in your Google reviews, souring your overall score for the whole world to see. Lame.

Reviews and YOU

A Harvard Business study was able to tie a 5-9% increase in revenue to each additional star in YELP reviews and 72% of all customers say that they consult online reviews and tie trust to a business depending on their reviews. This isn't a secret. And whether or not you choose to participate, these ratings can have an extraordinarily heavy impact on not just how your carwash is perceived, but how many customers choose to take a turn through your facility.

While handling negative press was usually reserved for large businesses and PR firms, those same PR roles are now forced onto small business owners, just for participating in the system. There are arguments that this has created a more democratically managed system to elevate businesses that are really killing it, but it also opens up the potential for abuse from customers who may not be reflecting things as truthfully as one might think.

Negative reviews are a tough pill to swallow, but especially so when they aren't necessarily deserved . However, regardless of the circumstances, your response to these negative reviews can actually work as a stellar sales tool and a way to reflect to customers that you're trustworthy, accountable, and, most importantly, level headed.

Your Response and the One Goal

Emotionally, crafting a passionate objection to a negative review, pointing out the character flaws of the person who wrote the review, and passive-aggressively dragging them through the mud might feel good, but it won't help your business. Ultimately, your one and only goal with responding to a negative review should be convincing the reviewer to change from one to five stars. It's not always, or even sometimes possible, but having that goal at the front of your mind can stop the temptation to go feral from creeping in.

Let's look at a couple of examples below.

When it's Your Fault

Regardless of how well you run your carwash, things happen. Customers might leave unhappy because of unrealistic expectations or because of an actual action that left them dissatisfied on site. Let's look at this review of an angry customer that had a legitimately bad experience at a carwash.

In a perfect world, the manager here reviewed this with their team and determined that there probably were some things that could have been done better. Here's their response:

We appreciate the feedback, A, and we're really sorry you had a bad experience at our carwash. We work hard to make sure that everyone who visits has a good experience. Our attendants use tablets to help track our membership content, which is why they were carrying them. We do offer a wash guarantee, which means that if your car comes out of our wash still dirty, we will run you through again, free of charge. Again, I'm sorry if this wasn't communicated to you properly --- we'd love to make it right though! Please give us a call at 555-5555 and we can work something out. We appreciate you stopping in!

Even though this was a failing on the part of the business, there are multiple opportunities for reinforcing that you actually have policies in place for situations like this, that you're thinking ahead of time of the customer's satisfaction. Offering a sincere apology, briefly addressing some of the specific grievances brought forth, and creating an action item that the customer can follow up on are all ways to counter a less than stellar review.

When it (probably isn't) Your Fault

Situations where you feel accountable for something that you can actually identify as "wrong" are pretty black and white. Easy. There's a problem, and you take rational action to fix it. Now, take away the rationality, sprinkle in a dusting of unbridled rage, and a dash of not having a grasp on basic English grammar, and you have a different beast altogether. The approach here is similar to the one above, but there's a few extra steps involved. You won't be converting this score to a five star, but you do have a huge opportunity here to show that you're trustworthy, level-headed, and a responsible business owner. Follow these steps:

Walk Away From The Computer. Really: Responding at all when emotions are high is absolutely off the table. Unlike getting screamed at in person, getting screamed at online gives you the luxury of walking away, crafting a rational response over time, and talking things over with anyone around you willing to listen. Go for a walk, chop down a tree, or start training for a half marathon (as long as your doctor clears it).
Write Your Response: You're calmer now, relaxed, well-adjusted. Ready to write. Keep your response short and concise, remove any confrontational language and instead focus on the policies and features you have in place that exist to counter the nastiness. Turn it into a free ad about how awesome you run your facility. Some common responses:
YOUR EMPLOYEES WERE INTENTIONALLY RUDE TO ME
Our team members meet weekly to talk about how we can go above and beyond with our customers, including providing personal service at all of our pay stations to make sure that everyone who visits gets the wash that they need.
YOUR TOUCHLESS WASH SCRATCHED MY CAR. HARSH CHEMICALS!!!!
We work with some great chemical distributors to use the best chemistry we can source in our touchless automatic washes! We monitor levels in our equipment room regularly to make sure that each wash is the same as the next.
MY MEMBERSHIP RENEWED WHEN I DIDN'T WANT IT TO! I CALLED AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS ON THE HOOK FOR ANOTHER MONTH!!!!AVOID!!!!
Our wash memberships are flexible and allow our members to wash every single day, and also includes a free dash wipe and an air freshener every visit. We try our best to make it easy to manage memberships, which are no-pressure and can be cancelled at any time by visiting our website or by calling.
Use Modern Tools: Still feeling the burn? Maybe you're still not in the mindset to counter the insanity? There are tools for that! Have AI craft a response for you and edit it afterwards. We recommend using ChatGPT or Claude, which can craft human-sounding responses without the emotion. Make sure you edit it afterwards to avoid sounding too robotic or to include specific information for your business.
https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/
https://claude.ai/new

At the end of the day, just remember two things: Your goal is to represent your business online responsibly and responding angrily back to customers will never help you or your business, despite how good that dopamine hit is. You're better than that.

We're Back From Nashville

mike@ohmco.co (Mike Ohlinger) — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:17:10 GMT

We Made It.

Sorry We Didn't Call When We Got Home.

Everything Is Fine.

After spending three days on the Car Wash Show floor in Nashville, and ten days on the road getting there and back to Wisconsin (while making many stops along the way), and after convincing ourselves that we might need a day to wipe our brains clean before diving headfirst back into creative agency duties, the thought I keep coming back to is this: trade shows are weird.

Not bad weird. Just…weird. Months and months of buildup, planning, coordinating, last minute printing and scrambling for two full days of conversations, catch-up, and swag collecting and comparison (primarily from our kids). When talking to some of the music city center staff, they said the Car Wash Show is their biggest event, followed closely by the Asphalt convention. See? Weird.

This was our third ICA show that we attended, which may be one of the main reasons we were so wowed with the production and scope of the show floor, education sessions, and just the general density of things, but maybe not. Maybe it actually is just impressive.

Besides the obvious takeaways, the highlights of our time spent walking around Music City Center with a loaded wagon in tow were finally getting to meet, in person, a big chunk of our customers and collaborators that we’ve only spoken to over the phone or video meetings. And getting to make new connections with some amazing operators, equipment dealers, and manufacturers was wonderful. We owe a lot of people phone calls, emails, and cheese. If you’re reading this and one or more of these apply to you, please reach out!

Here’s a couple things, in no particular order.

We Drove

Through a freak southern Wisco rainstorm and some crazy Kentucky flooding, we flew south like a slightly sluggish and brightly bloated migratory bird, Nashville-bent. Mel spent the week prior painting the exterior of the company Transit in OhmCo yellow and tri-foam, in defiance of the price it takes to get a van wrapped these days --- to great effect! Van looks great, and her paint job weathered everything from torrential rain to torrential cicada attacks along the outer-skirts of the Nashville city limits.

It was fun getting to stop at a few familiar washes along the way, including Camel Express and Wash 37135 !

We (Mel) Spoke

The number one question we got on the trade show floor was "where's your booth?". Our number one answer was "what booth?". In lieu of setting up shop this year on the show floor, Mel spoke about using AI models to decrease the initial costs associated with branding. It's been a big topic this last year especially, and we were happy to share some perspective from a creative agency's point of view. Lots of great conversations followed it --- and it was great getting to hear how businesses are integrating some of these great new tools into everyday operation. Also, Mel killed it! (She's standing behind me right now making me type this...but she really did do great...).

We Talked (a lot)

If you're reading this and we missed you on the floor --- we're sorry! Our time prowling the show floor was super productive, from meeting some of our customers for the first time face-to-face to learning more about some of the challenges and struggles operators are having when it comes to marketing their businesses, every conversation was great (except for that one . You know who you are! I see you...).

Without sounding corny, the biggest takeaway from events like this is the reinvigoration that follows the trip home. It's all of the ideas that get floated around that you just want to act on immediately or that new big project that was pitched in a conversation that we can't wait to get started on. This is a cool industry with a lot of cool people and approachable businesses, and more and more of you are willing to get weird and creative with how to represent your business --- we're here for it.

A Brief Thought On AI from a Creative Agency

mike@ohmco.co (Mike Ohlinger) — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 18:51:25 GMT

Are you worried about AI?
I'm Not.

Just two summers ago, I was showing off one of the earlier versions of Dall-e to some family members at a get-together after just discovering it myself. And, while “I can’t believe I can ask a robot to turn my words into actual pictures” was the phrase that I kept saying to everyone as I repeatedly checked my phone for the results of the prompts that the aunts and uncles around the table suggested, the results were always less than stellar. Sure, I could draw up fantastical landscapes or futuristic architecture with just words and a few minutes of patience, but there was always something…wrong. Maybe a beautiful mountain range with slightly disturbed proportions in the distance. Or a man made of broccoli standing on a street corner (perfectly normal) with far too many fingers on his hand (perfectly not normal). Faces, eyes and mouths especially, were disturbing and broken windows into the reality of the algorithm piecing things together behind the scenes. And putting a prompt to useful work was (and still is) a challenge, less in word-smithing and more in trying to explain what was in my head from the perspective of an alien who has no concept of humanity, or how food works.

Things have come a long way since that initial toe-dip into trying to generate an image of Ringo-Starr as a road warrior in the Mad Max universe (a real, early prompt I tried to perfect again and again). AI is now, and has been, a mainstream talking point --- from fearmongering media already reporting the early death of entire job titles to industry trade show speakers and seminars trying to make sense of the impact that things will have on their specific corner of the world.

I don’t have any insight unique to the globulous mass of articles, hot-takes, social media posts, blogs, or local news coverage on the impact of our new Artificial Overlords. But, as a member of a very niche creative field, I just wanted to briefly share some of the perspective that we have on how things are developing and how AI is worming its sticky tendrils into some of the things we do. Hint: We’re (generally) excited.

The Boring and The Obvious

Like any other disruptive technology, Artificial Intelligence (I think we should be coming up with a new term for what we’re currently encountering) has initially created a bevvy of imminent creative, social, and moral questions that is stirring some really interesting conversations about art, media, and education.

How are schools going to combat students from using chat GPT to do their homework and write their essays?
Great question! I’m not sure…
What are the copyright implications of generated art drawn from real-life sources?
Uh…
Is the future of digital human communication going to be boiled down into AI bots talking back and forth on our behalf?
You know...

As a human being getting to see this exciting new technology get unleashed, I have these questions as well. It’s confusing, a little scary, a little amazing. As a member of a creative marketing team, I’m grateful that I am not a teacher or student.

It’s All Just A Tool

World-bending, moral implications aside, the advancements in Artificial Intelligence and integration of it into so much of what we use everyday online has already started to completely refine workflow and process. In the case of OhmCo --- it, in all of its forms, has been a tool to weed out the menial, tiny tasks that swallow so much time. Let me walk through a few of the integrations I use on a daily basis.

I recorded the audio for a client meeting with a bot that sits in the call with us. Following the call, I had a full transcribed record to refer back to at any time that was automatically compiled and summarized for me. Crazy.
I used ChatGPT to draft a skeleton outline of a letter I needed to write.
I generated some unique background elements in Midjourney and used them in a social media post.
I recorded a tutorial video for an internal process instead of creating a written guide. After recording, the AI tool I was using automatically transcribed the entire video, wrote its own description for the video based on my audio, removed some of my massive amount of “ummms”, and made timecodes for each new topic. *Chef’s kiss*

As geeks and nerds, we stay on top of the latest technology not just as a best business practice, but because it’s something we legitimately enjoy. And, again, our experience with the latest slew of new intelligent features being added to platforms and products that we’ve used for years, or brand new software altogether, has been extremely exciting from the perspective of its time saving (and in a lot of instances, creative) implications. Spending less time on the initial wind-up of establishing a starting point with an idea and just getting to spend the time writing or designing has been a noted change in how some of us operate.

