Mr. Clean Car Wash(R) Opens May 8 in Round Rock, Responds to Consumers' Call for Cleaner Cars With Big-Brand Innovation, Service

ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- From the onset, it's clear: there's nothing typical about this car wash.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100505/CL99695LOGO)

At the soon-to-open Mr. Clean Car Wash in Round Rock, children aim sud-soakers at cars passing through the high-tech tunnel. Parents sink into oversized seating, watch big-screen TVs, work via free WiFi or enjoy a gourmet coffee or snack. Moms can even shop.

Meanwhile, their cars are being cared for by a "Mr. Clean Team" specially trained in optimal customer and vehicle care, including oil change and full-service maintenance.  

Yes, it's very clear that this 51-year-old buff man of shine didn't move from the store shelf to the service industry without first pulling out all stops in innovation, consumer understanding and commitment to superior quality.  

On May 8, when the Round Rock wash and lube (at Hester's Crossing and South Mays) opens at 8 a.m., it becomes the 16th store in Mr. Clean's growing line of car washes  Mr. Clean Car Wash already is the largest full-service car wash franchise in the country, with other operations in Ohio and Georgia.  Work is underway to expand into Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta and Chicago.

"Round Rock is something of a showplace for us as we've incorporated learnings and best practices from our other car washes, and the operating experience of our management team. As we move into other markets, this will be our prototype," said Bruce Arnett Jr., Chief Operating Officer of Mr. Clean Car Wash.  Both Bruce and Mr. Clean Car Wash's CEO have been operating car washes for 20 years.  

The Car Wash

Mr. Clean Car Wash is operated by Agile Pursuits Franchising Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Procter and Gamble Company (NYSE: PG). One of P&G's leading national brands, Mr. Clean has been recognized for more than 50 years for the quality, value and top performance of its line of household cleaning products.  

Agile Pursuits opened its first Mr. Clean Car Wash in 2007 as an innovative way to expand the brand, thus enabling Agile Pursuits and P&G to touch more consumers' lives with a superior service it knows consumers are looking for and need.

On-going consumer research shows that increasingly, Americans are looking for quality care for their cars, with a 10-year analysis showing a steady, average growth rate of 10% per year in the number of consumers using professional services to clean their vehicles. (Source: International Car Wash Association, 1996-2006.) "People want to take care of their cars; they are demanding good value and superior service," Bruce said.

Committed to Community

Mr. Clean also brings to Round Rock a heightened level of community commitment. "We're not just opening in Round Rock, we're making this our home," Bruce said.

The store aims to donate up to $50,000 each to up to 20 partnering local organizations within the first two months of opening. Mr. Clean is working with pre-identified and registered schools, not-for-profits and civic programs and will donate $10 to any of up to 20 pre-registered local organizations for every customer who mentions that organization when making a minimum $20 wash purchase and signing up for the Mr. Clean Car Wash VIP program. On going, Mr. Clean will host "Helping Hands" washes where 50% of a sale goes to a charity fundraiser.  

Additionally, the first 40 customers in line on May 8 who sign up for Mr. Clean Car Wash's VIP Program will receive an entire year of free washes and oil changes; another winner will be drawn every day for the next 60 days. In all, Mr. Clean will give away 100 prizes of free car washes and oil changes for a year.  The VIP program offers additional benefits throughout the year. (More details at winmrclean.com).

One more community benefit: Mr. Clean is Green.  Mr. Clean Car Washes are specially designed to not release soap or chemicals into local water ways. And most of the water used is recycled.  "When you wash your car at home in the driveway, soaps and chemicals usually go down storm sewers directly to ponds, streams and waterways," Bruce said. "Mr. Clean Car Wash is designed to release zero soaps and chemicals into our waterways."

The Facility and Service

The Round Rock location, which created 50 new local jobs, is a 6,000-square-foot multi-plex facility. The emphasis is on optimal and guaranteed full-service care for customers and their cars.  If a customer is not fully satisfied, the Mr. Clean team will either refund or rewash. The guarantee extends four full days ... so if it rains or a flock of birds passes overhead, the team will rewash at no charge.

Maintenance: Mr. Clean Car Wash teams offer everything from a 15-point Pennzoil oil change package to a 90,000-Mile Service Package. (Every oil change comes with a free Pro Interior and Exterior full-service wash.)

Express Detailed Service: Completed in about 30 minutes – versus the typical several hours or a full day – Mr. Clean offers:

• Carpet Shampoo
• Leather / Cloth Seat Clean and Condition
• Hard Surface Clean and Condition
• Express Wax and Condition
• Mr. Clean Buff-N-Shine

Wash Packages: Delivered via a high-tech, high-performance tunnel that includes a precision soft-cloth wash with 1,000 soft-touch points per vehicle – and personal finishing that includes Mr. Clean tested and approved methods of washing windows and cleaning surfaces. "We've optimized not just the quality, but the efficiency of service delivery. We have made it nothing short of an art. And, truly, it makes a difference," Bruce said.

Wash services range in price from $4 early bird; to full-service interior and exterior at $12; and Express Detailing for $30, which typically is delivered in just 30 minutes. They also some include some exclusive Mr. Clean products:

• Mr. Clean Signature Shine®
• Mr. Clean Surface Protectant®
• Mr. Clean Wheel Guard®
• And P&G Febreze® Odor Eliminator

Comfort Lounge

For customers, the Mr. Clean Car Wash amenities include a Comfort Lounge with three flat-screen TVs, WiFi, a PC counter bar, and premium coffee/snack shop and an on-the-go shop. And while Mom and Dad relax or work, children can play with futuristic Mr. Clean sud-soakers, spraying soapy suds at cars passing through the state-of-art wash tunnel via floor-to-ceiling viewing windows. "People are busy. They need efficient quality so they don't have to waste time on repeat service. But they also want to get value from their wait time," Bruce said. "There's no reason why a short wait can't be either productive or enjoyable – or both."

Mr. Clean Car Washes opens at 8 a.m. on May 8 at Hester's Crossing and South Mays in Round Rock.

• Hours: M-F  7 a.m.- 6 p.m. // Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m. // Sun 9 a.m.-5 p.m.  
• Directions: at Hester's Crossing and South Mays in Round Rock
• Pricing:  Washes start at $4 with express detailing $30.
• First 40 in line on May 8 who sign up for Mr. Clean Car Wash's VIP Program receive 1 year of free washes and oil changes.
• 60 More: Every day for the next 60 days, another winner will be drawn.
• Up to $50,000 each: Mr. Clean Car Wash will donate $10 to any of up to 20 pre-registered local organizations for every customer who mentions that organization when making a minimum $20 wash purchase and signing up for the Mr. Clean Car Wash VIP program.

About Mr. Clean Car Wash

What began as America's favorite name in household cleaning is becoming 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®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 125,000 employees working in more than 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and our brands.

SOURCE Mr. Clean Car Wash