The Unlimited Auto Wash Podcast

Sun, Rain, and Shine: The South Florida Car Wash Challenge

• Kevin Dalton • Episode 7

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What Impact Does The South Florida Market Have On The Services And Pricing Strategy Of Unlimited Auto Wash?

The sunny paradise of South Florida presents unique challenges and opportunities for car care professionals. Kevin Dalton, owner of Unlimited Auto Wash, pulls back the curtain on what it takes to succeed in Palm Beach County's competitive market, where summer downpours and luxury vehicles dominate the landscape.

Contrary to what many might assume, South Florida's weather creates significant operational hurdles. "Our summers down here can get wet and they can stay wet for quite some time," Kevin reveals. Those frequent tropical rain showers force strategic decisions about staffing, hours of operation, and customer guarantees. The solution? A 72-hour rain guarantee gives customers peace of mind when dark clouds threaten. This seemingly simple policy has become a cornerstone of customer satisfaction.

Perhaps most impressive is the company's remarkable staff retention rate – 80% of employees have remained for three years or longer, with half staying seven years or more. This consistency translates directly to customer experience and helps explain how the business has thrived for fifteen years despite industry disruption. Combined with innovative membership models that offer unlimited monthly washes for less than the price of two standard services, Unlimited Auto Wash demonstrates how understanding local market dynamics can transform challenges into competitive advantages.

To learn more about Unlimited Auto Wash visit:
https://www.UnlimitedAutoWashClub.com
Unlimited Auto Wash
561-WASH-ME-2

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Unlimited Auto Wash podcast. Get ready to discover the secrets to keeping your car looking spotless and new. Here's your host, Kevin Dalton, owner of the Unlimited Auto Wash, ready to make your ride shine like never before.

Speaker 2:

With year-round sun, a love for luxury cars and the occasional hurricane, south Florida is no ordinary car wash market. Kevin Dalton explains how demand, weather and even the local economy shape everything from service packages to pricing. Welcome back everyone. I'm Sophia Yvette, co-host, slash producer. Back in the studio with Kevin Dalton. Kevin, how's it going?

Speaker 3:

Fine. Thanks very much for asking Sophia. How are you doing?

Speaker 2:

I'm doing great Kevin.

Speaker 3:

Good good.

Speaker 2:

So, Kevin, what impact does the South Florida market have on the services and pricing strategy of Unlimited on a Wash?

Speaker 3:

Well, sure, certainly. I heard you say all-year sun. I wish that was the case. Our summers down here can get wet and they can stay wet for quite some time. So that's probably our biggest challenge is the weather in South Florida During the summertime, like I mentioned, we have top-up rain showers constantly. We don't have any cold fronts that move through that bring us rain, but instead it's just all tropical. And of course we also have hurricanes occasionally that impact us, but when it rains it's a big challenge.

Speaker 3:

I can't pay people to come and get their car washed, so that's the biggest challenge. Two is all the new machine automated car washes opening up where you do it yourself. Now, granted, it's apples and oranges to us because we are full service and hand wash and our customers really appreciate that, especially if they've got a wrapped ceramic or PPF film on their vehicle. So it's, but that is the biggest challenge, the two biggest. But you know we've got great vendors who keep us supplied with everything we need. Our employees are top notch. They're with us year round.

Speaker 3:

I'd say 80% of our employees have been with us for three years or longer. 50% have been with us probably seven, eight years or longer. So I would say, those two things are our main weaknesses, if you will, would be the weather and the different type of competition it's all playing out with that competition. I think we're getting a lot of our customers realizing they don't want to be outside when it's 90 degrees and having to vacuum their own car or clean their own window or wipe out their own cup holders, and of course they don't want the machines to slap in their car. So we're getting those customers back and you know we're very thankful.

Speaker 2:

How does South Florida's climate and frequent storms influence the types of services you offer? I know you said it's not all around sun.

Speaker 3:

Right, right. So, for example, I'll give you an example today it's supposed to rain around two or three o'clock and we'll look before it starts raining to see if that rain looks like it's going to last past 4 or 4 o'clock 4.30. And if that looks to be the case, we'll go ahead and close our locations all down, because there's no sense having your employees stay from 3 o'clock 4.30, 5, 5.30 when it finally dries for a half hour of car washes. It doesn't make sense to do that to the employees just sit around and do nothing. So it's also about how do you convince the customer that's there earlier in the day and when they realize it's going to rain today and they come in, boy, I don't know if I should have come in today. I think it's going to rain today. And they come in boy, I don't know if I should have come in today. I think it's supposed to rain.

Speaker 3:

And of course our employees are very well versed to say listen, it's okay that you're in. We've got a 72-hour rain guarantee and if the car gets dirty for any reason, bring them back in. We'll be more than happy to rewash your car for free. Just come in Today's Monday. You've got until the end of business day on Thursday, just come in. We'll take care of you and they really appreciate it. They go ahead and spend the money and if they come back, good for them, good for them.

Speaker 2:

So, kevin, what factors contribute to pricing decisions and how do you stay competitive in a luxury-driven market?

Speaker 3:

Sure? Well, certainly the full-service car wash companies have really dwindled over the years, and maybe it is because of the newer car washes opening up. How have we managed to stay alive, bob? How have we managed to stay alive? Well, we certainly spend our fair share on marketing, which certainly helps. This podcast is one of our marketing tools we use, but it's really all about the relationship with our customers and letting them know what we're doing for them. As we touched on in an earlier podcast about our sustainability and eco-friendliness, I think it's really catching on with our customers. I think it's really it's sinking in. Finally, with our wonderful customers that we have from Wellington, florida, all the way north to Cuesta, florida, mainly central and northern Palm Beach County, and we've got our name out there. We've really made a splash no pun intended with our customers and we've been doing it for 15 years and we're still growing. And again, the customers recognize that our employees are still here with us after many years, so they know we're doing something right as well many years.

Speaker 2:

So they know we're doing something right as well. And so, Kevin, how do customer expectations at Palm Beach County differ from?

Speaker 3:

those in other regions and how do you adapt to meeting them? Well, first off, it's a great question. The per home or household income is substantially higher in our market than maybe some other markets, as compared to northern Florida or southern Virginia. So our clientele really want a full service car wash. They don't want to do it themselves. They find our services very unique is very unique and especially being able to join our membership club. For less than the price of two washes you can come all month long, as many times as you'd like and get a great wash. It's a great value. Our customers appreciate it and it's just worked out really, really well for us in the years.

Speaker 2:

It's amazing. Love it, Kevin. We'll catch you in the next episode. Have a fantastic rest of beauty thank you welcome to the unlimited auto wash podcast.

Speaker 1:

Get ready to discover the secrets to keeping your car looking spotless and new. Here's your, your host, kevin Dalton, owner of the Unlimited Auto Wash, ready to make your ride shine like never before.