NEWS RELEASE   

For more Information:
Ross Hutchings, Executive Director
800.344.9274

WCA Holds Successful Convention in San Diego

Folsom, CA – After 18 years in Las Vegas, The Western Carwash Association (WCA) moved their convention and tradeshow to San Diego, California – and the move paid off! WCA celebrated their 30th Annual Convention & Tradeshow October 17 – 19, 2011 at the San Diego Convention Center. The WCA’s show is THE longest running car wash show and ranks as one of the best regional car wash shows in the country. Attendance in San Diego increased by 31% over last year’s show – best attendance since 2008.  Becky Kube, Q.B. Enterprises, a long time exhibitor with WCA stated, “People we talked to were new to the WCA, car washing and to us as customers.  Great addition!”

In addition to the quantity of increase was the quality of attendees as well. Referring to the 954 operators who attended the 2011 show Darrin Baum of Ecolab and chair of the WCA Convention & Tradeshow stated “Our vendors say it was one of the best regional shows they have attended in years. Not only did we have an increase in total attendance but a jump in the number of car wash operators attending the show as well.” This increase in operators represented a 51% increase over 2010 and made it the best car wash operator attended WCA tradeshow since 2005. 

“I think that Tuesday in San Diego was an outstanding day.  Well attended, extremely busy, and capped off with a great night at the Midway,” stated Brian Gleason of Peco Car Wash Systems. Mr. Gleason was referring to the special reception that was held aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier floating museum. More than 420 attendees and vendors gathered for this unique party and celebration which included period music, food and tours. As part of the program on the Midway, WCA held its Award Ceremony recognizing the following 2011 WCA Award Recipients: Sonny Fazio, Sonny’s- Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award; Jeff Coplin, Matt & Jeff’s Car Wash- Most Innovative Operator; Ramon Paz, Bixby Knolls Car Wash- Car Wash Manager of the Year; Kirk Kuzmantic, Rancho Car Wash- Special Service; and Jarret J. Jakubowski, Self Service CarWash News - Special Service Award.

The WCA three day event included a full education schedule with general session speakers and more than 30 workshops in three tracks: conveyor, self-serve and management. In addition, the International Detailing Association (IDA) hosted their IDA University and in response to the growing trend of Spanish-speaking attendees, WCA also held three Spanish-only workshops. “One of the best parts of a regional show is the ability to network and solidify relationships. You provided a great atmosphere to do that at this show. For us there appeared to be a lot of business opportunities represented on the floor, stated Paul Fazio with Sonny’s.

Besides drawing a significant attendance locally, the 2011 WCA Convention & Tradeshow had attendees from 41 states, Canada and Australia. Another exhibitor, Larry Barnes with Scotch Plaid summed it up – “It was a wonderful, great conference - it couldn’t have been better!”

The WCA plans to return to the San Diego Convention Center for their 2012 Convention & Tradeshow, scheduled for September 18 – 20, 2012.

The Western Carwash Association (WCA) represents car wash operators throughout the 12 Western United States as well as car wash equipment manufacturers, suppliers and distributors. With a membership over 930, it is the professional voice of the industry, monitors legislative and legal issues and shares information and best practices with its members. The primary purpose of this association is to serve and promote the interests of the carwash industry: to serve as a rallying point for collective action by individual operators and regional organizations of carwash operators on problems affecting the industry: and to do whatever is necessary, proper, and legitimate for the common good and welfare of the industry. A proponent of the environment, WCA encourages communities and municipalities to adopt the use of professional car washes which conserve natural resources.

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L.A. County settles part of suit alleging anti-union conduct

By Sam Quinones, Los Angeles Times
October 26, 2011

For years, workers at the Bonus Car Wash in Santa Monica, like those in many of the carwashes that Southern Californians frequent, had a familiar routine. They showed up when the boss told them to — but couldn't clock in until customers arrived.

Then, the California attorney general filed a suit last year against the business, demanding $6 million in back wages for workers, as well as fines and penalties. Such exploitative practices, the authorities said, were common in an industry that often pays less than minimum wage and, in some cases, forces workers to live on tips.

And on Tuesday, the Bonus Car Wash workers celebrated a victory.

Labor leaders announced that workers at the Lincoln Boulevard carwash have become the first in Southern California to unionize.

"It was a two-year struggle," said Eduardo Tapia, a Bonus worker for five years. Now "we have 10 more minutes of break. We have our water to drink. If they say 'Show up at work at 10:30,' I start work at 10:30."

Oliverio Gomez, who has worked at the carwash for nine years, said he hopes the union is the beginning of something larger. They "didn't treat us like people," he said of his bosses. "What I hope is that future generations who come to work here aren't treated as badly as we were; that they're no longer humiliated, but respected."

The agreement comes as labor groups and law enforcement have tried to crack down on carwashes, which authorities allege violate basic labor and immigration laws with little risk of penalty because their workforce is largely undocumented and afraid to speak out.

The labor pact with the Bonus Car Wash covers only 30 workers and calls for a modest 2% raise. But labor experts said it's significant because it establishes a procedure for hearing workers' grievances, creates standardized rules on wages and hours, and requires any new owners of the carwash to abide by the contract.

Some in the carwash industry question whether unions can make inroads in the competitive business in which customers are highly sensitive to price.

"Most carwashes are individually owned, so the unions would have to go to each individual property and try to convince the owner, many of which have put their life savings into a small business," said Ross Hutchings, director of the Western Carwash Assn., the industry's trade association in Sacramento. "I think that's going to be very difficult."

Still, labor organizers said they are in negotiations with three small Los Angeles carwashes for similar labor pacts.

"That'll be the next big thing: how we help the smaller carwashes that want to do the right thing and become union employers but remain profitable in the industry," said Victor Narro, project director of the UCLA Labor Center, who has researched the local carwash industry for more than a decade and advised Bonus workers.

Owners have argued that unionization would increase the costs customers pay to have their cars washed. But Mike Watson, regional manager for Sidker Inc., which owns Bonus Car, said prices will remain unchanged.

"The employees will be happier, which makes them do a better job," Watson said Tuesday. "And in turn, the customers will be happy."

The campaign to organize carwashes began in March 2008, when labor groups formed Community Labor Environmental Action Network.

The group has pushed state and local authorities to sue carwashes for nonpayment of wages.

In 2007, a judge imposed $14,708 in penalties against the owners of Wash & Go Hand Wash in Irvine for not fully paying two employees.

In a landmark 2009 case, the Los Angeles city attorney's office sued two brothers, owners of Vermont Hand Wash in Hollywood, for nonpayment of wages. Benny and Nissan Pirian were sentenced to a year in jail in the case, and they were fined and forced to pay restitution to workers.

The campaign spent a long time establishing to carwash owners "this is what happens when you follow the low road," said Chloe Osmer, an organizer for the labor group. "Setting that precedent was important in terms of how we got to this place."

Meanwhile, the labor group trained workers in unionizing and leadership classes, and brought in clergy and community activists to rally support for the carwash workers, Osmer said.

In the Bonus case, clergy members wrote letters and invited workers to speak to their congregations, after which congregants signed cards urging owners to negotiate with the workers.

The contract prompted Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown on Tuesday to promise to study ways for the city to contract to wash its vehicles only at carwashes that pay fair wages. "I'm very excited the only union carwash in the whole country is in Santa Monica," McKeown said.

Whether such a campaign can succeed outside the confines of liberal, well-off Santa Monica depends on whether communities and cities can be marshaled to support carwashes that recognize employee unions, said Rabbi Jonathan Klein, director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, which worked on the campaign to unionize the carwash.

Bonus owners "are heroes" for signing the contract, Klein said. "We're going to do what we can to get people who care about these things to get their cars washed there."

sam.quinones@latimes.com

Los Angeles Times staff writer Ricardo Lopez contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

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SONNY’S and Car Wash Equipment & Supplies Join Forces

5605 Hiatus Road
Tamarac, FL 33321
Tel: 954-720-4100 fax: 954-724-4288
Toll-Free: 800-327-8723

For immediate release
Tamarac, Florida – September 28, 2011 –  SONNY’S The Car Wash Factory, the largest manufacturer of conveyorized car wash equipment in the world, has announced the appointment of Car Wash Equipment & Supplies (CWE&S) as their distributor of both tunnel, and in the near future, BayWash in-bay automatic car wash equipment in South Florida.

“It’s extremely important for SONNY’S to identify partners that not only have the ability to deliver first class service and support, but who also share our vision of making car washing easy for our clients”, said Robert Picard, Vice President of Sales, SONNY’S The Car Wash Factory. “CWE&S is a third generation family owned company that has been serving car wash operators in South Florida for forty years. Their well-earned reputation as a “customer first” organization combined with a phenomenal infrastructure means that SONNY’S clients will have the fast quality support they need to succeed.”

