Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast
NouveauClosing the reclaim gap: nanobubble technology with Moleaer’s Josh Bachner | Episode 285
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Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, created by Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine, covers industry trends, ideas and strategies that will help make your carwash more profitable. Hear what carwash owners, operators, manufacturers and distributors have to say in our exclusive interviews and audio articles.
Épisodes 299
Closing the reclaim gap: nanobubble technology with Moleaer’s Josh Bachner | Episode 285
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander welcomes back Josh Bachner from Moleaer for a closer look at how nanobubble technology is helping operators get more out of their reclaim …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander welcomes back Josh Bachner from Moleaer for a closer look at how nanobubble technology is helping operators get more out of their reclaim water. Bachner explains what sets a nanobubble apart: at roughly 100 nanometers in diameter, or about 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt, the bubbles are invisible to the naked eye and stay suspended in water rather than rising to the surface.
The conversation digs into where conventional reclaim systems fall short. Bachner notes that while these systems do a good job settling out heavy materials such as sand and grit, they struggle to remove suspended solids, soaps, waxes and oils. He also breaks down how Moleaer’s patented shear method differs from cavitation-based approaches. Bachner shares results from a Pennsylvania site that cut its freshwater use down to just 12 gallons per car, along with typical savings of about 20 gallons per car and payback periods ranging from two or three months to roughly 18 months.
Bachner closes by looking three years ahead. He predicts nanobubble technology will become standard equipment in carwash reclaim systems, both as a retrofit and in new builds, as early adopters continue to de-risk the technology for the rest of the industry.Rebuilding IBA door reliability with Bob Blasi | Episode 284
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander is joined by Bob Blasi, founder of Rocket Glide, for a conversation at The Car Wash Show™ 2026 about in-bay automatic door maintenance and …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander is joined by Bob Blasi, founder of Rocket Glide, for a conversation at The Car Wash Show™ 2026 about in-bay automatic door maintenance and a smarter approach to replacement parts. Blasi, a nearly 40-year veteran of the carwash industry and operator of self-serve and in-bay automatic sites, shares the firsthand frustration that inspired him to design a better solution for failing door carriage systems.
Blasi walks through the core engineering behind Rocket Glide's patented carriage design. He explains how the system is built to be fully rebuildable so operators can get back up and running in hours rather than days.
The episode is a practical look at in-bay automatic door maintenance and why investing in rebuildable components can deliver long-term savings without sacrificing performance. Blasi also outlines how Rocket Glide's carriage and cylinder products are designed as direct replacements for existing Airlift Doors systems, requiring no modifications to install.Previewing Carwash Con East with Dave DuGoff and Mike Ashley | Episode 283
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander talks with Dave DuGoff and Mike Ashley from Carwash Con East about why the 36-year-old event changed its name and what operators can expect …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander talks with Dave DuGoff and Mike Ashley from Carwash Con East about why the 36-year-old event changed its name and what operators can expect when the show returns to the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from Oct. 5-7.
DuGoff said the rebrand grew out of a need to match how operators and prospective owners search for industry information online. Ashley added that the change comes with new signage, a new logo and a rebuilt website, carwashconeast.com, developed with marketing partner OhmCo. This year's show also expands its Monday virtual tour program to every attendee rather than just full-package registrants, and it adds simultaneous manager, self-serve and tunnel education tracks so operators and their teams can find programming suited to their business. A new welcome reception will move to the show floor Tuesday evening, giving attendees more time to talk with exhibitors over food and drinks. The show is also introducing its first Giving Back Award. Keynote speaker Ken Schmidt, a former Harley-Davidson communications leader, will address building consistent brand messaging across a carwash team.
Reflecting on more than three decades of the event, DuGoff and Ashley traced its growth from a hotel ballroom setup to a 100,000-square-foot show floor hosting 420 exhibitors this year. Both encouraged first-time attendees to focus on building relationships with fellow operators and vendors, while advising those still deciding whether to attend to come for the educational sessions, which they said offer takeaways for even the most experienced operators. Carwash Con East runs Oct. 5-7 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. More information is available at carwashconeast.com.AI-driven carwash memberships with Mark Thomas | Episode 282
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander speaks with Mark Thomas, executive vice president of marketing at Way, about how AI-driven carwash memberships are reshaping customer …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander speaks with Mark Thomas, executive vice president of marketing at Way, about how AI-driven carwash memberships are reshaping customer loyalty and retention. Thomas discusses Way's growth from a discovery and payment network into a full marketing and point-of-sale platform, and explains how artificial intelligence helps operators personalize service at every stage of the customer journey.
