By: Joel Ross

Step into a modern car wash and you’ll notice something that didn’t exist ten years ago — customers aren’t just washing cars anymore. They’re waiting, scrolling, tapping, and streaming while they do it.

Phones have become the new dashboard companion. Whether customers are queuing at the pay kiosk, sitting in an express tunnel, or vacuuming after the rinse cycle, one thing’s constant: they’re on their phones, and their batteries are draining fast.

That’s why offering phone charging cables isn’t just a nice touch for car washes — it’s a smart, high-margin upsell that meets customers exactly where they are: in their cars, surrounded by devices that need power.

The Perfect Match: Car Washes and Charging Needs

Think about what happens during a typical car wash visit. The customer pulls in, pays, and waits a few minutes. It’s a brief window of idle time — exactly the kind of moment where small impulse purchases happen.

Car wash operators already know the power of convenience add-ons. Air fresheners, microfiber cloths, and tire shine bottles move quickly because they’re visible, affordable, and relevant. Charging cables fit that mold perfectly — with one huge advantage.

They’re not optional.

Everyone has a phone in the car, and everyone has, at some point, left their charger at home or found their cable frayed, broken, or missing. Seeing a clean, retail-ready cable at the register or vending machine immediately solves that frustration.

The customer gets convenience. The operator gets new revenue.

Turning a Quick Stop into a Quick Sale

Impulse purchases depend on three things: timing, visibility, and logic. Car washes nail all three.

Timing: Customers are already stopped, waiting for service, or paying at a kiosk. They’re relaxed but attentive — the perfect buying state.

Visibility: Point-of-sale counters and vending areas are uncluttered, making a small rack of cables impossible to miss.

Logic: The purchase makes sense in context. Customers are sitting in their cars with phones that need power.

It’s not a stretch sale — it’s common sense.

That’s why car washes are quietly becoming one of the most promising retail micro-markets for charging accessories.

A Product That Sells Itself

Charging cables don’t require explanations or promotions. They solve a problem every customer already understands.

Unlike apparel or cleaning products, you don’t have to demonstrate or persuade. You simply need to place them where customers can see them — beside the payment terminal, near the vending machines, or next to the exit where air fresheners and towels are displayed.

A clear sign that reads “Forgot your charger? We’ve got you covered.” does all the work.

From a sales psychology perspective, that’s gold. The brain loves easy decisions. The customer’s already spending $10–$20 on their wash — what’s another $8 for something they actually need?

Why Car Wash Customers Are Ideal Buyers

The demographic overlap is perfect. Car wash customers skew toward convenience-seeking, tech-reliant individuals — exactly the type who value fast solutions.

They’re:

• On the go. Always balancing errands, commutes, or family schedules.

• Tech-connected. Using navigation, music, or contactless payment on their phones.

• Time-sensitive. Looking for quick, useful purchases that don’t slow them down.

In short, they’re the kind of buyers who make decisions based on efficiency, not deliberation. When they see a quality cable presented professionally, they act immediately.

And because car washes attract repeat business — weekly or bi-weekly customers — those small wins stack up fast.

Beyond the Counter: Creative Placement Ideas

Car wash owners can boost visibility by integrating cables in multiple touchpoints throughout the customer experience.

1. Pay Kiosks and POS Stations
Mount a small display beside your payment terminal. Add a bright, simple sign: “Need a charger for the drive?” Customers paying with Apple Pay or digital wallets are already thinking about their devices.

2. Waiting Lounges and Vac Areas
If you operate a full-service or express model with waiting zones, these are goldmines for small product sales. People sitting and scrolling have time to notice displays.

3. Vending Machines
BLOKK’s slim, retail-safe packaging is designed for vending — no retooling required. Place cables alongside cleaning wipes or bottled drinks and watch them move.

4. Loyalty Desk or App Integration
If you run a wash club or membership app, include cables as a loyalty reward or impulse add-on in the digital interface: “Redeem 1,000 points for a free BLOKK cable.”

Visibility drives awareness; awareness drives movement.

The Power of Presentation

A big part of why charging cables thrive in environments like car washes is how they look. Customers instinctively associate presentation with trust.

That’s why BLOKK’s packaging matters. Each cable is sealed in sleek, professional packaging with color-coded connectors for quick recognition — red for USB-C, blue for Lightning. The clear front window shows the actual product, not a generic photo.

That transparency builds credibility. Customers can see the product quality before they buy it. They instantly recognize that it’s not a flimsy, low-end import — it’s a premium cable built to last.

And because the packaging is compact, you can display multiple units without clutter. Ten cables can fit neatly on a rack or shelf while still looking organized and intentional.

Zero Training, Zero Waste, Pure Convenience

Car wash operations are lean. You don’t have time to train staff on complex products or track fragile inventory. BLOKK cables eliminate all that.

They don’t spoil, leak, or expire. Staff can restock them once a week, and they’ll continue selling on their own.

Even better, there’s no cleanup or waste — no half-used bottles or returns. Once it’s sold, it’s gone. The next one fills its place.

For operators, that means consistent add-on revenue with virtually no overhead or maintenance.

Building Brand Value Through Service

Every detail in your car wash contributes to how customers perceive your brand. When you stock high-quality accessories like BLOKK cables, you send a clear message: we think of everything.

It’s not just about convenience; it’s about care. Customers remember businesses that anticipate their needs.

That small gesture — solving a power problem before it becomes one — builds trust and loyalty. It’s what separates a good car wash from a great one.

Bundles and Promotions That Drive Movement

Adding cables opens the door to creative marketing. Try pairing them with other small-ticket items to increase average transaction value:

• “The Road-Ready Combo: Charger + Air Freshener for $10.”

• “Stay Charged Bundle: Cable + Microfiber Towel = 20% Off.”

• “Forgot Your Cable? Get 10% Off When You Join Our Wash Club.”

Because cables hold strong perceived value, they make great anchors for bundled offers that move complementary products faster.

For Multi-Site Operators: Scalable Simplicity

For owners running multiple car wash locations, the beauty of this category is its consistency. One product line fits every layout and demographic.

Urban or suburban, express or full-service — the need is the same. Cables sell everywhere.

BLOKK’s retail-ready packaging keeps it professional across all your sites. That brand consistency matters. Customers expect uniformity between locations, and having the same accessories in every wash reinforces your professionalism.

It’s a simple, scalable way to create an instantly recognizable customer experience.

Why BLOKK Works in the Car Wash Space

BLOKK cables are designed to thrive in fast-paced, high-traffic environments. They’re durable, eye-catching, and built for impulse visibility.

For distributors, that means an easy product to sell into the category — one that resonates with both single-site operators and national chains.

For operators, it means a product they can trust — one that delivers consistent quality and repeat sales without adding complexity.

That’s the magic of a well-designed, universal accessory. It fits into every routine, every dashboard, every glove box, and every point of sale.

The Bottom Line

Car washes are built on convenience, efficiency, and customer experience — and phone charging cables check every one of those boxes.

They’re small, simple, profitable, and practical. They don’t need advertising or education; they just need to be visible.

Each sale might be modest, but across hundreds of customers per day, the impact is real. Cables elevate your service, delight your customers, and quietly increase your average transaction value without slowing down operations.

BLOKK charging cables were made for this kind of environment — where people are on the move, time matters, and convenience rules.

So the next time you’re wiping down the counters at your car wash or refilling air fresheners, ask yourself one question:

Is your counter helping customers charge their phones — or just their cards?

Strong. Fast. Reliable. BLOKK.

CTA: Bring BLOKK charging cables to your car wash today and turn quick stops into powerful profits.