| Most folks believe that certain service businesses | | | | real estate period and bubble. Now it's hard to say |
| were recession proof, or at least recession resistant. | | | | how many will still be in business if and when the |
| And while some are, most of those aren't breaking | | | | economy returns and the recession ends sometime in |
| any speed records due to the severity of this current | | | | 2010. |
| economic downturn. The car washing sector was | | | | Still, new car sales for 2009 are expected to not even |
| once considered recession resistant, but try going | | | | break 10 million here in the United States, and typically |
| down to your local carwash; notice there are no lines? | | | | they've been running a solid 17 million in the past five |
| Why you ask? Well a couple of reasons lately. For | | | | years before the recession hit. If you are wondering |
| instance; No one is driving, in fact, auto accidents are at | | | | why the car wash business tracks new car sales it is |
| an all time low, lowest since 1961. High fuel prices and | | | | relatively simple. |
| recession are the obvious culprits, and it doesn't take a | | | | You see, people that buy new cars wish to keep them |
| rocket scientist to figure that one out. | | | | looking nice for as long as possible. While people that |
| Since the mechanical car wash business typically | | | | have 4-year old cars or older, just do not have the |
| tracks new car sales, and the auto industry is off | | | | same kind of love they once had, when they were |
| some 30% from this same time last year, the car | | | | new. Please consider this, and please go get your car |
| wash business has seen better days. Unfortunately, | | | | washed! |
| quite a few car washes were built during the boom | | | | |