Anyways…

Seeing these tools and integrations develop further is a net positive from our perspective as a creative agency --- and we’re here for it all. Looking forward to what’s to come!

10 Ways to Cut the Cost of Design

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:24:55 GMT

10 Savvy Strategies to Trim Design Expenses

CREATIVE CAN BE EXPENSIVE - HOW TO SAVE BIG

Design projects often come with a laundry list of deliverables and a budget to match. When the envisioned design doesn't align with the financial constraints, tough decisions must be made – either expand the budget or streamline the scope. It's a dilemma all too familiar in the design world.

Clients, bless their hearts, often underestimate the complexities of design economics. Inflation, pricing dynamics, and operational costs are all factors that elude many. Despite this, they push for the full realization of their vision, only to be met with the harsh reality that their budget can't stretch to cover it all.

But fret not, for there are strategies clients can employ to reel in those design costs without sacrificing quality or compromising the integrity of the project. Here are ten of the most effective:

1. Comprehensive Communication: Open channels of communication from the get-go. By laying out all project requirements upfront, designers can "bundle" tasks together, much like ordering a value meal instead of à la carte. Combining multiple deliverables into one project streamlines the workflow and can significantly reduce costs.

2. Value-Based Pricing: Seek out designers who employ value-based pricing models. Unlike hourly rates, which can balloon unexpectedly due to unforeseen variables, value pricing considers factors such as rights transferred, usage duration, and deployment scope. This approach ensures fairness and transparency in pricing.

3. Combat Scope Creep: Beware the insidious creep of project scope. Adding new requirements mid-project can snowball into increased workloads, extended timelines, and inflated expenses. Stick to the original plan to keep costs in check.

4. Maximize Designer's Expertise: Make the most of your designer's skill set. Assigning different aspects of a project to multiple designers often results in disjointed outcomes and inflated costs. Opt for a unified approach to ensure cohesion and efficiency.

5. Embrace Design Suggestions: Trust in your designer's expertise and be open to their suggestions. While your initial ideas may hold merit, exploring alternative approaches can unearth more cost-effective and impactful solutions.

6. Phased Project Roll-Out: For large-scale endeavors, consider a phased roll-out strategy. Dividing the project into manageable stages allows for incremental progress and billing over time, mitigating financial strain.

7. Timely Payments: Honor payment commitments promptly as outlined in the contract. Delays in payment not only strain relationships but may also incur additional fees and legal complications. Prompt payments foster goodwill and maintain project momentum.

8. Utilize Cost-Effective Tools: Explore cost-effective design tools and resources, such as AI-generated designs, offshore design services, or crowdsourcing platforms. While these options may offer initial savings, be sure to transition to professional services for final edits and quality assurance.

9. Seek Input Wisely: While input from friends and family can be valuable, too many cooks can spoil the broth – and inflate costs. Designate a single decision-maker to streamline feedback and keep the project on track.

10. Foster Collaboration: Ultimately, success lies in the collaboration between clients and designers. By planning, communicating, and following through together, both parties can achieve cost-effective designs without compromising on quality.

In conclusion, navigating the intricacies of design economics requires foresight, communication, and collaboration. By implementing these ten strategies, clients can steer their projects towards success while keeping costs firmly in check. After all, effective design shouldn't break the bank – it should elevate it.

CARWASH DRIP CAMPAIGN: What is it and how is it done?

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:47:17 GMT

Drip marketing: What is it and how is it done?

Need to get and stay in touch with your carwash members? A drip campaign might be the answer.

A drip campaign is a series of automated emails sent to individuals who have taken a specific action on your website or interacted with your business in some way. These campaigns are typically designed to nurture leads, educate customers, or guide them through a specific process over time. For marketing your carwash, you can utilize a drip campaign in several ways:

Welcome Series : When customers sign up for your carwash services or subscribe to your newsletter, you can set up a drip campaign to welcome them. This series can introduce them to your business, highlight your services, and provide tips for car maintenance.
Seasonal Promotions : Create drip campaigns around seasonal promotions or events. For example, you can send out emails offering discounts on car washes during spring cleaning season or before holidays when people are likely to travel.
Customer Loyalty : Use drip campaigns to reward loyal customers or incentivize repeat visits. Send out exclusive discounts or perks for customers who have visited your carwash multiple times.
Educational Content : Provide valuable information to your customers through drip campaigns. This could include tips for maintaining their vehicles between washes, information about eco-friendly car washing practices, or updates on new services or products offered by your carwash.
Feedback and Surveys : Gather feedback from customers about their experience with your carwash through drip campaigns. Send out surveys or request reviews to help improve your services and build trust with potential customers.

By implementing drip campaigns in your carwash marketing strategy, you can stay engaged with your customers, build relationships, and ultimately drive more business to your carwash.

DRIP CAMPAIGN COMPANIES:

Several companies offer drip campaign services, providing tools and platforms to automate and manage email marketing campaigns effectively. With custom ' drip ' campaigns your customers will learn everything they need to know about your company and you'll be able to reap the benefits. Here are some prominent ones:

Mailchimp : Mailchimp is a popular e mail marketing platform that offers drip campaign functionality. It allows users to create automated email series based on customer actions and preferences.
Drip : Drip is a dedicated email marketing automation platform known for its advanced segmentation capabilities and personalized email campaigns. It enables users to create complex drip campaigns based on customer behavior and preferences.
HubSpot : HubSpot provides a comprehensive marketing automation platform that includes drip campaign features. Users can create personalized email sequences, segment their audience, and analyze campaign performance.
ActiveCampaign : ActiveCampaign offers powerful automation tools, including drip campaigns, to help businesses engage with their audience effectively. It provides features for email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM.
OptSpot : Carwash specific drip using a white label platform with a dedicated email marketing automation platform written for the wash industry that uses wash membership and personalized test and email campaigns to have wash members go to the wash and build membership value.
WelcomeMat : Carwash specific marketing ecosystem that combines traditional and digital marketing in a drip campaign format that uses a white label platform with a dedicated marketing team that helps set up print and automated marketing campaigns written for the wash industry to have wash members go to the wash and build membership value.
ConvertKit : ConvertKit is designed for creators and offers features for email marketing automation, including drip campaigns. It allows users to create automated sequences tailored to their audience's interests and actions.
GetResponse : GetResponse is an all-in-one marketing platform that includes email marketing, automation, and landing page tools. It offers drip campaign functionality to help businesses nurture leads and engage with subscribers.
Sendinblue : Sendinblue provides email marketing and marketing automation tools, including drip campaigns, at an affordable price point. It offers features for email design, segmentation, and performance tracking.

TURN A DRIP

INTO A FLOW:

A drip campaign's goal should be to send easily digestible chunks of content to your readers in order to not overwhelm them. Finding the balance between being informative and engaging or annoying can be a little tricky, though. While the tools above often have suggestions for how to stagger and schedule your content, the amount of emails in your campaign is usually determined by what type of goals you have specifically for the series.

Campaigns normally range from 3-10 emails depending on the requirement or call to action. An empty shopping cart campaign, which gives customers the opportunity to pick back up their abandoned cart on your ecommerce site and may offer discounts for purchasing, may only require three emails --- one for the initial notification after a few days, a follow up with a discount code, and a final notice. An introductory campaign might have five or more emails, depending on the complexity of your program. This may include a welcome email, several tutorial or quick-tips emails, or additional links to resources in follow-ups.

Ultimately, use your discretion and ask yourself if you've translated your entire message concisely without overwhelming your audience.

These are just a few examples of companies that offer drip campaign services. Each platform has its unique features and pricing plans, so it's essential to evaluate your specific needs and requirements before choosing one.

Happy 20th Birthday Facebook/Meta!

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:36:05 GMT

Happy 20th Birthday, Facebook!

TWENTY YEARS ALREADY? YOU DON'T LOOK A DAY OVER 2009.

�� Happy 20th Birthday, Facebook! Can you believe it's been two decades since the inception of the social media behemoth that forever altered the digital landscape? It's truly a momentous occasion, and here at OhmCo, we're thrilled to be a part of the internet's journey, helping preserve its history through our digital library of internet sites and cultural artifacts.

As a fun little throwback, let's rewind the clock to March of 2004 and revisit the early days of Facebook. Picture yourself logging in to www.thefacebook.com , greeted by a minimalist interface that was initially exclusive to Harvard students. Yes, you read that right – access was limited to the elite few within the ivy-covered walls. However, as demand surged, Facebook gradually opened its doors to college students nationwide, and eventually, to users from every corner of the globe.

Fast forward to 2006, and Facebook had become a household name, welcoming users of all backgrounds and ages. It's incredible to think about the evolution from its humble beginnings to its current status as a cornerstone of modern communication.

For some of us, Facebook has been a constant companion since its inception. Remember those early posts announcing major life events like pregnancies and births? It's astonishing to consider how deeply intertwined Facebook has become with our personal narratives and connections with others.

But Facebook isn't just a platform for socializing – it's also a powerful tool for businesses, offering cost-effective advertising solutions that continue to shape the digital marketing landscape. Despite its growth and evolution, Facebook has managed to maintain its status as one of the most budget-friendly advertising options available.

Today, Facebook is part of Zuckerberg's Meta empire, which also encompasses Instagram and WhatsApp. With Meta's staggering valuation exceeding $1 trillion, it's clear that Facebook's influence extends far beyond its humble beginnings. In fact, Meta recently reported a jaw-dropping $39 billion in profit for 2023, underscoring its position as one of the most valuable American corporations.

And here's a delightful twist – did you know that early users like yourself might be entitled to some unexpected perks? Yes, that's right – cue the potential class action money! Who would have thought that those initial interactions on Facebook could lead to a little extra cash in your pocket?

So here's to Facebook – the platform that's changed the way we connect, share, and reminisce. Happy birthday, old friend. Here's to many more years of memories, milestones, and maybe even a little class action cash on the side! ��

What’s more important, Marketing or Operations?

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:59:01 GMT

What's more important for a carwash, Marketing or Operations?

OVER THINKING TARA'S QUESTION ON TALK CAR WASH

Both marketing and operations are crucial for the success of a car wash business, and their importance can vary depending on various factors such as the stage of the business, market conditions, and customer preferences. Here's a breakdown of their significance:

MARKETING:

Marketing plays a vital role in attracting customers to your car wash. Effective marketing strategies help create awareness about your services, differentiate your car wash from competitors, and communicate value propositions to potential customers.

Marketing efforts can include advertising through various channels such as social media, local newspapers, radio, and online platforms. Engaging in targeted marketing campaigns can help reach specific customer segments and drive traffic to your car wash.

Building a strong brand through marketing initiatives can lead to customer loyalty and repeat business. Consistent branding across all marketing channels helps establish credibility and trust with customers.

Continuous marketing efforts are essential for staying top-of-mind with customers and adapting to changing market trends and consumer preferences.

OPERATIONS:

Efficient operations are fundamental for delivering high-quality car wash services and ensuring customer satisfaction. This includes everything from equipment maintenance and staffing to workflow optimization and customer service.

Investing in state-of-the-art car wash equipment and maintaining it regularly is essential for providing fast and effective service while minimizing downtime and operational disruptions.

Proper staffing and training are crucial for delivering consistent service quality and handling customer inquiries and complaints professionally.

Streamlining operational processes can help increase throughput and reduce waiting times, enhancing the overall customer experience and maximizing revenue potential.

OUR TAKE:

We get the pleasure of working with carwashes all over the place and each one has a unique approach that it makes it hard to define. Even within the same wash chains, locations will require different budgets for operations and marketing. Some washes are heavily based on branding to the point where I would include branding in the operations. Some car washers have operated for years without any design based marketing, but operate as part of the the community - which would be word of mouth advertising - but because it's such a part of the daily wash that it would also be included under operations?

