It’s true in any competitive industry, and the professional car washing market is no exception – there’s nothing quite like the first impression you make on a potential customer. If you’re the new kid on the block, this is even more true.
Your first goal as the owner of a car wash is, of course, to increase your profit margin. But doing that requires that you stand out from the competition, differentiate yourself, and making sure that you have some sort of “X-factor” that the other guys don’t.
Your potential customers are likely going to make a decision about whether or not to stop by your car wash on the fly. They’ll probably be driving around, see a sign, and have 30 seconds or so to decide whether or not they have the time to stop. The best way to maximize your chances of that decision being a “yes” is to focus on your site design before opening, and find a solution to any potential challenges.
Companies like Hover create plans customized to each specific site so that the design works to maximize your property’s full potential. We can all attest to the fact that a well-designed storefront naturally attracts attention, especially if it can stand out against a backdrop of cookie cutter businesses nearby.
Because of the way that modern design has had an impact on almost every aspect of our lives, customer expectations are higher than ever. They want cleanliness, efficiency, and effectiveness – whether that’s in the way they scroll on an app or the way they get their car washed. That means that the more specific and detail-oriented you can be in your design choices, the more likely the customer is going to have a positive association with your business down the line.
Aside from making a strong first impression through your businesses’ exterior, customer experience is the next biggest factor in potential retention rates. Atmosphere is important, from the way your interior is designed to the way your employees interact with your customers. A great site isn’t so great if the traffic flow causes a backup or the interior isn’t maintained properly.
Basically, that means that nothing should stand on its own.
Your company’s advertising and branding should make sense when compared to the physical appearance and location of your building, the interior design, the landscaping, and so much more. When everything works together to bring the customer a unified, consistent experience across all touchpoints with your business.
Simple and efficient are the best words to come back to when starting this phase of your journey to become a successful car wash owner or operator – and the key to all of this is finding a firm with experience in delivering this kind of operational success to its clients.