Mr. Clean(R) Coming to Shine Chicago Cars; New Dimension in Car Washes Seeks Local Entrepreneurs

Buff Man of Clean Plans 10-12 Local Car Wash Franchises, Potential 400 Jobs

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Feb 09, 2010, 11:01 ET

CINCINNATI, Feb. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. Clean, internationally-recognized for his buff build, bald head and tough stance on clean, is coming to Chicago, aiming to make cars sparkle and customers smile. With 15 locations already under his well-branded banner, Mr. Clean Car Wash® is looking for franchisees in the Chicago market. Mr. Clean Car Wash is operated by Agile Pursuits Franchising Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Procter and Gamble Company (NYSE: PG).

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Mr. Clean Car Wash aims to open 10-12 franchised car wash locations in the Chicago area, with each new franchise slated to employ about 40 people. That means the potential of more than 400 new jobs in the Chicago area.

Mr. Clean Car Wash will host an informational VIP seminar for qualified entrepreneurs on February 17 in Oakbrook.

"Mr. Clean Car Wash takes a brand name with over 50 years of consumer trust and delivers a delightful car cleaning experience," said Bruce Arnett Sr., CEO of Mr. Clean Car Wash. "It's really a new day in car washing - and a whole new franchising opportunity."

P&G entered the arena of car wash services when it opened its first two test car washes in Cincinnati in 2007. The test expanded quickly with an acquisition and rebranding of a car wash franchise business in Atlanta. Mr. Clean Car Wash now is the largest full-service U.S. Car Wash franchise, with 15 operations in Ohio and Atlanta; another six facilities are under development. "Our vision is to become the first national chain of branded car washes – which presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to get in early in the growth curve," said Arnett.

For busy consumers, the Mr. Clean Car Wash model offers more than just a wash, it offers all-in-one-place car care services. The multi-plexes will deliver on the promise of Mr. Clean quality with full-service interior & exterior washes as well as exterior-only washes. The washes offer specialized Mr. Clean protectants including Mr. Clean Surface Protectant and Mr. Clean Wheel Guard, as well as Febreze odor eliminators. Another service is a 30-minute express detail that includes professional orbital-applied cleaner wax, carpet shampoo, and leather conditioning / upholstery care.

"Our guests love the express-detail services because they can be back on the road in just 30 minutes with professional quality service," Arnett said.

Most locations will include oil change and vehicle maintenance. For customers, the Mr. Clean Car Wash amenities include a Comfort Lounge with big-screen TVs, Wi-Fi and premium coffee and gift shops. And while Mom and Dad relax, children can enjoy the Mr. Clean sud-soakers that shoot soapy suds at cars through floor-to-ceiling viewing windows through the state-of-art wash tunnel.

The business model also comes with a series of key benefits for franchise owners:

A Trusted Brand: Millions recognize and have trusted Mr. Clean around the world for more than 50 years. He brings with him brand awareness, quality assurance and an established customer base.
Experienced Support Team: Every franchisee benefits from a powerful support system developed by 30 years of industry experience and 10 years of car wash franchising experience. Plus, the benefit of P&G marketing expertise and consumer understanding.
Proven Business Model: The Mr. Clean Car Wash incorporates multiple profit centers and state-of-the-art facilities to support a well-rounded investment and pride of ownership.

For the community, there's yet another benefit: Mr. Clean is Green. Mr. Clean Car Wash is designed to not release any soap or chemicals into local water ways; and most of the water used is recycled. This stands in contrast to washing a car at home in the driveway, where soaps and chemicals usually go down storm sewers directly to ponds, streams and waterways.

"I chose a Mr. Clean Car Wash Franchise because I liked that the business model is well-rounded, it's run by one of the best car wash operators in the industry and has access to the marketing power and branding power of P&G," said Atlanta Franchise Owner Don Nix.

"We're looking for serious entrepreneurs with both the interest and the capital to invest in a franchise backed by a proven business model and a 50-year-old winning brand," Arnett said.

The February 17 event will give prospective franchisees the chance to learn more about the business model, meet Mr. Clean Car Wash's CEO, COO and CMO and view current premium location options. The event runs from 4-5 p.m., followed by an optional, informal discussion with current franchise owners and refreshments. Prospective franchisees should contact Charlie Zimmerman, Franchise Development Director at [email protected] or call 770.622.0655, ext 305.

"The idea is to connect on a professional and personal level with the aim of developing relationships that will bring our brand to life in a very big way in Chicago," Arnett said.

For P&G's Agile Pursuits Franchising, the business represents the ability to touch and improve even more consumers' lives, through a needed service that both leverages and builds on one of America's most trusted names in cleaning. The opportunity for franchisees is significant as the car wash industry represents more than $20 billion in annual U.S. sales. And growing. Ten-year trends show that consumers are increasingly using professional services to clean their cars.

"People both like and need to have clean cars. And today's consumers are seeking superior quality and value, a personalized experience and service they can trust. Mr. Clean Car Washes deliver all of that – and more," Arnett said.

About Mr. Clean Car Wash

What began as America's favorite name in household cleaning has grown into the gold standard in car care. Mr. Clean Car Wash is focused on giving you the brightest shine and the best experience possible. Mr. Clean Car Wash announced its national franchise expansion in February, 2009, and is now accepting franchise applications in 46 states. Mr. Clean Car Wash currently has two locations in Ohio, 13 in Georgia, and six more under development across the USA. Visit www.MrCleanCarWash.com for more information.

About Procter & Gamble

Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Gain(R), Pringles(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella(R), Gillette(R), Braun(R) and Fusion(R). The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

SOURCE Procter & Gamble Company