Car Wash M&A

What are the trends and themes of the car wash industry as we look toward 2024? What has 2023 shown us about the current market and landscape for car wash owners? As we wrap up our 2023 episodes, we're taking a reflective glance at the insightful discussions that have shaped this year's narrative in the car wash industry. Your host Lanese Barnett reflects on several key conversations she had this year with guests on the podcast. Lanese looks back at episodes with Amplify founding partner Jeff Pavone and Amplify COO Chris Jenks. Lanese also reflects on conversations with founders of AMP Memberships and Retention Express, two Amplify Ventures partners who are helping to change and enhance the car wash space. Dennis Dreezsen and Adam Trien of AMP Memberships talk with Lanese about the latest advancements with their service, and Bobby Thomson and Michael Pelikan of Retention Express share with Lanese about how Retention Express support car wash owners through their customer service platform. Listen in to hear Lanese’s thoughts about these conversations and highlights from the interviews as we look back over car wash trends from 2023 and look toward a great year for the industry in 2024. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Car Wash M&A, host Lanese Barnett chats candidly with Matt DeWolf, chief marketing officer of the International Carwash Association and host of CAR WASH, the podcast, before a re-broadcast of an interview Matt had recently with Amplify Founding Partner Jeff Pavone. Jeff, who now proudly bears the honor of ‘most featured guest’ on Matt’s show, reviewed notable highlights and trends that emerged in the car wash industry during 2023 and shared predictions for the year ahead. Tune into episode 19 for behind-the-scenes commentary with Lanese and Matt where these long-time friends talk shop, nerd out about car wash marketing, and dive further into themes from the episode. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. For more from Matt DeWolf and CAR WASH The Podcast, you can subscribe wherever you like to listen, or you can download the CAR WASH Magazine app to keep up with industry news. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Do you know how your customer really feels about your business? What keeps them loyal to your brand? Or what’s contributing to membership churn? As the car wash space continues to experience a tech boom, it’s important for car wash operators to know what resources are available and identify the specific technology solutions providers that might be a right fit for their business to boost operational efficiencies and enhance the customer experience. This episode examines how one company is capturing consumer sentiment, categorizing and quantifying customer data, and leveraging it to provide real-time actionable insights to operators to help make informed decisions about their business. Host Lanese Barnett talks with Director of Operations Michael Pelikan and Founder Bobby Thomspon of Retention Express, an omni-channel, white-labeled customer experience support provider specializing in the car wash industry, about customer retention and retention of revenue. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Here at Car Wash M&A, The Podcast, we're taking a short break for summer. Until our next episode in August, we want to remind you that you can find all of our episodes wherever you like to listen to podcasts, or you can listen at amplifywash.com/podcast. As Lanese shares in today's recording, we want to leave you with these questions to consider: How you are collecting data about your customer and your operations, and more importantly, are you weaponizing that data with actionable insights that make your business stronger than your competition? Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

The prompt on the gas pump to buy a car wash isn’t new. In-bay automatic car washes have been a regular add-on to many gas station chains for years, though usually as an intended customer convenience and not a core focus. But things are starting to change, and big-name gas/c-store companies are actively participating in more car wash M&A transactions. Earlier in 2023, we saw the parent company of Circle K acquire True Blue, and recently QuickTrip bought Bubble Bath, both with intentions to keep building their conveyor car wash footprint. So, what’s driving this shift? In this episode, Lanese Barnett and Jeff Pavone dive into why gas/c-store companies are increasingly interested in the express car wash space - with plenty of dry powder to deploy - and what their presence ultimately means for existing car wash owners in terms of rising competition and current valuations. Lanese and Jeff discuss topics like EVs’ impact on gas stations, synergies in technology solutions throughout the automotive landscape, as well as cross-vertical marketing advantages to encourage brand loyalty. Listen in as Lanese and Jeff navigate the twists and turns of the car wash industry, bringing you the latest insights and trends to keep you ahead of the curve. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Want to know the Amplify team’s key takeaways and market insights gleaned from The Car Wash Show 2023? In this episode, Lanese talks with Amplify COO Chris Jenks about themes and sentiments that emerged from this year’s show in Las Vegas. With the cost of capital high, mergers and acquisitions activity is picking back up as many platforms are adjusting their path to growth. This is good news for car wash owners considering an exit, with inventory currently lower than demand. But as buyers return to the table, they are more sophisticated and looking for well-performing car washes in strong MSA’s. As the car wash industry evolves, so does its embrace of new technology, especially solutions providers that are bringing tangible benefits to operators and boosting their cash flow by streamlining operations. Lanese and Chris highlight case study examples of how businesses like Amp Ventures partners Retention Express, AMP Memberships, and Merchant Advocate can significantly strengthen operations, customer experience, and the bottom line. Listen in for these key takeaways from The Car Wash Show and how they can improve your business. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Well, folks, The Car Wash Show is just around the corner, taking place May 8-10 in Las Vegas! If you’re attending, be sure to listen to this episode for a sneak peek of the timely and highly relevant car wash market insights members of the Amplify Car Wash Advisors leadership team will share during various sessions and speaking times during TCWS. Hear Chris Jenks on Monday, May 8 at 1pm in a Pitch 20 Session talk about “Optimizing Operations by Partnering with Technology Solutions Providers.” Attend the education session, “M&A Trends in the Car Wash Industry, The Great Market Reset,” with Jeff Pavone and Paul Sigfusson on Tuesday, May 9 at 9:30am. And catch Jeff on the CAR WASH Magazine Live Stage in a panel hosted by Matt DeWolf, “So, you want to sell your car wash” on Tuesday, May 9 at 2pm with David Miller from Zips and Dave Dalesandro with Jet Brite. Come by our booth, #811, located just inside the West Hall Atrium Entrance (W1) by the main entrance, to speak with the Amplify Car Wash Advisors and Commercial Plus team about how we can help sell or scale your car wash business. For car wash owners and industry professionals interested in booking a private meeting time, please reach out to Jessica Kortas at Jessica@CommercialPlus.com for more information. See you in Las Vegas! For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

