February #'s

[DolphinLaundry]

Wow Even with less days all 5 stores are having record breaking months. Hope everyone else is able to say the same.

Just closed on the new building time to build again.

[BMWHD3060]

What State are you in?

[Laundry_Mike]

May break a record for being the worst month - between the economy and the cold, snowy, crappy weather. Looking forward to Spring.

[DolphinLaundry]

I'n the good old VA.

[surfflite]

I have also had a record breaking Feb....and the months not even over yet. :) Let's put it this way, if I could sustain Jan & Feb. #'s all year, I could quit my real job I've been at for 23 years. It pays to be the price leader in town. ;)

[James2011]

you know why?

it's just because of tax refund effect.

[Adamski]

you know why? it's just because of tax refund effect.

Harold,

Since the Stimulus Program began, I've hired ... well ... uh ... well, I didn't reduce my work force ... well, not yet anyway ... okay, I did reduce the hours of my maintenance helper ... but only by a couple of hours ... so far ... so I guess the Stimulus Program has created 2 million jobs ... not here but somewhere ... I think ... does that sound right to you?

[James2011]

I did not mean stimulus stuff,

what I said is "tax refund effect" == annual "tax refund".

[Adamski]

I did not mean stimulus stuff, what I said is "tax refund effect" == annual "tax refund".

Harold,

My bad ...

[STOUT]

you know why?

it's just because of tax refund effect.

Harold;

I do not agree with your statement.
People do not wash laundry because they receive a tax refund! They are going to wash their laundry anyway.

There are several reasons why some mats are above average in this country while other mats are at average and others below in this country.
Some persons are effected by weather. Some by competition or lack of competition. Some by road construction. Some by promotions and advertising.
Some by shifting of populations. Even some by natural disasters. :eek:

If your analogy is correct, which it is not, then May through December of the same year should be well below average, since no other tax refunds will be issued. :rolleyes:

[Laundry_Mike]

I think Harold makes a valid point. When people get their tax refunds they have more money to spend, and will take care of things that may have been put off before. I know that spring has always been the best season for business at any mat I have ever owned. Don't know how much of that you can contribute to tax refunds, but it certainly doesn't hurt when people have more money to spend. It was believed that laundromats were a recession proof business, that people have to wash anyway, but this economy has changed that thinking. Obama stimulus program - what an expensive bad joke on America.

[STOUT]

I think Harold makes a valid point. When people get their tax refunds they have more money to spend, and will take care of things that may have been put off before. I know that spring has always been the best season for business at any mat I have ever owned. Don't know how much of that you can contribute to tax refunds, but it certainly doesn't hurt when people have more money to spend. It was believed that laundromats were a recession proof business, that people have to wash anyway, but this economy has changed that thinking. Obama stimulus program - what an expensive bad joke on America.

Yes, and my busiest time is fall and winter when the snowbirds are here. Most of them leave in the summer because it gets so @$#% HOT.
So another factor is geographic location, along with weather, and a destination spot like a national park etc.

[SonomaJoe]

Laundromats are just like politics, its all about local issues

With that being said, we have had customers pay recently with Visa cards from H & R Block. They look really fake because the customers name is not on the card on the bottom left, just H & R Block. H & R Block is able to put the tax refund value on the card

[Howard]

Laundromats are just like politics, its all about local issues

With that being said, we have had customers pay recently with Visa cards from H & R Block. They look really fake because the customers name is not on the card on the bottom left, just H & R Block. H & R Block is able to put the tax refund value on the card


This is such a great country, where most of these people that paid exactly zero taxes actually get a refund. Oh we all need to bow to Lord Obama and all the good he has done for us.

[SonomaJoe]

This is such a great country, where most of these people that paid exactly zero taxes actually get a refund. Oh we all need to bow to Lord Obama and all the good he has done for us.

These people were getting refunds well before Obama was in politics, but I can certainly understand how it is his fault

I'm sure you think global warming is over because of the snow storms this winter also

[Super Clean]

These people were getting refunds well before Obama was in politics, but I can certainly understand how it is his fault

I'm sure you think global warming is over because of the snow storms this winter also

I think Global warming is shifting the snow zones. Florida is freezing with snow, DC and all down that corridor is getting slammed, Whistler BC is 10c and I've dropped a plow twice all winter.


