1000 cars over next two years: Aussie franchise cleans up in the US
August 22, 2008 // Franchising.com // The United States arm of Australian franchise success story ecowash mobile predicts it will have 1000 cars on the road within two years. And preeminent US franchising guru Dan Martin has described the franchise system as "tenfold anything I've seen" in the industry.
Since unveiling their first US franchise in Las Vegas last August, ecowash mobile has moved into Miami, Florida and San Diego California in the second phase of a dramatic expansion drive across Northern America.
Traditionally the franchise system benchmark for the rest of the world, the interest generated in the US by the Aussie newcomer has been phenomenal. From a two car Sydney operation 2004, ecowash mobile has now established itself in 12 countries as well as reaching over 50 franchises in Australia.
"Low start-up costs, exceptional operating profit potential and the soundness of the concept are key ingredients in our growth," explained ecowash mobile co-founder Jim Cornish.
"The US are the pioneers of the whole concept of franchising, if you asked any other country they would feel the same way. For an Australian franchise system to be embraced by the Americans in this manner speaks volumes for the system we have put into place."
"We have a goal for 1000 cars to be on the road in the US within two years," said Mike Watorski, Vice President of Franchise Development for ecowash mobile in the USA.
"Exciting things are happening. We currently have a new Master Franchisee in Miami and another confirmed for Western Florida."
"We have just opened our Corporate Mobile Operation in North San Diego County and have numerous franchise candidates in different stages of evaluation throughout the US. We are in the final throws of the Updated Registration process and will begin solidification of new franchises in September.
"We believe that the concentration of new development will happen swiftly in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties, Phoenix Arizona, Texas, Florida and Georgia. We are however getting inquiries from the mid west and the north east.
"We were on the news last week in San Diego and will be on the news again in Las Vegas next Monday, both on major TV Stations."
One of America's foremost franchising identities, Dan Martin is CEO and President of IFX Online, which provides web-based technology solutions for over 100 US and international franchise systems including our own Red Rooster. He is one of the most well connected people in US franchising but his only affiliation with ecowash is the gleaming Porsche he drives.
"Their procedures and product is tenfold anything I've seen and I'm extremely picky about my car. I'd ordered the clean without realising they were about not using water and when I realised the job was being done without water and in direct sunlight, I freaked out.
"But it was better than the best water wash I have seen. In the US water conservation is the No.2 topic behind only gas prices. The accessibility is a big factor over here, you cannot have a water based mobile units washing cars at buildings- they're not allowed onsite. So it allows on-site car detailing where you would not otherwise do it."
Of plans for 1000 cars in two years, Watorski said "It is ambitious but doable. Once the cat is really out of the bag in terms of brand recognition around the US, we expect things to escalate rapidly - and we have opened the bag."
Carlos Fernandez is a multi-unit franchise owner in Miami, Florida. He discovered ecowash mobile at the beginning this year via the Australian website when researching franchise opportunities
"I literally fell upon concept and fell in love with it," he said.
Since putting his first car on the road in July, he now has three cars in Miami Beach, downtown Miami and Coral Gables and is in the process of registering another four.
"I have a goal of 8 cars by the end of September. The concept is amazing and the Miami market is receiving us with open arms. Response from just the Coral Gables territory has been so strong that we have had no time to actually get down and market ourselves to the other territories."
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