Shine On Columbia Car Wash: Serving Muletown Since 1963
By Jason Zasky
Shine On
Columbia Car Wash has been a fixture in Muletown for more than six decades, and its iconic yellow sign remains one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
It’s a throwback to a time when car washes had big, ‘look at me’-type signs, says Kyle Gaines, who has owned Columbia Car Wash for the past four years after purchasing it from his mom, who owned it for 11 years prior.
“People see the sign and the red truck sitting in front of it, and they immediately know that we’re the car wash that cleans cars inside and out,” begins Gaines.
That immediately makes Columbia Car Wash distinctive from its decidedly corporate competitors—and a “dinosaur,” as Gaines puts it. “We’re the only ones around who are still doing it like they were decades ago, vacuuming for customers and wiping out the door jambs and such. We are very hands-on, as compared to the car washes where you drive through and then wipe down and vacuum your own car.”
To be sure, Columbia Car Wash’s services are very much appreciated by large segments of the local community, including consumers who prefer shopping local.
“People who are elderly or can’t clean the inside of their own cars also really appreciate us and the service we offer. It makes us feel like there’s a sense of purpose for what we do,” adds Gaines.
And in Gaines’ case, working at Columbia Car Wash has been something he has been doing for a big portion of his life.
“I started working here in high school,” he says, noting that he graduated from Columbia Central High School in 2004, before joining the military and going to college.
Now he’s helping this generation of young people get started in their careers.
“We employ kids with no experience and teach them work ethic and the importance of being on time and doing a good job. It’s a great starting point for these kids,” says Gaines, as well as a good job for people who need a second chance.
“We have hired quite a few people from Hope House, and (currently) have four of them here, turning their lives around. It’s great to be able to give somebody a second chance to prove themselves—because everyone wants to feel like they are contributing to society,” he continues. Many of his (and his mom’s) former employees have already gone on to great things, including a few who have gone on to become teachers and nurses.
Columbia Car Wash also maintains close ties to the local community as a supporter of local Boys & Girls Clubs, not to mention Columbia Central Baseball. The car wash also offers discounts for members of the military, seniors, teachers, and the like.
Looking ahead, Gaines expects the business to continue to grow alongside Columbia and the rest of Maury County, noting that many of the transplants come from places with their own old-fashioned car washes.
“There’s nothing high-tech about us,” quips Gaines, before recalling a recent visit to a car wash conference. “I had to send them pictures, because some of the newer guys had never seen equipment this old,” he says with a chuckle.
And while the equipment may be old, the result is still satisfying: an ongoing stream of clean, dry cars leaving the Columbia Car Wash lot.
“No matter what the growth and direction of society, I think we’ll always have a place here,” concludes Gaines.
CONTACT:
Columbia Car Wash
105 Nashville Hwy., Columbia, TN 38401
(931) 490-0600
https://www.facebook.com/columbiacarwash/
“Most pressure washing companies are a man and a truck with a helper; we are a large and fast-growing business with all the extras,” begins Kristey Ray, who co-owns BREEZY PowerWash Inc. with her husband Lee, the latter a longtime Nashville firefighter. The Spring Hill couple has been growing the business for the past eight years—using Lee’s nickname at the fire department, Breezy, for the name of the company.
"We thought it (the name) was catchy, and both the logo and the name have been great advertising for us. Our van wraps are pretty recognizable and unforgettable,” continues Ray, before emphasizing that BREEZY does more than just power washing.
"We do all things exterior cleaning,” she says, serving a mix of residential, commercial, and multi-unit customers. That said, BREEZY handles everything from window cleaning to deck, fence & sidewalk cleaning, plus rust removal and oil, grease & graffiti removal. BREEZY also does a lot of tangentially-related work; that includes sealing driveways, cleaning out dryer vents, and installing gutter guards.
In the eight years the company has been in business, they have attracted more than its share of big-name clients in both Tennessee and Georgia. That includes the University of Georgia and Nissan Stadium.
"We clean the entire stadium from top to bottom every year, including all the seats, all the cushions and all the concrete under the seats, plus the concrete in the concourses and the concrete ramps (that lead) in and out of the facility,” notes Ray, who says it takes approximately 25 days to clean all of Nissan Stadium.
