2012 is going to be a big year for combination car-and-dog washes — a place where customers can get a clean car and a spotless spaniel all in one stop.
That’s according to Debra Gorgos, the editor of Professional Carwashing and Detailing Magazine (PC&D).
And Splash Car Wash, located at Bridgeport Ave. in Shelton, hopes to be one of the first in the Valley to capitalize on the growing trend.
Splash management first proposed the car-dog wash idea on Jan. 10 at a Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The business applied for a certificate of zoning compliance.
The commission tabled the idea until a Feb. 14 meeting, but the consensus is that the idea will pass, according to Shelton Planning and Zoning administrator Richard Schultz.
Splash representatives declined comment.
So how does a car-dog wash work? Customers aren’t strapping their dogs to the roof of their cars before heading through the drive-thru car wash.
The dog wash is a self-service station. Essentially, a ramp leads to a metal basin that’s attached to the wall with a hose and soap, operated by the customer for about the same price as washing your car.
“They’re popular because you don’t have to wash your pet at home, which often uses a lot of water and can be very messy,” Gorgos said. “Many are cheaper than a dog groomer. I think it’s something that makes sense for car washes.”
The dog wash costs about $10 for 10 minutes, but prices vary, said Gary Sherman, co-owner TMC Dog Wash Solutions. His Colorado-based company manufactures the K9000, a self-serve dog washing station. The video at the top of this story demonstrates how the K9000 works.
Gorgos said the combination business is gaining popularity across the country because of convenience and cost.
The Shelton Splash Car Wash area district manager got the idea when he saw similar businesses in Pennsylvania that worked well, Schultz said. Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission members were surprised when they first heard about the unconventional idea, he said.
But pet industry numbers suggest a large market for car-dog washes.
People in the United States spent an estimated $51 billion — with a B — on their pets in 2011, according to the American Pet Products Association. About $3.65 billion of that total went to grooming and boarding.
APPA also estimates that 78.2 million dogs are owned as pets in the U.S.
“Economically, it makes sense,” Gorgos said. “Pet washes are becoming an additional profit center for car washes.”
Sherman said they’ve sold about 500 stations around the world at $16,900 a pop.
In a good location, self-service dog washing stations get used daily and bring in $1,500 to $3,500 in revenue per month, he said.
“The return rate can be huge and they pay for themselves really quickly,” Sherman said.
PC&D Magazine even offers tips for businesses like Splash looking to enter the dog wash game.
For example, make sure the dog wash is highly visible and “cute,” emphasizing a pet friendly and safe environment. Car-dog washes can also partner up with adoption agencies to help raise money or adoption awareness and should consider adding a vacuuming station to suck up all that pet hair — In the car, that is.
Now, Splash’s management just needs to appeal to the state.
Adding a dog wash to a car wash, even a self-serve dog wash, falls under the same licensing requirements as a commercial dog grooming business, said George Krivda, a spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture. Splash will need a license from the state Department of Agriculture to install the dog wash.
Krivda said he’s never heard of a similar combination business in Connecticut and neither has the Animal Control Division at the state Department of Agriculture.
Several dog grooming services in Shelton already offer dog washing. Could competition mean bad news for business?
Sherman says no, because they’re different businesses. Grooming businesses offer more services by appointment, like hair cuts and nail trimming. A self-service dog wash is great on the fly, for example, when you’re coming back from a hiking trip with your dog, he said.
Keith Patrick, co-owner of Doggie Styles Pet Grooming at 210 Leavenworth Road in Shelton, raised his eyebrows at the notion.
“I’ve heard of other groomers that offer do-it-yourself washing, but never a car wash,” Patrick said. “Sounds a little odd ball to me, but apparently there’s a market for it. I hope not, though. From my perspective, I don’t want to lose (business) to something like that.”