a powerhouse brand
By Jason Zasky
Lee and Kristey Ray have built a powerhouse brand
“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
Ryan Pilkinton, Location Manager