Shower Facility

[katie]

We need your help!

Would you ladies (and gentleman) be gracious enough to look at this facility and answer the questions. Is this something you could use while out on the road. www.watermarksuites.com

This facility provides showers, private offices (rented by hour) and exercise room. This is not a hotel!

[Rev.Vassago]

This reeks of spam.



But, I'll bite (even though I didn't take the survey). I think that this service will flop, because most drivers do not have the time for something like this. If they did, they would just rent a hotel room.

Most drivers aren't paying for showers anyway - they get free showers when they fuel.

If I am getting a "theraputic" jacuzzi, it had better be in a hotel room, and I better have it for the entire night.

[katie]

We appreciate your input! We don't expect to make every driver a customer, but we think some of the drivers would use this facility.

As far as finding a hotel that provides the amenties we provide (other than a bed), its going to cost a minimum of $ 175/night. Our facility would be $ 15.00 - $ 20.00.

Again, we know its not for everybody, but there's millions of drivers on the road and if we can be of service to 1% , then we would be happy.

[Rev.Vassago]

As far as finding a hotel that provides the amenties we provide (other than a bed), its going to cost a minimum of $ 175/night. Our facility would be $ 15.00 - $ 20.00.

$175 a night? You are delusional if you think that a hotel room would cost me that.

[acranger]

A "minimum" of 175 a night! Where are we staying? Manhattan? A suite in Atlantic City? But I guess people who pay 175 for a hotel room will have no problem paying 20 bucks for a shower.

[katie]

"If I am getting a "theraputic" jacuzzi, it had better be in a hotel room, and I better have it for the entire night."

..........Please let us know the name of hotel with ALL the same facilities we are showing that is less than $ 175.00/ night.

[BanditsCousin]

I spend $100 at most when I am laying over in somewhere really nice (ie Holiday Inn-Clearwater FL) with everything I need.

On the road, all I need in a room is cable with like 18 channels, GOOD wifi, and a clean room and I never spend more than $55 for that.

But, free showers with fuel keep me on the road. I spend more nights in motels than a majority of the drivers here due to the HHG business.

[Rev.Vassago]

"If I am getting a "theraputic" jacuzzi, it had better be in a hotel room, and I better have it for the entire night."

..........Please let us know the name of hotel with ALL the same facilities we are showing that is less than $ 175.00/ night.

That's just it - most drivers don't have the time for your "facilities", nor do they have a use for them.

A clean shower, a comfortable bed, and peace and quiet. Anything else is overkill.

I can rent a hotel room with a jaccuzi (and a bed) for a little over $100 if I wanted to. But there is no need.

Trust the drivers on this - your service is pointless. If I want a jaccuzi, I am gonna spring for the hotel room with it in.

[yoopr]

damn-I think that's more expensive than the Tundra Hotel in GB

[street_95]

if i wanted a jacuzzi, i wouldnt be a trucker, i'll just stay home

[acranger]

This business will fail miserably.

[vavega]

miserably isn't the word for it. if i'm going to take the time and trouble to get that clean, comfortable, and relaxed, there better be a bed real close by. :wink:

[syl77dar]

goodluck

[katie]

Thanks for everyones input thus far - positive or negative!

Since Sunday we've had 175 visitors to the site and 50 folks have taken the survey (thank you).

Thus far, the answers have been as follows: 78% would use from 6- Midnight,50% would spend $ 15 (35% = $ 20), 43% would use 4 times/month (78% would use more than twice/month).

Again, thank you very much for the input, good or bad, keep it coming ladies.

P.S. We've had such a good response from the ladies, could you see this being a LADIES only facility???? Last reports says there are 300,000 females drivers on the road!

[yoopr]

300,000 seems a bit high

[GirlnamedShannon]

Of the three million drivers on the road, less than 5% are female (so half that 300k to 150k) and many of those are driving with their husbands or a male partner which makes it even less feasible, overall, and especially is you make it female only when the majority of females aren't driving alone.

And me, personally, being a solo female driver, I agree with what everyone else says. If I am going to pay for a shower, period, it's going to be in a hotel and for the night. Otherwise, I can wait to soak when I get home and hang with the free shower w/ fuel until then.

[GirlnamedShannon]

Thanks for everyones input thus far - positive or negative!

Since Sunday we've had 175 visitors to the site and 50 folks have taken the survey (thank you).

Thus far, the answers have been as follows: 78% would use from 6- Midnight,50% would spend $ 15 (35% = $ 20), 43% would use 4 times/month (78% would use more than twice/month).

Again, thank you very much for the input, good or bad, keep it coming ladies.

P.S. We've had such a good response from the ladies, could you see this being a LADIES only facility???? Last reports says there are 300,000 females drivers on the road!

