Car Wash News

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12/29/05 LITCHFIELD-Is the Planning and Zoning Commission all wet when it comes to understanding the car wash business? Or is it just doing what it must to protect the town from unwanted circumstances?

An amendment to allow car washes in town was approved Monday night, although the final wording did not sit well with at least one of the prospective developers hoping to build a facility in town. The Planning and Zoning Commission's seven voting members unanimously approved the amendment after working on the wording for more than three months. The amendment allows car washes to be built in zones along Route 202 and the Old Route 8 area through a special exception permit.The vote followed a public hearing when one prospective developer, Brian Kelly, requested that the commission remove language regarding the type of equipment needed, and the prohibition of self-service use.

The commission's amendment defines a car wash as "a building and surrounding area of a parcel or lot that provides vehicle washing facilities where there is an employee on site during all hours of operation and washing and related cleaning services are not self service and are provided by automated washing equipment including a blower, or other mechanical devices, and which may employ some hand labor."Attorney Charles Ebersol, representing Mr. Kelly, thanked the commission, but said there was no need to specify the type of equipment or prohibit self-service facilities.

The commission's early reasoning for not allowing self-service car washes was to prohibit their use during non-business hours and to keep people from using them for other purposes, such as cleaining lawn mowers. Mr. Ebersol argued that the facilities can be shut off during non-business hours so that such acts do not occur. Mr. Kelly, of Kelly Industries in Stratford, has built car washes in other towns and told the commission that the tunnel service-essentially the only type of car wash to meet its regulations-would not work well in town. He preferred a self-service station.

"I think if you just drop those few words [from the definition] we'll be all set," he said.  However, the commission voted to approve the amendment as worded and did not make any changes. The new amendment also requires that a car wash business be set back from the road, provide adequate parking and enough space to keep cars waiting in line from spilling onto the roadway, and provide adequate screening.  The commission started considering a change to its regulations early in the year when applications for a facility were submitted. It drafted an amendment in March, but was told by consultants that it was inadequate and did not address specific concerns such as traffic or pollutants.
Two applicants looking to build car washes in town-Mr. Kelly and Dale and Russell Barton-submitted their own amendments to the commission. However, the commission rejected those, opting instead to write its own amendment.

Mr. Barton said at the close of Monday's meeting that he still planned to build a car wash.

11/14/05 Carwash innovator Dan Hanna dies at 70 Memorial: The Portland businessman once owned 50 carwashes and held 100-plus patents By JONATHAN BRINCKMAN

Daniel C. Hanna, a Portland inventor and entrepreneur credited with developing the automated carwash, died in Portland last week from complications of cancer. He was 70. Hanna, who founded Rub-a-Dub Car Wash and Hanna Car Wash, at one point had more than 50 automated carwashes worldwide, including 31 in Portland. He also founded Hanna Car Wash International, a manufacturer of carwash equipment that provided products to his and other franchises. He held more than 100 patents in the carwash equipment industry.y 1989, Hanna Car Wash International equipment was in use in 20,000 locations in 71 countries. The company sponsored Mario Andretti's racing team that year, which won the pole position at the Indianapolis 500. Hanna built his empire while driving race cars, breaking a speed climbing record in his Learjet and working regular shifts in the company carwash.

But then came a collapse. In the late 1980s, the company bought dozens of carwash franchises that incurred high environmental cleanup costs because many were on the sites of former gas stations that had leaking underground storage tanks. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1990, and creditors forced Hanna out. Friends and former business associates are still angry. "He helped many people to become rich," said Steve Bulboff, a New Jersey carwash owner who said Hanna gave him his start in 1982. "When he was down and out nobody helped him. He started again from scratch." Hanna was able to rebuild. At the time of his death he owned and operated carwash franchises and Dan Hanna Products, a manufacturer of carwash equipment he designed. Hanna was born in Portland on Oct. 26, 1934, the son of Margaret and Charles Hanna. He graduated from Milwaukie High School. He began drag racing at the Portland Speedway in the early 1950s. In 1955, he married Betty Simonis. On June 10, 1978, during a practice lap for the Portland Rose Cup, his 760-horsepower race car lost a tire and snapped in half. Hanna was critically injured and was in a coma for 30 days. He returned to his business ventures a year later and, exactly 10 years after the accident, set a Learjet world record by climbing from zero to 10,000 feet in 1 minute 13 seconds.

Art Garnello, vice president of marketing and president of franchising for Hanna Car Wash International, said Hanna will be remembered for helping others. "If the measure of a man is how he treats others, Dan Hanna led his life well," Garnello said. Bulboff said Hanna was "very special to my heart," calling him "the most honest person, the kindest person I have ever met."

Hanna is survived by his wife; four sons, Daniel Jr., Mark, Kirk and Derek; and five grandchildren. A mass of Christian burial will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in St. Mary's Cathedral, Northwest 18th Avenue and Davis Street. Contributions may be made at Key Bank branches to the Daniel C. Hanna Memorial Fund.

11/14/05 Car Wash Business On The Movie By Lucie R. Willsie

Starting a business on a shoe-string, with little business experience and no advertising, and turning it into a booming one in just a few years might be considered the dream of most entrepreneurs. But it is not a dream - not to Frank Raspberry anyway - because that's exactly what he did. The idea of a mobile car detailing business came to him one day as he saw drivers lining up at car washes on their way home from work. "I figured they have to be at work anyway, so I'll just go around to them," Raspberry said. Starting with just the money in his savings - $600 - he bought a power washer, an industrial vacuum and cleaning supplies to develop Advance Power Washing Mobile Car Wash Service in New Bern. Raspberry visited one business after another, dropping off business cards, and through word-of-mouth, his business has grown.

