Papa Bear Car Wash in Anderson, South Carolina, is a car wash business that, in just 15 months, has already passed 4.5 million dollars in revenue and signed up over 7100 monthly members. It’s an exciting story about what happens when you invest in delivering an exceptional customer experience. Meet owners BJ Davis and Ashton Hines to learn how they transformed an old car wash location into a winner!
Papa Bear made the tough decision to raise their prices by two dollars in their first year mainly because of increased costs and compensation. The results surprised even them – with no fall-off in car count after the price increased. Customers continued to see the value at the higher price point … and the profitability kept climbing.
Papa Bear’s first location was potentially a demographic winner – but it had a real challenge: the footprint of the building demanded that the backroom be built on top of the tunnel to provide enough space for proper vehicle flow. Then an opportunity arose to purchase an adjoining lot with a small oil-change business. They jumped on it–bulldozed the building–and made room for more free vacuums. This additional space helped them demand comparatively higher price points for superior service.
Papa Bear made a commitment to excellence with their chemistry, their equipment, and their site. And it’s paid off – literally. They strategically bought the best chemicals, installed the best equipment, and even bought the site next door to elevate the value and customer experience they could deliver. That same commitment to excellence continues with their staff, from recruiting and training to compensation and brand reinforcement.
Papa Bear Car Wash is a case study in ROI and best-in-class. They made the strategic decision to go with the best for their customers at every turn, and as a result, have membership numbers and average wash numbers that are beyond excellent. They’ve put in the hard work and investment to get here, and the results speak for themselves.
