ICA Car Wash Show - is it worth it for self serve?

[Jackpot]

Hello all! I am new to the car wash industry. I have a 4-bay self serve with 1 IBA under contract to purchase. I’ve been in real estate 15 years and own a number of residential and commercial rental properties, but have zero experience with car washes. I don’t know much about the equipment or operations, but realize it will be a lot more hands-on day-to-day than owning a rental property. I’ve honestly grown bored with real estate and am excited for the new venture, but also a bit overwhelmed. Would you recommend going to that ICA in Nashville next week? Is there enough of the self serve community there to make it worthwhile? Any other input is welcomed! Thanks in advance!

 

[Keno]

Yes, it is worth it, there are a few education sessions for SS and lots of other good info to pickup there. Other thing to do is read, read, and read some more old threads on this forum. Searching this forum is self serve gold

 

[getnbusy]

If you've never been, then yes. And dont just go to the boozers. Spend the days on the floor learning all you can. Go to the educational sessions. Go on the tour. Use it as a business college and not a vacation to nashville. You should go see what you are getting invested in. You might be shocked. I could go on and on but i'll leave it at that

 

[Jackpot]

Wow, thanks for the quick response guys! This is all makes sense. Sounds like I’ll be in Nashville next week! So far I have been reading through the forum, watching lots of YouTube videos from other owners, and listening to podcasts. But I am sure in-person education will by 100x more valuable. @getnbusy I’m curious what you mean by “shocked”..hope it’s in a good way lol! Thanks again for the answers guys.

 

[OurTown]

. @getnbusy I’m curious what you mean by “shocked”..hope it’s in a good way lol! Thanks again for the answers guys.

I doubt he meant it in a good way. You sure won't be bored anymore.

 

[soapy]

I liked the WCA when we did the boot camps with mini sessions that let the SS operators pick and choose from good learning sessions. I found very few at the ICA shows and they did very little to encourage SS operations.

 

[Randy]

Over the last 42 years I've been to probably 30 or 35 car wash conventions. Like what Soapy has said, The best bang for the buck is the small regional conventions, they seem to offer more the self-serve car wash industry. I’m not saying that the ICA convention doesn’t have programs for the Self-Serve industry you’ll see more at the regional small convention. My days of going to the car wash conventions are over.