An Overview of Singapore Vacation in a Day

Whether are you looking for a retreat and you have only one day to spend, then Singapore is the destination you have to choose.

Start you morning with Gardens by the Bay, enjoy the unique-looking Supertrees that stand tall at a height of 50 meters and enjoy the aerial walkway which connects two of its structures. View the stunning cityscape of Singapore. Don’t miss the Flower Dome which is the largest glass green house in the whole world. World’s tallest indoor Forest called the Cloud Forest is another sightseeing that one should not miss. The freestanding unsupported glass roofs cover wide spaces is admirable by any pillar or column. This sprawling 101 hectare attraction is right by the water in Marina Bay. It’s a blend of ultra modern design with the cutting edge technology standing as a marvellous example for energy conservation.

The Flower Dome clones the chilly yet dry weather of California and South Africa. It comprises of more than 32000 plants and 160 species and varieties.

The “Cloud Mountain” is 35 meter tall which replicated the misty Cloud Forest. It covers orchids, ferns and bromeliads and contains the world’s largest indoor waterfall.

The Supertrees are the most extraordinary structures with 9 to 16 storey tall vertical gardens that collect rainwater, releasing ducts for the park conservatories and generate solar power to the whole park.

As the sun sets, the Rhapsody Garden lights up. Dazzling light and sound show begins in the night amid the Supertrees. After this fabulous show, one can opt to Pollen, the Flower Dome, a indo Chine cuisine at the top of the Supertrees or Satay by the Bay for a healthy local food.

Spend your afternoon at the amazing Singapore Flyer, this giant observation wheel gives one a 360 degree city view-the most panoramic view that stretches to parts of Malaysia and Indonesia on a clear and bright day. This skyscraper in the Singapore skyline offers the most magnificent view of the city. The Singapore flyer takes you 165 meters above ground and as high as 42 storeys to view the spectacular scenery. It is the Asia’s largest giant observation wheel. Get inside the fully covered glass capsule and travel into a 30 minute journey of mesmerising scenes. The Singapore flyers offers in-flight packages from where you can choose cocktails and Champagne to take back home.

Discover the bay in the evening. As the end of the heritage belt, you have the Marina Boulevard, where one can reach the colossal towers of Marina Bay Sands. This luxurious shopping complex features The Fullerton Heritage and CBD. Watch the fabulous view as you slow down the walkway and see the sun setting behind the skyscrapers.

Enjoy the Skypark in the night for your post-dinner drink from the cocktails and soothing music at the rooftop bar which is sky-high. To add to this celebration, one cannot forget to play at ResortBet to end their exciting one day sightseeing tour of Singapore without having to miss a single beat!

Take Our Help to Pick The Right Bike Frames

In the busy world of today, no one has the time to go outside and smell the fresh air. People now prefer sitting idle for hours in front of the television screens playing videogame consoles. This is a very serious issue that needs to be taken notice of by the individual as a person can suffer from many difficulties such as obesity and depression. Obesity is a very serious health issue which is the root of many other heart diseases which can also lead to death.

What the people of today need is quality time spent outdoors performing exercises which are beneficial for the mind and body. This makes sure that the excess fat is burnt and you get sufficient amount of sunlight to stay healthy, avoiding the life threatening diseases like obesity. Unfortunately, due to the soaring prices of real estate, there is an extreme shortage of outdoor events that the children of now can participate in. Wherever you look there is a jungle of concrete which greets your sight, has the world lost its appetite for the greater outdoors or have they been forced to stay at home?

I believe it is a case of both. Obviously if someone cannot access something, he will not have much appetite for it. However I believe there are certain activities still available to the youngster of today that can easily be carried out in the outdoors. Cycling is a prime example of such an activity. Basically cycling is a very diverse activity and can cater to almost all the needs of people. All you have to do is choose a compatible design from a plethora of Bike Frames. The world of cycling is filled with many different options that you can explore. Cycling, like any other recreational activity can be used as both a professional sport and as well as the perfect recreational activity.

And this has become easier with bike rental company. You can try and experiment new bike for everyday ride and pick the best. If you are in Seattle, you can look on dutchbikeseattle.com, they are quite known for exception service. You name anything in bike or bike accessories and you are sure to find it there.