With Q1 closing out, where is the car wash market today, and is now a good time to sell your car wash? In this episode, Lanese Barnett and Jeff Pavone discuss lingering negative headwinds like bank failures, rising interest rates, and increasing competition, but they also highlight how the car wash industry remains an attractive investment space, and the list of interested buyers continues to grow. As a matter of fact, there are currently more car wash buyers than there are car wash sellers. And while buyers are taking a more risk-averse approach, they have established their playbook and know what they are looking for. Operators in an A+ location with great execution and a path to continued growth in strong MSAs are still trading at healthy multiples – which is good news for owners considering an exit, especially while inventory is low. Listen in for more expert insights on the car wash market as well as actionable strategies owners can take to maximize the value of their business. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Have you considered how a customer experience platform could strengthen your car wash business? Guests Dennis Dreeszen and Adam Trien talk with your host Lanese Barnett about AMP Memberships, a powerful platform specifically designed to support car wash business owners and their customers. In the episode, Dennis and Adam share how AMP works and how it can benefit car wash owners. AMP offers a highly customizable white label mobile solution that interacts with customers and members on and off site. AMP helps car wash owners know more about your customers, use what you know to have targeted interactions, and run creative, trackable promotions. Listen in to hear how programs like AMP can strengthen car wash operations and build greater brand loyalty with customers and members. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

What can car wash owners do today to facilitate their business’s continued growth and success amid changing market conditions? How do the current headwinds impact access to capital? As Paul Sigfusson, this month’s guest on Car Wash M&A, The Podcast, shares with host Lanese Barnett, it is not all bad news for operators looking to grow. In fact, the very conditions that are causing some current market instability are also offering some unique opportunities to car wash owners looking to scale or sell. Listen in to hear Paul’s thoughts about car wash capital growth options in 2023 and beyond. Paul shares his experience in investment banking, capital markets and private equity investing, why he chose to join Amplify, and how the industry is faring in comparison to other consumer services sectors and how car wash owners can use that edge to their benefit. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

With so many changes in the car wash M&A space this past year, getting advice from industry experts is more important than ever. As we wrap up 2022 and prepare for 2023, we’re taking a look back at some of the vital insights we heard on Car Wash M&A, The Podcast this past year. In this episode, your host Lanese Barnett looks back at her conversations with Bill Martin, Chris Jenks, and Derrick Merchant and Michael Murry. Be sure to tune in the last Thursday of each month to hear the latest from Lanese and her guests. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

What does the car wash M&A space look like as we head toward the end of 2022? In this episode, we share Amplify Car Wash Advisors Partner Jeff Pavone’s recent interview with Matt DeWolf on CAR WASH The Podcast. Jeff and Matt discuss how the market has changed, what remains the same, and what predictions Jeff has for the future in the car wash industry. Be sure to listen in to hear Jeff’s tips about what car wash owners can do today to succeed in the current industry landscape. For more from Matt DeWolf and CAR WASH The Podcast, you can subscribe wherever you like to listen, or you can download the CAR WASH Magazine app to keep up with industry news. For more about Matt DeWolf and Jeff Pavone, a full transcript of the interview, and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