Thomas breaks down the difference between a subscription and a membership, noting that added benefits such as roadside assistance, gas discounts and glass repair coverage give customers more reasons to stay enrolled between visits. He points to data showing operators using WayPlus benefits have cut churn nearly in half compared with the industry average of about 7.5%. The conversation also covers how automated marketing tools, license plate recognition technology and mass personalization allow attendants to tailor recommendations for every customer.
Looking ahead, Thomas discusses how agentic AI will move beyond simple chat responses to take on marketing, segmentation and operational tasks across the tunnel. He emphasizes that AI-driven carwash memberships work best when built on lightweight integrations rather than replacing an operator's existing technology stack, giving operators flexibility as they scale.Breaking down AI for carwash operators: A three-level guide with Nautilus | Episode 281
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander returns with Nautilus co-founders Ali Sareini and Amayr Babar at The Car Wash Show™ for a deeper look at artificial intelligence for …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander returns with Nautilus co-founders Ali Sareini and Amayr Babar at The Car Wash Show™ for a deeper look at artificial intelligence for carwash operators. Sareini opens by breaking AI adoption into three distinct tiers: consumer-grade tools like ChatGPT used for general guidance; integrated platforms that connect AI directly to a carwash's point of sale data for business-specific insights; and autonomous agents capable of taking action on behalf of the operator.
The conversation covers how both mom-and-pop operators and enterprise chains can benefit from AI. Smaller operators see the biggest early wins from smarter customer communications, better website conversion and timely credit card decline alerts. Enterprise operators benefit most from automated reporting, data anomaly detection and the ability to make pricing decisions backed by real-time trend data across dozens of locations.
Sareini and Babar also discuss why Nautilus relocated from Virginia to San Francisco, highlighting how proximity to Silicon Valley's engineering talent and frontier AI development has allowed the company to bring capabilities to the carwash industry months ahead of what would otherwise be possible. The episode closes with both founders' outlook on the future of AI for carwash operators.Driveway sales, coaching and the Chick-fil-A model with Sam Logan | Episode 280
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Sam Logan of Rinsed at The Car Wash Show™ to talk through one of the most consequential moments in the carwash customer …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Sam Logan of Rinsed at The Car Wash Show™ to talk through one of the most consequential moments in the carwash customer journey: The driveway sales interaction. Logan opens by noting a striking disparity in carwash driveway sales conversion rates between operators. The difference, he says, is not technology or location; it is the degree of operational rigor applied to the moment when a sales associate talks to a potential member.
Logan makes a strong case for the "Chick-fil-A model" — consistent scripting, robust training, regular coaching and a clear career path for frontline staff — as the framework that separates high-converting carwashes from average performers. He cites data showing that human sales pitches produce 15%-20% higher membership conversion rates than kiosk-only interactions. The conversation also covers what personalization can look like at the point of sale.
The episode closes with Logan's perspective on AI in the carwash industry — not as a replacement for human interaction, but as a tool that enhances it. AI support agents, conversational data interfaces and personalized customer outreach are all areas where Rinsed is actively investing. His consistent theme: Carwash driveway sales conversion is still a people problem before it is a technology problem, and operators who solve it at the human level first will be better positioned to amplify those results with AI.Face-to-face sales, open APIs and churn prevention with Josh Noonan | Episode 279
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Josh Noonan of NXT Wash at The Car Wash Show™ to discuss a shift happening across the industry: Carwashes are returning to …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Josh Noonan of NXT Wash at The Car Wash Show™ to discuss a shift happening across the industry: Carwashes are returning to face-to-face sales as a primary driver of carwash membership sales and retention. Noonan traces the arc from pre-COVID customer service models through the pivot to contactless kiosks and explains why operators are now finding that human interaction consistently outperforms automated pitches when it comes to converting new members and keeping them.
