So this may not be the "normal" google answers type of question, but
I've had such good luck in the past, I figure, what the heck?

In short:  I have a car wash company and when it's sunny, business is
great.  When it's raining, business goes away almost completely.  The
problem for me is that I need to have 20-30 car washers on a sunny
day, and 0-5 when it's raining.  That makes it very hard for me to
offer an employee steady work (which I'd really like to do for them)
and also to manage my labor costs with my revenue.  Right now I manage
this by maintaing a portion of my work force as temporary, variable
labor, and a portion as salaried.  But that has two negative
consequences -- I can't provide steady work to the temp people, and I
am paying the salaried people when I can't really afford to.

So... that's why I'm here.  I'm trying to find out if there are any
industries that are countercyclical with mine -- i.e. they actually
have *more* work when it rains.  For example, lets say that when it
rains, the local kmart owner wants to clean his store more often. 
Then I could set up an agreement where I contract out my employees on
rainy days to him.  It's a win-win-win for everyone!  But I don't
know/thing this is a real scenario.  And that's why I'm asking all of
you smart google answers people.  Can you, through research, creative
thought, experience, or otherwise, come up with any ideas or direction
as to how I might find this type of opportunity?  You'd be helping me
and also all of the great people who work for me at the car wash!

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 06 Apr 2006 14:29 PDT

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this, but it does seem a
workable idea, and you seem like a responsible sort, so...

Many communitities are finding day-labor sites springing up...places
where crews can stop by and quickly pick up hires for the day.

Can you set up such a site adjacent to your car wash?  That way, you
can hire your regulars on a daily basis when the weather's good, and
when it isn't, they can be first in line for whatever other day jobs
show up.

Mind you, that's not as enticing a prospect for a worker as a full
time steady job.  But if your choice is day-labor or firing a bunch of
your staff, perhaps it's a scenario worth considering.

Let me know what you think.


pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by mikeyrosenrosen-ga on 06 Apr 2006 18:39 PDT

It's an interesting idea.  You're right.  There are actually several
of those sites in my area.  The problem is that in the rain, those
day-labor jobs "dry up" as well.  I actually don't prevent the washers
from going to these sites at all, because it's a win-win.  However, I
also feel like ideally I'd be able to set up a business relationship
here with someone where I actually subcontract my washers out.  That
way everything is legit.  The main problem I'm having is trying to
find another industry or set of jobs that actually needs *more*
workers when it rains.  It would be a perfect match.

I understand your dilema. My Father owned an Amusement Device & Gaming
company, he sold everything coin-operated (excluding laundry machines)
including pool tables, juke boxes, pinballs, etc. To increase revenue,
he started selling above ground swimming pools in the summer, and was
then stuck with a slow winter season. What did he do? He started
selling high-end artifical christmas trees and decorations. This
evened out his year and made his sales staff very happy as well, no
more winter lay-offs...

I'll think about your problem.  Have you considered adding a portable
bistro that you could roll-out to the street during the rain?  Rain
always makes me want a caramel mocha...!!

What about advertising a deal on interior detailing when it rains? 
The inside could always be cleaned, rain or no rain.  Just an idea...

Perthaps you should speak to an accountant. Maybe you can loan out
your workers as "paid volunteers" to local animal shelters, nursing
homes, soup kitchens, thrift stores, homeless shelters, etc. They
could serve, sweep, mop, mow, rake, clean and many other tasks and
your accountant can tell you if you can claim this contribution on
your taxes. If so, this might get some wonderful exposure for your
business and may even enhance your reputation as a genenrous anc
caring local philanthropist.

Let me know if this works for you as an answer.

tutuzdad-ga

Perhaps you could find a company that does emergency roof repairs for leaks.

Googlenut

What about having them sell umbrellas on street corners? Or, for the
K-Mart tie-in, have them be umbrella holders and parking lot runners.
When a customer comes out of the K-Mart and they don't have an
umbrella, your guys would walk them to their cars holding an umbrella
for them. They'd get tips too. Of course, you need to make sure that
you buy up all the umbrellas in the K-Mart first, so customers can't
buy their own..

I'll think on this some more, but just off the top: why not add auto
detailing services to your car wash service? My son owns and operates
a detail shop, and experiences some of the same
seasonal/weather-related business fluctuations you're talking about.
However, a detailer can offer more options than just a wash. For
instance, you could reserve jobs like interiors, carpet dying, wet
sanding, sap removal, engine cleaning and/or paint touchups for those
rainy days, checking the weather a few days to a week ahead and
calling your customers to schedule. Just a thought .... but I'll
cogitate a bit more.

maybe this one:
deal with local bussineses delivering their flyers to people`s homes,
you can schedule deliveries during the rain (give them that umbrelas
from kmart), and that more clever of that guys you can use for
telemarketing - they can call companies and acquire contracts - for
delivering of flyers or car washing as well (clients from flyers have
discount on car washing or vice versa, to attract their attantion).
and yes, you will just include your flyer as well and grow .. in
several months you can be happy for every rain - you`ll take new
orders from advertisers and soon you can start your own ... you`ll see
:)

Walls make ice-cream n the summer and sausages in the winter, try the
same kind of thing. Wash cars in the sun and sell coats, wellies and
umbrellas in the winter. Why not expand the car thing as well, sell
stickers, stuff that hangs from the mirrors and air fresheners

If you live in a place where it snows, perhaps they could shovel
out/brush off cars at car dealerships on snowy day. Similarly, perhaps
you could work out a deal with the same car dealership to vaccuum out
and deep clean the interiors of trade-ins on bad weather days.