Raspberry is one of a number of business owners in the area following a national trend of mobile businesses. Like doctors who make house calls, these businesses go to the customer rather than wait for the customer to come to them. According to the Small Business Trends Web site, several small business owners have realized they can expand by becoming mobile. "Corporate offices mean affluent employees who are too busy to handle routine errands but who are willing to pay for convenience," according to the Web site. "Savvy service businesses understand this trend and are leveraging it to the hilt." Pennie Bennett, office manager at First Choice Benefits, Inc., insurance company of New Bern, heard of Raspberry's business when he dropped of a card. Bennett and her boss, Kenneth E. Morris III, decided to give him a chance. "It's just so convenient," she said. Bennett said having Raspberry wash their cars on a regular basis reflects to clients the care they will give. Stretched thin at work most of the time, Bennett said having Raspberry take care of the cars allows her and Morris to keep working with clients.

"We're protecting an investment," Bennett said. "Frank makes that really easy for us." Bennett likes the car wash service so much, she has given it as a gift. "I know my husband really appreciates it," she said. Raspberry, a former construction worker, details around 40 cars a week - if it doesn't rain. He charges $20 for cars and $25 for vans, trucks and SUVs and is available seven days a week. He said he stays busy, as he also power washes around 150 houses a year.

Peggy Jones, of Havelock, had a shop for seven years for her pet-grooming business. But now, Zoom and Groom goes door-to-door, and Jones said she is doing what she truly loves. "I'll never have a shop again," she said.

She said gathering a bunch of pets in a shop created commotion that would upset the animals, especially older ones. She said by grooming one dog at a time, she can give 100 percent of her attention to every client, rather than being distracted with several in the shop at one time. "Grooming should be a pleasurable experience," said Jones, who started her mobile business a year and a half ago.

Polly Mattmiller has had Jones groom her Dalmatian, 12-year-old Barney, for years. Mattmiller said Zoom and Groom is convenient and helpful because she is not physically capable of grooming her dog as she used to be.

"My back is going out on me," Mattmiller said. She also said it's easier on Barney, who is blind. "He's difficult about being touched," Mattmiller said, adding that only Jones has Barney's confidence enough to cut his toenails without upsetting him. Jones revamped an old ambulance with equipment, sinks and dryers for her business and finds the wide side and back doors helpful in getting pets in and out. She said she has around 250 clients and performs about four groomings a day, with room for more. Prices vary depending on the work done and the size and type of the dog. For example, a long-haired dog would cost more to groom than a short-haired dog. It's another type of grooming that Carol Buchanan does. She's a massage therapist and started going to her customers about a year ago.

Working out of Coastal Cuts Tanning & Day Spa in New Bern, she spends roughly half her time at the spa and the other half visiting clients at their businesses or at home, almost doubling her clientele. When she goes to a home, she brings her massage table, towels and hand sanitizer. But when she goes to home bridal parties or to businesses, Buchanan swaps her table for a massage chair. Massages in the chair last anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes and cost $1 a minute. Swedish relaxing massages cost $65 in her office and $70 at the client's home for an hour. Deep tissue massages - "To get the kinks out," Buchanan said, explaining the difference between the two - start at $70.

Sandy Hancock, a hair stylist, had owned and operated Hair Image by Sandy for 27 years and is willing to go to the homes of her longtime clients. "My clients mean a lot to me," she said. "It's always been a courtesy. I don't charge them to go." Hancock feels driving to the homes of her loyal customers is just the right thing to do for clients who don't feel well enough to come to her shop. "They're not just customers," she said. "It's something people need when they don't feel good." And Hancock will go when they need her, even if it's on the weekend or at night. She brings all the equipment she needs to shampoo, cut hair and blow dry, but she doesn't do hair coloring, perms or waxing in the home. She said she might consider expanding her home visits to newer clients, with the fee starting somewhere around $30 for a shampoo and cut, the same as at the shop. "It's just a matter of coordination," Hancock said.

10/01/05 Car Tronics opens in Grayling by Dan Sanderson-Staff Writer

A business aimed at giving vehicles a shine, sound systems a boost and cars and trucks quick start in the morning has opened in Grayling.  Wayne Helgemo, the owner of Car Tronics, opened for business on Sept. 12. The business is in the same building as Fabrics & More, at 600 North James St., which also recently opened.  Car Tronics specializes in detailing the exterior and interior of cars and trucks. The cost of services range from a basic "in and out" wash; to a wash and wax; to a wash, wax and steam cleaning of the car's interior and engine.

"I've been around cars and hot rods my whole life," said Helgemo, who started working on vehicles when he was in grade school. "I'm a real stickler when it comes to detail - that's all there is to it."  Just in time for winter, Car Tronics installs Auto Mate remote car starters and alarms.  Finally, Helgemo carries a line of Sony and Pioneer stereos, speakers and amplifiers, which he custom installs.  "We're here to provide quality equipment and service and to take care of the customers so they are satisfied and keep coming back," Helgemo said.  Car Tronics is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

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