Noonan breaks down how NXT Wash approaches real-time data, using an open API framework that allows operators and third-party platforms to act on customer information as it happens. Rather than reacting to customer behavior after the fact with batch campaigns, NXT Wash is built to put actionable data in front of frontline staff as customers pull in, including visit frequency, membership status and conversion history. Noonan also explains how the company's hardware-agnostic software approach lowers the barrier for multi-site operators who can't afford to rip out existing equipment to make a switch.
The episode closes with a look at what happens when a carwash reaches 80%-90% membership penetration and churn becomes the central challenge. Noonan outlines the tools and human touchpoints that keep high-membership carwashes growing even after the easy conversions are done.Real-time marketing and the AI CMO with Nautilus | Episode 278
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Amayr Babar and Ali Sareini, co-founders of Nautilus, to discuss their all-in-one carwash marketing automation platform and …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Amayr Babar and Ali Sareini, co-founders of Nautilus, to discuss their all-in-one carwash marketing automation platform and two major product launches that debuted at The Car Wash Show™.
The conversation covers Nautilus's deepest-in-class point of sale system integrations, which allow the platform to trigger personalized text messages the moment a membership is purchased, a credit card declines or a customer hits a behavioral threshold.
Babar and Sareini introduce Compass, the company's AI operations analyst that connects directly to a carwash's point of sale system and can answer real-time questions about wash volume, billing anomalies, employee performance and membership trends. They also unveil the AI CMO, which monitors competitor pricing and social media activity within a two-to-five-mile radius and automatically adjusts ad campaigns and website content in response.
The episode also highlights Nautilus's Droptop integration, which links carwash and oil lube point of sale data, enabling cross-selling, shared loyalty programs and unified customer profiles across both sides of the business.Touchless vs. soft touch and the future of IBA throughput with Kyle Martin| Episode 277
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander speaks with Kyle Martin, sales manager at Oasis Car Wash Systems, about one of the most common decisions facing operators entering the …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander speaks with Kyle Martin, sales manager at Oasis Car Wash Systems, about one of the most common decisions facing operators entering the in-bay automatic (IBA) segment: Touchless or soft touch. Martin explains how geography, regional competition and climate all factor into the choice. His recommendation for operators building from the ground up: Offer both and let the customer decide.
The conversation also digs into in-bay automatic carwash throughput. Martin breaks down the mechanical and chemical factors that separate high-throughput IBA operations from average performers.
The episode closes with a look ahead to Oasis's plans for The Car Wash Show™ 2027. Rather than a traditional booth experience, the company is shifting its investment toward factory tours in Joplin, Mo., bringing customers and distributors on-site for an in-depth look at equipment manufacturing, installed systems and the people behind the product.Building a better carwash equipment company with John Olert | Episode 276
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander catches up with John Olert, CEO of American Car Wash Solutions. Recorded at The Car Wash Show™ in Nashville, the conversation covers what …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander catches up with John Olert, CEO of American Car Wash Solutions. Recorded at The Car Wash Show™ in Nashville, the conversation covers what drew Olert to the company, why he saw a gap in the market and how an operator-led perspective is driving a different kind of carwash equipment innovation at American Car Wash Solutions.
Olert discusses the company's competitive approach — prioritizing stainless steel durability, transparency with customers and service responsiveness over sheer booth size or brand recognition. He also introduces the Product Innovation Council, a formal advisory structure that channels ideas from longtime industry operators into American's next product developments.
Looking ahead, Olert outlines near-term priorities including digitized parts catalogs, user-friendly manuals and a forthcoming e-commerce store designed to make parts ordering faster and easier for operators. He also flags water reclaim systems and smart motor control technology as the two areas of carwash equipment innovation he sees having the greatest impact across the industry.Site-level memberships and the unattended carwash model with Phil Marquart and Robert Greene | Episode 275
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander is joined by Phil Marquart, founder of Dencar and operator of United Auto Wash, and Robert Greene, owner of Georgia's Car Wash Express at …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander is joined by Phil Marquart, founder of Dencar and operator of United Auto Wash, and Robert Greene, owner of Georgia's Car Wash Express at The Car Wash Show™. The conversation covers unattended carwash membership technology and how it's transforming the self-serve and in-bay automatic segments. Marquart traces the origins of Dencar to a frustration he faced as an operator: No existing payment technology could sell a membership at an unattended in-bay automatic site directly through the kiosk interface. After a failed partnership with an outside vendor, he built the solution himself and has spent the past eight years refining it with operators like Greene.