I think... set up your business, collect your analytics, make your decision based on the numbers, gauge your customer feedback/wash counts and be ready to adjust your sails and try something new. Banks want to see 10% of budget allocated to marketing, the USA averages 3-10% of the budget as marketing, Canada is a little higher at 6-14%. Social media marketing is still the cheapest way to advertise, but even that has become part of operations for a lot of car washes.

CHATGPT RESPONSE:

Absolutely, you've hit on some key points about the diversity within the car wash industry and the multifaceted nature of marketing and operations within it. Here's a breakdown of some of the important insights you've mentioned:

Diverse Approaches : Car wash businesses indeed vary significantly in their approaches to marketing and operations. Some may heavily rely on branding and design-based marketing, while others focus more on community engagement and word-of-mouth advertising. Each approach can be valid depending on factors like location, target market, and competitive landscape.
Integration of Marketing into Operations : In many cases, marketing efforts such as branding and community engagement become integral parts of the operational strategy. For example, maintaining a strong presence in the community might involve sponsoring local events or supporting charity initiatives, which not only serve as marketing activities but also contribute to the overall operations by fostering goodwill and customer loyalty.
Flexibility and Adaptability : The ability to analyze data, gather customer feedback, and adjust strategies accordingly is crucial in the dynamic car wash industry. By continuously monitoring performance metrics and staying attuned to customer preferences, car wash businesses can make informed decisions about resource allocation and strategic adjustments.
Budget Allocation : While benchmarks like the 10% allocation for marketing suggested by banks or the typical marketing budgets in the USA and Canada provide useful reference points, it's essential for each car wash business to determine its own optimal budget allocation based on its specific goals, market conditions, and available resources.
Social Media and Cost-effective Marketing : Social media marketing remains a cost-effective and powerful tool for advertising, especially for small and medium-sized businesses like car washes. Leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can help reach a wide audience at relatively low costs, making it an attractive option for many car wash operators.

In essence, success in the car wash industry often hinges on a combination of effective marketing strategies, streamlined operations, adaptability to changing market dynamics, and a deep understanding of customer needs and preferences. By carefully balancing these elements and being open to experimentation and innovation, car wash businesses can thrive in a competitive marketplace.

CONCLUSION:

While both marketing and operations are essential, the balance between them may shift over time. In the early stages of a car wash business, effective marketing may be critical for attracting customers and establishing a foothold in the market. However, as the business grows, maintaining efficient operations becomes increasingly important for sustaining customer satisfaction and managing operational costs. Ultimately, a successful car wash business requires a strong focus on both marketing and operations to drive growth and profitability.

2024 Carwash Tradeshow Schedule

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 18:31:30 GMT

2024 Carwash Tradeshow Calendar

ATTEND EVERY CAR WASH TRADESHOW IN 2024

Want to visit all the carwash tradeshows? We all know of the big one - The Car Wash Show put on by the International Carwash Association (ICA) - but do you know about the other carwash tradeshows? Do you want to visit a few of the different carwash and C-Store tradeshows this year? We're building a comprehensive list of every carwash tradeshow we could think of. Want us to add your tradeshow to the list? Send us a message! We'd be happy to add a link to your tradeshow as well. Just drop us a line.

For anyone interested in the car wash industry, association sponsored trade shows and conventions offer the best means of learning and perfecting your vocation. Whatever unusual problem or curious situation you may have encountered at your business, the chances are pretty good that someone else has faced it and will be talking about it at a trade show. Traditionally, the most popular topic of discussion has been labor, but lately wash efficiency, going green, site conversions, and business planning in a stalled economy have risen to the forefront. Here are some suggestions for attending your next show.

Women in Carwash™

PETROLEUM and convenience EXPO

Dates: January 15-19, 2024
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

In the ever-changing carwash industry, women are rapidly emerging as some of the most forward-thinking leaders. What is also exciting is that a growing number of men are welcoming and actively supporting this change.

The first four Women in Carwash™ conferences recognized and celebrated this exciting development to the delight of our guests who found it very valuable, informative, ground-breaking, and surprisingly intimate. One thing everyone could agree on is that a healthy, happy industry that is getting better for women is an industry that is getting better for everyone, and this will be a driving theme of the upcoming conference. Come and join us for this, our 5th conference!

PACEshow 2024

PETROLEUM and convenience EXPO

Dates: January 25-26, 2024
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States

The PACEshow is a key destination for the central Midwest region’s top buyers representing more than 5,000 petroleum and convenience retail locations.

This premier industry trade show event is expected to draw nearly 2,000 attendees and feature more than 200+ leading industry suppliers — offering c-store owners and related industry suppliers easy access to exclusive industry benefits including: the latest in products, services & equipment from the industry’s top manufacturers and service providers, industry meetings on issues fuel marketers, c-store & food/beverage retailers care most about, networking opportunities with colleagues throughout the show & social events.

NADA Show 2024

National Automobile Dealers Associatio n

Dates: February 2-4, 2024
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

The NADA Expo is the auto industry's premier marketplace of products and technologies specifically targeted to franchised new-car dealerships.

WPMA expo 2024

WESTERN PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION EXPO

Dates: February 20-22, 2024
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

The Western Petroleum Marketers Association (WPMA) is a regional trade association of petroleum marketers, C-Stores, carwashes, and other related professions. In addition to running the WPMA EXPO, they also publish a magazine four times a year and assist state associations in administering programs, distributing legislative information, and providing convention and membership services in Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and other western states.

SCWA EXPO 2024

SOUTHWEST CAR WASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: February 28- March 1, 2024
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, United States

The Southwest Car Wash Association is a regional association of individuals working together to provide a strong unified voice for the car wash industry. This year the convention will be held at Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The Southwest Car Wash Association is committed to creating an environment of success and professionalism for our members. This mission results in activities and programs that benefit, inform, challenge and encourage our members and the industry as a whole. SCWA goals include building the public’s awareness, recognition, knowledge and support for the professional car wash and creating conventions, expos and workshops to further the professional development and education of our members.

CARWACS 2024

THE CONVENIENCE U CARWACS SHOW

Dates: March 5-6, 2024
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Canada’s largest Convenience, Gas and Car Wash Industry event is live and in-person at the Toronto Congress Centre. Discover the latest products, innovations and
opportunities to drive traffic and increase profits.

The 2024 Convenience U CARWACS Show brings together all areas of the convenience, gas, and car wash industry. Thousands of retailers and operators gather every year to find the latest in products and services to bring to the Canadian market. The 2022 Convenience U CARWACS Show is the place to reach your target market, generate strong business leads and promote your brand to qualified buyers.

SE PETRO 2024

SOUTHEAST PETRO-FOOD MARKETING EXPOSITION

Dates: March 6-7, 2024
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States

This two day Trade Show and exposition features the latest in retail and petroleum technology and marketing, educational seminars, as well as networking with industry leaders from throughout the region. Learn how to increase your profits, meet decision makers in our industries, meet retailers and suppliers throughout the southeast gather to exchange ideas and insights and gain a competitive edge, gather ideas to expand your product line, hear educational seminars directed to your industry, learn about fresh new ideas and products, and network with industry leaders and suppliers.

Make sure you don’t miss out on a great event!

M-PACT 2024 FUEL & CONVENIENCE TRADESHOW

MIDWEST PETROLEUM & C-STORE TRADESHOW

Dates: April 2-4, 2024
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

The M-PACT Show is the Midwest’s energy and convenience industry event of the year, bringing together leaders in the energy and convenience industry from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and 400-plus Midwest cities.

The M-PACT Show gives you access to leading-edge, industry-specific information and valuable new professional contacts from throughout the Midwest. Year after year, it’s the most efficient and worthwhile way to learn how to make more money, save valuable time and labor, and increase your bottom line.

WPMCA 2024

WISCONSIN PETRO MARKETERS ASSOCIATION

Dates: April 9, 2022
Location: Wisconsin Dells , Wisconsin , United States

Join hundreds of your fellow fuel marketers on April 9, 2024 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells for the state’s premier fuel and convenience industry event! Don’t miss over 120 companies with their latest products and services on display at the trade show, economic insight from industry insiders, and a night of networking and celebration with your industry colleagues.

UMCS 2024

upper midwest convenience store & energy convention

Dates: April 15-17, 2024
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota , United States

The Upper Midwest Convenience Store and Energy Convention (UMCS) is a joint venture between the Minnesota Petroleum Marketers Association (MPMA) and the FUELIowa trade associations consisting of more than 1,200 regular member companies and 420 associate companies in the states of Minnesota and Iowa.

UMCS continues to grow each year and features our award winning show floor, keynote speakers, educational workshops and incredible networking opportunities including hospitality nights, casino night, prayer breakfast and much more. Register for the entire convention or customize specific days and sessions to your needs. UMCS 2024 is designed to help DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS! UMCS is the best value you will find. Experience it for yourself!

The Car Wash Show™ 2024

INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: May 13-15, 2024
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

The Car Wash Show™ is the premier gathering of owners, managers, and decision-makers from the car wash, quick lube and detailing segments.

Whether you're looking for the latest in car washing and quick lube equipment, or looking for ideas and inspiration to help you differentiate your business, you're in the right place.

The Car Wash Show is the largest gathering of owners, managers and decision-makers from the car wash, quick lube and detailing segments. It includes everyone who wants to drive traffic, increase profits, and build and maintain their business from the inside out.

Scheduled for May in Nashville, the show will boast an expansive trade show floor, featuring new product innovations, equipment, services and much more. Another impressive collection of speakers and presenters will also take center stage this year at the various planned educational sessions. With a wide variety of topics to cover, there is truly something for everyone involved or interested in car washing.

SW Fuel & convenience expo 2024

southwest fuel & convenience association

Dates: June 25-27, 2024
Location: San Antionio, Texas, United States

The Southwest Fuel & Convenience Expo is the most comprehensive event for fuel, food, and convenience retailers in the Southwest United States. This is your “one-stop-shop” to connect with owners/operators, top-level executives, buyers, and merchandisers under one roof! Network, exchange knowledge, and display your products and services while generating leads that will grow your business.

cenexpo 2024

cenex & CHS Retail Solutions

Dates: TBD (Summer)
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States

CENEXPO is an exclusive two-day event for Cenex® retailers to grow relationships, gain insights and strengthen business across the Cenex network.

Come ready to receive tools and information to help you keep your business relevant. Attend an array of educational panels, network with like-minded professionals and walk the vendor expo to learn about cutting-edge products and services to stay competitive in today’s marketplace. As an exhibitor, CENEXPO offers you the opportunity to promote your products and services direct to Cenex-branded convenience store retailers and operators. More than 1,450 Cenex branded locations and their respective parent companies are invited to attend this one-of-a-kind event.

Whether it is on the exhibit floor or at the networking event, you’ll have one-to-one interaction with all retailers in attendance.

Sunshine Expo 2024

FLORIDA PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Dates: July 22-24, 2024
Location: Orlando, Florida, United States

the CAR WASH SHOW - AUSTRALIA

AUSTRAILIAN CAR WASH ASSOCIATION

& INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: August 13-15, 2024
Location: Sydney, Australia

Car Wash Show Australia is a two-day biennial event presenting a packed trade fair style exhibition hall along with a wide range of educational sessions delivered by keynote speakers sharing their experience and knowledge. The exhibit hall is the undeniable nucleus of the event and creates a hub where attendees find new resources and make connections with leading Australian and global car wash industry suppliers, each demonstrating the latest and greatest car wash equipment and services on the planet. Several important networking and social functions round out the Show program, making Car Wash Show Australia the place to be for many in the car wash industry.

heartland product & equipment show 2024

heartland carwash association

Dates: September 17-18, 2024
Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States

The Heartland Carwash Association is inviting your organization to exhibit at their Annual Product and Equipment Industry Trade Show.

