From the Journal Editor

[Bob_Nieman]

My name is Bob Nieman, and I am the editor of The Journal. I came on board at
the end of February, and for the last four months, have set about learning
your industry as quickly as possible and attempting to produce the most
useful, informative magazine in this business.

Prior to accepting my current position with the Coin Laundry Association, I
served as the editor of the official magazine of the Bowling Proprietors'
Association of America. Before that, I served as director of publications
for the National Sporting Goods Association.

I'm excited to be working in this industry and serving the CLA members, but
most importantly, I want you to be thrilled with the product — The Journal —
that we publish each month.

As a result, any story suggestions, possible store profile candidates or other feedback

[Howard]

Welcome. Suggest that you start reading some of the comments that have been directed to Brian as of late.

Here are some suggestions:

1.) Interviews with distributors on how they evaluate sites near existing laundries.

2.) A study of profitability of the coin laundry business. What are real returns, why should be get into, or not get into the business.

3.) Compare and contrast equipment brands - let owners rate equipment manufactures in terms of equipment quality, what they and their customers like, and how service rates among the suppliers.

Hope that gives you some food for thought.

[Bob_Nieman]

Thank you for the quick response to my earlier posting. Your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Feel free to pass along further ideas and feedback through this thread, as I will check it freqently.

Of course, you also may reach me at (630) 963-5547 or via e-mail at journal@coinlaundry.org. The Journal is YOUR magazine, and your input is always welcome.

[Mark]

Bob,

Welcome to CLA. I am new to this business as well and CLA has done a great job helping me with my education.

In addition to Howard's comments:

I would like to see profiles of existing stores that have done well with older equipment and have been in business for a
long time. What are their secrets to longevity? How have they fended off competition?

How about coverage of issues that are important to all owners?

- market oversaturation - avoidance?
- financing of new stores and remodelling - methods, rates, etc.
- how to evaluate a distributor

Thanks

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

Profile, the industry. This would be very educational for you and a good story.

Show the dirt within the industry, do not protect the manufacturers and distributors, nor store owners for that matter, from their own flaws. CLA and the Journal should be a magazine that expects and demands a high standard of ethical practices within the industry. Do not sugar coat the industry, the industry is taking a downward slide and all potential investors should know this. There are only so many laundry customers! Profile the massive amount of homework that should be completed before an educated descision should be made prior to investing. Remind potential investors that tapping into a market can mean splitting of the pie, it doesn't always mean a new store will dominate the market. Profile profitability.

Since you do not know the industry you too should be viewing the threads here and on coinwash.com. The information passed amoungst all on these threads will give you great insight. Please keep on top of things and post your views on the board. Thanks!

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

Bob, sounds like your saying, "Thanks for your comments, glad you got everything off your chest"........see you around?

Since you are very new to this biz, but have been in the publications biz, where are you going with the Journal? What are your thoughts?

[Bob_Nieman]

My thoughts? In general, I want to provide coin laundry store owners with meaty, nuts-and-bolts content that is also entertaining. I hope to offer timely, money-making, money-saving ideas every month that operators can successfully implement within their own businesses.

I’m always looking for store profile candidates, potential interview subjects and interesting feature story topics. The responses above are right on target. Keep them coming.

For anyone who wants to be more specific, please give me a call. Also, if I gave the impression that I was simply letting visitors to this bulletin board just "blow off steam," that certainly wasn’t my intention. As I wrote above, member feedback is valued and greatly appreciated.

[LEEHUSTON]

I would like to see a step by step, proven method of coming up with a reasonable and reliable dollar figure that could be expected for a given demographic study. I have never seen an expert interpretation of of a demograpic study. I am not just talking about observations that one would make about a study. I am talking about the real procedure for determining the money an owner could expect.

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

Well, I'm quite positive everyone would like to order a demographic study that would calculate the amout of business and gross income that could be expected. Unfortunatley I would expect the calculations you seek would be extremely difficult to estimate? Any business venture requires education and some risk. If it didn't, everyone would be in biz for themselves. There is no easy avenue when inquiring on the benefits of any businesses. It takes homework and direct insight.

[Howard]

I agree with Lee, that would be a great article. Of course the actually numbers and assumption would vary by location and have an impact, but I would like to see the calculation procedures and assumptions spelled out in a step by step manner. That would be great!

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

Where's my Journal?

[sean326]

as a new owner of a very old mat I had to and still have to purchase a lot of new equipment.

I would love to see an objective ananlysis of the equipment.

I realize that since you accept advertising it would be difficult for you to be very objective but you could couch it as a survey of owners and just tabulate feedback.

highlight a new pice of equipment every month do an electronic survey of members in the form of a questionaire.

such as:

average price paid

repair frequency

customer reaction

etc..

[Howard]

That would be a welcome article that there is no way the association would have the nerve to do!

[CleanSpot]

1. Get rid of Wally
2. Get input from around the country...more west coast would be nice
3. Do more on older stores...remodeling older stores, what makes older stores stay profitable, how to compete with newer stores, etc.
4. I love pictures, lots of detailed pictures. Those pictures really are worth a 1000 words as it is often the little detail I get from a picture that gives me an idea.
I am REALLY tired of just seeing brand new stores and brand new owners with interviews of how they have invented the wheel.
5. Nuts & bolts are always good. Just make sure whoever writes the article is really good.