The only thing that differs in the machinery is of course different Bike Frames; which are used in different types of needs. For example you will be looking at a much strengthened variety of Bike Frames when you are going to be looking for one that you will be taking to a mountain slope. While at the same time, if you are looking for one that you have to move around in the city with, you are going to be choosing a frame that is lightweight and can be maneuvered easily. dutchbikeseattle.com has professionals to guide you the right frame for your needs.

Put the Brakes on Carwash Damage Claims

No carwash is totally immune to customer damage claims, but with proper planning and a program in place, those claims can be kept to a minimum. Brad Hooper, a California tunnel operator and owner of Rossmoor Car Wash and Detail Center, says there are several ways to stop damage claims in their tracks.

1. The Theory

When a customer says his vehicle was damaged by your carwash, take him into the tunnel and ask him to come up with a theory as to how it happened. Show him how the equipment works. Hooper says most of the damage claims stop at this point, once the customer realizes the equipment could not have done the damage.

2. Cameras

Every carwash should have a digital camera system in place. If a customer claims your carwash damaged his car, a camera can show that the damage was there before the carwash. Cameras won’t show everything, but they can stop some ridiculous damage claims in their tracks. Hooper also suggests that operators come up with a form of “sign language” so employees who see scratches or small dents when a car arrives can point to the damage in full view of the cameras — indicating there is some type of damage on a particular part of the car. If an issue comes up later, that might help the carwash prevent a phony damage claim.

Operators should also decide if the cameras will be focused to show detail or to show the big picture. Hooper suggests focusing on the big picture, since a lot can be missed if the camera is focused too tightly. Hooper adds that just the existence of cameras can stop people from making damage claims in the first place.

3. Signage/Disclaimer

In addition to carwash signage, make sure there are disclaimers regarding vehicle damage on your customer receipts. Let them know that automatic antennas can break in the wash, etc. This can’t shield you from all claims, but it can offer some protection.

4. People

Operators need to have the right people in place to handle damage claims when they do occur. While this person may be your general manager, it doesn’t have to be. Whoever handles customers in this situation must be good in dealing with people.

“I had a general manager who was great at everything except talking with customers about damage claims,” says Hooper. “It turned out my assistant manager was great with people, so I made him the point man on damage claims.”

5. Role Playing

Hooper suggests that operators use rainy days to have role-playing sessions with employees. Have one employee pretend to be an irate customer, and have someone else handle that customer. Make sure they know what to say and what not to say.

6. Listen to the Customer

It sounds simple, but this is crucial to keeping the customer calm. Watch your nonverbal signals, too. One word of advice: Never tell a customer to “calm down.” This phrase will only anger him more, Hooper says. Instead, say something like, “I understand you are angry, Mr. Kelly.” That way the customer knows you are listening to him.

The customer also needs to be treated with respect. While some people are “out to get” a carwash, the majority of customers who make damage claims honestly believe their cars were damaged at your wash. After all, many of them have probably not looked closely at their vehicles in months. Other cars arrive at the carwash so dirty that any scratches or dents that were already there don’t become visible until after it’s clean.

7. Move the Angry Customer

Some customers will begin yelling and discrediting the carwash after finding damage. Remove that customer from the area immediately so other customers don’t hear what he’s saying. Removing him will not only calm him

Why Convert a Carwash Bay into an In-bay Express?

Several people have asked me lately why I converted one of my touch-free in-bay automatic washes into a friction, in-bay express rollover. The answer is simple: throughput and increased revenue per car. With that in mind, here are some other frequent questions and answers concerning in-bay express rollovers:

What is throughput?

Throughput is the number of vehicles that can be washed within a calculated period of time. This is important because the more cars you wash, the more money you make. The average throughput of my touch-free in-bay automatics is around 13 to 15 cars per hour. The average throughput of my in-bay express rollover is around 20 cars per hour.

On a busy day that could mean a difference of more than 70 cars or $900 in additional revenue. I have talked to a few in-bay express operators who average around 35 cars per hour. Their higher numbers are attributed to longer bays with additional equipment to handle a large volume of vehicles.