Greene shares his own journey from building a multi-format mega site in 2008 to spending years unable to extend membership programs beyond his attended express tunnel locations. After discovering Dencar at The Car Wash Show™ in 2022, he began a full rollout that now spans all nine of his coastal Georgia sites. The result: More than 600 new members added in 2026 alone across established locations, with zero on-site staff required to sell or manage them. The episode covers how Dencar's site-level membership model allows customers to bundle self-serve bays, in-bay automatics and vacuum stations into a single program.
The conversation looks ahead to the next phase for both companies: deeper integration with marketing platforms to add drip campaigns and outbound lead generation to what is already a capable unattended carwash membership technology stack.Building a smarter carwash maintenance platform with UniFiX's Brice Scholz | Episode 274
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander talks to Brice Scholz of UniFiX about the company's carwash maintenance platform and how it's helping operators keep tunnels running and …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander talks to Brice Scholz of UniFiX about the company's carwash maintenance platform and how it's helping operators keep tunnels running and members satisfied. Scholz traces UniFiX's roots back to its work as an internal ticketing tool built for a 136-location gym operator in 2019 and explains how those same asset-management principles now serve 27 carwashes across the country. Scholz discusses how the platform was designed for simplicity on the frontline while remaining robust on the backend. He explains how UniFiX evaluates each ticket for completeness, prompting users for missing details before surfacing recommended troubleshooting steps, parts lists and manufacturer video guides directly to technicians. The conversation also covers predictive maintenance, including how ticket history and preventive-maintenance timing can flag recurring problems. Looking at unmanned sites, Scholz explains how customers can scan a QR code to submit a service request when an issue arises, with certain triggers — such as a tunnel outage — automatically generating phone, text and email alerts to operators. He closes by outlining UniFiX's plan to deepen its carwash maintenance platform through new partnerships while remaining focused solely on serving the carwash industry rather than expanding into other verticals.Episode 273: Carwash building design that shapes long-term success with Tim Hogue
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Tim Hogue of Modernwash to explore why carwash building design deserves as much attention as chemistry, branding and …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Tim Hogue of Modernwash to explore why carwash building design deserves as much attention as chemistry, branding and equipment. Hogue explains that the structure itself is often a customer's first interaction with a business, shaping perceptions of quality before a vehicle ever enters the tunnel.
Hogue breaks down the costliest mistakes operators make before construction even begins, pointing to poor site layouts, tight turning radiuses and rushed planning among design professionals who fail to communicate. He also outlines how future-proofing a site helps operators scale equipment and storage as demand grows over a 10- to 15-year horizon rather than a typical five-year window.
The conversation closes with Hogue's perspective on why some carwash building projects clear city approval faster than others. He credits thorough, code-compliant permit submissions and direct communication with city officials as the keys to avoiding delays. He urges operators, new and experienced alike, to build a strong design team and start preparing early to help their carwash building design stand apart from the competition.AI search, digital leads and email ROI with Brian Mattingly | Ep. 272
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Brian Mattingly of WelcomeMat to unpack the fast-moving world of carwash digital marketing. Recorded at The Car Wash Show™ …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Brian Mattingly of WelcomeMat to unpack the fast-moving world of carwash digital marketing. Recorded at The Car Wash Show™, the conversation digs into a counterintuitive reality: Despite the rise of AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Claude, Google searches hit an all-time high in Q1 2026. Mattingly explains why that makes showing up in local carwash searches more critical than ever and what signals now determine whether an operator appears in results.
Mattingly breaks down the 12% cost-per-click increase operators are seeing across Google and Meta, the steepest rise since 2021, and shares how top-performing brands are hedging against it. The episode also explores how WelcomeMat's smart traffic system continuously adapts creative to match audience behavior in real time.
