Tips

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=105 BGCOLOR="#66CCCC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12e00690ezvthe.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B><U>Coin Laundry OWNERS CLUB</U></B></I><B> </B></FONT><B> </B><B>  </B><B> </B><B>  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Coin Laundry OWNERS CLUB"><U><I><B><U>Home</U></B></I></U></A><I><B>   </B></I><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><I><B>Back to Links</B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=375 BGCOLOR="#66CCCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Tips</div> <div> This page is tips I've collected from forums that can help you make more money at your laundromat.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sucess idea: Installed a new coin-op vacuum (75 cents for 5 minutes)in the parking lot and it has been successful. Vacuum uses very electricity ($10/monthly),low maintenance, brings in $100+/monthly, and increases laundry traffic. Some customer comes to wash with me just because they can vacuum their car while the wash is being done. Recently came across a used co-op vacuum for under $500 (from gasoline station). New vacuum: $1,000 - $1,500 If you have the space and if you have the right location, this may work for you. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">One of the things I do, that may be of use to others, is that I give a kid a broom and pay him 50 or 75 cents to sweep up. The mom's love it. The dad's go crazy over it. The kids always, always spend the money on candy, soda, or video games and I have a clean floor (that the kids go out of their way to keep clean). </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">While increasing prices across the board, I also raised soap vending prices from 50 to 75 cents each. Simultaneously, I offered a "promotion" of sorts by taping a Golden Dollar to the back flap of one each of the five brands I offer (in 8 columns) and advertised it in the Laundromat. I added a hidden dollar to one of every 58 boxes  Not only didn't even one person complain, I increased soap box sales by 44% the first week and 51%  The "promotion" is now in its third week and doing as well or better Interesting isn't it? Plus, it makes the soap vending a real contributor to my bottom line! </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I am a new laundromat owner of 7 weeks. My 'mat has 108 machines, most about 10 years old (except for 19 new TL Speed Queens). These are some observations I have made in my short ownership time:</div> <div>      1. It's hard to find attendants that are reliable, capable and honest.</div> <div>      2. Every day brings new challenges. This is not a "passive" business!</div> <div>      3. Most equipment "malfunctions" are intermittent and often related to incorrect customer usage. Old    equipment can be very temperamental. New equipment works perfectly almost always.</div> <div>      4. Management of minumum wage personnel by suggestion and logic does not work. Lay out the rules and procedures in writing, then enforce them.</div> <div>      5. Don't let attendants bring their children to work.</div> <div>      6. All washers should have a simple way for the timer to be advanced manually.</div> <div>      7. Customers who pack 50 lbs of clothing into a 25 lb machine will complain that insufficient water flowed into the machine. Then they will complain that the 30 lb dryer is defective because it did not completely dry the clothes.</div> <div>      8. Nobody wants to clean the lint traps. Do it yourself, and dryer complaints will almost vanish.</div> <div>      9. To quote Yogi Berra: "You can observe a lot just by looking". When in your 'mat observe how your customers use the machines. It helps put their complaints in perspective. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Terms"><U><B>Site Terms and Conditions</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>