Who Has The Best Bathroom In America?

Who do you imagine?

The Ritz Carlton?

Nordstrom’s?

Nope. How about a gas station in Texas?

Buc-ee’s Convenience Store in New Braunfels, Texas, to be exact.

They were the winner of Cintas’ annual Best Bathroom in America contest for 2012.

The Yahoo! Finance article states:

The 68,000-square-foot service stop plays host to thousands of vehicles a day with passengers filling up on fuel, grabbing food and using the facilities.

“We invite everyone to stop in to try out our award winning restrooms,” said Buc-ee’s co-owner, Beaver Aplin. “Maybe Buc-ee’s will be our city’s new claim to fame, the ‘Taj Ma-Stall’ of Texas … a tourist attraction in and of itself,” Aplin said jokingly.

Buc-ee’s understands what draws people – especially decision-making women – to choose one convenience store over another.

Customers who have made a beeline for the bathroom at Buc-ee’s say this Texas-based business flushes the competition when it comes to clean. “You gotta see it to believe it,” said one Canyon Lake resident and Chamber of Commerce member who nominated Buc-ee’s for this year’s contest. “Not only do they have a great atmosphere, the restroom facilities are amazing…they are spacious, uber clean and there are plenty for everyone… I have even changed clothes there without worrying about yuckiness,” said Kelly R., a Houston resident who also submitted Buc-ee’s for consideration this year.

The article lists other finalists and goes on further about Buc-ee’s and their awesomeness. Buc-ee’s gets that a delightful, shareworthy customer experience typically tops all other types of marketing.

How’s your bathroom doing these days? What would have to happen for your company to enter this contest next year?

What other touch points (every aspect through which a customer comes into contact with your company) could you make contest-worthy? How about the cleanest parking lot? Or the friendliest greeters? Or the most open cash register lanes?

Brainstorm ideas with your team. You don’t need to be the Ritz Carlton or Nordstrom’s to rock shareworthy service. You just need to care.

(h/t to Dr. Kevin Klenke of San Antonio, Texas, for his valuable insight into bathrooms)