Car wash programs are revenue drivers for convenience stores and fueling stations around the globe. Making sure the process is convenient and cost-effective for customers increases traffic and drives in-store sales.

Oftentimes, car wash units occupy a small corner of the lot and do not receive much attention. This is not the case for those at United Pacific’s Rocket Stores with their state-of-the-art equipment, affordable prices and most importantly, convenience.

United Pacific has established itself as one of the largest independent owners, operators and suppliers of gas stations and convenience stores in the western United States, reaching an impressive 17th place in CSP’s latest Top 202 Convenience Store Chains ranking by U.S. store count in 2021 with 450+ stores. Founded in 1955 and based in Long Beach, California, United Pacific offers motor fuel products under the 76, Conoco, Phillips 66, Shell, Chevron, and United Oil flags in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Colorado and operates convenience stores under the name Rocket.

Branded AutoWash, Rocket has more than one hundred car washes and is the largest private car wash operator on the U.S. West Coast.

Car Wash Programs Generate Revenue and are Environmentally Friendly

According to the International Car Wash Association (ICWA), there are more than 133,000 car washes in the United States, Europe and Australia. Drivers in the U.S. are increasingly reporting a preference for washing vehicles at professional car washes rather than at home, increasing from 48% in 1994 to more than 77% in 2019. In North America, carwash retail sales are an astounding $15 billion.

Professional car washes have recently gained attention as being a more environmentally friendly option to home washing, as well. WaterSavers, a division of ICWA, shares that residential washing releases toxins into sewer systems as well as uses much more water than a professional car wash. Further, water in industrial washers is recycled or returned responsibly to the environment.

Improving Convenient Car Wash Programs Through Subscription Payment Model

Rocket has recently joined the world’s top convenience retailers offering customers a subscription option for monthly car washing with the goal of delivering frictionless and contactless car washing for customers, as well as building recurring revenue for the business.

Users subscribe to the AutoWash program and for one fixed monthly fee, receive unlimited washes during the time. AutoWash members use the AutoWash App to redeem car washes. Additionally, the app includes engaging features such as the ability to play mobile games like “scratch and win” and “spin and win.” Users also enjoy personalized content and can share digital gift vouchers with friends and family as well as recruit friends they think will enjoy the app.

Why Subscription Car Wash Programs Work

Bill Mullen, president of United Pacific feels that “this subscription program ensures a simple way for our customers to enjoy multiple options for car washing each month and allows us to stay true to our promise to them. It’s the most convenient way for our customers to wash their car, with no contact needed with our machines.”

Walter Flores, Vice President, Car Wash and Retail Fuel for United Pacific, adds “as well as dramatically improved convenience for customers, the subscription program is very simple to use and offers frictionless, contactless and superb convenience for car wash users.” 

The project was designed and delivered by Liquid Barcodes Inc, led by Saurabh Swarup, GM North America, who believes that “subscription programs for car wash, coffee, and many beverages and food products, are an excellent way for convenience store and car wash retailers to build sustainable customer loyalty as well as develop a recurring revenue business model. We are incredibly proud to deliver a technology solution that increases customer traffic, revenue and profitability of the AutoWash service for United Pacific.”

Swarup continues, “we have seen the power of features such as auto renewal to ensure that users stay engaged, helping to deliver superior loyalty for United Pacific, while also driving the lifetime value of their car wash customers.”  

Liquid Barcodes loyalty platform is powering car wash programs for industry leaders across several global markets, by offering unique subscription, gamification, loyalty and personalization capabilities and has developed this app for use across all of United Pacific’s AutoWash car wash sites.

About Liquid Barcodes

Liquid Barcodes is a leading global loyalty and digital marketing technology company specializing in the convenience and foodservice industries. The proprietary, cloud-based technology platform allows retailers to create and manage their digital marketing campaigns with a process called the “customer connection cycle’ to engage, promote and reward customers’ activities in real-time across digital and media channels.

Liquid Barcodes has developed the most advanced loyalty and digital marketing technology platform specifically for convenience and foodservice retailers globally.

Retailers use the self-service dashboard to create and manage loyalty driven marketing campaigns that increase purchases with their existing customers, as well as effectively target and acquire new customers through partners or paid media channels.

Learn more about Liquid Barcodes at LiquidBarcodes.com.

About the Author

Carolyn Schnare, Chief Content Officer, Liquid Barcodes

Carolyn Schnare has been involved with the convenience retailing industry for nearly two decades with an extensive knowledge of customer engagement and marketing, sustainability and community outreach. Prior to Liquid Barcodes, Schnare worked at NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) in a variety of roles from event production to membership and most recently as Director of Strategic Initiatives and host and producer of the popular industry podcast, Convenience Matters.