“I’ve found that traditional advertising will only take you so far,” said Lawrence, whose marketing mix includes radio spots and a sponsorship with the Houston Astros. “It’s harder than ever to get the public’s attention, and I wanted something that would stop them in their tracks and make them say, ‘Wow! Look at that!’ Kids love it, parents love it, and every time they see it, they think of Bubbles Car Wash.”
The promotional vehicle is equipped with external audio speakers and also features a hand-carved “bubble” sculpture fashioned from a solid piece of polystyrene foam. The sculpted bubbles conceal four large bubble machines that are filled and drained by a custom plumbing and pump system.
The Bubble-ator is available for appearances at no charge, but events must meet minimum attendance criteria, according to a company press release. All appearances include the services of the Bubbles Street Team, which distributes vouchers redeemable for free Bubbles carwashes.
The company opened the first Bubbles Hand Wash location in 1991 and now operates five hand washes in the Houston area. Lawrence and his partners, Clayton Clark and Bill DeArman, launched Bubbles Express in April 2005 and now operate seven express locations.