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Subject: Re: thinking of opening a car wash


Author:
Dennis S. Vogel
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Date Posted: 14:38:31 07/07/02 Sun
In reply to: david levasseur 's message, "thinking of opening a car wash" on 09:45:08 07/05/02 Fri
 Hi Dave,

Thanks for participating.

It's usually best to specialize 1) People tend to be more comfortable with businesses (owners) that have a firm, definite identity. 2) It will be easier for you to concentrate on one kind of business at a time.

I don't know the details, but the owner of a quick lube shop decided to add a drive-through coffee shop to the same building. (-8 My favorite was the Mocha 5W-30 8-}

The barriers to entry for each of the kinds of businesses you want are different. For a car wash, you'd be dealing with environmental concerns (being sure the used water, soap & car wax are drained away properly). For an Italian ice shop, you'll be dealing with inspectors checking for potential health problems.

It also depends on the kind & size of either business.
Car washes can be totally mechanical or done enitrely by people, or somewhere in between. They could be full-service or self-service.
You could sell Italian ice from 1) a portable cart/wagon (somewhat like a hotdog stand); 2) a permanent location by itself; 3) a vendor stand at a stadium; 4) inside a grocery store, restaurant, mall, etc.

When you find a big enough target market, here are some consderations:
The method/location you pick should be based on 1) your budget compared to start-up costs; your potential competition; how close you can get to your target market at times they're open to buy from you.

Examples- Would they want Italian ice before work/school, during their lunch breaks, on their way home? How can you get your message to them just before or during those times?
Is Italian ice something they use as a reward for their children (maybe even for themselves)?
Is it a treat? A dessert?
Is it a seasonal product, or do people want it any time of a year?

Does it matter to them what their vehicles look like at work/school? Would they take the time necessary to have vehicles cleaned before work/school? What about after work/school?
How can you get your message to them just before or during those times?

If your business location is hard to get to (lack of parking, one-way street, narrow street, not on a ground floor level, far away from where they work/go to school or live), they may not want to go through the "hassle."

Something too few business owners plan for is having enough money to cover their business/living expenses. They don't know how much neccessary product & services will cost.

If your target market doesn't have time to read newspapers or watch TV & listens to self-improvement tapes/CDs while they drive instead of radios? How will you reach them?

I hope you didn't just answer "Word-of-mouth!" Most business owners who rely on "Word-of-mouth" have no idea how to use it. In other words, they "market" their businesses by chance instead of by design.

If I called you & told you I'll handle your whole marketing program for $1,000, would you want to know how I plan to do that? Or would just say, "OK, go ahead?"

I'm sure you (& most business owners) would want me to present a plan. If that's the case, why do some business owners put themselves in charge of marketing without any idea what they'll do or how?!?!?

I've studied referral marketing. I doubt you could find me more than a small percentage of business owners who have done that. Yet, they swear, "Word-of-mouth" will be/is enough!

Would you agree to let me handle your marketing program if I said, "You just sit back & leave it all up to me. I'll spread the word. You don't have to pay me. I'll learn about marketing while I go along. You don't have to do anything but save money on marketing & put your profits in the bank."

No? Why not?

That's what many business owners are doing, except they're relying on untrained people who haven't promised to spread the word!?!?

I hope this is the right direction you want me to point you in.
There are (-8 some things even I don't know 8-} so I don't want to go beyond my knowledge base. Maybe another person in our Web community will guide also. I hope.

Dennis S. Vogel
You don't need a miracle. You don't need magic.
You need powerful marketing. Here's where to get it.
http://wz.com/business/SmallBizThriving.html
http://www.thrivingbusiness.homestead.com
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Replies:
Subject Author Date
starting a car wash and detail shopFred Nicholson04:48:54 05/31/03 Sat
    Re: starting a car wash and detail shopDennis S. Vogel22:57:48 06/02/03 Mon
    Re: starting a car wash and detail shopAlfred Torregano20:12:20 06/12/03 Thu
    Re: starting a car wash and detail shopFreddie Robinson18:31:09 06/27/03 Fri
    Re: starting a car wash and detail shopJustin17:13:59 09/03/03 Wed

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