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Before retirement, I ran a mobile car wash franchising company, over the span of several decades we set up franchisees in many states. Perhaps, the smartest thing we ever did was develop not only a workable business model, which obviously is important for franchising, but also a solid marketing plan. After all, if you're setting up new businesses in many different cities, you need a plan that will work, one which makes sense, and one which doesn't cost that much money.
Okay so, I'm sure you agree, and I'd like to talk to you a little bit about some of the tips and techniques when developing your own marketing plan for a mobile car wash business. Let's discuss this after you read the list below;
1. Determine Costs
2. Grid Marketing Program
3. Hire Flyer Distribution Teams
4. Join the Chamber of Commerce
5. Send-out Faxes and Sales Letters to Companies
6. Set-up a Fleet Sales Program for Businesses and Government
7. Reward Customers with Free Services for Referring Customers on Route
Okay so, first of all you need to set a solid budget, and determine the size of your territory. Then I recommend using a grid marketing program. That is to say grid-out your territory, and try to figure out what the best route will be to save you time in traffic, and to put your best customers on specific days of the week. Then I recommend that you hire flyer distribution workers, or you can do that yourself, and hit all the business districts with your flyers, and talk to customers, perhaps offering a one-time free wash, then ask if you can put them on a regular route and schedule.
While you are doing this, you should collect business cards from all the businesses in the area, and send them a sales letter, and a free wash coupon by fax. It also makes sense to send out fleet washing proposals to businesses and governments using the same methodology. I'd also recommend that you join the Chamber of Commerce, and perhaps even a service club in town, so that you are one with the community, and the business community knows they can trust you if you come to wash cars at their offices while people work.
Lastly, and this is perhaps the most important you should reward and thank your customers that refer you to their friends, and co-workers. Perhaps a free wash, or a free wax, or something of this nature is a great way to thank your customers for the referrals they give you on your route. If you do this, they will keep referring even more customers. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, http://www.washguy.com/ and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 24,222 articles by July 22, 2011 at 2:22 PM is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now..