The conversation closes with a strong case for email as the highest-ROI channel in carwash digital marketing today. Mattingly outlines how operators can build first-party data strategies that combine targeted email campaigns with SMS, using each channel for its ideal purpose — email for relationship building and brand affinity, text for timely, weather-aware reminders.Episode 271: Reading the M&A market with Harry Caruso
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Harry Caruso, founder of Car Wash Advisory, for a candid assessment of where carwash mergers and acquisitions stand heading …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Harry Caruso, founder of Car Wash Advisory, for a candid assessment of where carwash mergers and acquisitions stand heading into the back half of 2026. Recorded live at The Car Wash Show™, the conversation opens with Caruso's frank take on the current deal environment: Transaction counts are on pace to be the lowest in about a decade, not because the industry is less attractive, but because it has matured past the frenzied growth phase of recent years.
Caruso explains that many of the most active buyers from the last decade are now approaching the end of their investment horizons and pulling back. At the same time, a large share of the best-performing carwashes have already been acquired, and newer sites haven't yet built the track record needed to be acquirable at scale. He notes that for operators with five to 15 sites considering a sale, the message is straightforward: The window is open now and conditions are unlikely to improve over the next two years.
The episode also covers the significance of Mister Car Wash's return to private ownership. Caruso closes with a reminder that declining transaction volume is not the same as a declining industry and that carwash mergers and acquisitions remain active for operators positioned to move.Episode 270: Prefabricated carwash structures, design trends and faster builds with Tim Hogue
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Tim Hogue, CEO and founder of Modernwash, to examine the business case for prefabricated carwash building construction and the …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Tim Hogue, CEO and founder of Modernwash, to examine the business case for prefabricated carwash building construction and the misconceptions that have long followed it. Hogue opens by addressing that prefabricated structures are plain, limited in customization or somehow less permanent than traditional block builds. His counter is simple — Modernwash's bolt-together steel frame system can produce buildings ranging from standard carwash tunnels to two-story towers, equipment room overbuilds and even high-end residential and commercial structures. The conversation dives into where prefabricated carwash building construction delivers its clearest financial benefit: Speed to open. Hogue walks through how time savings, combined with available tax advantages for pre-engineered structures, changes the financial math on a new build or renovation. He also discusses how Modernwash prepares buildings for future expansion from the start. Hogue closes with a look at current design trends in carwash architecture.Episode 269: The case for remanufactured carwash electronics with Jordan Rowe
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Jordan Rowe of RDM to make the case for remanufactured carwash electronics as a cost-effective, reliable alternative to …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Jordan Rowe of RDM to make the case for remanufactured carwash electronics as a cost-effective, reliable alternative to buying new. RDM has served the carwash industry for roughly three decades, building on a broader background in petroleum, medical and laundry equipment repair. Rowe explains what sets RDM apart: Technicians who specialize exclusively in carwash electronics and see the same boards and components every day. The conversation covers RDM's TCS2 product line, which supports DRB's Tunnel Watch system and is tested on a live tunnel simulator in RDM's facility. Rowe notes that remanufactured parts from RDM typically come in at roughly one-third the cost of new, backed by a one-year warranty on all control boards. Rowe also touches on how RDM plans ahead by tracking what equipment operators are buying today, anticipating where remanufactured carwash electronics will be needed as those systems age out of warranty.Episode 268: Inside the ICA: Kendra Johnson on the energy and growth of The Car Wash Show™
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Kendra Johnson, chief experience officer for the International Carwash Association, for a conversation from the floor of The …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Meagan Kusek sits down with Kendra Johnson, chief experience officer for the International Carwash Association, for a conversation from the floor of The Car Wash Show™ in Nashville. Johnson shares early attendance numbers from the 2026 show, the buzz surrounding a sold-out main floor and a fully booked second level — the first time in show history that exhibition space has spanned two floors of the Music City Center. Johnson reflects on where energy is highest at The Car Wash Show, pointing to the new company pavilion, which hosted more than 100 first-time exhibitors, and expanded maintenance and equipment education tracks that drew standing-room-only crowds. She also discusses the growing demand for pre-show carwash tours and the preview party, designed to give operators early access to new technologies and emerging vendor partners before the main floor opens. The conversation turns to the broader state of the industry, with Johnson noting that while the frenetic growth of recent years has stabilized, deal activity remains steady and operators across the board are prioritizing people, processes and wash experience. She closes with a look ahead to The Car Wash Show™ 2027, set for May 3–5 in Las Vegas, and encourages operators who missed Nashville to stay connected through industry media and publications.Episode 267: Carwash M&A: Deal trends and bold predictions with Jeff Pavone
