SelfServeCov.qxd:p3 SelfServeCov /1/17 T H E 11:23 AM V O I C E O F Page 47 T H E C A R C A R E I N D U S T R Y Results from the Auto Laundry News SELF-SERVICE SURVEY 217 www.carwashmag.com
Results From The Auto Laundry News 217 Self-Service Survey he 217 Auto Laundry News Self-Service Survey was conducted through a mailing of questionnaires to a random selection of subscribers who own operate self-service car wash locations. The infmation in this rept results from an analysis of data provided by respondents throughout the United States. As in the past, f purposes of comparison, survey responses from sites with in-bay automatics (sites with) and sites without this type of equipment (sites without) are on occasion tabulated separately. In the current survey, participating locations with in-bay automatics make up 1 percent of the total response. Some sites without operate convey washes along with their wand bays. These sites account f 9 percent of the total responses, while sites that offer wand bays only make up 4 percent. Revenues In the current survey a majity of respondents are again able to rept progress. Overall, 2 percent rept generating greater income than one year ago. This compares to 1 percent in the previous survey who experienced improvement. However, a larger percentage of participants this year than last rept a decrease in income 19 percent versus 14 percent. Neverthe, as can be seen in the graphic on page 1, perfmance, overall, has remained fairly stagnant over the past four years. Sites with continue to outperfm sites without. As was the case last year, 6 percent of the fmer rept higher revenues, while 43 percent (38 percent last year) of sites without do so. Repted reversals are a near repetition of the survey results of two years ago with 17 percent of sites with repting a drop in income compared to the previous year and 23 percent of sites without doing so. In an exception, sites without do better than sites with in respect of monthly per-vacuum income, albeit a narrow margin: $34 versus $297. Equipment Overall, 1 percent of self-service washes have in-bay automatics on site, 2 percent have full-service, and 3 percent have flex-serve. These numbers closely track the results in previous surveys. However, the percentage of locations repting express-exteri washes on site is fluctuating some: 6 percent two years ago, 11 percent last year, and 7 percent currently. As they did the previous three years, sites with repted adding new equipment during the previous 12 months in greater numbers than did sites without 3 percent compared to 26 percent in this year s survey. In-bay automatics, in-bay credit card acceptance, and vacuums were the most popular additions. Fty four percent of sites with and 31 percent of sites without are planning to purchase equipment during the 12 months ahead. LED lighting is at the top of the shopping list. The graphic below shows further detail. ACCESS TO THE INTERNET 8 YES NEW EQUIPMENT of operats plan to add equipment in the next 12 months WEBSITE 26% YES Others 21% In-Bay Handheld Dryer 11% Credit Card Acceptance 1 RESPONDENTS OPERATING AN IN-BAY AUTOMATIC ON THEIR COIN-OP LOCATION LEDs 3 In-Bay Automatics 11% Self-Serve Equipment 7% 49% NO 1% YES AUTO LAUNDRY NEWS MAY 217 49
