Closed Holidays

[Laundry_Mike]

It was good to see that almost every laundromat except for a couple scum bag stores were closed on Memorial Day. No self respecting laundromat should be open on a holiday. Even some of the slumlord sleaze stores were smart enough to shut down. It's nice to have a day off.

[Howard]

You are joking, right? Holiday monday's are some of the busiest days. Laundromat customers are procrastonators just like other humans. They normally do the bulk of their laundry on Sunday. When they have a 3 day weekend they put it off, and do it on Monday. You are doing yourself a disservice and causing your customers inconvience by closing on them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Laundry_Mike]

What about giving your hard working, probably underpaid employees a day off to spend with friends or family on holidays. I'm not that hard up that I feel the need to open on holidays. I value a true day off, and the goodwill which generates by giving the employees a day off. I don't feel that this is a disservice to my customers, as I advertise being closed 3 weeks in advance, and besides, I am open 358 days a year for them.

[PeterH]

Every laundromat, including mine, that I went by on Monday was open and busy. Sorry, but Memorial Day is not a major enough holiday to close. I'll be closed on July 4th, Dec 25 and Jan 1st.

[Howard]

Any employee that does not want to work that day or any day can take the day off without any questions, I am very flexible. My customers expect me to be open when it is convient for THEM not for ME - its called customer service. But, that is what is nice about running your own business - I do as I choose and you do as you choose! If closing holidays works for you, so be it.

[SecretarytoBraveDave]

It is all about convenience. People HATE to do laundry. Anything that makes the chore easier, the better for them, and in essence it will be better for you and your business. Memorial Day is a holiday that should certainly be recognized, and it is always nice to be off for a long weekend. But in general the memorial holiday is not one that is recognized by the majority of businessess. The kids were even in school this time, to make up snow days......Anytime we have an attendant that would like a day/holiday off, there are plenty wanting to work. We have many times left the place unattended for the holiday. We close Christmas Day only. While being flexible with the employees we must be flexible for the customers as well and keep operating hours that meet customer convenience.

[sean326]

I have an unattended mat and I was open.

My Father was a Navy fighter pilot and I'm more patriotic than most but I see no problem with being open.

I did stop by for a half hour and the place was packed

[CleanSpot]

Over the years we have experimented with being open/closed on holidays. We are totally closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Other holidays we may be open regular hours or we may close early or open late. Most holidays are busy days for us. You have to know your area tho...urban areas are different from suburban and rural. I live in a small town; nite life is minimal. When we had mats in the city there were many different ethnic groups, singles, etc who didn't celebrate some holidays like we do...they always packed the laundry on holidays, even Xmas and Thanksgiving.

[Mark]

Mike,

Call me a scumbag if you want, but my beautiful, new store was packed all day Monday. I got tons of new customers, and many of them said they have found their new laundromat. Most of my competition was closed. I guess they too believe that retail businesses should be closed on holidays. Good for them, great for me!!

My employees had the choice to take the day off, and there are always people available to substitute. Why would any business that serves the public close when most of their customers have the day off and it's not a major religious holiday.

I want my customers to know that we will always be open whenever they need us, not when we feel like working.

[Howard]

You got it Mark! Two of my busiest days are Thanksgiving and Christmas - although I operate unattended those two days as I want the help to be with their family. But if the market demands it I will provide it.

[Laundry_Mike]

Being you will "always be open whenever they need us, not when we feel like working", I assume that you must be operating a 24hr/365day store. After all you may be doing a potential customer a disservice if you are not open and they feel like doing laundry at 4:00 in the mornning.

[PAL]

May some of the Laundromat can be closed for weekends - True Weekend off. and every last Friday of the Month as well and ofcourse 3 weeks vacation per yaer - A True Vacation.

I wish Movie Theaters, Supermarkets, Hospitals did the same thing as well, thy deserve True Vacation too.

The best thing about Capitalism is that there will always be smart businessmen who will pick up the slacks when someone is not willing to work hard.