"But we’re in and out of there all year long,” she adds, because after, say, Monster Jam or AMA Supercross, “we have to go in there and clean. All that dirt has to get removed as it gets all over the ramps and lower-level seats.”
Yet the company is as well-suited for small-scale residential jobs.
"We'll clean anything no matter how big or small," emphasizes Ray, noting that BREEZY has cleaned everything from tree houses to horse trailers to RVs, not to mention mobile homes and log cabins.
In terms of the benefits of power washing, Ray cites improved appearance, increased curb appeal, increased property value, and the extension of the life of exterior surfaces among the top benefits.
"The first thing everyone thinks about is aesthetics. It makes everything look pretty," says Ray, and that’s why most people do it. But power washing also extends the life of your building materials. Also, you don’t want to live with mold and dirt.”
As for some of the ways that BREEZY differentiates itself from competitors, Ray highlights the fact that the company has a contractor's license and holds seven different industry certifications.
"Also, all of our techs are background checked and OSHA and EPA certified every two years. And we have a large fleet that allows us to have significant scheduling flexibility,” she says.
That said, the company has been so successful that some of its clients are itching to start franchises.
"We have clients who have been so impressed with the way our business runs—everything from the customer service to the ease of scheduling—that they want to buy into the business or start a franchise. Right now, we’re working with our attorney to finalize our franchise disclosure document. We already have five people who want to start a franchise,” offers Ray.
Meanwhile, Kristey and her husband plan to continue to focus on growing the business while continuing to give back to Spring Hill, which they have called home since 2010.
"We sponsor local sports teams, we’ve been a sponsor for Experience Spring Hill, and we also donate cleaning services,” offers Ray. “We’ve cleaned the softball facility—the walls, the dugouts, the sidewalks—at Summit High School. We’ve also cleaned the football stadium at Summit High. And in the past, we've cleaned The Well," she adds, referring to the organization that provides food for the hungry in Spring Hill.
At this point, it’s hard for Ray—a Kentucky native—to conceive living anywhere else.
“I love this community,” concludes Ray, who has been a member of the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce since 2011. “I love living and working in a community where we can give back.”
CONTACT
BREEZY PowerWash Inc.
1031 Parkway Dr. #25A
Spring Hill, TN 37174
615-502-5525
Lee and Kristey Ray have built a powerhouse brand
By Jason Zasky
“Most pressure washing companies are a man and a truck with a helper; we are a large and fast-growing business with all the extras,” begins Kristey Ray, who co-owns BREEZY PowerWash Inc. with her husband Lee, the latter a longtime Nashville firefighter. The Spring Hill couple has been growing the business for the past eight years—using Lee’s nickname at the fire department, Breezy, for the name of the company.
"We thought it (the name) was catchy, and both the logo and the name have been great advertising for us. Our van wraps are pretty recognizable and unforgettable,” continues Ray, before emphasizing that BREEZY does more than just power washing.
"We do all things exterior cleaning,” she says, serving a mix of residential, commercial, and multi-unit customers. That said, BREEZY handles everything from window cleaning to deck, fence & sidewalk cleaning, plus rust removal and oil, grease & graffiti removal. BREEZY also does a lot of tangentially-related work; that includes sealing driveways, cleaning out dryer vents, and installing gutter guards.
In the eight years the company has been in business, they have attracted more than its share of big-name clients in both Tennessee and Georgia. That includes the University of Georgia and Nissan Stadium.
"We clean the entire stadium from top to bottom every year, including all the seats, all the cushions and all the concrete under the seats, plus the concrete in the concourses and the concrete ramps (that lead) in and out of the facility,” notes Ray, who says it takes approximately 25 days to clean all of Nissan Stadium.
"But we’re in and out of there all year long,” she adds, because after, say, Monster Jam or AMA Supercross, “we have to go in there and clean. All that dirt has to get removed as it gets all over the ramps and lower-level seats.”
Yet the company is as well-suited for small-scale residential jobs.
"We'll clean anything no matter how big or small," emphasizes Ray, noting that BREEZY has cleaned everything from tree houses to horse trailers to RVs, not to mention mobile homes and log cabins.
In terms of the benefits of power washing, Ray cites improved appearance, increased curb appeal, increased property value, and the extension of the life of exterior surfaces among the top benefits.
"The first thing everyone thinks about is aesthetics. It makes everything look pretty," says Ray, and that’s why most people do it. But power washing also extends the life of your building materials. Also, you don’t want to live with mold and dirt.”