For business owners, recognizing that you can’t - and shouldn’t - do it all can be a humbling process. Bringing in other talented people to lead departments within your organization, and intentionally developing your team from the executive level down, positions your company for meaningful growth. In this episode Lanese talks with Derrick Merchant and Michael Murry of Champion Xpress Car Wash about why they prioritize developing their team as an integral part of their path to scalability and long-term success. Michael and Derrick share about how being humble, hungry, and smart all while having fun at work is important to their company culture. Though building and maintaining a great team isn’t easy, knowing you are investing today in the future success of your company may put some of that hard work into perspective. Listen to this episode for insights on how laying the foundation of your company with a strong team, focus on operations, processes, and company culture positions you for growth and success. For more about Derrick and Michael, a full transcript of the interview, and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

“It began as a mistake." This is the quote on Andrew Goldberger's iPhone background screen taken from the opening line of a Bukowski novel. In this episode, Lanese and Andrew talk about his journey into the car wash industry where he reveals that, like many entrepreneurs, what started as a well-laid business plan on paper turned out to be incongruent in practice. And, how that’s okay. Recognizing the need to adjust the original plan, pivoting, staying humble, and developing key relationships can turn an endeavor that began with a rocky start into a success story. The episode also highlights the continued opportunities for car wash owners contemplating selling or scaling their business in today’s market. And how for Andrew, partnering with a private equity group made sense for him to transition his business into the next chapter. For more about Andrew, a full transcript of the interview, and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Ready to grow your car wash chain and wondering about your financing options? There may be more available than you think. In this episode, guest Bill Koenig, a seasoned investment banker, shares with host Lanese Barnett various financing options to facilitate meaningful growth or fund capital improvements on existing sites, many without going to the local bank and signing another personal guarantee. Bill and Lanese also talk about how firms like Amplify Car Wash Advisors support and advocate on behalf of car wash owners going through a capital advisory process helping ensure the best terms for the owner to maximize their value. Having professional investment banking representation coupled with running a competitive bid process to create healthy tension among potential financiers and lenders can make a major difference in how favorable the financing terms are for the car wash owner. Listen to this episode to learn more about your options to fund growth, and how to get started. For more about Bill, a full transcript of the interview, and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Midway through 2022, the second half of the year looks a little different from the first, for the car wash space and just about every other. While the year began guns blazing, the red-hot car wash market has tempered a bit due to current headwinds like inflation, rising interest rates, and a general decreased consumer spending sentiment. Luckily though, it’s not all bad. Despite these short-term headwinds, Jeff shares his long-term thesis for the car wash industry (spoiler alert, it’s still favorable!). In this episode, Lanese and Jeff discuss where the car wash industry is today and what may be in store for the rest of the year regarding car wash mergers and acquisitions activity. Jeff also shares his two cents on valuations and what factors owners need to be laser-focused on when it comes to maximizing the value of their business in today’s market. For more about Jeff, a full transcript of the interview, and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Are you thinking about ways to strengthen your car wash by addressing customer service issues? Have you been looking for solutions to lower your churn and keep members happy? Check out this episode with Retention Express CEO and founder Bobby Thomson. Bobby shares with Lanese about the service Retention Express offers car wash owners, which focuses on addressing customer concerns through a white label call service that documents and addresses customer concerns. Listen in to hear how this kind of service can help you grow your business and maximize your valuations. For more about Bobby, a full transcript of the interview, and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Want to know the latest in car wash M&A trends and predictions following the wrap-up of The Car Wash Show in Nashville earlier this month? In this episode, your host Lanese Barnett shares feedback on current mergers and acquisitions activity in the car wash space and what may be in store for valuations looking ahead. Lanese also expands on two exciting announcements made live at the trade show – the launch of Amplify Ventures, a new vertical bringing innovative solutions to the car wash industry, and a surprise donation to a very worthy cause. Lastly, Lanese spends time highlighting a unique aspect of the industry that can often surface at events like these, the communal nature of the car wash industry, and how even a trade show can feel a bit like a family reunion. For a full transcript of the episode and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn

Are you looking for ways to streamline your processes and to improve your relationship with your employees in order to grow your car wash chain? In today’s Car Wash M&A, The Podcast episode, your host Lanese Barnett talks with car wash legend Bill Martin who has been in the business since 1969. Listen in to hear expert advice as Bill shares tried-and-true strategies and attitudes that have helped him succeed in the car wash space. For more about Bill, a full transcript of the interview, and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.

Are you wondering about the potential impact of rising inflation and changing global dynamics on your car wash? Learn practical strategies you can deploy now to protect your business in an inflationary environment amidst global uncertainty. Listen to Chris Jenks share his perspective on what the latest economic changes mean for car wash owners. Chris and Lanese discuss specific actions you can take today to successfully navigate these challenging times. For more about Chris, a full transcript of the interview, and more, check out the post. Sign up for Car Wash M&A, The Newsletter. | Follow us on social media @AmplifyCarWashAdvisors on LinkedIn or Facebook. | Connect with Lanese on LinkedIn.