Content From: The Wash Watch, Fall 2009

Top Car Wash Award Winner 2009

Over two decades ago, native North Carolinian Rick Weaver decided that some day he wanted to own a car wash. That dream came true in September 2007 when Weaver opened self-service Shining Star Car Wash in Newton, NC.

"It's everything I thought it would be," exclaimed the 55-year-old Weaver. "I'm the only employee; it's a cash business so I don't have to chase money; and I have a wonderful location and great equipment."

Weaver was raised and schooled in Durham, NC, before attending Mitchell College in Statesville, NC, where he played baseball. After college he spent 15 years at Comscope fiberoptic company, several years in the satellite industry, then a few years at Coca-Cola in the vending machine department.

In 2006 he finally was able to focus on his longtime goal of owning a car wash. "I found HOWCO through research and began working with them in 2006," continued Weaver. "They did everything they said they would and guided me through some pretty bad construction glitches. I will definitely use HOWCO on my next projects."

Shining Star features a Jim Coleman Water Wizard 2.0 touch-free wash with a new Wheel Scrub rim application brush and Total Turtle surface protection by Turtle Wax, along with 5 large self-serve bays, four vacuums, two combo vacs, and a water reclaim system. Shining Star offers the Wash Card cashless acceptance system for pre-pay and fleet post-pay programs. Shining Star also stands out for its custom signage used throughout the wash, as well as its attractive and user-friendly website (shiningstarcarwash.com).

Weaver's wife Kate owns a nearby coffee shop, and their three grown children are out of the home. When not at the car wash, Weaver enjoys "playing chess and counting car wash money" at their home in Newton.

In offering advice to other would-be car wash entrepreneurs, Weaver says, "Choose your construction company and support company wisely, and buy good equipment. And have fun - it's a great business."