Marketing lessons from local car wash

Devin: Last week I went on my first official Tin Cans field trip as a marketing assistant. I was excited when Laura told me we were going on a marketing field trip, so you can imagine my surprise when we pulled into a car wash.

Yup. A car wash.

I’ll admit it. I thought maybe Laura had finally lost it. After all, what is there to learn about marketing at a car wash?

Boy was I wrong.

When we pulled up to Cloister Wash and Lube in our rolling Tin Can, we were met by friendly, nicely groomed employees. (Who knew anyone could be that nice at a car wash?) They took our information. Then they took the minivan. Laura and I were escorted inside for some complimentary beverages. Then I spotted the “one free gumball per person” machine.

Yeah, I broke the rules.

Everything about this place amazed me. As I wandered around, I even watched what the mechanics were doing. (Not only is this the most magnificent car wash, it also has a lube shop where they do oil changes and maintenance. The rolling Tin Can needed an oil change as well.

While we waited, enjoying our free beverages and apparently endless supply of 1-per-person gumballs, Laura suggested that I pay a little attention to what was happening. Not to the van, but to us. We were enjoying our visit so much that I almost didn’t catch on to all of the little upgrades they kept suggesting – and we kept accepting.

I’m not sure if it was the friendly staff, the impeccably clean operation (ever notice how NOT clean a typical car wash is?) or the sum total of the awesome experience. Maybe it was just the gumballs. But I left Cloister’s Lancaster location (they have three) with the exact good feeling – oh, and clean car – that they promised.

Jeff: Marketing Assistant Devin Balshy has been with us since May. This is her first of what I am sure will be many posts to this blog.