| Hew Hampshire car wash market. Well we have | | | | large cities and will probably not face the same |
| visited every city in New Hampshire over the | | | | fate as cities like Bangor Maine, because it is close |
| population of 10,000 at least twice, the larger | | | | to other large cities including Boston, where things |
| ones four and five times talking to many people in | | | | cost more due to higher costs of living and wages |
| various industries. Landscapers, brick layers, | | | | there. It is a good compromise for those who |
| Heating and Air, Plumbers, Car Dealers, | | | | need to get out of the big city to compete on |
| Professional People, Politicians, wood be politicians, | | | | cost. The Toll Way running through the city is not |
| chamber of Commerce Personal, Economic | | | | to damaging to Nashua for trade with partnering |
| Development people and just nice folks on the | | | | city Manchester, NH because there is a short |
| street. Including skateboarders; Hockey and | | | | distance and the fees are small and two other |
| Soccer Moms; Canadian Tourists and this last visit | | | | routes, which are easy travel. No charge to drive |
| mourners for the Old Man of the Mountain who | | | | to Boston and therefore trade with Boston is |
| died in vain after a Harsh winter of snow and rain. | | | | good.Nashua and the governor of NH have been |
| The ceremonies were good and respectful of our | | | | really working hard to attract companies in Tech |
| fallen gentleman. But the world marches on and | | | | to NH for many years now. It has worked well |
| with more places to go and people to meet | | | | but now the lay offs have been hurting things a |
| including an in depth look into what makes Nashua | | | | little more than anticipated. We have seen many |
| tick. One of the major populated cities in NH and | | | | top notch companies come to play in the area |
| there are not many of them. Total Population is | | | | here. Such as EDS, Digital Equipment, Raytheon, all |
| about 1,272,600 approximately. .Nashua is growing | | | | of which had lots of layoffs. What the city going |
| unlike other areas of the states that are more | | | | was the move towards services and retail to |
| Northern which are losing population base; | | | | cater to these young up and coming professionals. |
| According to the Tiger Files associated with the | | | | But the lay offs were not pretty; but Nashua has |
| last Census. We are seeing more Canadian | | | | seen it before after the dying of all the mills, Back |
| Tourism as the Dollar has fallen against their | | | | in the 1600s the colonial town made hay due to |
| currency somewhat. A little better than 2/3 as | | | | it's closeness to Boston at which time our family |
| was the previous known standard that people | | | | in the Silversmith business often traded with the |
| assumed. Tourism is up a little now finally and | | | | population of Nashua. The biggest growth of the |
| mostly because it is an easy drive for NY, NJ to | | | | city was from 1960-1980 before the tech bubble, |
| get out of the heat. The Winter was a bummer | | | | lots of growth.The retail sector and upgraded |
| as most admit, but it is hopping now. Weather in | | | | downtown project, they call it "Destination |
| Nashua is not as bad as one might think. Dec thru | | | | Downtown." has captured the essence of a point |
| February are a little tough but Nov and March on | | | | of destination, every weekend Boston Suburban |
| the other side of the cold period are very doable, | | | | Harley Riders drive to Nashua and hang out and |
| with the typical three day storms which come | | | | spend money. This has been very successful with |
| through, the issues of doubling up storms or six | | | | travelers, locals and tourists alike and it is the |
| day bad weather cold snaps are common in Nov | | | | answer to fixing these small town areas where |
| thru March and occasionally in Oct and also in April. | | | | urban flight can destroy all hope. Check it out, it is |
| It was a long winter this year and the worst in | | | | cool; there are the annual events bringing even |
| six years, but not horrific. Not extremely | | | | more people. Also housing and construction are |
| conducive to car washing and mobile detailing and | | | | alive and well as Nashua keeps getting high |
| in the rough economy not inviting but doable | | | | rankings for good schools, friendly folks, lower |
| never the less and better than some industries as | | | | taxes and a really great place to live. This means |
| things have been tough. Luckily the increase in | | | | that it is a nice place to clean cars too. Just over |
| population has helped. Manufacturing has taken a | | | | the border in Mass, is Hudson and it too is seeing |
| little bit of a hit like all manufacturing jobs in the | | | | strong middle class growth. With Tech slowing |
| US, although NH likes to think of this as their | | | | what is NH next play for jobs and boom? Well it |
| secret strength, well we will give them that, it is | | | | is attempting to re-invent itself again. And if any |
| true, but long term that could be dangerous after | | | | state can it would be the tenacious people of NH, |
| touring the closed mills across the border in Maine | | | | is Biotech the next power play? It could be the |
| things were not that great and hopefully their | | | | jobs market is less costly for companies and the |
| past is no indication of the possible future of NH. | | | | students are available in bulk and inexpensive and |
| We see the city of Nashua as a different type of | | | | plentiful .There is a little of everything in NH, why |
| town although surely Manufacturing a factor too. | | | | not Bio-Tech after all next to Boston it makes a |
| Since 1990 most of NH has had great growth in | | | | good fit. There are some car washes in the area |
| High Tech manufacturing whereas the other New | | | | too and they are well received and thriving |
| England Sates all had net loses. But today that | | | | proving that the market there is strong. Gentle |
| incredible advantage could prove a liability. In all of | | | | Touch car wash has two locations, both are busy |
| NH there was a 4-5% decline in manufacturing | | | | every time we have been by. We saw several |
| which hurt just like in Vermont, which competes | | | | other car washes but we really liked the Gentle |
| for the same manufacturing jobs in low tech, but | | | | Touch and so do customers. Lucky Duck Car |
| not so much in high tech. Burlington, VT has also | | | | Wash is also good. The is also a really good Detail |
| seen a hard time, yet even with that retail and | | | | Shop which were quite good. .They also own |
| services have picked up in NH and VT and with | | | | body shops and have a good customer base and |
| both have Universities that do research and | | | | dealership work and they are busy.The local |
| development, they have been able to find new | | | | detailing and car wash establishments are doing |
| placement for graduates willing to stay in state | | | | well in New Hampshire, not all are breaking speed |
| and work. Those have been good paying jobs. | | | | records but all are making money from what we |
| 17% of all jobs in NH up until even the beginning | | | | saw. What type of business would you like to |
| of the year have been manufacturing. Nashua is | | | | establish in NH, there is growth and room to grow |
| not as heavy in manufacturing as the neighboring | | | | for most any type of small business. |