Since revolutionising car care in Australia by introducing the waterless car wash franchise, ecowash mobile has attracted business-minded eco warriors who are as diverse as they are driven to succeed within the multi-award winning green business.
Entrepreneurs, visionaries and simply employees that disliked their former job have embraced the waterless car wash concept and been rewarded with a thriving business that is both an eco-friendly success and a great solution to a growing problem – our diminishing water resource.
“Townsville’s Ben Edwards, at just 22 years of age at the time, realised the obvious opportunity the environmentally friendly car wash service represented. Now, two years later, he has just been awarded ecowash’s ‘2008 Franchisee of the Year’ and needs to hire staff if he wants to take on any more work,” explained co-founder and managing director Jim Cornish , who along with former mechanic Stewart Nicholls started the business in Sydney in 2004.
From a two car operation ecowash mobile franchise now operates in 14 countries including the US, Europe and the Middle East. There are more than 50 franchises in Australia alone.
“I am at full capacity and either, have to say ‘no’ to Townsville motorists at times or look at running staff and a second vehicle” Ben said.
“I never even dared to think that this little business would go off so drastically.”
Paul McIlvide purchased the South Australian master franchise 19 month ago, setting up a team to service the inner city demand from a number of locations while still providing a mobile service. He now oversees 5 cars with 7 staff.
Feeling that he had made the right business decision, and seeing growing demand, he purchased the Cairns automotive cleaning franchise as well, getting a trusted friend to operate the Far North Queensland territory.
”I realised straight away that ecowash mobile was going to take Australia by storm, not only because it is environmentally sound (carbon neutral & completely water-less) but because the finished work is superior to other washes.”
A self declared lover of everything cars, Paul is a good example of the entrepreneurial mind seeing more than just an environmentally sustainable and self-paced job, but instead the opportunity to be at the forefront of something that would surely revolutionise the car wash industry.
Despite the presumption of anything cars being a boy’s domain, some of the franchise’s most successful operators are female.
Nejla Rawnsley operates the Queensland master franchise single handedly since jumping on the opportunity in May 2005. Sue Taylor and Elia Napiza, who patrol Sydney’s CBD, left behind jobs as lending manager and IT consultant respectively to embrace the waterless opportunity.
“I was earning good money, but hated what I was doing and having to work for someone else” said Sue, who learned about ecowash mobile through a chance demonstration at her partner Elia’s work place.
“The investment meant we did not have to risk house and home to give it a go” added Elia.
The duo have expanded from their original territory of St George to now also service the CBD and have established a fixed site at Homebush to service both the large business and sporting community there.
“People are starting to appreciate that we will travel to them and save them wasting water and their time on the weekends,” Sue said.
Elia and Sue will maintain all display vehicles for Hyundai and Suzuki during the Sydney Motor Show and plan to hire two further staff members in the near future.
“We have franchise territories still available in the Sydney area and around Australia. There is ample opportunity for anyone wanting to secure an affordable and sustainable business – especially in the face of the global financial climate and the job insecurity this can bring – we have never been busier.” Operations Director Stewart Nicholls said.
ecowash mobile is the world’s No 1 mobile waterless car wash and has saved over 44million litres of water in Australia alone.
22-Oct-2008