NRCC 2024

NORTHEAST REGIONAL CARWASH CONVENTION

Dates: October 7-9, 2024
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Today, the NRCC is an alliance of volunteers from five carwash associations: the Connecticut Carwash Association (CCA), New England Carwash Association (NECA), New York State Car Wash Association (NYSCWA), the Car Wash Operators of New Jersey (CWONJ) and the Mid-Atlantic Carwash Association (MCA). The NRCC puts on the Northeast Regional Carwash Convention annually each Fall. This year, the NRCC will be conducting its 28 ^th annual show.

The original intent was to move the show around various Northeast locations. Each year one of the carwash associations would act as the “Host Association.” After a few years it was determined that Atlantic City drew the largest attendance and was usually the most profitable venue. Since then, the majority of the shows have been held in Atlantic City.

NACS 2024

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES

Dates: October 8-10, 2024
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Over four action-packed days, the NACS Show, the global convenience and fuel retailing trade show, will help retailers crack the code to success in convenience. The NACS Show has a full schedule of activities for every kind of convenience and fuel retailer and everyone on your team. Convenience store distributors, retailers, including wholesalers and exhibitors/vendors will all uncover the most innovative products and technologies, tap into impactful education sessions and access engaging networking opportunities.

Mid-Atlantic C-Store Expo 2024

Virginia Asian American Store Owners Association

Dates: TBD (Fall)
Location: Richmond, Virginia, United States

SEMA SHOW 2024

SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION

Dates: November 5-8, 2024
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition, the SEMA Show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more.

11+ Ways to Work Greener in your car wash business

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 18:16:54 GMT

Turn your office into a green office.

Want to become a more sustainable office? Here are some tips on how embracing natural light, paperless meetings, and working from home can help your company save money and energy.

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Start a Sustainability Team for your office. A sustainability team can both raise awareness and accomplish more than any one employee on their own. Projects for the team could include starting or enabling a more successful recycling program, and helping to inform purchasing decisions on energy-efficient appliances and green cleaning supplies. Employees engaging one another is more effective than memos from the top.
Create monthly green challenges. Monthly team challenges can be a fun way of combining competition and going green, McCrea said. For example, you can challenge the office to go a month with no plastic eating utensils, and reward those who stick with it by offering small prizes, such as coffee gift cards or snacks.Make the switch to renewable energy.
Turn off electronics, lighting, and heat every evening. Instate a strict everything-off-at-night rule. Upon leaving the office, all of your equipment must be switched off at the main plug. If someone forgets, create a funny punishment - like granola bars for the office, or be the person to recycle the batteries that week, or they have to put some money in a Green Jar which gets donated to an environmental fund.
Opt for better office products. There may not be room in your budget to buy exclusively sustainable products, but you can focus on certain areas that have a huge overall impact, such as more efficient electronics. Purchasing greener electronics will ultimately avoid the disposal of 124 metric tons of hazardous waste.
Embrace renewable energy. Green power sources, including solar and wind energy, are more accessible than ever, with options including rooftop solar installations and large-scale wind farms. Organizations of any size can make this switch. If your business is located in a deregulated electricity state, one easy way to make your office greener is to shop for your electricity supplier and choose a green energy plan. Almost every electricity supplier offers green energy plans that are generated by renewable energy sources, primarily wind and solar, Bedrich said. These green electricity plans are priced very competitively compared to traditional electricity plans powered by coal or natural gas, she added.
Lay off the thermostat. Workplaces are often over-air conditioned in the summer months. Employees can inquire about increasing the set point, to both allow for a more comfortable workspace, and to reduce energy use. One large retail store lessened its impact on the environment by setting the AC to kick on at 75 degrees, instead of 74, according to Bridget Venne, energy and sustainability strategic advisor for Ecova . The store now consumes 30,000 fewer kilowatts, and saves $3,100 every year. "Smaller businesses might not notice such a dramatic change, but little adjustments done with intention build positive habits that make a difference over time," Venne said.
Go paperless. The greenest paper is no paper at all, said Vince Digneo, sustainability strategist at Adobe . Corrections, revisions, and updates on printed documents contribute to 90% of all office waste in the US, and remaining 10% is taking up space in storage facilities, he said. "Keep things digital whenever possible," Digneo said. "It's as easy as keeping digital files on on your computers and mobile devices, not file cabinets. Also, get in the habit of reviewing digital documents on-screen, rather than printing them out."According to a 2014 study conducted by Catalog Spree and PaperKarma, if the US alone cuts its office paper use by just 10% by moving to digital, it would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 1.45 million metric tons--the equivalent to taking 280,000 cars off the road for an entire year, Digneo said.Other ways to go paperless include printing less in general, and asking vendors to offer e-statements and invoices instead of paper statements. Setting up automated payments further reduces paperwork by eliminating the need for printed checks, said tech blogger Amy McGarity of German Pearls .
Bring a desk plant. If you're able, bring in a desk plan to improve indoor air quality and bring some nature into the office environment, Osterwood said.
Maximize natural light. The World Green Building Council reports that employees working near sunlit windows have a 15% higher production rate. "Natural light sets the body's circadian rhythms, which control awakening, falling asleep, synthesizing vitamin D and digestion," said Jennifer Walton, principal of H. Hendy Associates . "Indoor light, however, is a major disruptor. If possible, move workstations to within 25 feet of peripheral walls with windows." Relying more on natural light when possible also saves energy, Digneo said. "Also consider installing a smart power strip at every workstation, replacing all lighting fixtures with LEDs, as well as incorporating sensors and timers for office lighting," he added. "You'll reduce energy consumption and costs on things like utility bills."
If wondering how to save on heating and cooling costs in your office, install a programmable thermostat , or take advantage of using one if it’s already present. Used properly, it can save up to $150 a year in energy costs.
Plug appliances and electronics into power strips. Turn off these “central hubs” when devices aren’t in use to prevent phantom energy drain, which accounts for about one-quarter of your electricity bill .
Replace regular lightbulbs with energy-efficient CFLs , which use 75% less energy and last 6 to 10 times longer.
Seal around doors and windows to stop air leaks. A $2 tube of caulk could cut your energy waste by 10%-20%
Work to reduce your dependence on single-use plastic and rely more on reusable containers, bottles, and metal straws. This could help save you money, too — if you were to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water a day from single-use plastic bottles for one year, it would cost more than 3,500 times more than drinking the same amount of tap water.
Compost food scraps to reduce your landfill contribution by 22% . In the U.S. alone, production and disposal of food waste is equivalent to 37 million cars’ worth of greenhouse gas emissions . It can be difficult, however, to know how to compost in an apartment. If you have space outdoors, use a compost tumbler or a worm bin. If your city offers a food scrap drop-off site, you can use a tabletop composter.
Join or start a community garden in your area. In return for contributing to upkeep, you’ll get a supply of fresh, safe produce . You can take only what you need as you need it to prevent food waste.
Wash 4 out of 5 loads of laundry with cold water — in one year, the carbon-dioxide emissions reduction would be equivalent to planting over 1/3 of an acre of forest .
Wash only full loads of laundry to save up to 3,400 gallons of water a year.
Stop and think before you throw those old electronics, batteries and light bulbs in the trash. Recycling is a better option. Fix this issue with two programs - invest in rechargable batteries and make a battery charging station at your work AND set up a program for dontating/recycling/properly disposing of old batteries. In some states its illegal to leave them on the curb.

Start a Battery Recycling & Charging Program

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 18:16:52 GMT

Trash talk: How to properly dispose of hard-to-recycle items

Here's what to do with those hard-to-recycle items like electronics, batteries and light bulbs.

Stop and think before you throw those old electronics, batteries and light bulbs in the trash. Recycling is a better option. (Plus, it's illegal to leave them on the curb in some states.)

Most electronic waste and batteries contain toxic heavy metals that can seep into soil and water. Recycling these products not only keeps heavy metals out of the soil and water, but also helps reuse materials that require energy to mine and manufacture.

In general, you can recycle old electronics, batteries and light bulbs at hazardous waste facilities, county recycling centers or community hazardous waste collections. See below for more specific guidelines for each item.

How can I dispose of electronics?

Make sure to erase any personal data. If the electronics work, consider donating them . If they aren't reusable, search for a certified recycling location in your area. The results may include:

Electronics retailers with take-back or trade-in programs
TV or electronics repair shops
Electronics recycling companies
Manufacturer recycling programs
Charitable organizations

Where do I dispose of batteries?

Recycle any rechargeable, lithium, lithium ion and zinc air batteries instead of tossing them. Here's how to dispose of batteries:

Take them to an electronics retailer
Use one of the 34,000 Call2Recycle battery drop-off locations
Purchase a mail-in recycling collection kit, such as the iRecycle Kit from Battery Solutions

Can light bulbs be recycled?

Compact fluorescent lamps contain small amounts of mercury, so handle them with care — especially any broken bulbs . You should be able to recycle mercury-containing bulbs through local hardware retailers, utility-run collection programs or by using mail-back services .

Power talk: How to start a battery recharging station at your work.

With proper workplace charging implementation, employers can help increase the convenience and affordability of driving electric for their employees. Workplace charging can demonstrate leadership in adopting advanced technologies.

Employers and workers can find resources on planning, organizing, and executing successful and educational workplace charging events in the Clean Cities Workplace Charging Toolkit .

From 2013 to 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Workplace Charging Challenge partnered with organizations that committed to provide plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging stations to their employees. Many of the best practices, lessons learned, tools, and templates available here are based on the accomplishments of Challenge partners.

This station is perfect for holding all of your cordless tool battery chargers. What sets it apart from a simple shelf is the concealed chase for routing and hiding the power cords for a nice clean look. This is a very simple project made from just a quarter sheet of plywood and a few screws.

http://unkool.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/diy_charger_station.jpg My blog :) I just finished organizing all my chargers in a box. It's pretty an easy DIY project, took me like 20 min max to drills all the holes.

I Need a Website: Should I try DIY?

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:43:16 GMT

Digital DIY: Can you build your own website?

Of Course! But it's easier when you have a support team.

At OhmCo, we make it easy for you to create your own carwash website with our AI-generated websites. With a customizable website template, you can build a professional and unique online presence for your carwash just the way you want. And if you ever get stuck, our knowledgeable tech and design support team is here to help you every step of the way. As a carwash marketing agency and website design company, we understand the specific needs of your business and are dedicated to providing the tools and support you need to succeed. With OhmCo, building your carwash website has never been easier.

Looking to build your own website for your carwash business? At OhmCo, we've got you covered. Our AI-generated websites make it simple for you to create a professional and unique online presence. With customizable templates, you can design your site just the way you want. And if you need a helping hand, our tech and design support team is here for you every step of the way. As a carwash marketing agency and website design company, we understand the specific needs of your business and are committed to providing the tools and support you need to succeed. Trust OhmCo to make building your carwash website a breeze.

What are my Website Choices?

Brief history of build-your-own-website platforms.

Where do you start when you want to build your own website? In the olden days, the Wordpress was the standard. Wordpress came onto the scene in 2003 as a blogging platform and was... completely ignore...at first. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of developers, creatives, users, and supporters Wordpress grew from a movable type platform to a WYSIWYG website platform. By 2007, Wordpress was the standard, and the best choice for personal and business websites because it was FREE! Twenty tears later, Wordpress still exists! But it isn't always the easiest way to build a website, but many people still swear by it and it still runs over 43% of the world's websites because it is an open source platform and still (mostly) free! However, it's gotten so specialized that it's hard for newbies to jump in, build and site and publish something that looks professional. Because Wordpress can be tricky, we've had so many what-you-see-is-what-you-get website builders pop up for every style, every kind, and every profession. Now, instead of using WordPress, you can work on a platform with tools that automate much of the website design work so you don't need a high level of customization.

Wordpress Website Alternative?

CODE FREE WEBSITE PLATFORMS

Because Wordpress can be tricky, we've had so many what-you-see-is-what-you-get website builders pop up for every style, every kind, and every profession. Now, instead of using WordPress or learning how to code and build security measurements to protect your business, you can work on a platform with tools that automate much of the website design work so you don't need a high level of code customization. That's what our Web.Lab is - but built for the carwash industry.

