OhmCo - previously rule of design - carwash marketing and blogging

Why you shouldn't name your carwash after THIS Monster.

Mel Ohlinger • February 22, 2021

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:


godzilla is bad carwash names

T-REX

1.

Huge head.


2.

Eats everything.

 
3.

Tiny arms.


4.

Smooth back and tail.


5.

Believed to be extinct.

 

godzilla is bad carwash names

GODZILLA

6.

Small head.

 
7.

Muscular arms.

 

8.

Stands erect.

 

9. 

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.


SHARE ONLINE

Last week, Mel and I had the chance to attend the Heartland Car Wash Show in Council Bluffs, Iowa—a

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

By Mike Ohlinger • May 1, 2025
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.
Google is updating its Ads Transparency policy in May and June 2025. Here's what car wash advertiser

Google Ads Changes

By Mel Ohlinger • May 1, 2025
Google is updating its Ads Transparency policy in May and June 2025. Here's what car wash advertisers need to know to keep their payer name and billing details accurate.

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

By Mel Ohlinger • May 1, 2025
Precision, Pressure, and a Pitch: The Allen Jones Legacy
Carwash Myths & Hollywood Hype: The First Automatic Car Wash Was NOT in California

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

By Mel Ohlinger • April 21, 2025
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.
The car wash industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years, yet when it comes to insurance, it

Protecting Car Wash Businesses Like Never Before: Carwash Insurance

By Tony Gaipa • April 2, 2025
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 the Heartland Car Wash Show, OhmCo shared how car wash owners can use a simple Mother’s Day campa

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

By Mel Ohlinger • March 12, 2025
At the Heartland Car Wash Show, OhmCo shared how car wash owners can use a simple Mother’s Day campaign to attract customers and turn them into loyal fans with the power of social media.At the Heartland Show, OhmCo’s Mel Ohlinger shared a proven Mother's Day campaign strategy that uses social media to build real loyalty—without a big budget. OG Image Alt Text: OhmCo presents social media strategy at the Heartland Car Wash Show
What's a DNS and what's a URL?

What is DNS (and What’s a URL)?

By Mel Ohlinger • January 22, 2025
Make it look more like a parking lot to illustrate this concept: **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 https://www.carwash-marketing.com/
The social media landscape is changing fast, and carwash owners need to stay prepared. With TikTok’s

How Car Wash Owners Can Prepare for the Social Media Shakeup

By Mel Ohlinger • January 16, 2025
The social media landscape is changing fast, and carwash owners need to stay prepared. With TikTok’s potential sale or shutdown, its 170 million U.S. users and countless small businesses are facing a major shift. What’s the real story, and how can it affect your marketing? Here’s what’s happening, what it means for your business, and steps to adapt and keep your customers engaged.
Mike & Mel standing in front of a sign that says the car wash show

2025 Car Wash Tradeshows: Plan Your Year Here

By Melanie Jayjack • January 7, 2025
Looking to explore the top car wash trade shows in 2025? Events that used to be small are growing while new events are continuously in the works. Here's a comprehensive list of all the car wash trade shows this year.
More Posts