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ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers Win Technology Award

27 May 2000

Cisco Systems and Inc. Magazine Name ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers Grand Prize Winner at Growing with Technology Award Ceremony

    WASHINGTON--ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers, Inc. of Natick, MA was named a grand prize winner in the Innovators in Sales and Marketing category of the Inc./Cisco Growing with Technology Awards. Winners were announced at a Washington DC ceremony during Small Business Week.

    In a world where guest satisfaction is what all customers expect, ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers has been using what CEO Bob Paisner terms "guerilla small-business technology" to raise the bar and manage the entire customer experience. Members of ScrubaDub's Car Care Club receive a Barcode on the outside of their windshield. When a member's car pulls in an attendant scans the barcode, and greets the customer by name. Purchases are referenced to the barcode to track trends by car type, zip code, and service, which allow management to easily market targeted groups within the database. . Employees use this information to better advise members on which products and services would be most beneficial based on their specific needs. All of the data collected at each location is sent via an embedded packet within an e-mail to the main office several times an hour and then back out to each of the ten locations. These "near real time" updates allows ScrubaDub to offer its members a 4-day clean car guarantee. Club members who purchase a protection package may return to any ScrubaDub location for any reason within the four days and receive a free rewash. To attract new customers ScrubaDub's web site has an interactive game where customers can win a free or discounted car wash. ScrubaDub now tags almost all of its advertising with " To Win a Free Car Wash Play the Game at scrubadub.com".

    The Inc./Cisco Growing with Technology Awards program was designed to recognize small and medium-sized businesses that are using the Internet and technology to succeed in the New Economy. A panel of seven industry leaders selected 12 winners in four categories from over 500 applications.

    According to Dan Paisner President of ScrubaDub, " When you only have a few seconds of face to face time with a customer, you have to differentiate yourself in other ways. For us, that way is better customer service using the technology at hand."

    Joe Diodati, director of worldwide field marketing for Cisco Systems small/medium line of business and judge for the Inc./Cisco Growing with Technology Awards said, "ScrubaDub was selected because their company stood out as a company that is raising the competitive bar through the use of Internet business applications."

    Brad Ketchum Jr., editorial director of Inc. Business Resources said " This year's winners will serve as trailblazers for other growing businesses looking to harness the power of the Internet."