CodeFree Website Alternative for Carwashes:

Web.Lab for Carwash Websites
CMS Hub for Rich Functionality
Webflow for Customization
Duda for Client Management
Cargo for Unique Templates
Shopify for Ecommerce
GoDaddy for Fast Set-Up
BigCommerce for International Ecommerce
Webnode for Affordable Plans
WordPress.org for Blogging
Wix for Flexibility
Weebly for Ecommerce on a Budget
Strikingly for Simplicity
SITE123 for Ease of Use
Pixpa for Accessibility

Why Web.Lab for Carwash Websites?

WEBSITES BUILT TO PAIR WITH CAR WASH MENUS AND CAR WASH TECHNOLOGY

In the last ten years, there has been a significant surge in carwash technology. Paystations, online purchases, gift cards, digital coupons, and QR code offers are experiencing a remarkable boom. At OhmCo, we ensure that our websites are compatible with a range of carwash technology providers, from Becon Mobile to Dencar. OhmCo's Web.Lab is a website platform specifically designed for carwashes, equipped with tools to facilitate the integration of Rinsed, OptSpot, and other essential carwash technologies. With our AI-generated websites, establishing a professional and distinctive online presence is a straightforward process. Our customizable templates allow you to tailor your site to your exact specifications. Furthermore, our dedicated tech and design support team is available to assist you at every stage. As a carwash marketing agency and website design company, we recognize the unique requirements of your business and are dedicated to providing the necessary tools and support for your success. When it comes to building your carwash website, trust OhmCo to make the process effortless..

The 5 quick and clean rules for improving your car wash photo skills.

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:37:46 GMT

The 5 Quick & Clean Rules for Improving your Car Wash Photos

CAR WASH PHOTOS THAT POP

GETTING STARTED

Having quality visuals, whether it’s on your website, social media or sitting in your profiles on Yelp or Google Business, are crucial to attracting new customers. People are visual thinkers when it comes to first impressions, and you want your business to leave a lasting one even if it’s only a cursory glance.

Whether you’re an owner-operator, franchisee or a part of a solo marketer for a larger business, knowing how to snap a good photo can make a huge difference.

Famous photographer Chase Jarvis, said “That the best camera is the one that’s with you.” That’s why we want to serve up a few quick tips for improving your photography skills regardless of what device you’re using.

Lighting, lighting, lighting – This is one of the easiest ways to improve your images. Avoid placing your subject with the light to their back. Backlit photos will often times look hazy and you won’t get strong contrast or sharp details of your subject. Don’t use the flash unless you have to. Most smartphones now have excellent low-light capabilities, and your flash will most likely make your photos look low-end when you don’t want them to.
Change your perspective and work the angles – Unless you’re a Gen-Zer that grew up on The ‘Gram, you’re probably taking photos the same way everyone else is: Standing at Eye Level. But changing your perspective can make a huge difference in making your photos stand out. Take advantage of getting low or climbing up high to showcase your business or photograph your team. You’ve probably taken a slick-looking wheel well or bumper-level photo of your car at some point, yes? Use that style other places like your inventory shots to make those photos more dynamic.
Fill the frame — So often, we default to trying to fit everything into the photo, so we take wide shots that add in a lot of unnecessary detail.
Leading Lines — If you’re working in the automotive industry, this should be EASY! Leading lines is the concept of using lines, either real or imagined to draw the viewers eyes across your photo. Think about the sleek lines on the hood of a Camaro, now run those lines from one end of your photo to the other. That’ leading lines. Leading lines can also be really obvious, too. Take a road for instance, that is a very obvious leading line.
Rule of thirds - This is the oldest photography rule in the book. Take two lines and imagine them running vertically and horizontally across your screen. Align your subject where those lines intersect. That’s the rule of thirds. When you anchor your subject off center in your photo, you’re making it more interesting.

Here are some great examples of these simple rules in action:

This detailing company got low and filled the frame to show off their work on this Harley Davidson. What’s great about this photo is you’re giving a lot of information in a really dynamic way, showcasing the fact that this is a mobile detailer that comes to you with out it being too direct. Check out their entire instagram account for some really great fill the frame inspiration.

This burgeoning detailing company did a great job of utilizing angles and lines to create an interesting photo. There are multiple leading lines surrounding the vehicle that draw your eye in.

This is a great perspective photo from a multi-location car wash company in Tennessee. You obviously don’t want to get up close and personal when the wash is running, so this team did the opposite. They took a Birds Eye view of their wash that showcases their business.

When do I need a real photographer?

Now, you might be wondering, when do I need a real photographer?

When do I need to hire someone that’s not my niece that just got a DSLR for her birthday? Well the short answer is where it leaves a lasting impression. If you want photos with some staying power for larger projects like websites, billboards, signage and brochures, you’ll want a pro. Not only will you be guaranteeing high-quality photos that can be blown up to 20x30 feet, you’re also working with a professional that will ensure that your shot list is comprehensive and tells your brand’s story in a way that leaves an impression.

Need photos? We’ll travel! Rule of Design is a full-service design and marketing firm that specializes in the automotive and carwash industry. We have in house photographers that can help you create the images that drive new customers and showcase the best that your business has to offer. Not ready to take the dive? We’re also happy to provide training and consultations to your staff to help improve the quality of what you’re already putting out.

2023 Carwash Tradeshows

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:09:10 GMT

2022 carwash tradeshow calendar

Women in Carwash™

PETROLEUM and convenience EXPO

Dates: January 17-19, 2022
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

PACEshow 2022

PETROLEUM and convenience EXPO

Dates: February 10-11, 2022
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States

The PACEshow is a key destination for the central Midwest region’s top buyers representing more than 5,000 petroleum and convenience retail locations.

WPMA expo 2022

WESTERN PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION EXPO

Dates: February 22-24, 2022
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

SCWA EXPO 2022

SOUTHWEST CAR WASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: February 27- March 1, 2022
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, United States

SE PETRO 2022

SOUTHEAST PETRO-FOOD MARKETING EXPOSITION

Dates: March 2-3, 2022
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States

Make sure you don’t miss out on a great event!

CARWACS 2022

THE CONVENIENCE U CARWACS SHOW

Dates: March 8-9, 2022
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The 2022 Convenience U CARWACS Show brings together all areas of the convenience, gas, and car wash industry. Thousands of retailers and operators gather every year to find the latest in products and services to bring to the Canadian market. The 2022 Convenience U CARWACS Show is the place to reach your target market, generate strong business leads and promote your brand to qualified buyers.

M-PACT 2022 FUEL & CONVENIENCE TRADESHOW

MIDWEST PETROLEUM & C-STORE TRADESHOW

Dates: April 18-21, 2022
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

UMCS 2022

upper midwest convenience store & energy convention

Dates: April 18-20, 2022
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota , United States

UMCS continues to grow each year and features our award winning show floor, keynote speakers, educational workshops and incredible networking opportunities including hospitality nights, casino night, prayer breakfast and much more. Register for the entire convention or customize specific days and sessions to your needs. UMCS 2022 is designed to help DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS! UMCS is the best value you will find. Experience it for yourself!

WPMCA 2022

WISCONSIN PETRO MARKETERS ASSOCIATION

Dates: April 26-27, 2022
Location: Wisconsin Dells , Wisconsin , United States

Join hundreds of your fellow fuel marketers on April 26-27, 2022 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells for the state’s premier fuel and convenience industry event! Don’t miss over 120 companies with their latest products and services on display at the trade show, economic insight from industry insiders, and a night of networking and celebration with your industry colleagues.

The CarWash Show™ 2022

INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: May 9-11, 2022
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

The Car Wash Show™ is the premier gathering of owners, managers, and decision-makers from the car wash, quick lube and detailing segments.

Whether you're looking for the latest in car washing and quick lube equipment, or looking for ideas and inspiration to help you differentiate your business, you're in the right place.

heartland product & equipment show 2022

heartland carwash association

Dates: June 7-8, 2022
Location: Altoona, Iowa, United States

The Heartland Carwash Association is inviting your organization to exhibit at our Annual Product and Equipment Industry Trade Show. The Annual Product Show is taking place on June 7th and 8th at The Prairie Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa (a suburb of Des Moines).

SW Fuel & convenience expo 2022

southwest fuel & convenience association

Dates: June 20-22, 2022
Location: San Antionio, Texas, United States

cenexpo 2022

cenex & CHS Retail Solutions

Dates: June 21-22, 2022
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States

CENEXPO is an exclusive two-day event for Cenex® retailers to grow relationships, gain insights and strengthen business across the Cenex network.

Whether it is on the exhibit floor or at the networking event, you’ll have one-to-one interaction with all retailers in attendance.

Sunshine Expo 2022

FLORIDA PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Dates: July 10-12, 2022
Location: Orlando, Florida, United States

NRCC 2022

NORTHEAST REGIONAL CARWASH CONVENTION

Dates: July 10-12, 2022
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Mid-Atlantic C-Store Expo 2022

Virginia Asian American Store Owners Association

Dates: September 22, 2022
Location: Richmond, Virginia, United States

nacs 2022

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES

Dates: October 1-4, 2022
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

SEMA SHOW 2022

SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION

Dates: November 1-4, 2022
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

the CAR WASH SHOW - AUSTRALIA

AUSTRAILIAN CAR WASH ASSOCIATION

& INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: TBD
Location: Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia
2020 SHOW POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

CAR WASH SHOW EUROPE 2023

THE KROMHOUTHAL & INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: TDB - 2023 (USUALLY IN THE FALL)
Location: De Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The car wash business in Europe has changed. Presented by International Carwash Association, Car Wash Show Europe is the first and only event built for today's car wash owners and operators - the only event solely focused on Europe's new car wash community.

Icterine Yellow

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:29:42 GMT

Icterine

Is it a brand of discount mouthwash? A chemical agent designed to sweeten gelatin-based cakes back in the fifties? A type of bacteria that snuggles into the cracks between your fingers and makes them uncontrollably itchy?

It's a color --- one with some history (which is more than can be said about some other colors we come across). Icterine is a brilliant shade of yellow, and our main branding color at Rule of Design. As part of our branding, we use a modern take on an ancient Greek color palette to reinforce the symbolism behind the rules of design, or the golden ratio .

The roots of this medicinal-sounding name stem from ancient Greece, specifically the word "ikteros" which means jaundice. Icterine is most commonly used today to describe a species of birds with yellow feathers, like the Icterine Warbler, but can also be found describing any product that shares the same color.

In a RGB color space, hex #fcf75e (also known as Icterine) is composed of 98.8% red, 96.9% green and 36.9% blue. Whereas in a CMYK color space, it is composed of 0% cyan, 2% magenta, 62.7% yellow and 1.2% black. It has a hue angle of 58.1 degrees, a saturation of 96.3% and a lightness of 67.8%. #fcf55f color hex could be obtained by blending #ffffbc with #f9ef00 . Closest websafe color is: #ffff66 .

Finding the right color to represent your brand is a problem most business owners probably haven't considered. And while our happy shade of vibrant yellow happens to coincide with ancient jaundice, we're happy with the results its given us.

We can help you bring the right color and thoughtful design that works hard for you. Get in touch if you need a hand finding your next Icterine!

The Car Wash Show 2022: OhmCo Recap

Mon, 02 May 2022 15:09:36 GMT

Mother’s Day in Music City: My First Car Wash Show Nashville 2022

THE CAR WASH SHOW - NASHVILLE 2022

In May of 2022, I stepped onto the tradeshow floor of The Car Wash Show in Nashville, Tennessee, wide-eyed and overwhelmed. After two years of COVID lockdowns, breastfeeding babies, and working from home in stretchy pants, this was my first big industry event — and it was a lot.