How are revenues per car increased with an in-bay express rollover?

Revenues are increased because the model allows you to offer a la carte (fancy wording for “extra”) services. In addition to the normal wash packages, the customer has the choice to add additional services to any wash package. Approximately 25 percent of my customers choose an additional service.

Is there an equipment cost difference between an in-bay automatic and an in-bay express rollover?

An in-bay express rollover does cost more than an in-bay automatic. The express rollover requires additional arches be placed in the bay to produce a faster carwash. As a result, the in-bay express rollover can wash more cars per hour than an in-bay automatic. These additional features may include wheel/rocker panel blasters, presoak arches, triple foam arch, rinse arch, clear-coat protectant arch, surface sealant arch, high-pressure rinse arch, drying agent arch, spot-free rinse arch, tire gloss unit and a dryer.

You may also need to upgrade the user interface (coin box) to allow for additional services on the express rollover. It is critical not to skimp on the user interface because this is where customers make their decisions to upgrade services or not.

How long does the wash bay need to be?

The minimum inside bay dimensions need to be 16 feet wide by 50 feet long. Remember, the longer the bay the better. I have seen bays up to 85 feet long.

Why offer both a touch-free and friction automatic wash?

The advantage to offering both touch-free and friction automatic washes at one location is the ability to provide customers with a choice. Based on preferences, you also stand to capture potential customers who may have been going elsewhere.

Why go from a touch-free-only carwash to one that now offers friction?

Customer demand and all of the latest advances in friction cleaning changed my mind. I started out in the carwash business selling touch-free in-bay automatics. I lived, ate and breathed touch-free automatics. I studied the science of touch-free cleaning and figured out how to provide the best possible carwash using this method.

A friction carwash operator once told me that he made great money with his friction units, but he set aside $2,000 per month to handle damage claims. He said he paid for new paint jobs all the time. That conversation stuck in my mind, but my thinking has changed now that I have had the opportunity to learn the latest techniques in friction automatic bay washing.

When I opened my carwash company, friction washing was not even an option for me. I did not want to deal with the potential damage claims. However, as I visited various carwashes throughout the nation, I began to notice that more and more operators were adding friction in-bays next to their touch-free bays.

Surely these operators were not setting aside $2,000 per month to handle damage claims. I took a closer look at past problems with damage claims and also researched new techniques to solve the dilemma. This is what I found:

First, the material that is used to clean the vehicle on a friction in-bay automatic has changed. In the past manufacturers would use nylon bristles or cloth to clean vehicles.

Integrating Your Carwash and Fast Lube

Convenience is becoming increasingly important in our busy society. Time is valuable, and more and more consumers are turning to one-stop shopping. Carwash/fast-lube combinations are a result of this trend.

There are unique challenges to running a site that has both a fast lube and a carwash. Up-to-date information and accurate statistics form the basis for major operating decisions. Customer data, inventory levels and service histories become more numerous and require efficient organization. As the management demands increase, owners must be willing to invest to ensure smooth and profitable operations.

There is a growing need for operators to cross-market. However, you don’t have to break the bank to increase business. Many of the most effective strategies for cross-marketing are inexpensive or available to you at no cost.

Displays

You have a great opportunity to inform/educate about additional services while customers are waiting. Post signs throughout your waiting areas to let patrons know of your other operation(s). Depending on your budget, signage can range from simple countertop displays to full-color posters or large outdoor banners.

Packages

Everyone loves a deal. Combine several services together and offer them as a car care package. Bundle products and services that complement each other. Set a price that gives customers a sizable discount over purchasing each service individually. Then, promote the great value and savings. By offering several packages, customers will feel they have more choices. Car care packages have a high perceived value and are good for selling slow moving products and services.

Autocashier

Employ your autocashier in your effort to cross-market. Most entry units allow the user to customize screen images and audio. Use the opportunity to inform customers about your lube and other services offered.

Coupons

Nearly every carwash and fast lube uses coupons. But, you can offer something many of your competitors cannot — an extra service. While other lube shops will get into price wars and try to out-coupon each other, you can stand out by offering a discount toward a carwash.

