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Hair Loss News Archives
July 2006
Are these guys all wet?
Milford --
They’ve spent hundreds on pills, potions, creams and even
toupees. But last week, bald people got a discount on wax.
Friendly Car Wash offered the discounted $10 washes last
week as part of its new promotion series aimed at making laughs
and waves around the area.
The offer was advertised all last
week on the business’ sign on Green Street, near Milford
Regional Medical Center.
"I had one guy come up and I asked him what kind of wash he
wanted," said owner Bob Sheehan. "He didn’t say a word, he was
just hysterically laughing. He just lifted up his cap and held
out a $10 bill."
Now the car wash is offering $12 deluxe washes to anyone with
a great smile. Green cars got free washes on St. Patrick’s Day,
veteran’s got freebies on Veteran’s Day.
Next week, redheads can get the $10 wash special.
Sheehan, who purchased the car wash last summer with his
brother Mike, and business partner Ed Gately, said they are just
starting to understand the nuances of the car wash business. But
generally, they think their business should be fun and focused
on the community.
"We want to be known as a fun car wash," Mike Sheehan said.
"That sign certainly is a huge tool."
Milford resident Patti Gardella didn’t see the sign, but
flashed a big grin to get the $2 discount on the deluxe wash.
She said the idea was a good one.
"Maybe it will encourage people to smile more," Gardella
said. "You know how serious people are today."
The Sheehan brothers, both from Medway, started Alpine
Computers in 1989, and later became venture capitalists. Mike
Sheehan is also the chairman of Service BanCorp, the holding
company for Strata Bank, and recently, they have been working
with Gately on real estate deals.
While looking to open a car wash in Bellingham in a real
estate deal, they were approached by their current landlord, who
was looking for a new tenant.
"It was almost like a too-good-to-be-true situation," Mike
Sheehan said. "It was like a business opportunity we couldn’t
turn down."
They spent $250,000 to upgrade the car wash machinery and
spruce up the place. Now, working in shorts, sandals and
"friendly car wash" T-shirts, they run their other businesses
from an office above the detailing area, occasionally heading
downstairs to help wash cars.
Using their business sense and their marketing skills, they
hope it will become a fixture in the area.
"For us, if we get an extra 10 cars a day, that’s an extra
$150 bucks a day," Mike Sheehan said. "Multiply that by 365,
that’s a lot of money."
"I think most mom and pop (businesses) don’t market enough,"
he said. "I think we’re bringing an entrepreneurial spirit."