At the time, OhmCo didn’t even exist yet. We were still operating as Rule of Design, quietly helping car wash operators build their brands from behind the scenes. This show — my first Car Wash Show — was the first time I truly saw our work out in the wild. I got to walk up to the Petit Auto Wash booth and see the signs I had designed, printed and installed for real. I saw the labels I’d created for their equipment, and noticed where the screws landed — which sounds silly until you’ve designed a wrap that’s been accidentally bolted through a logo. There’s just something surreal about seeing your digital designs made physical.

Between Babies and Booths: My First Car Wash Show

Nashville 2022

In May 2022, I found myself walking through the massive doors of the Music City Center in Nashville for The Car Wash Show — wide-eyed, overwhelmed, and about a thousand emotions deep.

It was my first time at the industry’s biggest event, and the first time I’d traveled anywhere in years. The pandemic had grounded me, sure, but even before that, I’d been grounded in a different way: I had a baby. And then another. And as any parent knows, life narrows for a while when you're in the thick of newborn days, nursing sessions, and nap schedules. I went from jet-setting Navy kid vet to full-time milk machine. I mean... there was a lot of stuff that happened in between - like going to college and a career - but at the time I was only thinking about travel anxiety. My main thought being what if I die and never see my family again.

Which is why it meant so much to be there — and to go with my best friend, Megan.

Megan is the bravest person I know. She’s been to more countries than I can count, has zero airport anxiety, and can figure out a new city before you even get through baggage claim. I asked her to come with me because honestly, I needed someone like her by my side. I felt out of practice. Like… how do airports even work again? I couldn’t remember how to pack. I forgot to download the airline app. I was scared of crowds. Scared of getting sick. Scared of doing something new again.

And that’s wild to admit — because there was a time in my life where travel was second nature. When I served in the Navy as a cryptologic technician, I traveled constantly. I hopped continents and crossed oceans. I knew how to navigate anywhere. But this trip? This little hop to Nashville? It felt huge. Because it wasn’t just about geography — it was about becoming someone else again.

Meeting Work in the Wild

At the time, my company was still called Rule of Design . We had been quietly creating branding, websites, and signage for car washes for a while — but this was my first time stepping out from behind the screen and seeing it all in real life. I’ll never forget the moment I saw the Petit Auto Wash booth. I had designed those signs. Those equipment labels. I could see where the screws hit the panels — and suddenly I had a thousand ideas for how to improve the field design.

I’d only ever seen these things on a computer screen. Now they were towering above me, real and tangible and out in the world. It was like meeting a pen pal you’ve been writing to for years.

The tradeshow floor was packed — the only time I’ve ever truly believed the ICA’s claim about “record numbers.” People were everywhere. Booths were alive with conversation. Deals were being made. Swag bags were overflowing. It was buzzing.

The educational sessions, though? Totally empty. I even took a picture because it was so shocking.

I remember walking into my first one, super eager, notebook in hand — and no one was there. I thought I was in the wrong room. Later, someone casually told me, “Oh yeah, most people are too hungover in the mornings to make those.” Well. Lesson learned.

Not Just a Freelancer Anymore

But even with the occasional awkwardness, it was such a gift to meet people I had only interacted with online before. I got to connect face to face with folks like CK from Scrubs , and it felt like seeing a celebrity. Except this celebrity knew what a foam cannon was and actually returned emails. It reminded me that the car wash industry isn’t just about equipment and chemistry — it’s about relationships.

Personally, it was hard to be away. It was Mother’s Day weekend , and my daughter was still nursing. I had to mentally push past the guilt of leaving, even though Mike was home holding down the fort with the girls like a champ. It was one of those moments where you’re proud and sad at the same time. Happy for the break. Guilty for the break. But you do it anyway because you’re building something that matters.

Professionally, this trip changed everything. It was the first time I truly saw myself as more than a freelancer behind the scenes. I was building a company. I had a vision. And even though I felt like a small fish in a massive tradeshow ocean, I left with more confidence, more clarity — and a serious itch to keep going.

That show planted the seed that eventually grew into OhmCo .

It was the beginning of me showing up — as a business owner, a designer, a mom, a vet, a woman who had something real to offer.

And yeah, I was scared. But I went anyway.

And I’m so glad I did. But I wish I would have taken more pictures.

7 Basic Car Wash Marketing Strategies for EVERYONE

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 23:15:12 GMT

7 Basic Car Wash Marketing Strategies

GETTING STARTED IN DIGITAL MARKETING

Whether you’re just starting your carwash marketing strategy or you’re reviewing it for the upcoming year, it’s important to know what you want to accomplish in your marketing efforts. You don't have to be constantly aware of the marketing industry to be successful, but you do want to build a marketing campaign that will be successful and bring you new customers.

HOW TO GET STARTED

To have an effective marketing campaign, you don’t need a lot of money, but you do need to come up with creative marketing ideas and cover some basic steps to create a workflow for success. Sometimes that’s sometimes easier said than done. Here are the best places to start to secure your place in the digital world and help make your carwash part of a successful carwash marketing strategy.

set-up your facebook page

If you have a tight marketing budget, you can use a Facebook page as a temporary substitute for an actual website. Designing and setting up a full website takes time and money, so Facebook is a great alternative to put all the necessary information for your customers. Then, consider if your budget has enough wiggle room to pay for a targeted ad on social media. This is a really effective way to target ads to individuals that live in your region.

set-up your google mybusiness page

Be found, be chosen, and be the best in the business with an accurate Google listing. Businesses can loose customers when they don't have accurate hours or contact information listed on their Google pages. Claim your listing and keep everything current via your Google MyBusiness page.

get on social media

Creating a page on different social media platforms is an excellent way to market your company without spending large amounts of money. Depending on your target audience, you may wish to think about the platform you’re using, because not all of them are the same. A Facebook or Instagram page is a really good way to not only promote your business, but also engage with your local community.

WORK WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

A great way to boost your business while also contributing with the local community is by partnering up with your Chamber of Commerce, a school, or a charity. These avenues can get you free local advertising with targeting your best community customers. Consider implementing a program that would donate a portion of your revenue to the chosen school or charity. This will encourage clients to come to your wash and spend money while also showcasing you as a positive, contributing member of the community.

RESPOND TO REVIEWS

Responding to reviews shows that you value your customers and the feedback that they leave about your business. High-quality, positive reviews from your customers will improve your business's visibility and increase the likelihood that a potential customer will visit your location. Plus, when you respond kindly to a negative review, it shows potential new customers that you are the kind of business that they want to work with and support.

Develop a loyalty program

There are a lot of retail businesses out there who are now offering loyalty programs to their customers. These programs are a great way to create engagement with your customers and get them to return to your company time and again. When you build a loyalty program, you need to think of your goals to make it successful. What are you trying to accomplish? Don’t just create a loyalty program without doing research in advance.

Send customers a free upgrade

Everyone loves freebies, and digital offers from carwash companies are not that common. This is a good opportunity for your company to leverage this gap in the industry to your benefit. Send a digital voucher to your customers for a free upgrade, and you’ve opened the door to connect with them, remind them of your business’ presence and build loyalty.

Your carwash digital coupon is an excellent opportunity to use your email list and make sure your contacts on it are up-to-date. You can email either a coupon for a free upgrade on an existing package or offer a free wash with the purchase of another wash. You’ll be surprised to find that you’ll definitely get some takers.

Need more ideas?

Still feeling stuck on how to market your carwash? Maybe look around the wash site. Try to m ake sure all of your documents, packages, and signage are up-to-date. Signs are the best way to let your customers and potential clients showcase your brand identity, products, and services.

If you’re designing your carwash signs for the first time, you need to figure out the best options for placement, color, features, etc., for maximum efficiency. The carwash menus need to be appealing, so make sure you review the prices and you have great offerings. If you’ve had the same menus for a while, you can change things up and make an old sign look new again. You don’t have to put too much time in testing a new option. Start by showing the new offering as a promotion or special from the manager. You can also remove an option from your menu. Studies show that four packages or fewer on a menu are more successful for your revenue results. If you offer more than four packages, you risk creating too many options which will confuse or stress out your clients.

According to the studies, the best option is three packages, beating out four packages by as much as 5%. If you’re not sure which to remove from your menu, you should go for the middle package, which is the least popular option. Finally, review your pricing for all your washes, if it’s been a while. Customers actually prefer washes that are evenly priced, so change your off-price points to even ones that are slightly higher and see how that affects your results.

Marketing can have a huge positive impact on the success of your carwash, and you want to be always keeping your marketing new and fresh. If you’re struggling with ideas, these six options should put you on the path to marketing success.

need help with carwash marketing?

2022 Carwash Tradeshows

mel@ohmco.co (Mel Ohlinger) — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 02:43:33 GMT

2022 carwash tradeshow calendar

Women in Carwash™

PETROLEUM and convenience EXPO

Dates: January 17-19, 2022
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

PACEshow 2022

PETROLEUM and convenience EXPO

Dates: February 10-11, 2022
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States

The PACEshow is a key destination for the central Midwest region’s top buyers representing more than 5,000 petroleum and convenience retail locations.

WPMA expo 2022

WESTERN PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION EXPO

Dates: February 22-24, 2022
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

SCWA EXPO 2022

SOUTHWEST CAR WASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: February 27- March 1, 2022
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, United States

SE PETRO 2022

SOUTHEAST PETRO-FOOD MARKETING EXPOSITION

Dates: March 2-3, 2022
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States

Make sure you don’t miss out on a great event!

CARWACS 2022

THE CONVENIENCE U CARWACS SHOW

Dates: March 8-9, 2022
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M-PACT 2022 FUEL & CONVENIENCE TRADESHOW

MIDWEST PETROLEUM & C-STORE TRADESHOW

Dates: April 18-21, 2022
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

UMCS 2022

upper midwest convenience store & energy convention

Dates: April 18-20, 2022
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota , United States

UMCS continues to grow each year and features our award winning show floor, keynote speakers, educational workshops and incredible networking opportunities including hospitality nights, casino night, prayer breakfast and much more. Register for the entire convention or customize specific days and sessions to your needs. UMCS 2022 is designed to help DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS! UMCS is the best value you will find. Experience it for yourself!

WPMCA 2022

WISCONSIN PETRO MARKETERS ASSOCIATION

Dates: April 26-27, 2022
Location: Wisconsin Dells , Wisconsin , United States

The CarWash Show™ 2022

INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: May 9-11, 2022
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

The Car Wash Show™ is the premier gathering of owners, managers, and decision-makers from the car wash, quick lube and detailing segments.

Whether you're looking for the latest in car washing and quick lube equipment, or looking for ideas and inspiration to help you differentiate your business, you're in the right place.

heartland product & equipment show 2022

heartland carwash association

Dates: June 7-8, 2022
Location: Altoona, Iowa, United States

SW Fuel & convenience expo 2022

southwest fuel & convenience association

Dates: June 20-22, 2022
Location: San Antionio, Texas, United States

cenexpo 2022

cenex & CHS Retail Solutions

Dates: June 21-22, 2022
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States

CENEXPO is an exclusive two-day event for Cenex® retailers to grow relationships, gain insights and strengthen business across the Cenex network.

Whether it is on the exhibit floor or at the networking event, you’ll have one-to-one interaction with all retailers in attendance.

Sunshine Expo 2022

FLORIDA PETROLEUM MARKETERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Dates: July 10-12, 2022
Location: Orlando, Florida, United States

NRCC 2022

NORTHEAST REGIONAL CARWASH CONVENTION

Dates: July 10-12, 2022
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Mid-Atlantic C-Store Expo 2022

Virginia Asian American Store Owners Association

Dates: September 22, 2022
Location: Richmond, Virginia, United States

nacs 2022

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES

Dates: October 1-4, 2022
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

SEMA SHOW 2022

SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION

Dates: November 1-4, 2022
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

the CAR WASH SHOW - AUSTRALIA

AUSTRAILIAN CAR WASH ASSOCIATION

& INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: TBD
Location: Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia
2020 SHOW POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

CAR WASH SHOW EUROPE 2023

THE KROMHOUTHAL & INTERNATIONAL CARWASH ASSOCIATION

Dates: TDB - 2023 (USUALLY IN THE FALL)
Location: De Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

How to Make The Perfect Car Wash Logo

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 19:37:06 GMT

How to get the perfect car wash logo? It's easy!