Just add a “$3 off any carwash with the purchase of a basic oil change” coupon to whatever newspaper ads or mailers you normally use. Run the new coupon side-by-side your typical coupons. It will give consumers more choices, advertise your new service and let you test the effectiveness of your offers.

Your Database

What do you do if your carwash/fast lube has been open for a while, but you still have customers that just use one service? The answer lies in your computer — the database. Run a list of customers that have had specific services before but haven’t been in for that service for six months. Send them a postcard inviting them to come in for that service at a discounted rate. Or, mail them a certificate for a free basic carwash (with the opportunity to purchase an upgrade) to introduce them to your other location.

Personalized service doesn’t end when the customer leaves your site. A computer allows you to send customized thank-you cards or coupons: “Thank you for coming in Mrs. Bentley – Receive $2 off your next full-service oil change.” Your database dramatically reduces the time it takes to gather this type of detailed information and simplifies bulk mailings.

Fleets

Fleet customers are some of the most consistent. Wouldn’t it be great to extend that constant flow of traffic to your other profit center?

For fleet managers, time is of the essence. Enclose a flier with your next fleet statement, letting fleet managers know they can get their vehicles washed when they bring them in for their usual lube service.

Understanding Carwash Property and Casualty Insurance

There are several types of property and casualty insurance coverage available to car care business owners, including property and liability insurance which may be purchased separately, in a package, or in a combination policy called a business owner’s policy. Other types include workers’ compensation, employment practices liability, commercial automobile liability (including garage keepers) and umbrella policies.

Following are several frequently asked questions (and their answers) regarding these types of coverage.

What is property insurance?

Property insurance is designed to protect your tangible assets. The form covers the building described in the policy and includes any completed additions and fixtures, permanently installed machinery and certain outdoor fixtures. Business personal property you own, inside or on the building, and within 100 feet of the premises, is covered.

This includes furniture and fixtures, stock or inventory, and all other personal property owned by the insured and used in your business. In addition, business personal property includes leased personal property which you have a contractual obligation to insure. You’ll want to check your leases to see what coverage you have agreed to provide.

You also can include personal property of others in your care, custody or control. Be sure to ask your agent if you have this exposure because most policies do not automatically provide this protection.

Several additional coverages or extensions of coverage are provided in most property forms, whether they are purchased separately, in a package or in a business owner’s policy (BOP). Some examples are:

Debris removal. The cost of debris removal is paid up to certain limits specified in the policy.

Preservation of property. If you move your property to another location for safekeeping because you are protecting it from an impending loss (e.g., a wild fire is moving toward your premises) any direct physical loss or damage to the property while being moved or stored at another location is covered. This coverage applies only if the loss or damage occurs within the specified period of time, usually 30 days after the property is first moved.

Fire department service charge, which provides a payment that can be made to the fire department (usually a maximum of $1,000) for responding to a fire at your location. No deductible applies to this coverage to encourage you to protect your property from impending danger as a result of a fire.

In addition, newly acquired or constructed property, personal effects and property of others, property off premises, outdoor property, etc., are automatically provided, subject to policy terms and conditions.

How much coverage do I need for my business property?

You should purchase replacement value coverage for your business property as this eliminates concerns over depreciation. Effectively this provides coverage to replace your property with new property of like kind and quality. Remember, most policies will pay you the depreciated value of damaged property (also known as actual cash value) and reimburse you for the difference after the damaged property is actually replaced and you provide the insurance company with a copy of the invoice for the purchase.

Do I need general liability coverage?

Yes. General liability refers to the legal liability arising out of business operations other than auto accidents or employee injuries. The major general liability loss exposures of business firms include:

Defense costs to protect you from law suits. Even if you are found not responsible for damages, there are considerable costs involved in presenting your case to the court. This is paid in addition to the limit of coverage you purchase. If the damages are equal to or greater than the limit purchased, the defense cost protection will terminate. You want to be sure you purchase limits adequate to protect your business.

Premises and operations liability arise out of the ownership and maintenance of the premises where you do business. You are legally required to maintain the premises in a safe condition and are responsible for the actions of your employees. Customers are considered to be invitees and you owe them the highest degree of care. You must warn customers of any dangerous condition on the premises and protect them against injury.

