Priority in building your store up

[namng99]

I'm not sure how to set the vote here. I'm interested in seeing the priority in building a store up.

Below is what I think.

1. Make sure it's clean. Make sure customers are happy so we can have more customers in general.
2. Add games, massage chair, sell more stuff in the store.
3. Provide excellent Wash and Fold service. Promote the service.
4. Go get commercial account.
5. Promote pickup and delivery service.

Please reorder them in your post per your thoughts. I don't see a lot of commercial account discussion. Maybe it's not that worth it the efforts? Maybe it's so hard to find one?

[galaga]

Small commercial account come and go,if the time is bad,they do it by themself.
The real good /big commercial account gross as much as $20,000-40,000 a year for each account,you have to know the RIGHT PERSON to talk to or know when is the time to bid,how to bid,how much does others charge now,how long is the deal.........so even the account are open to bid,you still need to know the right person to talk .Some are slow to pay.
YMCA summer camp pay fast but they will drop off 2,3 truck load,only twice a year,you have to bill YMCA.
Homeless silter will bring stuff all winter but very very slow to pay,we don't do theirv laundry anymore.
Police depot didn't want to pay at all in my area,we are no longer service them.
Most city pay fast,you have to find the right person to send the bills,not the depot you do laundry.
One of my friend's laundromat is not in a good location,bad parking,so he does a lot commercial account,over 100,000 a year,those accont are all 2,3 years or longer deal.

[Sudzbouldercity]

To ensure growth my vote is as follows:

1) Keep your store clean and make sure your customers are happy. Word of mouth is the most important type of advertising.
2) Add newer and larger machines.
3) Add Wash, Dry 'N Fold service if possible and promote it.
4) If a Dry Cleaning drop-off service possible work with a local dry cleaning plant. You can make 40%+ gross margin.
5) Sell laundry related items like soaps not only in vending size but larger sizes too, hangers, laundry bags, storage bags ect.
6) Other types of revenue from vending machines like soda, games, snacks, massage chairs ect.
7) Small commercial accounts
8) Pick-up and delivery service.

[Burley]

Galaga,
What kind of w,d,f do you do for the city??

[Spin_City]

namng99,

Your list is OK except that #1 or 2 would probably be to add larger/more efficient machines if you are buying an exisiting business.

Your list's number #2 of adding games, vending, etc. would probably be more like #5. These are worth doing, and not very expensive versus adding machines, but they are not big money makers versus washers and dryers.

At my store my revenue breaks down like this;

Revenue from washers and dryers 75%
Wash Dry Fold 18%
Soap Vending 3%
Games, Snacks, Over Counter Sales 2%
Dry Clean & Alterations (my profit after paying contractor)2%

With the machines being such an important money maker, you should work to ensure that you have the best mix of machines to satisfy your customers and maximize your profits. This means watching which are used most often/least often, analyzing the utility comsumption versus revenue, and adjusting the mix. If you buy an old store, you are likely to find that you can increase profits dramatically by replacing top loaders with larger front loaders, or replacing single basket dryers using pilots with stack dryers which only burn gas when they are in use. Both of these upgrades will dramatically increase your profit/Sq ft - if you have enough customer demand.

[galaga]

Animal control ,one city the animal control is not part of police depot,We do their laundry for all the towels,doesn't small that great but it is easy to do.My bookkeeper bills the ciry controler not Animal depot.

[namng99]

galaga,

You know quite a few commercial accounts... How do you get customers from city officials?

[galaga]

DUE TO CENSORSHIP OF THIS BOARD,I WILL NOT POST OFTEN ANYMORE,GOOD LUCK.

[Michael@ CLA]

Sorry, Galaga. When names are mentioned and potentially slanderous or libelous statements are made I have to delete them. I do not want to test the effectiveness of our publishers liability insurance.

[galaga]

SO LET'S CALL THIS FEEL GOOD BOARD OR GOOD NEWS ONLY BOARD :-)
I AM NOT MAD BUT IF NO FREE SPEACH ,I WON'T POST AS OFTEN HELP OTHERS ANYMORE.
IF ANY BAD NEWS,BAD TRADER POST MAY CAUSE PROBLEM,GOOGLE WILL BE OUT OF BUSINESS LONG TIME AGO.

[petefritz]

spend more time at cw
I always thought your posts were quite straight and forward.