The owners of Auto Paradise Car Wash in San Angelo, Texas, went into the carwash business in part to give back to the community, according to a report by the San Angelo Standard Times. Although the economy and a crowded marketplace have impacted their business, Bobby and Vicki Lewallen recently launched a fundraising program designed to benefit charitable organizations.
Groups can promote their fundraisers with a special code that can be redeemed at the carwash. Customers pay $10 for an $11 wash, with $2 donated to the fundraising group, the article said.
The Lewallens view community relations as an effective way to combat the recession and successfully market their carwashes.
“It’s like everyone — we have competition out there where they do things to entice people into their stores, and we just have to offer a better service at a better price to compete,” Bobby Lewallen told the newspaper. “Being locally owned, we don’t have the advertising resources. We have to do it through our community support and our community partnerships.”
The Lewallens built their first San Angelo carwash in 2003 and added a second location in 2006 that also includes a dog wash. A third facility is being planned for the Fort Worth area.
Source:
San Angelo Standard Times: Local car wash business teams up with schools, groups to raise funds