The first step is realizing that there's no such thing as a perfect logo.

A perfect logo doesn't exist. You're never going to make a logo that everyone likes, everyone loves, and eveyone find suepr memorable instantly. It doesn't exist. Even the best and most iconic brands grew from soemthing. The first step in getting the perfect logo is realizing that no logo is perfect. You can make a logo that's good for now, or good enough, but plan on it changing at some point. Every logo changes.

You can design for what your logo needs - usually a brand identity with some sort of message for services.

Talk Car Wash Clubhouse April 19th NOTES

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 20:10:39 GMT

Google Web Core Vitals: How can you prepare for Google’s page experience update?

What are experience Metrics and what is a good experience?

Name:

Mel Ohlinger

Business:

Rule of Design, Inc. = a carwash marketing agency

https://www.ruleofdesigninc.com/

Personal Background:
- I have 19 years of technology and design experience.

- Before working in the car wash industry, I designed for college football teams, Dr. Seuss Estate, Pandora, Kholer, Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW, Honda, Oshkosh Truck, and more.
- After working in the automotive industry, I moved into the carwash sector. The Washworld Razor Edge was my first carwash design and the launch of the Washworld Razor Edge was my first large campaign in the carwash industry. I established my own marketing agency called Rule of Design, Inc. and we’ve been growing ever since. Andrew Williams with Car Wash MGMT (in CA) was my first official client. Petit was my second. Since then we’ve been designing for many different car washes and car wash manufacturers and it’s been awesome and amazing.

Today we’ll be talking about:

Google Web Core Vitals: How can you prepare for Google’s page experience update? What are experience Metrics and what is a good experience?

Google Web Core Vitals - is a major algorithm change for May 2021. Google set a high bar with this algorithm change. It’s about your user page experience score, and if you’re not updating your website to meet these expectations now, you’re going to have an outdated website pretty quickly.

What is a good experience and how do you measure it?

SPEED

How quickly do I see something, how long am I waiting, and how long does it take before I can respond? If I’m interacting with a page, will I be blocked or shifted from the things I’m reading?

These are based on things we can actually measure. As a general rule, humans lose interest after a few seconds of waiting. Yes, seconds, haha.

The human brain starts to lose interest after 1 second. By 4 seconds, you’ve lost your lead.

Today the web is slower than what humans can process.

2. Website Speed - check using Google Pagespeed

LCP - Largest Contentful Paint
(how long it takes the page to load for the user)
We want 1-2.5 seconds is best. More than 4 seconds is poor.
Largest contentful paint (how long it takes the page to load for the user)
FID- First Input Delay
This is interacting with the page.
Touch and scroll. If you touch the page, do you have to wait?
That’s code running that prevents your from interacting
This needs to be less than 100ms
Google only measures the first interaction on the page, not all the actions after that.
CLS - Cumulative Layout shift.
This is visual stability.
If you’ve been reading an article online, then an ad loads, and you’re suddenly somewhere else on the page - that’s what this is referring to.
Cumulative layout shift - visual stability (elements on you page move as it loads = bad) If your user goes to push a button and a button moves.

These three metrics are the CORE web vitals. There are many, many more experience signals that Google uses for website ratings and rankings. They started introducing these experience rankings in 2013, and we saw them becoming requirements in 2018. You’re probably already familiar with.

Mobile Friendly
Safe Browsing
HTTPS (SSL Certificates) - having a secure site
No intrusive interstitials - pop-ups that prevent you from getting to your content

These are just experience factors.

A great page experience won’t put you in the #1 spot, because there are 200 other factors used to rank sites in search.

Even Google stated that a good page experience doesn’t override having great, non-plagiarized, relevant content that is accessible to all website users.

Star Experience ( a carrot for webmasters and site owners) to hit the benchmarks and show users that this website is a good experience.

Right now, only 15% of websites fit into their requirements on Google Web Core vitals (as of August 2020)

It’s time to start optimizing your website. These will subtly evolve and change over time
Your web professional should be on top of this and advocating for you. Make sure you’re asking them to see if your website is ready for this update, and if not, that they’re implementing the new techniques to make sure your website is ready.
To get a good idea of how your website is working, clear cache / cookies before checking out your website to get a better view of what your users see.

How is Google measuring experience and what that means and how does that look in the bigger SEO picture, and how to leverage Vitals to your advantage.

Good housekeeping of your website makes you rank higher than your competitors in search results.
Don’t have an expectation that you can build a website, set it and forget it. It takes regular maintenance to keep a website functional and modern.A website is one of your most powerful business assets. It’s your new business card and yellow pages, but the rules are changing all the time and it takes a little elbow grease to keep it running optimally. And if that sounds familiar to you, it’s because what I just explained is the concept of SEO.

I refer to Google the most because I design to Google’s standards because they’re the dominant force and setting the stages for North America’s internet searches and website rankings.

How to address this?

Check your SEO score. There’s lots of free tools available online to help with this.

And check your Site Speed reports. If you’ve set up your google analytics, it’s under your Behaviours Report.

Navigate to your view.

Open Reports.

Select Behavior > Site Speed

ADDITIONAL INFO (IF TIME PERMITS)
a.Now a poor page experience will have a direct negative impact on your Google page rankings and website traffic.

UX - user experience
UI - user interfaced

3. How to speed things up? LCP

Remove unnecessary third party scripts
Upgrade your web hosts
Set up lazy loading (loads only when someone scrolls)
Remove large page elements (Google will tell you what is slowing you down.)
Minimize your bulky css (design elements of your website)

4. How to speed up FID? (First input delay)

Minimize (or replace) JavaScript
Remove non-critical third party scripts
Use a browser cache

5. How to fix your CLS (cumulative shift layout)?

Use set size attributes
Make sure ad elements have a reserved space
Add new UI elements lower down on the page so they don’t push things around from the top down

6. Other things you can do

Https
Mobile first design
Lack of interstitial pop-ups
Safe-browsing (no malware)

Probably will make up the biggest chunk of page experience score

Business Owners Speak Out - Vol. 50

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 19:58:26 GMT

Rule of Design – Owner Mel Ohlinger

Mel Ohlinger: I am a carwash marketing agency. It is growing so quickly. I went from being one person to 9 now. We are growing more than I ever expected. Especially with the pandemic. I opened 2 years ago October.

RM: Who do you serve, who is your target audience?

MO: My clients are carwashes and carwash manufactures. They are the people who make the support equipment for the carwashes like the actual carwash or chemical suppliers.

RM: What has been the greatest impact COVID 19 has had on your business?

MO: We were in the middle of the tradeshow rush. For the carwash industry, the major tradeshow is called the Carwash Show. We had just been finishing up a lot of the printed items and designs, and once it was announced that it would be cancelled, a lot of the things we had already made didn’t go to print so it was switching everything over to be for design only. Helping all the clients downsize as quickly as possible. I just thought that was a start of a couple of quiet months. We had like two quiet weeks, and then the calls started coming in.

RM: What actions (pivots) have you taken to make a difference?

MO: I hired people. Before that, I was just doing it on my own. Once I got all those orders, I reached out to some people I used to work with and asked if they were interested in taking on additional projects. We went from being a team of me to a team of 4 within a couple of weeks. That was something I was completely unprepared for. I had never seen myself as a boss kind of person. I am a very silly person, and I don’t like hurting people’s feelings. I ended up working with a business coach. After all that, the consensus is bosses can be all different kinds of people.

RM: It has been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What mistakes did you make along the way, that other entrepreneurs can learn from?

MO: One of things is that I priced my things way too low. I had priced things for one person working on something. I should have priced things out from the beginning to accommodate more than one person. I had to do price hikes which was not something I had wanted to do right away. None of my customers noticed, but I felt terrible. Another thing that I wished I had done from the beginning was set up a file system. Now, going through and organizing things, is going to take months. Develop some sort of organized system.

RM: What is most inspiring to you today?

MO: I started off in art. I went into the Navy because I was told going into Art School was a waste. Then, when I was in the military, all of my promotions were around making murals, photography. I figured if I could get promoted in the Navy for art, when I got out, I would go to Art School. I did. I graduated, and the whole time I was working. In all those jobs too, the same thing kept happening. I would get promoted for something creative. I realized that this was what I was meant to do.

Contact Mel Ohlinger. www.ruleofdesigninc.com

Offer: Go to the website and submit your artwork by 5-31-2021 to enter to compete for a $1000 art commission.

“Why Won’t Our Graphic Designer Give Me Source Files?”

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 17:58:47 GMT

Files, Permissions, & Licenses

Graphic design is a profession that includes a ton of different jobs under the title. As a graphic designer you may specialize on branding, web design, package design, logo design, photo editing, user testing, photography, illustration, motion graphics, or your might dabble in all of these. The smaller the agency, the more hats you tend to wear, but the overall sweeping connection between all these jobs is that Graphic Designers work with clients to create things that never existed before. We help take ideas from inception to development to launch (or print). Graphic design is a process that requires the use of many materials, software, licensing, and a good knowledge of the legalities of design. We can gather from many different sources and each source contains their a set of rules and licenses required for their use.

What are Source Files?

Source files are also called Design Files or Master Files. You pay a designer or design company to develop something for you – magazine, brochure, website, poster and they do a great job. Everyone’s happy, your business looks even better now and you got what you needed.

Your designer sends you a GIANT FILE for download. You get digital copies of press files, PDFs, or a folder full of final files (depending on the product). It seems like a lot, but if you think somethings missing and you request the design files (or source files) you'll quickly find out quickly that designers don’t share them, and if they do, you have to pay a hefty fee.

“Why won’t our graphic designer give me source files? We paid for them, right?”

The short answer is no, and here’s why:

You’re paying for the product. Not the tools.

When you hire a professional designer or web developer to create and deliver an end product, that’s what you will receive: a fully completed asset – like a brochure or website or advertisement. You are not paying for the history, tools or layers used to create that asset.

FOR EXAMPLE:

If you went to the Tesla Website to buy a Cyber Truck, you pay for the truck (and upgrade to self driving of course) and eventually you get your Cyber Truck. But you ONLY get a Cyber Truck, not for the manufacturing trade secrets, not the blueprints, not for Elon Musk's friendship, nor for the rights to take that cyber truck, remove the brand sticker, and replace it with your brand sticker and sell it for profit.

Or you get your house painted and pay the bill for the service of making your house look amazing again. You don’t get the scaffolding, brushes and equipment used to get the job done. You get the painted house… but you don’t retain the painter, the skills and the tools.

There are third parties involved.

Designers use licensed items that they pay fees for.

The most common are typefaces and fonts, but they could also include items like icons, photos, graphics, plug-ins, or web scripts that are often the works and software of someone else which comes with their own set of licensing fees and rules for distribution and production. Designers spend a good amount of money (font licenses can cost anywhere from $25 to $600) purchasing licenses to multiple typefaces.

These tools are not our property but are the property of their respective creators, we have simply secured the right to use it to provide you with awesome designs. Legally, designers are not permitted to release those tools as they are not the copyright holders.

What other options are there to access source files?

You can always work with the supplied press file.

At Rule of Design, Inc. , we don’t lock our PDF press files, so edits might be available to clients simply by using their own software. There are usually limitations to the amount of overall editing that can take place, but clients can always explore that option to see if that solution works.

Or you can ask your designer and offer to pay for the the rights to their layered/master files.

