Car wash subscriptions and rewards programs enhance the customer experience on road trips.
For as long as I can remember, a highlight of my every summer has been traveling to the warm, sunny beaches of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. While my early memories are a bit hazy, there are plenty of photos to remind me of those days—like the ones of me in bright yellow water wings, learning to swim in the pool.
Although the vacation itself has remained much the same over the past two decades, one thing that has evolved is the road trip. The once-daunting 12-hour drive that seemed to stretch on forever as a child has become a bit more manageable with each passing year.
Now, the decisions of where to stop for food or to stretch my legs are all mine to make. This year, I made a point to visit a few Liquid Barcodes customers along the way. Convenience stores are a staple of any road trip, whether for fueling up, grabbing a quick snack, or taking a bathroom break, but this time, I had the chance to connect with our customers in person.
Enmarket Car Wash
One of my first stops was at Enmarket, a retailer with 130+2 gas stations and convenience stores. I lost count of how many times I exclaimed, “Oh look, there’s another one!” as we passed the blue exit signs pointing to an Enmarket just off the highway.
I chose a location in Beaufort, South Carolina, making sure it had a car wash by using the store locator feature in the Marketwash app. With just a few clicks, I easily purchased a monthly subscription to their Envy+ wash, the top-tier package.
When I arrived at the pay station, I simply tapped “Start Wash” on the app’s home screen, which generated a 7-digit code. After entering the code at the terminal, I drove in and let the wash do its work!
Although I live too far from Enmarket to maintain a subscription, the service is undeniably convenient, saving both time and money. With the abundance of Marketwash locations in the South, car wash subscriptions are a clear winner, especially with frequent storms, sand, and salt taking a toll on vehicles.
Han-Dee Hugo’s Craziez Rewards
On my way home, I made sure to stop at Han-Dee Hugo’s which has 110 locations throughout North Carolina. I visited their Davidson store near Lake Norman. This location was quite large, complete with a car wash, beer cave, and Hugo’s Kitchen.
The store proudly displayed numerous signs promoting their app, including posters for their summer sweepstakes—a 2024 Jeep Wrangler for one lucky member of their Craziez Rewards app to win. Customers can enter the giveaway by scanning the app barcode during in-store purchases.
What’s Next?
Earlier this year at the Car Wash Show in Nashville, I had the privilege of speaking with Lars Kiib Hecht about the growing role of car wash subscriptions in the industry. We discussed how these subscriptions are transforming not just the business model for car washes but also how customers perceive and engage with the service. Lars shared how subscriptions are driving customer loyalty and repeat business and how the simplicity and convenience of the service are key factors in its success.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to build on these experiences and insights at NACS Show 2024 in Las Vegas. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with industry leaders, sharing our successes, and exploring new opportunities to enhance the customer experience even further. I’m eager to meet everyone and continue the conversations that are shaping the future of convenience retail!
About Liquid Barcodes
Liquid Barcodes is a leading global loyalty and digital marketing technology partner specializing in the convenience and foodservice industries. The proprietary, cloud-based technology platform allows retailers to create and manage their digital marketing campaigns with the “customer connection cycle” process to engage, promote, and reward customers’ activities in real time across digital and media channels.
Liquid Barcodes loyalty platform is powering loyalty programs for industry partners across several global markets, by offering unique subscription and mobile payment programs, machine learning, personalization, gamification, loyalty, and other capabilities.
Learn more about Liquid Barcodes at LiquidBarcodes.com.
About the Author
Lara Pagendarm-Winter heads up marketing efforts for Liquid Barcodes. Pagendarm-Winter is based in Cleveland, Ohio and supports the Liquid Barcodes U.S. team with all things marketing, promotion and more.
