Show Notes
The Wash Exchange — Jay Frank, COO, Splash Car Wash Episode description Splash Car Wash was founded in Connecticut in 1981 and is now one of the twenty largest car wash operators in the United States — 80-plus locations across seven north-eastern states, including New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Backed first by private equity in 2018 and more recently by AEA, Splash has grown from around 20 sites to over 80 through a mix of acquisitions and new builds, running everything from express exteriors and full-serve tunnels to in-bay automatics, hand wash, detailing, oil change and laundromats. What hasn’t changed is the people: senior leaders and site managers with 15, 25, even 35 years in the business, and a culture the company credits as the springboard for its growth. In this episode Blair sits down with Jay Frank, 26-year Splash veteran and newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, for a practical look inside how a top-20 operator actually runs: The 30/60/90-day acquisition playbook — why Splash does a “slow walk” after every purchase: meet the team first, fix safety, then roll in POS, staffing models and reporting, so by day 90 a site “looks like a Splash” without the customers noticing anything except better service. The mistakes other buyers make — cutting staff, raising prices and changing the menu in week one, before earning it. “Deposits before withdrawals” — the philosophy behind Splash’s near-zero management turnover, from pay and recognition to owning your mistakes fast. Converting retail sites to membership — training, belief at the pay station, clear goals and rewards, not beating customers over the head. New builds vs acquisitions in an expensive market, and why Splash keeps doing both. Running 80 sites across seven states — regional structure, daily KPI calls, open-book management and managers who run their wash like they own it. Buying a 16-site chain tomorrow: who runs it? Jay’s answer on bench strength and culture-builders. What separates the consolidators that last from the ones that stall — and how Splash responds when a well-funded competitor opens a mile away with free washes. Real stories, real results. Essential listening for any operator in acquisition mode, building a membership base, or trying to hold onto good people. Please like and subscribe to your chosen platform.
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In this episode of The Wash Exchange, Blair Woolcott sits down with Rob Sacco, the owner behind Waves Carwash — voted the No.1 car wash business nationally and the dominant wash brand in the ACT, with sites now stretching into Victoria. Waves Carwash Rob has built Waves into a genuine multi-format operation: full-service tunnel washing, 24/7 self-serve bays, touch-free automatics, and Enhanced Care detailing across five Canberra locations — plus a family-friendly flagship with a café and kids' play area that turns a car wash visit into a destination. Waves CarwashWaves Carwash We get into how Rob thinks about site format mix, why full-service still works when the industry is racing to express, building the Wash Club membership base, staffing a labour-heavy model, and what it takes to expand a regional brand interstate. If you operate a wash — or want to — this one's worth your time. 🎧 Listen on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Brought to you by Slipstream Pro.
Hear from Conrad Sams a 18 year veteran in car washing, hear about his experiences including being the COO of Rocket Car Wash Chain and what hes up to now with his business Wash Wise Academy. For further information https://www.washwiseacademy.com/ or email Conrad directly at e: [email protected] enjoy and happy washing.