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, Jeff Pavone from Amplify Capital Group joins host Kyle Alexander to break down the forces shaping today's deal environment — and why the second half of the …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, Jeff Pavone from Amplify Capital Group joins host Kyle Alexander to break down the forces shaping today's deal environment — and why the second half of the year is poised for a significant rebound. Pavone explains that the slowdown stems less from a lack of buyer interest and more from the pressures upstream. Constraints in private credit markets — driven largely by volatility in software and AI sectors — have slowed the flow of capital to private equity, which in turn has extended timelines for carwash deals. Add geopolitical uncertainty to the mix, and the result is a more cautious, question-heavy underwriting process. Despite the slower pace, carwash key performance indicators are holding up. Pavone notes that year-over-year sales and membership growth remain positive across the country, with some softening on the retail side attributed to weather variability and pricing shifts at the entry level. Looking ahead, Pavone expects a strong close to 2026, with Amplify alone tracking roughly $500 million in transactions expected to close by mid-year. He also points to a meaningful shift in deal dynamics: For the first time, buyer and seller price expectations are coming into alignment, a development he views as a key signal for sustained activity in carwash mergers and acquisitions. He also weighs in on Mister Car Wash's transition back to private ownership and what that means for the broader market. The episode closes with Pavone's boldest prediction yet — that within three years, the industry will see its first carwash chain reach 1,000 or more locations.Episode 266: Keys to getting over 5,000 unlimited wash club members per location with Steve Gaudreau - audio
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander welcomes Steve Gaudreau, founder of Brink Results, for a focused conversation on what it takes to build an unlimited wash club sales matrix …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander welcomes Steve Gaudreau, founder of Brink Results, for a focused conversation on what it takes to build an unlimited wash club sales matrix that consistently drives 5,000 or more members per location. Gaudreau, whose firm has trained more than 10,000 carwash employees over the past three decades, shares the operational gaps that hold most operators back and the structured framework his team developed to close them.
Gaudreau outlines several problem areas that typically limit membership growth. He then walks through Brink Results' new Unlimited Wash Club Sales Matrix, a 12-point evaluation tool that benchmarks operator performance across categories including member counts, pricing, sales scripts, churn rates and more. For each category, the matrix defines low, medium and high performance levels based on real industry data, giving operators a way to measure themselves against the field rather than against themselves. The conversation also explores closing-rate benchmarks, the competitive advantage of establishing membership density before new entrants arrive in a submarket and why setting ambitious goals matters.
The matrix is available free of charge by emailing [email protected].Episode 265: Inside Qual Chem’s new Evergreen carwash chemical line
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Ryan Molinelli, vice president of sales at Qual Chem, and Joseph Moldovan, founder of Qual Chem, to discuss the company’s …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Ryan Molinelli, vice president of sales at Qual Chem, and Joseph Moldovan, founder of Qual Chem, to discuss the company’s biggest product launch in years: a 10-product Evergreen carwash chemical line debuting at The Car Wash Show in Nashville. Molinelli and Moldovan share what operator feedback drove the development, why a non-corrosive, biodegradable formulation made sense for today’s tunnels, self-serves and in-bay automatics, and how the line ships in compact 2.5-gallon containers to reduce freight costs and plastic waste. The conversation also covers Luminaura Repel, a new addition to Qual Chem’s premium Luminaura family that targets microbead removal and water release, plus how the Evergreen and premium lines can be combined for tougher cleaning needs. The episode wraps with what visitors can expect at booth 1413 in Nashville and where Qual Chem sees carwash chemistry headed next.Episode 264: Using carwash video analytics to drive growth with Aaron McGee