Most designers won’t have an issue negotiating a price for the transfer of full copyright and layered files, and most are more than willing to help you secure the various image and font licenses to protect yourself from violating a third-party’s copyright. The industry standard for copyright transfer is 300% of the total bill so if you’ve used your designer for an item that totaled $200 in design fees, be prepared to offer about $600 for the source files, plus additional commercial grade fees for software access to fonts and typefaces. You need to pay your designer for their intellectual property, the loss of future income for the design, as well as the time it will take to collect and prepare the documents for sale.

Still Have Questions? Give us a call.

I need a car wash logo... but I need a name first.

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 23:17:59 GMT

8 Tips for Naming Your Car Wash

Are all the good car wash business names already taken?

How do you come up with a catchy name?

Is the name I want available and legal to use?

If you’re not sure how to answer those questions, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn my top tips for choosing the perfect business name and how to make sure your favorite choices are available to use.

1. Write everything down.

Yes. EVERYTHING.

If you’re struggling to choose a good name for your car wash company, one of the best things to do is start brainstorming. When you brainstorm, write down every single idea you have - yes, even the bad ideas. If you know you can't have a Stupid Car Wash, but it's all you can think of when you put your pen to paper, write it down so the idea passes. This allows you to move onto a new idea.

In addition to Stupid Car Wash, make a list of words, phrases, and terms associated with your business, your geographical location, the history of your town, and your business goals. From there, you can narrow down the list and cross off ideas you don’t like.

2. Consider the Services You Plan to Offer

There are several types of car cleaning businesses, so it’s essential to consider the services you plan to offer such as a self-service car was or full-service with attendants. As you know, you wouldn't call a Full Service Car Wash "Express Car Wash" without expecting to have a bunch of confused customers. And you wouldn't call your inbay automatic a "detailing service" without having some annoyed humans stopping by.

Make a list of all your different services and the types of services you want to offer. Add this to your brainstorming list. This includes non purchasable things: like customer service, free vacs, easy highway access, and free window cleaners.

Try to avoid anything limiting your business’s future growth if you decide to go in another direction down the road. Don't say you only service classic cars, if you want to wash an SUV or two as well.

3. Location-Specific Terms

A lot of car washes are locally owned and operated, so they're specific to a geographic service area. When your car wash has a base location, you can turn a location-specific term into a memorable name.

You can consider things like:

City nicknames
Neighborhoods
Regions or states

However, consider what happens if you expand outside your intended service area. If you become a franchise, does the name become limiting? If so, it’s best to avoid it if you plan to expand or change directions later.

4. Avoid Business Names That Are Hard to Pronounce, Hear, or Spell

Despite the technological advances of voice search, assistants like Siri and Alexa struggle to understand slang and other confusing words.

This could limit how often your business shows up in voice (and text-based) search if your name is hard to spell, pronounce, or hear. Because of that, it’s important to avoid complicated words and using numbers in place of letters. While having a unique car wash name is good, being too unique may not be so good.

Keeping the name of your car wash simple and easy to remember makes it easier for your potential customers can easily find you.

5. Consider Alliterations & Rhyming Words

Alliterations and rhymes can be used as funny car wash names that are catchy and easy to remember, but it's not always easy to come up with them. Start with choosing a few of your favorite words from your master brainstorm list.

Then head on over to the MASTER OF WORDS: aka Google and search “words that start with W” to come up with names like Wonder Wash or Wash World whatever letter you’re using to create an alliteration.

Alternatively, you can search “words that rhyme with _____”.

It can be time-consuming, but it’s an excellent place to start. And don’t forget to add any exciting finds to your brainstorm list while you’re at it. Try not to overthink the names you come up with in this stage. Just write them all down as some may spark better ideas later.

6. Steer Clear of Initials or Obscure Acronyms

There are 325 different two-letter combination possibilities in the English language and the odds of your customers remembering the specific letters you chose are pretty small. Initials and unusual acronyms are hard to remember, so they typically don’t make great business names.

The human brain tries to make sense and organize your letters. If you use the first letter of your business partner names, people will try and pronounce it. For example: T & E carwash will become TANDE carwash over time. Avoid names that are challenging to pronounce and confusing for voice search, use words and phrases instead of letters and acronyms.

7. Embrace Characters & Imagery Words

Another consideration when brainstorming name ideas is whether there are industry-related words or different designs that could also lend themselves to also be used in a logo. Most car wash could use an image of a clean car or bubbles and focus the name around the image, but the beauty of car washes is that the theme can be ANYTHING:

Balloon Car Wash

Clown Car Wash

Alien Car Wash

... almost anything!

I say almost because there are some things you want to avoid : like this monster car wash.

8. Pick a Name that's Legal to Use

To check the legality of your car wash name:

Google It

Google a great tool for just starting out your research. Checking here first will save you a lot of time.

Conduct a trademark search.

Do a search at USPTO.gov to get an idea as to whether you can get a trademark or service mark for the name.

Conduct a Secretary of State search.

Since you will likely want to structure your business as a corporation or LLC, you should do a search of the Secretary of State’s records to make sure your name won’t be confusingly similar to a business name that’s already registered. If it is too similar to an existing name, the Secretary of State may not allow you to register it. Your corporate lawyer can help you conduct this kind of search. (See “ 10 Big Legal Mistakes Made by Startups .”)

Check for .com

Think of acquiring the .com name you want as a business investment. Try to secure the “.com” domain name for your business rather than alternatives such as .net, .org, .biz, or other possible domain extensions. Customers tend to associate a .com name with a more established business. Undoubtedly, someone will already own your desired .com name, but with a bit of creative thinking, you might be able to find a good alternative.

Check Social Media

Sometimes there are small businesses that are unregistered that have the name you're looking for. To find these, make a social media sweep to see if there's anything blocking you from growing your business uninhibited. When you're sure you found your name, make sure to grab your desired business name on popular social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Why you shouldn't name your carwash after THIS Monster.

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 22:47:51 GMT

T-rex yes. Godzilla no.

Several people have suggested a Godzilla car wash. While this would make a memorable carwash AND a super fun brand, it’s not a great idea, but there are many terrifying monsters you could choose instead - like T-Rex.

To understand why you might want to choose T-Rex over Godzilla, let's review the differences between an iconic creatures like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Godzilla:

T-REX

Huge head.

Eats everything.

Tiny arms.

Smooth back and tail.

Believed to be extinct.

GODZILLA

Small head.

Muscular arms.

Stands erect.

Spines on back and tail

10.

Retains aggressive lawyers.

Item 10 is the critical one.

According to numerous articles in the business press , Mr. Godzilla has an army of lawyers eager to pounce. They routinely force businesses to change their name, removed products from the market, obtain large sums from large corporations and small businesses, and force songs to drop their Godzilla music.

Add “zilla” to anything and you’ll probably get a letter asking you to stop. Add it to your parade float (like Honda did in 1990) and you'll be in litigation for years.

Why is Godzilla so litigious? It’s because Godzilla is the property of Toho, a Tokyo-based business that earns a zillion dollars each year by licensing Godzilla music, movies, toys, posters and other tie-ins. These scary lawyers aggressively protect the radioactive behemoth from anyone who dares to appropriate his lizardly image or sound for profit.

So don't have a Godzilla car wash... or any kind of zilla car wash. Godzilla is car wash cool and scary, but his lawyers are even worse.

Tips for writing carwash posts that increase your site traffic

hello@ruleofdesigninc.com (Mel Ohlinger) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 22:47:50 GMT

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

TIPS FOR WRITING CARWASH SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

Speak to your audience

You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page, look here to find topics to write about

Take a few moments to plan your post

Once you have a great idea for a post, write the first draft. Some people like to start with the title and then work on the paragraphs. Other people like to start with subtitles and go from there. Choose the method that works for you.

Don’t forget to add images

Be sure to include a few high-quality images in your blog. Images break up the text and make it more readable. They can also convey emotions or ideas that are hard to put into words.

Edit carefully before posting

Once you’re happy with the text, put it aside for a day or two, and then re-read it. You’ll probably find a few things you want to add, and a couple more that you want to remove. Have a friend or colleague look it over to make sure there are no mistakes. When your post is error-free, set it up in your blog and publish.

10+ Rules of Carwash Marketing

FEATURED TALK - SCWA CARWASH CONVENTION2026

MEL OHLINGER

FEATURED TALK — SCWA CONVENTION & EXPO 2025

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR ATTENDEES

ABOUT MEL:

MEL SPEAKS ON:

SCWA 2026 Recap

SCWA 2026 Recap

Women In Carwash Conference 2026

Women In Carwash 2026

OhmCo 2025 Recap

OhmCo Carwash

Marketing 2025 Recap

﻿ Some things happened. And then a few more did. And even more after that.

Trade Shows, Regional Events, and More!

11th Women in Carwash Conference

SCWA Carwash Tradeshow

Heartland Carwash Association Trade Show

The Car Wash Show (ICA)

Ohio Operator Visit – Soak City

Pennsylvania Carwash Association Dinner

Leadership Worth Following – Growth Summit

European Car Wash Show

Northeast Regional Carwash Convention (NRCC)

Mel was Invited To Speak To Governor Tony Evers

Contests, Local Bizz Outreach, and Everything Else

In Closing... it's been another wild year.

﻿ Let's see what 2026 brings!

How to Set up Carwash Facebook and Instagram Ads

YOUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM CARWASH ADS CHEAT SHEET:

Alas, Facebook is no more. Long live Facebook!

Step 0: Open the right tool

Step 1: Create a new campaign

Step 2: Choose your placements (where the ad shows)

Step 3: Set your audience (Members-first approach)

Option A (Easiest): Location-based “members live here”

Option B (Best if you have data): Custom audience

Step 4: Budget & schedule

Step 6: Build the ad (creative + copy)

Plug-and-play member ad copy (use one)

Step 7: Double-check before publishing

Step 8: How to tell if it’s working (without overthinking)

Option A (Recommended): Run Instagram Ads Through Meta Ads Manager ﻿

Step 1: Open Ads Manager

Step 2: Create a campaign

Step 3: Set the budget and schedule

Step 4: Choose Instagram-only placements

Step 5: Define your audience

Step 6: Build the Instagram creative

Step 7: Publish

Step 8: Check performance

Option B (Fast): Boost a Post on Instagram

Step 1: Post normally

Step 2: Tap “Boost post”

Step 3: Choose your goal

Step 4: Choose audience

Step 5: Set budget and duration

Step 6: Pay and publish

Try It

SECWA Wash Talk Wednesday

SECWA Wash Talk Wednesday

SECWA Wash Talk Wednesday: Don’t Get Scammed

How OhmCo Helps Car Wash Operators Avoid SEO Pitfalls

Built for Your Wash, Built for the Future: How OhmCo Designs, Supports, and Powers the Car Wash Industry

Custom-Built Car Wash Systems & Digital Solutions: Why Top Operators Choose OhmCo for Websites, Branding, and Growth

Why Custom Solutions Matter in the Car Wash Industry

OhmCo: The Industry Leader in Custom Car Wash Websites, Branding & Marketing

Web.Lab — The #1 Car Wash Website Platform Built for Operators

Co.Lab — Social Media Marketing That Actually Drives Car Wash Sales

Design.Lab — The Premier Car Wash Branding Team

Data.Lab — Analytics, SEO, and Performance Reporting for Car Wash Operators

Sign.Lab & Photo.Lab — Visual Systems That Increase On-Site Revenue

The OhmCo Advantage: Built Like a Manufacturer, Delivered Like a Partner

The Future of the Car Wash Industry Is Custom. Let OhmCo Build It With You.

Is your website costing you customers?

Your Website Is Costing You Customers ﻿

(and How to Fix It Without Breaking the Bank)

Your Website Is Costing You Customers ﻿

(and How to Fix It Without Breaking the Bank)

Some things happened. And then a few more did. And even more after that.

Let's see what 2026 brings!

Option A (Recommended): Run Instagram Ads Through Meta Ads Manager

SECWA
Wash Talk Wednesday

Your Website Is Costing You Customers

Your Website Is Costing You Customers

How Google’s Robots “See” Your Website: