Business Strength

[jcush77]

Was wondering if anyone is feeling a downturn in business? We have a mid-size store in Chicago and are off about 10% over the last 3 months.

[millenniumplus]

We too experience a turn down in business this time of the year. Although the school year is our
best time of the year - from around Thanksgiving Holiday through the start of the New Year we
experience a slow down - we chalk up to school being closed and parents do less cleaning clothes and
spend more money on the three holiday's (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's). Now that school
is back in session for everyone business is back to normal.

[Fred]

jc, my experience is just the opposite. Jan. 2003 was very strong, then started to trend down. The bottom came in August 03 and has ticked up every month since. In fact, the week before Christmas was a record, and the strongest week since my previous price increase in Jan. 01. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I use variable pricing for washes (if available on the machine) and found that was a great controller of utility cost because then the customer does not need to pay for unneeded hot or warm water. The added benefit is you don't lose a customer.

I raised prices early Jan. 04 only for warm and hot wash and kept the cold wash the same. I also decreased the dry time 1/2 min. to 5.5 min. So far no complaints, but a comment from another independent businessman that I should have gone to 5 min. for the dry.

[Fred]

jc, if you are interested, here is a site to see the trend of monthly nat. gas prices. You'll nee to cut and paste.

http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/NG/M