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Brian Ankney welcomes Aaron McGhee of Interface Systems for a conversation on how carwash video analytics are reshaping site security, customer experience …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Brian Ankney welcomes Aaron McGhee of Interface Systems for a conversation on how carwash video analytics are reshaping site security, customer experience and operational efficiency. McGhee shares what operators across the carwash vertical have been asking for in 2025 and why video has emerged as the fastest-evolving category in the security industry. The discussion explores how modern multi-sensor and 360-degree cameras, paired with edge and cloud-based analytics, are replacing legacy closed-circuit television systems and reducing the amount of equipment operators need on site. McGhee explains how remote video monitoring acts as an extra set of eyes for highly automated, thinly staffed carwash locations, helping deter loitering, prevent liability incidents and even welcome customers through two-way audio. The conversation also covers the growing role of recurring managed services — from cloud storage and encryption to cybersecurity updates — and why offloading that work to a partner lets operators focus on growth. McGhee closes with practical advice for owners evaluating their current technology stack and looking for ways to turn existing cameras into a tool that improves the customer journey.Episode 263: Unlocking carwash customer retention through AI with Michael Pelikan
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander welcomes Michael Pelikan, director of operations Retention Express, for a data-driven conversation on how artificial intelligence is …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander welcomes Michael Pelikan, director of operations Retention Express, for a data-driven conversation on how artificial intelligence is transforming carwash customer retention and reshaping how operators understand their customer base. Pelikan opens by identifying the single most overlooked data point in the industry: why customers are actually contacting a carwash in the first place. He explains that most operators rely on transactional metrics — wash counts, membership totals and churn — while behavioral and experiential data goes largely uncaptured, and why that blind spot has real revenue consequences. Pelikan shares how Retention Express organizes customer interactions into three core categories — intent, sentiment and outcome — and how tracking each reveals pressure points across operations and the customer experience. He also breaks down how phone calls and virtual chat assistants serve different behavioral patterns, with phone interactions skewing toward immediate resolution while website chat tends to be more exploratory and revenue-generating. The episode also covers how application programming interface (API) connections enable operators to personalize each interaction and how custom dashboards surface the right data for operators at every level. The discussion closes with a look at carwash customer retention as the industry's single biggest revenue opportunity. Pelikan makes the case that protecting existing membership revenue, rather than focusing solely on acquisition, is where AI delivers its greatest return — ensuring every customer contact is answered, every question addressed and every member given a reason to stay.BONUS EPISODE: Why Carwash Dryers Matter: Efficiency and Cost Savings | Cincinnati Fan
Dryers are one of the most important — and often overlooked — components of a car wash. In this Executive Spotlight, Ron Wittich of Cincinnati Fan joins host Kyle Alexander to discuss:Why proper drying is …
Notes de l’épisode
Dryers are one of the most important — and often overlooked — components of a car wash. In this Executive Spotlight, Ron Wittich of Cincinnati Fan joins host Kyle Alexander to discuss:- Why proper drying is critical for customer satisfaction
- How water spots and residue impact vehicle finishes
- The role of energy-efficient motors and VFDs
- How operators can reduce energy costs by up to 25%
- Best practices for maintenance and maximizing equipment lifespan
BONUS EPISODE: Carwash Data, OEM Support and the Rise of In-Bay Washes | Oasis Car Wash Systems
In this Executive Spotlight episode, Brian Ankney talks with Kyle Martin about the factors shaping today’s carwash industry. Martin explains why strong relationships with equipment manufacturers and …
Notes de l’épisode
In this Executive Spotlight episode, Brian Ankney talks with Kyle Martin about the factors shaping today’s carwash industry. Martin explains why strong relationships with equipment manufacturers and distributors are essential for long-term success, especially when wash systems are designed to operate for decades. The conversation also explores why in-bay automatic and self-serve washes are gaining momentum again. With lower equipment costs, minimal staffing requirements and strong profit margins, these formats are increasingly appealing for operators navigating labor shortages and rising operating costs. Martin also breaks down how carwash owners can use data to improve performance. By analyzing financial metrics, operational efficiency and customer behavior, operators can uncover opportunities to increase revenue, reduce downtime and refine their marketing strategies. Finally, the discussion touches on how carwash businesses can differentiate themselves in saturated markets through branding, membership programs, superior customer experience and targeted promotions.BONUS EPISODE: Reducing Carwash Membership Churn Through Better Operations | Wash Systems
Membership programs have become the backbone of many carwash businesses — but the real key to success lies in retention. In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight, host Brian …
Notes de l’épisode