Some other things to consider:

• Your survey is skewed because you don't have the option to answer lower than $15 or 0 times a month

• If you're gearing this to truck drivers and business travelers, understand that most business travelers need a place to sleep as well as shower. Truckers sleep in their trucks, obviously, but most other people on the road are going to need somewhere to sleep, as well.

• It's hard to sell this as a luxury experience if you're going to need space for truck parking and the noise of trucks idling. It's not terribly relaxing if you're not used to it (ie anyone who doesn't drive a truck) and if you disallow trucks to idle and/or park longer than they have paid for your services forcing them to backtrack elsewhere to shutdown for the night, you've essentially lost any trucker business you may have had.

• If business traveler's wanted to shower with truckers and sleep in their cars, they can do that at a truck stop for a lot less money.

• If you're planning to have this near rest stops, understand that the ''luxury experience'' you're selling will be available to every hooker, junkie, homeless person and thug that mill around rest areas. Again, if people wanted that, it's available at every truck stop, at no charge.

• If you're planning to set up shop near existing truck stops, see above re: junkies, hookers and run of the mill bums. Truckers are accustomed to sharing space with everyone; the general public: not so much. And I don't see people who can pay for a hotel room ponying up for a shower experience that, again, can be had at any truck stop.

[Rev.Vassago]

Thus far, the answers have been as follows: 78% would use from 6- Midnight,50% would spend $ 15 (35% = $ 20), 43% would use 4 times/month (78% would use more than twice/month).

Your survey is really lacking. I'll give you examples:

QUESTION 1. What time do you like to "freshin up" while on the road?

There is only one real answer to this question, which isn't an option in your survey. That answer is: It varies, depending upon the time available, and where the driver happens to be when the time becomes available. Usually this time becomes available when they are fueling at a truckstop, hence the fact that they use truckstop showers.

QUESTION 2. How much would you be willing to spend on a therapeutic shower/jacuzzi tub while on the road?

You give three options: $15, $20, and $25. Where is $0? Where is $10? It also doesn't say how long you get this "theraputic shower/jacuzzi tub" at that rate.

QUESTION 3. How many times a month would you visit a luxurious facility, if it was in walking distance of truck parking

Again - where is 0 in the choices?

P.S. We've had such a good response from the ladies, could you see this being a LADIES only facility???? Last reports says there are 300,000 females drivers on the road!

I would love to see where you came up with that number.


This is a ridiculous service. Truck drivers don't usually have the time for this kind of thing, and if they do, they will likely just get a hotel room. I hope that if you have investors on this venture, they did more research into the industry than you did. :wink:

[murph]

From the posts I can see that you are starting out well. People who are not interested in your service will be the majority. Your niche is the minority that will look forward to your offerings. Cater to the minority who will value this service and use it regularly. That way you are bound to succeed. Great idea, good luck!

[Truckfam]

I don't drive, but my husband does. I read the forums fairly regularly. This would have to be along someones route for it to be even feasible. You could have 5% of the truckers interested, but at what % would actually be able to stop and take their 10?

I think this idea would be much more feasible to turn it into a luxury truck stop with fuel, a place to eat, and a free shower. The gym equipment would be good for those who do want to execrise. A small fee could be paid to use gym equipment and jacuzzi tub.

If you are gearing this towards luxury and women, you really have to think security. Only letting in trucks and motorists that check in at the front gate, and exit gate with both being monitored by someone. A gated fence around the entire area. Also think of having roaming security on the lot just to make sure everything is on the up and up.

The lot will have to be large enough to hold a fair amount of trucks. I suggest not being skimpy on the isles. I regular parking lot will not do at all. There has to be enough room for trucks to turn. The more the better.

You would be missing on some money to be made by not offering rooms and comfortable beds with private showers for the entire night or even at 10 hours at a time long enough for a trucker to get in their 10 hour sleep/break. Some may would just like to crash for two hours on a bed for a change.

With roaming security, there may be more truckers willing to leave their truck and sleep on the bed since the trucks will be in a more secure area. bums and lot lizards should have a hard time getting in let alone trying to do any business or anything mischievous with all the security around. Include security cameras also. Heck you could even have a special gated parking area where only the drivers of the truck staying in the rooms to be allowed in and out of that area. Have at least two security guards for that area alone. One at the entrance/exit, and one roaming.

I guess to me luxury really does equal safety. Don't believe me, then read all the threads about women who want to get into trucking, but are concerned for their safety and well being.

If geared towards women, have call boxes in various places in the parking lot. The lot itself will be huge, just because the trucks are so big. This way women truckers can possibly use the call boxes to ask for a security escort to the rest rooms and/or facilities late at night to feel safer.