As a SONNY’S Select Service Organization (SSO), CWE&S will work closely with the factory to coordinate the service, and installation of SONNY’S Conveyorized Tunnel and BayWash In-Bay Automatic Rollover car wash equipment. “CWE&S has been selling, installing, marketing, and servicing car wash sites in South Florida with over 600 installations for major oil companies, jobbers, and private investors,” commented Bruce G. Remillard, President & C.E.O. of CWE&S. “Our extensive experience includes in-bay roll-overs, touch-free, full-service, self-service, truck washing, and drive-through car wash equipment, chemical solutions, and much more. In today's challenging market, distributors are faced with many new complexities. By combining our service and installation expertise with SONNY’S leadership position in car wash manufacturing, together, we’ll be able to offer our customers a superior value,” stated Remillard.

CWE&S will now be contacting SONNY’S clients, both old and new, to discuss the range of exciting new products being introduced over the coming months.

About CWE&S
Car Wash Equipment & Supplies (CWE&S) is a third generation, family owned private company, with over forty years’ experience selling, installing, marketing, and servicing car wash sites in South Florida. CWE&S has extensive capabilities to sell, install, and support in-bay roll-over, touch-free, full-service, self-service, truck washing, and drive-through car wash equipment.  Offering chemical solutions, service contracts, marketing support, and more; they are the trusted partner for major oil companies, jobbers, and private investors with over 600 car wash installations in the region.

About SONNY'S Enterprises
With full tunnel systems in each of the 50 United States, and equipment in countries worldwide, SONNY’S equipment delivers millions of clean, dry, shiny cars each year, around the globe. The company founder, Sonny Fazio, built his first full-serve car wash in 1949. Today, SONNY’S is a recognized industry leader, awarded as such by the International Car Wash Association. Further building upon the company’s commitment to make car washing easy for its clients, SONNY’S is the parent to five distinct divisions; AutoPilot CarWash Control Systems, CarWash College, BayWash In-Bay Automatic Car Wash Systems, SONNY’S Car Wash Parts Division, and of course SONNY’S The Car Wash Factory, the largest manufacturer of conveyorized car wash equipment, parts, and supplies in the world.

Contact:
CWE&S can be contacted at 954-796-3394 or visited on the web at www.carwashequipment.com 

MacNeil Introduces The New Wheel Boss Wheel Cleaning System

MacNeil Wash Systems is pleased to introduce the all-new Wheel Boss. The new Wheel Boss is a next-generation wheel cleaning system re-designed for better cleaning and profit-boosting at a new lower cost.

Designed for both tunnel and in-bay automatic car washes, the new Wheel Boss features the uniquely-designed Envirosoft® foam brush that gets down deep to clean wheels and tires thoroughly and safely. Equipped with MacNeil’s own Quiet Drive Technology, the Wheel Boss is easy to install and reduces operational costs. A convenient leveling system makes installation and height adjustment effortless. Available with a corrosion-resistant Pro-Coat finish in a variety of colors.

Kwik Car Wash Raises Money for American Cancer Society

Kwik Car Wash donated 50 percent of the profits raised on July 9 to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Littleton organization.

They were able to raise $500 in one day. Volunteers were also on hand to help vacuum and dry vehicles for donations.

This is one example of how a carwash can offer up its facility to raise money, versus a charity holding a parking lot fundraiser which can harm the environment.

SONNY’S and HPWS Join Forces

SONNY’S The Car Wash Factory, the largest manufacturer of conveyorized car wash equipment in the world, has announced the appointment of Hi-Performance Wash Systems (HPWS) as their exclusive distributor of tunnel equipment in Wyoming, Colorado, and Western Kansas.

“It’s extremely important for SONNY’S to identify partners that not only have the ability to deliver first class service and support, but who also share our vision of making car washing easy for our clients”, said Robert Picard, Vice President of Sales, Sonny’s The Car Wash Factory. “HPWS clearly fits our stringent criteria and brings 53 years of car washing experience to help our clients succeed in achieving their goals.”

As a SONNY’S Select Service Organization (SSO), HPWS works closely with the factory to coordinate the sales, service, and installation of SONNY’S equipment.

HPWS will now be contacting SONNY’S clients, both old and new, to discuss the range of exciting new products being introduced over the coming months.