FAIRFAX, Va.—Warrenton Oil Company, which operates 59 FastLane convenience stores throughout Missouri, has added a subscription option at its 17 car wash locations and one FastLane Truck Wash location. The goal of the program is to deliver a frictionless and contactless solution for customers, as well as to build recurring revenue for the business, according to the company.
Customers can subscribe to the FastLane car wash subscription program through the existing FastLane app and select from several car wash subscription packages. FastLane will also offer a subscription on its automatic truck wash, a first in the region. The FastLane Truck Wash offers truckers, campers, fleets and other big rigs the convenience of an automatic wash for their vehicle that typically would not fit in a standard automatic car wash.
“Car wash programs are revenue drivers for convenience stores and fueling stations around the globe. Making sure the process is convenient and cost-effective for customers increases traffic and drives in-store sales,” wrote the company in a press release.
"Subscription programs for car and truck wash, coffee and many beverages and food products are an excellent way for convenience and car wash retailers to build sustainable customer loyalty as well as develop a recurring revenue business model,” said Saurabh Swarup, GM North America, Liquid Barcodes, which partnered with Warrenton Oil Company on the subscription. “We are incredibly proud to deliver a technology solution that increases customer traffic, revenue and profitability of the car and truck wash program for FastLane convenience stores.”
If convenience retailers are thinking about adding a car wash to an existing site or looking into new build locations that would incorporate a car wash, NACS published a free white paper on the current landscape of car washes, “Leveraging Car Wash Potential in Convenience Retail.”
According to the paper, operating a car wash is a high-margin, low-labor venture for convenience retailers, and interest in tunnel washes is growing among convenience retailers with available space, particularly at new-build locations.