CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — What is it with all of these car washes being built? Learn how two Utah friends found their way into this fast-growing industry as they share their insight into the car wash space.

Quinn Allgood and Conner Atkin started the Tagg-N-Go Car Wash brand locally in 2016 after acquiring their first self-serve car wash about three years before. Originally, they set out to be businessmen because of the examples their late fathers set for them.

“We just wanted to be entrepreneurs,” Allgood said. “We weren’t set on what we wanted to do, so in 2012 we were told about an opportunity to buy a self-serve car wash and took a chance on it. It definitely wasn’t on our radar.” 

At the start of this year, they had seven locations. In the last four months, Tagg-N-Go has acquired two more locations (Richfield and Roy) and has finished construction on three new locations throughout the state.

“Our original goal was to be able to serve everyone in Utah and be the car wash of choice,” Atkin said. “However, since diving into the car wash world, it has evolved into a passion of being engaged in the communities we serve, cultivating a team atmosphere and inspiring opportunities within others.”

Tagg-N-Go is a homegrown organization, bootstrapping their success to keep it local. If you’ve seen any of their recent billboards, you may have seen the tagline “Founded in Utah for YOUtah.” You are the focus – the customer, the community, their family, their neighbors. During every meeting, the leadership team discusses how they can serve local communities and how they can improve for their employees and the communities they serve. 

“This is a platform for us to be able to make a difference in people’s lives,” Atkin said. “Whether that be teaching customer service skills, leadership or being involved in some way with the community, it all makes a difference.” 

Fast-forward to 2022 and this small, Utah car wash is tied for No. 66 on the Top 100 Conveyor Car Washes list and is the largest privately held car wash in Utah, owned right here in Utah. Having grown to 12 locations and over 275 employees spanning from Roy to Mesquite, Nevada, Allgood said this wasn’t always the plan.

“Three always felt like the right number,” he added. “However, along the way, we found a love and passion for people. And here we are now at 12 locations, with at least 15 more at some level of the planning stage. We are able to use the business for so much more than washing cars.” 

Tagg-N-Go has what they call a “purpose, cause, passion” statement – “Cultivate Unity and Inspire Opportunity” – and that’s what gets them out of bed in the morning. Sara Slauf, the company’s human resources director, said: “Come for a job and stay for a career. We have had many employees start as part-time attendants who have now become site managers, maintenance technicians, HR professionals, trainers and that’s just to name a few.” 

Utah certainly doesn’t have a shortage of car washes. So why the major explosion of car wash tunnels around town and throughout the U.S.?

And what about water? Aren’t we supposed to be conserving water?  Well, did you know that taking your car through a water-efficient car wash actually helps in that effort? At Tagg-N-Go, a wash uses less water than your typical 15-minute shower or running a load of laundry. 

By choosing to use a car wash like Tagg-N-Go, you will only be using about 30 gallons of water. Plus, Tagg-N-Go has invested in top-of-the line, on-site water reclamation systems, which means that they recycle the water right on site. Any water that they do recycle, they recapture and send back to the city’s treatment plant so it can be repurposed and reused. 

Living up to their community engagement promise, Tagg-N-Go stays involved at the city and county levels, helping to create ordinances to make sure that precious resources are being used appropriately. There’s also a level of transparency with the cities and working in conjunction with them to reduce water usage.

Because of the work they have done, Tagg-N-Go has been given the “Water Savers” designation from the International Carwash Association. Being part of this group of car washes means that they must recertify each year that they are living up to the Water Savers standards. You can read more about the Water Savers Program here.  

As for the popularity, there’s a new level of demand in the car wash industry. Conveyorized car washes is a new segment in the industry, and there’s a high demand from consumers. For Tagg-N-Go, the competition is welcome.

“The competition has made us better and has held us accountable to a higher standard,” Allgood said. “We have added new services to our brand, and others have caught on. Being a new company, local and founded in Utah, it is our customers that help us know what they want, and we are driven to meet our customers’ needs in quick fashion.”

Staying true to this vision, you will see fully indoor car washes coming into the state from Tagg-N-Go. The first one is under construction in Lehi on 2100 North, with two more in the pipeline. This will be a one-of-a-kind wash that Tagg-N-Go is excited to bring to the state.

“Our customers have been telling us what they want, so we are delivering it by bringing this whole new exciting wash experience to Utah,” Atkin said. “Many businesses shy away from this type of wash because of increased labor. However, staying true to our ‘people focus,’ we are super excited to offer this to our customers as well as an opportunity to have more impact with our employees. 

“At the end of the day, we are more than just a car wash. For us, washing cars is the vehicle that enables us to make a difference.”

For Allgood, Atkin and the whole Tagg-N-Go team, this is more than just a business. They feel as though their co-workers and customers are part of their family.   

Tagg-N-Go is taking Utah by storm. Keep an eye out for a new site coming near you! Sites going up in 2023 include Cedar City – Minersville Highway, Lehi, Santaquin, Pleasant Grove, Tooele, Saratoga Springs, Vineyard, Ephraim, Salem and Eagle Mountain – City Center. You can learn more at TaggNGo.com. 

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