full service features

Does anyone have experience with adding full service features to there IBA? I was considering adding some man power features to my automatic on weekends for several reasons.
1) my business is down about 40 percent because of the economy and added competition. i have a new full service competitor and thought giving a little better quality may help.
2) i like to have an employee there during the busy days and this could off set the cost.

The type of features I would add would be towell dry, wheel treatment, vacuuming, pre wash brush, dash board treatment. I would possibly throw one of these features in for free with purchase of top wash which is ten bucks.

Does anyone have any ideas about how I can give a little better quality wash, and add a bit of revenue to my bottom line in my IBA?

Turning up the heat may be a good idea. However, labor is not as efficient as your IBA machine.

Adding full-service features to an IBA means having "starting and finishing line" activities. One person can't do both effectively or efficiently.

Start slowly and build up abilities and capacities.

First, bring the IBA wash quality up to full-service quality standards

A. Make sure your wash offers everything you typically can get at full-service like wheel-brite, under-carriage, tri-foam, clear-coat, rain-x, spot-free, auto tire shine.

B. If the IBA unit doesn't have a on-board or free standing dryer, get one.

C. Instead of a part-time hack, hire someone who wants to be a manager. Start at $10 an hour for a 25 hour week (Fri, Sat, Sun). As soon as volume can support it, go to $500 or more a week "salary" for a 50 hour week and bonus based on performance.

Manager greets and assits customers and hand preps every IBA customer (bumbers, grille, mirrors, wheels). Handles customer disputes, housekeeping, routine maintenance and minor repairs, etc.

Once manager goes full-time, you can do things like coupon redemption, customer loyalty program and other advertising and promotional campaigns that POS alone can't handle.

Once you get quality and customer service up and groom a manager, you could consider branching out into interior and detail services with an additional person who would be supervised by your manager.

Need help, I'm available and have great references in doing this type of work.

You cannot make enough money with the vacuuming/window option. However, if you add express detail services, such as a hand wax or a carpet shampoo you can charge at least $29.95 plus wash and these services only take 15 to 30 minutes and do not require a whole of skill or equipment.

Let me know if I can assist you in any way

Bud Abraham
buda@detailplus.com