Case Study: Ecowash Goes Global

The eco entrepreneurs have set even higher sights for this year, and plan to unveil a line of new products. Alongside the cleaning and detailing service, Ecowash will offer a deluxe service for showroom car maintenance, a polisher for aluminium car components like bullbars, and a protection product to be applied once yearly as a treatment to maintain the Ecowash clean.

Together with its new line, Ecowash is set to grow even further. “Our franchise target for Australia by the end of 2008 is 80,” says Cornish, who spends most of his time finding and working with the right export partners. Their planned overseas expansion for the same period is 200 cars.

Currently US expansion is their biggest priority, with two new master franchises opening in California and Florida. In Europe, Ecowash is being launched in Switzerland and Greece, with plans to spread to Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands soon after. “The Middle East continues to grow with master franchise operations commencing in Dubai, Abu Dubai and Jordan. We are hopefully not too far from confirming Sudan, Egypt and Turkey,” adds Cornish. “We are also now in the process of establishing Ecowash mobile Central America, starting in El Salvador.”

Completely focused on their overseas expansion, Cornish and Nicholls are making solid tracks to becoming widespread green and clean exporters.

Secrets to Success

1. Quality. Ecowash provides a quality service.

2. Convenience. Customers can be sitting at their desk while their car is cleaned. They can actually be productive for themselves without wasting their employer’s time.

3. Environmental awareness. People want to be seen doing the right thing, and Ecowash is finding that companies are specifically focusing on that aspect to improve their own environmental standing.

-Stewart Nicholls, operations director.

Export Destinations

While Ecowash first began exporting in the Middle East, it now also exports to Europe and the US. The decision to branch out to these locations was based on the following research:

Middle East: with severe water shortages, similar to those in Australia, there was a need for a waterless car washing service.

Europe: a continent of car lovers, and so the Ecowash entrepreneurs found it easy to market their product to likeminded consumers.

US: service-orientated, the US is ideal for exporters who can demonstrate the worth and quality of their product.