As for some of the ways that BREEZY differentiates itself from competitors, Ray highlights the fact that the company has a contractor's license and holds seven different industry certifications.
"Also, all of our techs are background checked and OSHA and EPA certified every two years. And we have a large fleet that allows us to have significant scheduling flexibility,” she says.
That said, the company has been so successful that some of its clients are itching to start franchises.
"We have clients who have been so impressed with the way our business runs—everything from the customer service to the ease of scheduling—that they want to buy into the business or start a franchise. Right now, we’re working with our attorney to finalize our franchise disclosure document. We already have five people who want to start a franchise,” offers Ray.
Meanwhile, Kristey and her husband plan to continue to focus on growing the business while continuing to give back to Spring Hill, which they have called home since 2010.
"We sponsor local sports teams, we’ve been a sponsor for Experience Spring Hill, and we also donate cleaning services,” offers Ray. “We’ve cleaned the softball facility—the walls, the dugouts, the sidewalks—at Summit High School. We’ve also cleaned the football stadium at Summit High. And in the past, we've cleaned The Well," she adds, referring to the organization that provides food for the hungry in Spring Hill.
At this point, it’s hard for Ray—a Kentucky native—to conceive living anywhere else.
“I love this community,” concludes Ray, who has been a member of the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce since 2011. “I love living and working in a community where we can give back.”
CONTACT
BREEZY PowerWash Inc.
1031 Parkway Dr. #25A
Spring Hill, TN 37174
615-502-5525
Personal service since 1952
By Jason Zasky
Serving the needs of Maury County — and beyond — since 1952.
By Jason Zasky
If there is one word that epitomizes Foster Insurance Agency, it's longevity.
"The business opened in 1952, and we have been at our current location for 15 years," begins owner Michael Ford, who has been working in the insurance business since 1978 and has had an ownership stake in Foster Insurance since the mid-1990s.
"We don't have much turnover here," he says, noting that office manager/agent Nikki Oliver has been working alongside him for eight years, having replaced Mary Sue Dalton, who worked at the agency for nearly five decades. "That tells you a lot about us," he adds, describing the six-person office as a "close-knit family."
In fact, one of the individuals working with Mike Ford at the agency is family — that being his son Jimmy, who focuses on commercial insurance.
"We do homeowners, auto, and life insurance, but commercial insurance is our bread and butter," clarifies the elder Ford. "We write everything from helicopters to bulldozers, so there is not a whole lot left out when it comes to dealing with equipment. We also write workers comp insurance and write a couple government entities, as well as performance and surety bonds for jobs. Also, I'm a farmer, and we write (policies) for quite a few farms around here," he offers, before noting that his son has attracted a lot of aviation business, thanks in part to his experience as a pilot.
Nor is the agency's business restricted to Maury County — or even Middle Tennessee.
"Our service area is the entire state of Tennessee, but we are also licensed in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and we have business in all those states. In fact, one of our largest accounts is based in Palm Beach, and we write quite a few homeowners and condominiums in Florida," clarifies Ford, having indicated that his son will eventually take full ownership of the business.
That said, Mike Ford says he has no plans to retire, or to cut back on the work he does in the local community.
"I'm in Rotary (Club) and deliver Meals on Wheels," he says, while he and his wife and colleagues also support Special Olympics, Miracle League of Columbia, and The People's Table, among other organizations.
Yet the welfare of his family — and the agency's customers — are never far from his mind.
"We're open five days a week, but Jimmy and I put our personal cell phone numbers on our business cards because we want people to be able to get ahold of us," he explains. "You will get one of us — always. I may not answer the moment you call, but when I hear the phone ring, I am going to call you back. We take care of our customers," he insists, something he hopes to continue to do till the day he dies.
"I love the business, and I have no intention of giving it up totally, even when I don't have any ownership. I hope they will still let me come in every day," he quips.
And, as a lifelong resident of Columbia, it's hard for him to imagine living or working anywhere else.
"I love the business, and I lead a good life here, and I think all (six of us) would say the same thing. We don't have many dissatisfied customers — ever," he concludes. "If we can't do it right, we're not going to do it."
CONTACT:
Foster Insurance Agency Inc.
204 W 4th St.
Columbia, Tennessee 38401
Phone: 931-388-8365