From Hardships to a Roaring Business – How S. Waikar Got His Car Wash Centre Rolling
Starting a business is never easy, especially when you have limited experience and no funding to back you up. Just a few months ago, S. Waikar(Name changed), owner of a vehicle washing and cleaning centre, found himself struggling with a lack of funds and a business that seemed to be going nowhere. But his life took a turn for the better when a friend introduced him to deAsra.
With nothing to lose, S. Waikar decided to give deAsra a try. Four months later, he realised it was one of the best decisions of his life.
Business Challenges Met with Empathy and Smart Support
Every entrepreneur faces unique challenges. At deAsra, the team goes the extra mile to step into the entrepreneur’s shoes and offer comprehensive solutions based on real-world experience.
When S. Waikar approached deAsra, he had two main goals:
- Learn how to grow and run his business.
- Secure funding to improve his operations.
The deAsra team immediately understood his needs and developed a strategy tailored for his success. “The very first meeting was uplifting – I felt hopeful almost instantly,” recalls S. Waikar.
How deAsra Helped:
- Personalised Guidance: The deAsra team took the time to understand S. Waikar’s business and challenges. They provided him with clear, actionable advice and a roadmap to take his business forward.
- Mentorship: deAsra connected S. Waikar with another successful Pune-based car wash centre owner. This mentorship allowed him to observe effective business practices, from team management to customer service, which helped him refine his own operations.
- Financial Support: deAsra also facilitated the funding process. They helped S. Waikar navigate the complexities of securing a loan and handled the bank project approvals. “deAsra took care of my funding worries, and guidance on the bank project proposal,” he adds.
Knowledge Sharing: Just as Important as Funding
Waikar was eager to learn how to efficiently manage his vehicle washing business. To assist him, deAsra connected him with another successful car wash centre owner in Pune. By observing their operations, S. Waikar gained invaluable insights into business management.
“I learned how they managed their team, hired staff, and handled daily operations. This helped me set my own business on the right path,” he says.
Beyond knowledge-sharing, deAsra also helped S. Waikar secure much-needed financial assistance. “deAsra took care of my funding worries, and guidance on the bank project proposal,” he adds.
With the loan secured, S. Waikar wasted no time investing in essential equipment for his business, including an HTC water pump, 3 motors, a compressor, a vacuum cleaner, a grease machine, a vacuum pipe, a grease pump, and an air pipe.
What Sets S. Waikar’s Vehicle Washing Centre Apart?
While S. Waikar’s centre doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of washing techniques, his approach makes a noticeable difference. He elaborates, “There’s a nearby car wash centre, but their process had a lot of shortcomings. I decided to address these gaps in my own business.”
What are these gaps? S. Waikar explains, “When a vehicle arrives, we wash it thoroughly, both from the top and underneath, using water, soap, and foam. We even open the bonnet for a deep clean. Afterward, we wipe the interiors, polish the dashboard, spray perfume, and place fresh plastic mats. While it may cost us a little more, it’s worth it. We want our customers to feel like their vehicle is brand new.”
In addition, every vehicle is finished off with a ribbon, making it feel like it just rolled out of the showroom. “We want our customers to feel like they’ve traded in their old vehicle for a brand new one because that’s the transformation our cleaning process delivers,” he explains.
Going the Extra Mile for Customer Satisfaction
The attention to detail has clearly paid off. “We receive many positive reviews, and customers from a 10-15 km radius, including from nearby Chakan, come just to experience our services. I never imagined this would happen, and it makes me incredibly proud,” says S. Waikar.
Don’t Stop Growing – Or Dreaming
Waikar’s journey is only just beginning. “When I started, I was at zero. deAsra gave my business the kick-start it needed,” he shares. “Now, I’m inspired to take my business further.”
His commitment to continuous improvement is evident in his work. When his team noticed that door handles in cars, especially with children around, tend to wear out quickly, S. Waikar saw an opportunity. “We decided to focus on cleaning these overlooked areas and included them in our service packages,” he explains.
Future Milestones
Waikar’s future plans are equally ambitious. “Next, I want to venture into car interior cleaning, similar to what DC offers. My goal is to provide ‘lower prices, but great quality.’ We’ve already identified a location for this new branch. With deAsra’s, guidance I feel like anything is possible—the sky’s the limit!” he says with a smile.
Author: Prakash Agashe & Sudhir Gijare