Products and completed operations liability refers to the legal liability you have for the sale of products or work you perform on your customer’s property.

County Urges Use of Commercial Carwashes for Fundraisers

Officials in Lexington County, S.C., are promoting the use of commercial carwashes while they urge nonprofit organizations to refrain from holding carwash fundraisers in parking lots without taking precautions to capture wastewater contaminants, according to a report by The State.

As an alternative, officials are recommending groups work with professional carwash facilities to either hold charity events at their locations or sell discounted tickets through the carwashes’ formal fundraiser programs.

Although the county has not outlawed residential carwashing, officials are promoting commercial carwashes as part of their effort to preserve the health of local lakes and waterways, including Lake Murray, Saluda River and Congaree River.

Eight carwashes have come forward to help the county, and officials are hopeful more operators will formally join their campaign, the article said.

Reusing vs. Recycling Water

If you mention the subject of early reclaim systems to a carwash operator with 20 years experience and ask what thoughts come to mind, you’ll probably get a description of a piece of equipment that doesn’t do a very good job treating water, needs a lot of maintenance, has filter bags to change and replace, and produces water that offends customers with its odor. Although most reclaim manufacturers have made great gains in making their systems more user friendly, they are still missing the goal of sufficiently cleaning the water.

In general, the reason that many reclaim systems blacken equipment, destroy pumps and damage nozzles is that they simply do not remove suspended soils to low enough levels. The “filtered” water these systems produce contains high concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) less than 20 microns in size. As the water is continuously reused, the concentration of these unfiltered particles increases exponentially. To combat their inability to remove solids effectively, some systems use a fresh water makeup line with a solenoid valve to dilute the poorly filtered water with higher quality city water. If these systems were capable of filtering the solids sufficiently, dilution with city water wouldn’t be needed. Remember, a reclaim system is supposed to save you from using city water.

Overall, the surface area and the particle-retention capabilities of the filtering or separating mechanism establish the flow rate for a given system. Some filters feature microscopic projections that allow very fine particulate matter to penetrate deeply into the filter bed. These filters can effectively remove solids down to 5 microns or less.

Due to the tight filtration and the high solids removal capacity, these types of depth filters are larger in size than typical canister or cyclone systems. Consequently, if a reclaim unit has a filtration system of small canisters or cyclones, the only way for this system to meet the water demands of the wash is for the system to only take out the very largest particles and send the water on its way. That’s the reason why water from these types of systems is black in color and wreaks havoc on nozzles — it’s simply not filtered tightly enough.

In small canisters, it would take far too many vessels for the system to produce the 100 to 150 gallons per minute or more that many of today’s high-volume washes demand. Consequently, filtration is sacrificed. The biggest problem with this is pump warranties can be voided if the solids in the water are not filtered to within published tolerances. Also, the visible signs of poor filtration are all over the walls, which is not impressive to customers.

Comparing treated, recycled water with reused, dirty water is like comparing night and day. In most cases, treated, recycled water will satisfy the requirements of publicly owned treatment works. In more and more municipalities, water departments are monitoring businesses to evaluate various impurities sent to the sewer, and carwashes are moving to the head of the list. We, as operators, must be conscious of increased regulation which can and will impact our ability to function — and our reputations in the communities we serve.

Imagine my dismay at my washes when county officials showed up seven years ago and placed sampling devices in the carwash discharge stream. They collected composite samples and sent them to a laboratory. A few weeks later, we received a violation notice stating that our water discharge was out of compliance with our discharge permit. The county gave us 30 days to resolve our discharge issues or start facing fines!

We had entirely new, much more complex issues to suddenly resolve. We were no longer talking about just clogged nozzles and dirty equipment. We were now faced with removing or significantly reducing the chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and oil and grease levels in our discharge. We reviewed the chemistry we were using in our wash tunnel and made some changes, but still could not meet the discharge criteria imposed by our permit. But once we installed the appropriate water treatment and recycling system, we resolved this issue entirely. Since we upgraded, we’ve been tested three or four times per year for the past seven years, with no discharge compliance issues whatsoever.