Family Carwash Profile: Benny's Car Wash

Potential fourth-generation carwashers Benton Alford, 9, and Helen Alford, 8.

Other Brand Name: B-Quik Convenience Stores
Headquarters:Baton Rouge, La.
Year Founded: 1951
Founder: Lloyd W. Alford
Number of Locations Then: One
Number of Locations Now: Five
Carwash Services Offered: Full-serve, express
Add-on Profit Centers: Oil change, gas, detail, convenience store
Number of Family Members Currently Working for Your Organization: Four: Benny Alford (father), Pat Alford (mother), Jason Alford (son), Justin Alford (son)

Why carwashing? How did your family get started in the carwash business?
My grandfather, Lloyd W. Alford, was a locksmith in Panama City, Fla. His shop was near a carwash in the city, and he got to know the owner. He moved to Pensacola, Fla., and opened his first carwash in 1951. He later sold the Pensacola operation to his partner and moved to Baton Rouge, La., in 1953. The Alford family has been washing cars in Baton Rouge ever since.

Since your family has been in the carwash industry, what are the three most significant developments that have helped the success of your business?
Many years of experience, technology and a family, hands-on work ethnic. Carwashing is very difficult and having a very dedicated family has been important to us.

What is the biggest challenge facing carwash operators today? How do you/will you strategically confront this challenge to ensure the continued success of your operation?
Labor, labor, labor, labor, labor and labor! The labor situation is getting very difficult for full-service carwashes. We are using technology to help reduce our labor as much as possible.

Please discuss the impact that the carwash business has had on your family or the significance of having family contribute to the success of your carwash business.
It is the way we have always operated and continue to operate today. However, working with family can be challenging as well.

Timeline

1950s

• 1951, opens first carwash in Pensacola, Fla.
• 1953, opens first Baton Rouge, La., location.
• Full-service facility includes “pull chains,” dryers, brushes, steam guns, and a lot of labor with hand washing.

1960s

• Second location opens in Baton Rouge.

1970s

• Lloyd W. Alford hands operations over to son, Benny Alford.

1980s

• Vacuums cars on the conveyor.
• Oil change added.
• Offers free washes with oil change.

1990s

• Justin Alford and Jason Alford join the company.
• 1992, full-service location added, with oil change.
• 1995, full-service location added, with oil change.
• Closes both early locations.
• Focuses on full service, detail, oil change.
• 1998, adds convenience store with gas.

2000s

• Benny’s wife, Pat Alford, joins to work in B-Quik c-stores and carwash lobby merchandise.
• 2001, opens first $3 express carwash with automated pay attendants and gates (includes gas, c-store, moving detail belt, oil change and free vacuums).
• 2002, purchases existing full-service wash with oil change, and converts it to a $3 express wash with oil change and free vacuums.
• 2006, opens $3 express wash, detail belt, free vacs, five-bay oil change, gas, and c-store on eight acres.

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