NEWBIE just opened first store

[keyway]

Had a crazy idea of introducing community by FREE wash and dry ALL day on a Thursday. Never seen so many clothes in my life:) Had to lock the doors at 8:30 PM with 3 deep in line to was. It ended up being a great hit with the community and have already had customers return for their first PAY wash and dry. I am only laundry in town with new equipment, air conditioner and t.v.'s. 1,800 square foot store and did $1K first weekend after Grand Opening.

What do you guys think of FREE wash and dry for a Grand Opening?

[alesser738]

Did Free wash on the first day on a brand new store (pay dry) Only two reasons I did it
*One was to get people used to the card system and show them how it works
*Wanted to test the laundromat at full capacity (probably did 20 turns per machines, 47 washers)
Personially I don't think it helped at all (sure didn't hurt)
Was a nice thing to due and that's about it.

[Adamski]

keyway,

Does a grocery store give away all its groceries during its Grand Opening? Does a Target Store give away all its merchandise during a Grand Opening? Does a restaurant give away all its meals during a Grand Opening?

I think what you did was overkill in the extreme. You could have made a better impression by charging for the wash and dry and have hourly door prizes and a clown to entertain the kids.

Larry /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[brucehwalker]

I have never made a profit from giving everything away. Bad idea. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I would have given away free balloons, hotdogs, water, laundry bags with my name on them, etc, but not free wash and dry.

[bodman]

keyway way to go !!!!! Let us know how you are doing in a month. How did you advertise the opening ?

[Jefflange]

I have done the same in the past. Its a good way to get people to come in and try your place.

[SonomaJoe]

[ QUOTE ]
keyway,

Does a grocery store give away all its groceries during its Grand Opening? Does a Target Store give away all its merchandise during a Grand Opening? Does a restaurant give away all its meals during a Grand Opening?

I think what you did was overkill in the extreme. You could have made a better impression by charging for the wash and dry and have hourly door prizes and a clown to entertain the kids.

Larry /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Larry,
I strongly disagree with your analogies of grocery stores, large chain stores, or restaurants & it is ONLY opinion the $$$ could had better results.
When giving away services for "FREE", you walk a very fine line, but I believe Keyway knows his business best & sounds like a successful plan.
Keyway, good luck in the dog days of summer!

[capitolcity]

I think it was a wise marketing strategy. You break peoples habitual patterns by offering them incentives, and if they try something, they might consider what you offer better than their current providor and choose to stick around.

In the end, maybe you lose $1000.00 or less once and gain an instant clientelle. Pretty solid ad tactic if you ask me.

Best of luck!

[keyway]

Thanks for all the responses. Cost me about $300 utitlities and $500 worth of food. According to the community response, best thing I could have done. One guy on here said in the past to spend your ad dollars on your customers. I tried it and feel really good about it. People have responded that the only way they knew about my store was the FREE wash and Dry. Worst case, I cost myself about $800 to let the community know I was there and I care about their needs.

Thanks for all responses and good luck washing and spinning.

Keyway

[keyway]

Bodman,

I lease in a center with the main anchor being a grocery store. They agreed to pass out 1,500 flyers 3 days before Grand Opening. Worked really weel.

Thanks,
Keyway

[petefritz]

I opened a new store after being in this biz for 9 years and owning 5 mats. MY idea was to give out free $5 or $10 cards to customers all day. After giving out about 10 my wife came and took them away from me, she said forget it, to many people coming in, and the were not coming in because of free cards, as I did not advertise it. One year later we did a 1/2 price wash for 3 weeks a s a thank you to the customers. My first mat I moved across the street into a bigger building I bought, I gave away a free wash to the first customer because my mother was bugging me to do so.. I do know a guy who was never in the biz and opened a new store, he gave away free wash for about a month, was a big hit. It was his best month ever and has never had a month like that again. His store has been for sale for 3 years, he put it in 5 years ago. A gimmick is nice, but real good location in an area that desperately needs you is much better. Good luck with the store. If you chose wisely you will be just fine without giving away anything. I guess a day for a buzz can't beat you up over that.

[BMWHD3060]

With the price of water, gas, electric, if a New & Only Mat in Town offered Free Wash & Dry I would come in & wash for FREE, & never go back except to wash comforter in the future since I own my own washer & dryer.
Overall great idea, but I would NEVER Have Done It.

[WashnSpin]

I think what you did was a great idea. I have a 5000 sq ft store that is very bright and clean. My store use to be a store that offered free dry. I get customers all the time that pull up walk through the store to see if its still free dry, and were not. I tell my attendents that if its a persons first time back since I re- opened the store then give them a free dry. My thoughts are if your store is a nice clean store and a person does business with you then every other store they go to they will compare to yours. After while they will come back, If they dont you need to goto your competition and see what your doing wrong and make some adjustments I have done this 12 times and 9 of the 12 came back and continue to come back. The key is to get people in your store.

[keyway]

Thanks for everyones comments. I will keep you informed on the progress concerning sales.

Keyway

[keyway]

After 3 full weeks, I have reached 2/3 of the projected revenue for this store:) Not sure it was due to the Free wash and dry, however, I will do the same at every other store I open. Seemed to have worked well.

Keyway

[BCW]

Larry, That was an excellent analagy. Hourly door prizes are a very good method of establishing good will. The Clown might be creepy though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Tom

[Adamski]

Tom,

As a child, perhaps, you had a bad experience with a clown? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Larry /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[mmurra]

Nice job! Any promotion that creates excitement and brings in customers is a success. After all, how long will clean clothes last? A week? Its not like you are giving away something for a year. Speaking of a year, those of us who are oldsters (I'm a thirty year owner), need to try to stay fresh with promotions that create excitement and traffic. Sometimes it can be hard to stay fresh and keep the energy up!

[joebob]

they arent customers unless you get them in the door. what you did was cheap advertisment. some will argue that giving away anything is a bad idea, but with that philosophy, any money spent on any advertisment is a waste. it pays to advertise.