increase business

[balgobin123]

Hi i am new to the industry and would appreciate it if anyone can share ideas with me as to how they increased business in their stores.
Thanks
Mitch

[Sunflower]

Wow! I'll be watching this one! -Anna

[hotwash]

it all starts with the big three first keep it CLEAN, MACHINES WORKING ALL THE TIME AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. extend to 24hrs sat and sunday night. promote drop off wash clubs/dropoff club 10 washes get one free, ten drop offs get 20 # free,do specails everyday, $10 comforter, free soap day, senors day, singles night with open mike for local singers, movie night, make deal with pizza shop have wash and dinner night, add book swap(free) , magazines, fish tank, plants, pictures on wall but it you dont do the big three forget everything else. good luck

[kbc747]

Keep things CLEAN and above all keep your machines working 100% of the time. Just do things you would like, that make you want to be somewhere you don't want to be.

[balgobin123]

Thank you these sonud like great ideas!

[balgobin123]

what do you mean Anna

[hotwash]

some more, do some raffles (tv, dvd, kids bike) then use that for your mailing list. i know one store does raffle for $50 in wash every month. Add an instant lottery machine(likesoda machine) for the scratch type tickets. offer flu shots in fall, anything to add excitment to the store. you could do Bingo night for fun or prizes (check your state laws first)

[balgobin123]

tahnks again i will try your ideas and let you know how it works out. How long have you been in the business ?.

[hotwash]

7 yrs but i have a mentor who has been in it since 1968, so i pump his brain every chance i can,plus i visit alot of stores where ever i go. the ideas do work i bought existing store and doubled business in 6 months with no major equipment improvements just customer service and clean store, i did very little advertising mostly word of mouth when i sold that store three yrs later it was doing triple from when i bought it. the only big item i added was air conditioning, sorry i sold it now was a great little store

[Sunflower]

I mean I'll be reading these insights and learning from them. Thanks for putting this thread up! -Anna

[hotwash]

ALSO DO A CUSTOMER SURVEY AND ASK TYHEM FOR COMMENTS AND WHAT SERVICES YOU COULD PROVIDE, ALSO GET NAMES FOR MAILING LIST. GIVE THEM FREE WASH FOR FILLING IT OUT COMPLETLY.

[balgobin123]

I have been trying the music approach and i have recieved an enormous response from the customers. They like the music and also like it "loud". My next approach is to make a party night and see how that works out.
On a seperate note i have old dryers and i am not sure if they work to all my customers satisfaction, i would say that 10% complain about dryer effectivness but i know that some of it is there hesitation to put an extra .25 Any sugestions?
Thanks
Mitch