Bet You’d Never Guess Winter is the Busiest Month for Car Washes

Car washes, most people anticipate long lines at the local car wash during the summer months of the year.  Between summer road trips and just enjoying sunny drives on long, lazy afternoons, it’s common for people to want their cars to shine in line with the sun.  In fact, about 25% of all consumer vehicle owners will stop at a car wash regularly during the summer season.

However, that number increases to 32% during the winter months–near one-third of all vehicle owners.  With the cold temperatures come rain, snow, and sleet, all contributing to slushy muck kicked up from tires onto vehicles.  In areas that experience regular ice and snow, roads are often treated with salts that will damage vehicles’ paint and finish if not removed regularly.  With this knowledge in hand, now is the perfect time to put winter car wash promotions in high gear and bring more consumers to your convenience store location.

What else might surprise you about car washes?

1. The popularity of car washes is growing.  More consumers are giving up on their DIY maintenance and choosing to spend a few extra bucks to get their cars and trucks cleaned at a local car wash.  Current trends forecast the car wash market to reach $3.18 billion by 2025.
2. Big players aren’t monopolizing the market.  A 2021 analysis by First Research showed that the 50 largest car wash companies hold less than 20% of the total market share.  This seems to indicate that consumers are more likely to choose a car wash location that is conveniently located versus driving further to get a wash from a well-known chain.
3. Professional car washes are better than DIY for the environment.  While car washes use between 30 and 45 gallons of water for a single car wash, up to 50% of that water is often reclaimed.  In contrast, water used in at-home car washing efforts just goes into storm drains.

Are you ready to install or upgrade a car wash at your c-store locations?

Car washes are a great way to increase revenue in your portfolio and attract more customers to your convenience store.  By providing this valuable service, customers have one more reason to choose your locations over the competition.  Best of all, car washes require little maintenance and supervision, which means more net profit to your bottom line.

At GP Energy, we partner with ISTOBAL for our car wash equipment.  ISTOBAL is a world leader in innovative solutions for car wash and car care systems.  Business owners love ISTOBAL car wash equipment because their innovative designs provide greater flexibility, profitability, durability, versatility, and less environmental impact.  Customers can choose between friction with three to five brushes, touch-free, or a combination of both.  It’s easy to see that ISTOBAL is a win-win for owners and customers alike.

Contact our team at GP Energy today if you’re looking for new ways to improve your services and grow your profitability.  We work with C-store owners and leaders to implement proven products, software, and methodology to achieve their goals.  We’ll have you crossing the finish line before you know it!