competition ; apartment laundry

[James2011]

I stopped by nearby high-rise(22story) apartment and found out that each floor has two laundry room, each laundry room has maytag washers(2EA) toploader, one stack dryer(looks like 20lb or 25lb),
But contrary to my perception, the laundry room is CLEAN...

ok, here is my question,

what points do I need to focus to fight against those apartment laundry?

[Adamski]

I stopped by nearby high-rise(22story) apartment and found out that each floor has two laundry room, each laundry room has maytag washers(2EA) toploader, one stack dryer(looks like 20lb or 25lb), But contrary to my perception, the laundry room is CLEAN...ok, here is my question, what points do I need to focus to fight against those apartment laundry?

Harold,

Why don't you just buy 44 padlocks and 44 hasps and put one on each laundryroom door?

[Howard]

After following Larry's idea, place coupons for your store on the locked door.

[CanCanCase]

Harold,

Why don't you just but 44 padlocks and 44 hasps and put one on each laundryroom door?

Hey big spender! Why not just buy 44 3" wood screws and screw or nail the doors shut? Much cheaper solution.

I wonder if many of the apartment units have larger beds that have comforters which are too large to wash in the OPL? I'm sure the OPL facilities don't offer dropoff/pickup WDF services either.

- Case

[James2011]

Harold,

Why don't you just but 44 padlocks and 44 hasps and put one on each laundryroom door?

Did you ever done that before?

[bodman]

assuming you have large washers you push the idea of time saved . you advertise comforters .blankets, sleeping bags. time saved . security , tv, wifi , glass of wine. with wash, put fliers on doors.

[Adamski]

Did you ever done that before?

Harold,

Sure, I do it all the time. I've got all the apartment laundries locked up already and I'll be starting on the hotel/motel laundries next week.:) Sheeeesh!

[James2011]

Larry, be careful, if someone watching you, you could caught as "criminal".

[surfflite]

Welcome....to gullible island. Wow :)

[Adamski]

Welcome....to gullible island. Wow :)

Kerry,

I'm speachless ... which is unusual for me.

[MrMachine]

assuming you have large washers you push the idea of time saved . you advertise comforters .blankets, sleeping bags. time saved . security , tv, wifi , glass of wine. with wash, put fliers on doors.

I agree. I have a store that is surrounded by high rises. If it's a cold, snowy winter I get clobbered. However, I've made money at that location for 24 years because my store is heavy on triple loaders and giant washers, which most of the apartment houses in my area do not have. Notice I said most....some actually have wasco front loaders with 30 pounders, stack dryers and TV's. (Damn...it gets harder to make a buck with each passing year!).
You also have the advantage of an attendant, and a clean, professionally run operation that provides change and security.

Paul

[StaceyG]

I agree. I have a store that is surrounded by high rises. If it's a cold, snowy winter I get clobbered. However, I've made money at that location for 24 years because my store is heavy on triple loaders and giant washers, which most of the apartment houses in my area do not have. Notice I said most....some actually have wasco front loaders with 30 pounders, stack dryers and TV's. (Damn...it gets harder to make a buck with each passing year!).
You also have the advantage of an attendant, and a clean, professionally run operation that provides change and security.

Paul

From a potential owner perspective, how can we assess the % of nearby residents with access to laundry, either in their building or even on their floor? Would you say that doorman buildings are most likely to have laundry in the building? If so, how can I find out how many doorman buildings there are in a particular zip code? So many factors, so many questions! Thanks Paul.

[MrMachine]

From a potential owner perspective, how can we assess the % of nearby residents with access to laundry, either in their building or even on their floor? Would you say that doorman buildings are most likely to have laundry in the building? If so, how can I find out how many doorman buildings there are in a particular zip code? So many factors, so many questions! Thanks Paul.

In my area, all the apartment houses have some kind of laundry room in their buildings. If they don't have machines in a common laundry room, then they have them on each floor, or they have them right IN the apartments.
You really need to go into the buildings and assess what they have.
That doesn't mean that you can't compete. There are still reasons that some people will prefer a laundromat, such as if they have a lot of kids, they will come to the laundromat to knock out big loads quickly in your triple loaders.

If the apartments are using top loaders, you have an advantage, but be warned that they most likely will change to the new front loaders. Top loaders are quickly going the way of the Buggy Whip.