PERCENTAGE OF WASH BUSINESS DONE BY SEASON BY REGION WINTER SPRING SUMMER FALL Pacific 14 3 3 21 Mountain 34 29 23 14 Midwest 22 31 2 23 Central 38 2 21 16 South Central 23 29 2 23 Southeast 31 28 2 22 Mid-Atlantic 32 29 24 16 New England * * * * NOTE: Some results do not total 1 due to rounding *Too Few Responses Pacific Alaska-Califnia-Hawaii-Oregon-Washington Mountain Arizona-Colado-Idaho-Montana-Nevada- New Mexico-Utah-Wyoming Midwest Iowa-Kansas-Minnesota-Missouri-Nebraska- Nth Dakota-South Dakota Central Illinois-Indiana-Michigan-Ohio-Wisconsin South Central Alabama-Arkansas-Kentucky-Louisiana- Mississippi-Oklahoma-Tennessee-Texas Southeast Delaware-Flida-Gegia-Maryland Carolinas-Virginia-West Virginia Mid-Atlantic New Jersey-New Yk-Pennsylvania New England Connecticut-Maine-Massachusetts- New Hampshire-Rhode Island-Vermont PERCENTAGE OF WASH BUSINESS DONE BY DAY OF WEEK PERCENTAGE OF WASH BUSINESS DONE BY HOUR OF THE DAY SUNDAY 19% SATURDAY 2 MONDAY 1% TUESDAY FRIDAY 1 WEDNESDAY 9% THURSDAY 11% 2 MIDNIGHT- 8: AM 7: PM - MIDNIGHT 1% 3: PM- 7: PM 8: AM - 1: AM 1 2 NOON - 3: PM 2% 1: AM - NOON 4 39% 3 3 VOTED BEST MONTHS 2 2 1 1 1 12% FULL-TIME PART-TIME NONE ATTENDANT 212 213 214 21 216 13% 42% 4 1 3 47% 2% 39% 41% 1 1% 31% 16% 4 39% MARCH FEBRUARY APRIL AUTO LAUNDRY NEWS MAY 217
6 4 3 2 1 2 (COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEAR) HIGHER SAME LOWER 36% 2% 4 1% 2% 29% 3 29% 211 212 213 214 21 216 211 212 213 214 21 216 211 212 213 214 21 216 1 BUY VS. BUILD Expansion Plans: Buy vs. Build (in next 12 months) 8 6 4 2 6% Planning to Buy 32% 3 29% 47% EXPANSION PLANS 1% 3% 1% 21 211 212 213 214 21 216 Planning to Build 9% 6% 3% 19% 2% 1 HOURS OF OPERATION OPEN SUNDAYS 9 OPEN 24 HOURS 91% 19% COMPETING SELF-SERVE IN AREA NUMBER OF COMPETITORS 1 2 3 4 MORE THAN 3% 7% AUTO LAUNDRY NEWS MAY 217 1 OPERATORS REPORTING 1 26% 27% 1 1 2 2 3 RESPONDENTS WHO OPERATE A COMBINED AUTOMATIC/ SELF-SERVICE FACILITY AUTOMATIC WASH REVENUES AS PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL 4 SELF-SERVE WASH REVENUES AS PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL 1
EXPENSES (Operating Costs As Percentage of Total Monthly Revenues) ELECTRICITY FUEL (GAS, OIL, ETC.) WATER SEWER 6..2% 4.3% 4.1% CHEMICALS VENDING PRODUCTS SOFTENER SALT COLLECTION LOT SWEEPING ATTENDANT LABOR BOOKKEEPING REPLACEMENT PARTS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR REPLACEMENT PARTS VANDALISM VEHICLE DAMAGE REFUNDS PIT PUMPING ADVERTISING & PROMO *Too Few Responses.1% 2.9% 1.% 2.7%. 9.3% 1.6%.% 1.6% 2 4 6 8 1 *. 1. 1.2% THE AVERAGE PER BAY WAS $1,623 THE AVERAGE PER VACUUM WAS $299 THE AVERAGE FOR VENDING WAS $398 4 AUTO LAUNDRY NEWS MAY 217
CURRENT EQUIPMENT 3 2 2 1 1 6 4 3 2 1 PRICE VACUUMS PRICE PER MINUTE 23.2 24.6 212 213 214 21 216 WASH BAYS PRICE PER MINUTE 212 213 214 21 216 No 42% Yes HAS HURT BUSINESS 26.2 27. 26. 4.8 48..1 1.7.7% EXPRESS EXTERIOR NEARBY HAS NOT HURT BUSINESS 43% 7% AUTO LAUNDRY NEWS MAY 217 WATER SOFTENER WATER HEATER COLD WATER RINSE SPRAY WAX LIQUID TIRE/ENGINE CLEANER FOAMING TIRE/ENGINE CLEANER TRIGGER GUNS FLOOR MAT HANGERS VENDING MACHINES VACUUMS AIR DISPENSER FRAGRANCE DISPENSER CARPET CLEANING MACHINE BILL CHANGER SPOT FREE RINSE WITH R.O. SPOT FREE RINSE WITH D.I. FLOOR HEAT FOAMING BRUSHES SOAPY WATER BRUSHES PRESOAK BURGLAR ALARM, SAFE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IN-BAY HANDHELD AIR DRYER DOORS MULTI-COLORED FOAM CREDIT CARD ACCEPTANCE IN-BAY BILL ACCEPTANCE WATER RECLAIM SYSTEM SURFACE PROTECTANT TOKEN ACCEPTANCE LED LIGHTING 83% 83% 73% 9% 49% 97% 89% 92% 99% 33% 2% 9 81% 1% 7% 96% 22% 8 3% 3 47% 3 16% 46% 42% 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 1
SITE LOCATION MARKET SIZE HOW FAR DO CUSTOMERS COME? 4 3 2 1 6 4 3 2 1 3 41% 2 LOW URBAN 3% MIDDLE SUBURBAN 6% 3 HIGH RURAL MARKET LEVEL 1% 8 7 6 4 3 2 1 $,9 7 89% 7% 4 49% 2 miles 3 miles 4 miles 8 miles miles 1 miles AUTOMATICS $6,3 $6,79 $7,449 $7,174 AVERAGE PER AUTOMATIC AVERAGE AND EXPENSE $2,3 $2,79 $2,169 $3,382 AVERAGE EXPENSE PER AUTOMATIC $2,732 212 213 214 21 216 212 213 214 21 216 8 7 6 4 3 2 1 6% 6 PERCENTAGE OF OPERATORS WITH MULTIPLE SITES 21% 16% 1 6% 7% 2% 3% 7% 1site 2 sites 3 sites 4 sites sites Me than 214 21 216 6 AUTO LAUNDRY NEWS MAY 217