The car wash market

Washing a car to earn money is a simple and established business: many children first get a taste for business by supplementing pocket money washing their parents’ / neighbours’ vehicles.

However, the car wash market has grown and diversified over the last decade with most people living within easy reach of a variety of car wash outlets. With around 30 million cars in the UK and many differing customer requirements, these car wash models offer specific customer propsitions to their target audiences. Car wash models may include:

Roll-over car washes

also known as tunnel washes with big roller brushes, often located on petrol station
     forecourts

Mobile van car washes

these operators usually drive branded vans and target businesses and socially-
     affluent private customers

Independent hand car washes

often located on disused petrol stations or commercial lots (e.g. under railway
     arches or on industrial estates)

these mainly rely on passing trade

customers queue and wait on site while their car is cleaned.

“Wash-while-you-shop” hand car washes

where property owners working with a car wash supplier to provide car wash
     services to their customers while they use the car park.

Gilmore specialises in the wash-while-you-shop sector.

The main advantages to the customer of the wash-while-you-shop model:

Convenience

he / she is already using the car park to go shopping / use the leisure facility etc. and
     the car can be cleaned while they are pursuing their activity.

Value

it is priced competitively to offer good value.

Compliance

all Gilmore’s clients have stringent compliance mandates, so the customer can be
     confident of full insurance, training, environmental compliance etc.

The main advantages to the client of the wash-while-you-shop model:

The clients (in this case usually shopping centre owners, car park owners or supermarkets) benefit from an extra revenue stream and the stability of market share based on increased customer loyalty and retention.