Summer is just around the corner and for many car wash operators, the summer season is their busiest season. The long hot days spur many to engage in more outdoor activities which means there are lots of dirty cars that need washing. However, for some car wash operators who are located in parts of the Northern Territory for example, the summer season signifies the beginning of the wet and quieter season.
Wherever your wash is located, the following tips are sure to help you get the most out of the summer season
- Offer a summer or Christmas themed promotion
Take advantage of the festive season and hot weather as they offer a wide range of opportunities for promotions. You could send a discount or upgrade coupon to customers on your mailing list or give away a small Christmas gift to every child who visits your wash on a particular day. If running a points-based loyalty program, you may wish to offer double points during summer, or you could run a ‘12 days of Christmas’ promotion where you offer a different special deal each day.
- Host an event
Summer is a great time to host an event at your wash. You may wish to host a sausage sizzle, organise a family friendly event with activities aimed at children such as face painting or a jumping castle, or have Santa visit your car wash handing out candy canes to all your customers.
- Help a cause
Christmas is a time of giving. It’s a wonderful opportunity to help others and give back to your community. After all, without your loyal customers, you wouldn’t have a business, and helping a worthy cause is a great way to demonstrate gratitude. A great way to give back is by committing to donating 10% of net profits made during the festive season to a local school or charity.
- Manage your cash flow
Running a business that’s highly reliant on good weather can be challenging therefore, it’s important to know your fixed and variable costs and how seasonality impacts them. If summer is a time when revenues are high, put some money away for future use when revenues are lower. The new year is also a perfect time to reassess your business strategy and plan.
Do you have any summer marketing tips that work well for you? Feel free to share them in the comments below.
For more marketing tips check out our article "9 Ways to Market your Car Wash on a Budget"
