International Carwash Association has announced that the Midwest Carwash Association (MCA), a regional association of car wash operators and suppliers in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, has become a supporting partner of The Car Wash Show™, the world’s largest car wash convention and trade show. MCA previously hosted an annual trade show in Michigan and will now join Automotive Oil Change Association and Western Carwash Association in exclusively endorsing The Car Wash Show.

ICA has revamped the workshops on the Sunday before The Car Wash Show™ to give you a fresh, in-depth learning experience unlike any other. These workshops are now available with any pass type for an added fee at registration.

Back for its second year, ICA’s Executive Management Institute is now accepting applications. Designed in cooperation with the University of Notre Dame, the Institute can help inspire and grow car wash professionals with a rigorous 5-day program in strategic business, finance, and leadership.

Apart from watching weather forecasts and checking the National Weather Service's (NWS) alerts, being prepared for severe weather can make all the difference to staying safe if caught in hazardous conditions – especially if you plan to be on the road. Each year, 24% of weather related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement and 15% happen during snowfall or sleet, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The year 2020 is bringing in a slew of innovative products set to transform vehicles themselves, as well as the automotive experience. Here are 10 products to watch.

As automotive technology advances with each passing year, a major differentiator among competing new vehicles is the breadth and user-friendliness of various digital systems. Kelley Blue Book named the 2020 Best Auto Tech Award winners, honoring new models with the most advanced infotainment, convenience and active safety features at a great value to car buyers. This year's winners are the 2020 Hyundai Sonata and the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE.

 

Mike's Carwash presented a check for $54,340 to the Anthony Muñoz Foundation after the final Bengals game of the season. The donation was a result of the proceeds from Mike's "2 Sacks You Save" promotion and, new this year, “Who Dey Wednesdays” during the Bengals’ 2019 season.

A new car wash slated to open in Branson, Mo. – Branson Wash Company – will feature a single 80- to 100-foot-long tunnel and some interesting features, including LEDs, license plate scanners and sonar technology. “We have a new sonar technology that’s built into our tunnel that will actually scan your vehicle upon entry, and it will actually size our equipment in to meet your desired car," said co-owner Trey Pelz. The grand opening is planned for late spring or early summer.

Improving team performance takes dedication, determination and leadership from both you and your team. But, the results will be well worth it. Here are a few tips to continuously implement to achieve a more productive team performance and hit your overall company goals.

Bad gets into our head and it stays there, leaving very little room for the good in our lives. We tend to focus on the bad, even in the face of a lot of positive things. But, when leading, it is especially important to focus on the good because of how your outlook could negatively affect your team members.

It doesn’t matter if you're running a restaurant or plumbing business or operating a car wash, the goal is to convert new customers into repeat customers. This process is somewhat comfortable and familiar to SMB owners — after all, they know their business best. It’s the new customer acquisition that is uncomfortable and somewhat difficult for most businesses because it requires marketing and advertising, which has gotten extremely complex in recent years.