Easywash Clears Path for Enviro-friendly Success (Groundbreaker)

The Easywash hydrogen fuel cell.

financially, it’s working in favor of the bottom line and cash flow as well. Building green may cost more initially, explains Baker, but the paybacks will save a business more in the long run.

“We respect the need to reduce and reuse, but we’re not fanatics,” says Baker. “Our decision was based on several different perspectives. One, it’s the right thing to do to protect the environment. Two, it’s great from a marketing point of view. Plus, it cuts costs dramatically.”

For example, the cost for installing the well, water-treatment plant, reclaim system and holding tank at Easywash totaled approximately $90,000. “The good news is I’m saving $4,500 a month in water and sewer fees,” he says. “I’ll recover costs in 20 months at that rate. That’s a very fast payback.” Moreover, it leaves less of a footprint on the earth. “You’ve got to think beyond the immediate financial impact because the payback is definite.”

All in all, Baker’s and Normandeau’s decisions have yielded a financially green future for their business and growing family. The couple proudly welcomed a daughter, Olivia, into the fold, not long after the business celebrated its grand opening. “She’s 15 months old,” says Normandeau, the proud mother. “You might say I gave birth to a baby and business at the same time.”

Although it hasn’t always been an easy ride to get where they are today, Baker admits his marketing background has helped launch them into a profitable place. He’s calculated that — along with being environmentally friendly — success in the future of carwashing resides in creating membership programs, not just trying to draw passersby off the street.

“As for trends, I see two things,” he begins. “Any business with a green push will come to the forefront. Secondly, and I may take a lot of hits from others in the business for this, but I think that the retail carwash is going out — way out. The wave of the future is membership. That’s my best advice for anyone in the industry. The emphasis shouldn’t be on pushing manual technologies. It should be on membership.”

Over the 1.5 years since opening the site, Baker has meticulously tracked what sells best and, using this information, is in the process of reconfiguring Easywash’s membership programs and varying the services therein. “You’ve got to track everything!” he claims. “Without data, you can’t tell where your business is and how you can change it.”

The goal for Easywash’s immediate marketing and membership future is to fine tune everything to make more money and appeal to the clientele, which is mainly upscale and willing to pay a little more for convenience in the name of a cleaner environment.

“Green’s good but you’ve got to be successful for green to count,” he says. “I’m not really in the business of washing cars. I’m in the business of processing credit cards.”

Baker and Normandeau appear to be coasting into success with this cutting-edge carwash. Their goals are to continue to prosper in North Vancouver and beyond. In fact, franchising could be on the horizon. It’s a concept that hasn’t rooted yet, but just might be another opportunity for this entrepreneurial couple.

“There were a lot of insecurities and unknowns throughout the process that threw us for a loop,” notes Normandeau. “The stresses of learning the ropes sometimes seemed daunting. But we’ve been open for a year and a half, hired a great staff and worked out so many kinks. And now, well ... it feels like home.”