Car Care Expo 2007

I'm going to keep a little online journal of my trip to this year's convention. Feel free to post your experience this year good or bad.

Arrived today (25th) around 10:30am Vegas time. Great flight, flew first class, Dad said, "the ticket cost 300 exterior car washes" thanks Dad. We checked into the Hilton and visited some New Investor Seminars, 250 new investors filled the program to capacity. Walked the tradeshow floor before it opened and watch Mark Thorsby (Executive Director of the ICA) and Frank Last (ICA President) practice their State of the Industry Address for tomorrow.

Tonight we attented the Members Only Reception. Great Food, Great Music it was great seeing old friends and new faces.

Randy Ready of Tidal Wave Car Washes in Atlanta said to try the Aladin's Casino "Around the World Buffet" (called something like that). I'll be posting a buffet review since I am considered a buffet expert.

Video coming soon! I'm calling it a Washumentary. Thanks to Eric Wulf and the ICA for changing their policy and allowing me to film the convention.

Allan,

Hey its Jeff. I sure wish we were there! Hate to miss out but we have to be preparing to pick up our little Aiden. We got good news Friday from our US Embassy. We could hear something any week now! I know you will be giving a detailed journal of the show and activities! I will be checking in often to see if you have put anything on. Thanks Allan your web site is GREAT!!!!

thats great news Jeff! Congrats!

Today (monday) we started the day with a member's only breakfast with a State of the Industry Address from ICA president Frank Lash. After the breakfast we walked the tradeshow floor and saw the goods. I will have video of individual products but we looked at PDQ's autocashier and controller. Sonny's 50 foot mini conveyor and new ninja brush. Stopped by the CarWashCollege.com booth and spoke to the guys. Ate lunch with Sonny Fazio, Benny Alford, Don Bruno and my dad. Spoke to Mike Gammons with Tunnel Commander, we're going back by tomorrow. Dad bought a Half Pint Vending Machine (http://www.shurvendplus.com/product/frontloader.htm). Jim Coleman Company has an Ice / water standalone machine that everyone was talking about. I'll post some pics of the items that caught our eye tomorrow. We plan on stopping by Ryko, DRB, Jim Coleman Company (again), AVW and a couple others tomorrow. I know Dad wants to get some more information on Fast Pass from DRB that would allow him to build a club / wash membership. http://www.drbsystems.com/public/carwash/fastpass.cfm Tonight we attended the President's Party and Erie Brush's Party, thanks guy for the food and drinks!

do you think that you can get footage from the peco/belanger/hanna/macneil/ tunnel componest working or the pod from sonnys

Firebird, I have a few pictures of products I liked I will upload them tomorrow when I return home. I cannot film whole booths and such, that would be giving away the ICA's content. I cannot and shouldn't provide show content. The video of the show I have is more of a promo video. If you want to get more info on these companies you need to come to a show or visit these company's websites.

The ICA was kind enough to change their policy to allow press outlets like myself to take images and video of the show in a limited fashion.

Today (tuesday) we (dad and I) attended the "Benchmarking your Express Exterior" educational meeting. Then we attended the Leadership Luncheon and then headed for the tradeshow floor. We still haven't finished the floor but we plan on hitting it again tomorrow morning.

We attended the Sonny's and CSI parties tonight, great food and the best part, free drinks!

Last day we went to the Early Bird Conveyor Forum, back to the trade show floor until noon when we headed back to the airport.

Great show just keeps getting better and better.

Right Speedy it was a great show! Did you get any good video?

Last day we went to the Early Bird Conveyor Forum, back to the trade show floor until noon when we headed back to the airport.

Great show just keeps getting better and better.

Allan, it sure sounds like a lot of eating went on.

Stuart

Stu, I don't think you missed any of the food or drink either buddy. (If you have a Hilton VIP card, you can get a free buffet breakfast for everyone in your room each day...yummy)

The best part was seeing and talking with friends. The show was down alittle in #'s. We heard 8,800. But all the vendors were happy that I talked to. It seemed attendees spent more time on the floor because staff had set up seating areas throughout the arena. Lots of new equipment items. And the back of the show floor had a lot of traffic because of the food and seating there.

Frank Lash did a wonderful job on his state of industry address. "Who moved the cheeze-again". John Pierce and his panel did a fantastic job on benchmarking express conveyors.

We also met attendees from Italy and Australia.

I'm real impressed with Kate Carr, the new editor of PC&D. Her first issue was packed with a lot of good info. She did a great job of introducing their "car wash manager of the year" recipient at the leadership luncheon. And I think she was a little blown away by how nice the people are in this industry.

It was great to see friends, Chuck Howard and Vic Odermat, be inducted into the "hall of fame". Both were well deserved. And good 'ole Bob Hodges finally got some recognition for all that equipment he's been building with the "innovation award". Ben Alford got another award for marketing. I don't know how he does it, but he seems to get some kind of award every year(?).

Allan and I had a good time together. I was amazed to see how many fellow second generation, 26 year old males, he met. (Bob Koo's son, Fred Grauer son, Mark Ellis's son, etc). Someday this industry will be theirs.

Had a great time talking to Bill Pitzer again. Sorry to disappoint some, but there's no hard feelings there. Don't tell Bill, but I'm looking for a size 54 tux with top hat for Allan next year!

JJ had the most creative cover I have ever seen. Good SSN issue. I told him to be careful not to become a conveyor mag.

Ron Levy's son, David, has left their business (Up Front), so he has partnered up with another company. I hope he keeps coming to the shows.

PDQ swears they will be getting deeper into the conveyor business. Hanna, Sonnies, MacNeil...almost everyone had new items or revisions of old to see.

As usual, I order enough supplies from Kleen Rite (with free shipping and bonus cases) to pay for my entire trip. Thanks to Bill Sartor for teaching me that trick. Plus I saved $500 on my vending machine from Shurvend.

If you are not going to this show, it's your loss. See y'all next year in Orlando (short trip for me).

I thought ICA President Frank Lash's speech was excellent. It rivaled Micheal Treacy's presentation, which was very good.

I also had the good fortune to have lunch with Mr. Treacy. This made my trip cost seem cheap.

Overall I thought the ICA did it's best job ever! Congradulations to the board and staff.

Kleen-Rite booth just minutes after Dad went deal hunting.

Still can't talk him into a dog wash...

I'm concerned the cleanup problems will be not worth the revenue.

I'm with you PJ. Or the liability, What if one of those mutts bits the crap out of a kid or an old lady. I've heard that you have to clean up after each dog or you have a mess after a day. Oh not to mention the poop everywhere. I'm not saying its not a viable business but the profit return would have to be very good to deal with the con's of the business.