Membership programs have become the backbone of many carwash businesses — but the real key to success lies in retention. In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney talks with industry expert John Booth about the metrics operators should be watching beyond membership counts. The discussion explores how churn rate and customer lifetime value reflect the true health of a carwash operation. Booth shares why consistent processes, employee training and detailed site inspections are critical for delivering the experience customers expect every time they visit. Operators who align their operational checklists with the customer journey — from entering the lot to exiting the wash — can reduce churn and strengthen long-term membership value.BONUS EPISODE: Paint Protection & Restoration Opportunities for Detailers | Mothers
Paint protection and restoration are quickly becoming premium services for professional detailers and carwash operators. In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight, host Kyle …
Notes de l’épisode
Paint protection and restoration are quickly becoming premium services for professional detailers and carwash operators. In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight, host Kyle Alexander speaks with Jim Dvorak of Mothers about how detailers can properly assess paint condition, educate customers about protection options and deliver long-lasting results. The conversation covers: • Evaluating vehicle paint condition
• Setting realistic expectations with customers
• The role of paint thickness measurements
• Clay bar decontamination and paint prep
• Ceramic coatings, sealants and paint protection film
• Future innovations in paint protection products If you’re a professional detailer or carwash operator looking to expand premium detailing services, this episode provides practical insight into the growing paint protection market.BONUS EPISODE: Carwash Calls, AI & Retention | Retention Express
In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney speaks with Bobby Thomson of Retention Express about carwash phone call management, membership retention and the …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode of Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney speaks with Bobby Thomson of Retention Express about carwash phone call management, membership retention and the growing role of AI in customer service. Retention Express handles over a million carwash calls annually — from billing disputes and cancellations to compliments and damage claims. Thomson explains how operators can:
• Reduce membership churn
• Capture missed revenue from unanswered calls
• Use AI to support (not replace) live agents
• Run win-back campaigns
• Track 28 different cancellation reasons
• Improve chargeback defense with recorded documentation
With up to 80% of carwash calls going unanswered, Thomson says every missed call represents lost revenue. Learn how blending AI automation with high-touch human support can increase retention and strengthen brand loyalty.Episode 262: Catching up with Heartland Carwash Association with Pat Shannon
On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Pat Shannon, president of the Heartland Carwash Association (HCA), for a wide-ranging conversation on the association’s …
Notes de l’épisode
On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Pat Shannon, president of the Heartland Carwash Association (HCA), for a wide-ranging conversation on the association’s mission, the evolving needs of operators and what’s ahead for the Midwest carwash market. Shannon begins with an overview of HCA's role in serving carwash owners, operators and suppliers across the region. He shares how the association focuses on education, connection and practical resources tailored to regional operators navigating a rapidly professionalizing industry. From there, the conversation shifts to current trends shaping operator decision-making. Tune in to find out what he’s hearing from members regarding equipment investment, operational efficiency, technology, labor challenges and more. A major focus of the episode is the 2026 HCA Product Show, taking place March 24 and 25 at the Beardmore Event Center in Bellevue, Nebraska. Shannon outlines the event’s theme, education sessions and keynote speaker, while explaining what sets the Heartland Product Show apart from larger national events. Shannon shared how the show creates meaningful engagement opportunities for vendors and suppliers, including details on the Heartland Express shipping program designed to simplify logistics and reduce costs for exhibitors. The episode wraps with a look ahead at how the HCA plans to evolve its mission and events to continue supporting operators and suppliers in the years to come, reinforcing its role as a trusted regional partner in the carwash industry. For more information on HCA and its 2026 Product Show, please visit www.heartlandcarwash.org.BONUS EPISODE: Local Carwash vs. Corporate Chains: How Independents Can Win | Ver-tech Labs
When a large corporate carwash breaks ground nearby, many independent operators panic — but they shouldn’t. In this PC&D Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney sits down with Tara Baugher of Ver-tech Labs to …
Notes de l’épisode
When a large corporate carwash breaks ground nearby, many independent operators panic — but they shouldn’t. In this PC&D Executive Spotlight, host Brian Ankney sits down with Tara Baugher of Ver-tech Labs to explain why local carwash owners still have the upper hand. From protecting membership counts to leveraging community connections, Tara shares practical, boots-on-the-ground strategies that help independent operators compete — and win — against larger chains.
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