The number of registered cars in Zimbabwe is 1,6 million according to ZIMSTAT and the number keeps increasing on a monthly basis. Who is benefiting from spare parts, servicing, repairs and maintenance? Thousands of entrepreneurs and one area of focus is the car wash business.
We cover below a premium chat from one of our members. The only missing link being the question and answer segment. We highly recommend that you become a subscribed member and benefit from direct engagement during presentations.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Tennyson. I will be making a presentation on establishing and running a premium car wash business. So let’s meet at 7 for the presentation.
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Once again good evening ladies and gentlemen. A warm welcome tho those who have managed to join us for this evening’s presentation.(Establishing and running a premium car wash). My name is Tennyson. Have had 7 years managing a high end cash wash. Have also assisted in setting up premium car wash businesses.
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The following items would be needed for the establishment of a car wash
– Industrial vacuum cleaners (wet and dry ideal where upholstery cleaning services will be offered)
– High pressure water guns/ system
– industrial dryers (where upholsterer cleaning services will be offered)
– Washing chemicals
– Water tanks (where municipal water is not reliable)
– Generator (for power stand by)
– Sponges and microfibres
– Paper rolls (for windows)
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The chemicals include
– Car shampoo/soap
– Body polish
– tyre polish
– Air freshener
– Black trim polish
– Leather polish
– Rim restorer
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Ideal location for a car wash would be busy malls, and areas where there is a high traffic of people who would have their car washed.
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This is a facility where customers book in their cars and go shopping or to do other errands and then collect their cars when they are done.
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Operations/ processes
– A customer drives up, have their details taken. Name, contact number, vehicle make and registration number etc
– A driver takes the car to the high pressure bay where it is high pressured to remove dust and mud (care has to be taken to avoid high pressuring cars with signs of peeling paint. Cars with wrap should not be high pressured. No chemicals or soap or polish should be used on cars with matt finishes as this creates smudges that will be very difficult to remove
– After the high pressuring soap or shampoo is then applied and car washed. Moved to next high pressure point to rinse of the soap . Tyres and rims are also washed and
– Vehicle is then driven to the drying bays where it is dried and vacuumed and cleaned inside.
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After these processed vehicle is quality checked and parked for collection by owner. Keys are always kept in an office throughout the whole process.
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There is great need for well experienced and competent personnel. Or in-house thorough training should be done.
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2 cleaners can be assigned to one car . One to wash the body and rims and the other to do inside. The sponge and bucket as well as the water used to clean the rims and tyres should never be used on the body to avoid scratching.
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There will be customers who will complain of scratches , damage, dents on their cars. While some will be genuine, others will just want to take a chance. Hence it is important to check the car at booking for any scratches and dents or any other damages.
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A good CCTV will help in addressing such complains (including complaints of theft). Customers should always be advised to removed all valuables. Done valuable may be kept in the office if customer cannot carry that with them.
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Insurance should also be considered where a vehicle would have been scratched or damaged while at the car wash.
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Where upholstering cleaning services would be offered industrial dryers should be available. 2 would be ideal. These blow hot air into the vehicle to dry the seats and the carpets. With good dryers it would take around 3 hours to dry drowning on how dirty the seats would have been.
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The following packages may be considered
– Standard wash (wash outside including tyres). Vacuum and inside cleaning plus tyre polish and black trims
– Special package (standard plus body polish
– Premium (special plus polishing of leather seats
– Super valet (premium plus upholstery cleaning – washing carpets and seats). The washing of seats and carpets can be done without removing the seats.