My January was back up to my level 2 years ago, we of course got slammed last year with the snow. I'll let you know how my February goes, if I can get it up to my other months it would make the winter so much easier to stomach. Bring on global warming lol.

[Howard]

Man-made global warming is a bunch of BS, but that is a story for another day.

[James2011]

There are no SUCH global warming, all those BS is a tool for the GOV. use it to make PEOPLE cheated and stupided...

[Brett]

I am also having a great month. Been colder and that means large loads of laundry. Our newest mat that is 1 year old is growing the most. Good luck to all.

[thinkclean]

It was believed that laundromats were a recession proof business, that people have to wash anyway, but this economy has changed that thinking.

I think recession resistant is a better way to think it. Being down 25%-30% can easily happen to a laundromat if customers wear clothes i.e. shirts 2x-3x before washing and overstuff machines. Also I see a tendency to use smaller double loaders and that's my lowest margin washer. Regardless as I look around I see small apparel and shoe retailers promote heavily and neighborhood cafes closing. So their sales are down 50-60%. Saturn dealerships that can't get Buick-GMC franchises are bummed because they have great customers and a good product but no product to sell and are often located in areas where every auto manufacturer is represented.

The industrial economy is recovering nicely (IP and ISM indices have bounced off bottoms and climbing). This is important because we are still a major provider of heavy industrial equipment. Welding equipment sales have bounced off lows. Last week large food retailers are talking about +pricing for 2010 after volume stabilization. Walgreen's acquiring Duane Reade of NY, aggressive. Truckers are seeing more freight for the first time in 3 years. Ocean rates have soared. Basically STUFF is moving around... that means reversion to the mean... normalcy... whatever you want to call it, people are not cutting spending below means like last year.

It will trickle down to the American laundromat consumer.

[merlin3]

Man-made global warming is a bunch of BS, but that is a story for another day.

Agreed.

Global warming is the biggest wealth redistribution scam ever invented by the leftists.

Not only did Owlgore invent global warming, he invented the internet too in case you didn't know. :D

[Adamski]

...Not only did Owlgore invent global warming, he invented the internet too in case you didn't know. :D

Randy,

Since you mentioned the internet ... does anyone (besides Al Gore) know what's next for the internet? It's called "Cloud Computing". Google it and read all about it. Oh yeh ... in case you were wondering ... I invented Cloud Computing.

[James2011]

cloud cumputing is similar concept of clustering cumputers, they work all together and do like super-computers....
I think next thing would be hand-held PAD which can do these: phone, internet, cuomputing, banking,phone with real-time pictures, home-automton, gps, movie, music, etc...
some of these already done, but in near future, this device can do almost anything...

[DaveLevenson]

Cloud computing is a new name for what used to be called time-sharing: remotely-accessible server computers running applications simultaneously for multiple users. It's been around since the early 1960's.

[Self_Suds_WV]

I just finished reading a great book about cloud computing.

"The Big Switch" - Nicholas G. Carr

* "The best read so far about the significance of the shift to cloud computing" -Financial Times

* A Wall Street Journal bestseller; now in its eighth printing

* #4 on Newsweek's list of 50 Books for Our Times

http://www.nicholasgcarr.com/bigswitch/

[surfflite]

My father-in-law has invented/patented many "atmospheric sniffing" devices used to monitor the earths atmosphere. He's been doing such for over 30 years with devices in both the north & south poles.

In his professional assessment of global warming he states that "Al Gore is the only one full of hot air". "CLIMATE CHANGE (aka: global warming) is caused by our Suns solar flaring activity.....it's always been that way, and it will always be that way".

[Rhino]

Hi All! So far Jan was great beat last year by a long shot and Feb was looking that way until my change machine was stolen on the fourth.

[Sudds]

Whoa, this thread digressed from February numbers to global warning to atmospheric sniffing devices. "?"

My numbers are refreshingly stronger at both mats but still not as good as they were last year or years gone by (as I understand it). I do plan on stepping up my advertising and special pricing to see if I can lock in on and keep some of the new customers that are walking into my store.

[Super Clean]

I'm currently running even with last years numbers.

[bodman]

I put signs on the side rails of my pu truck and parked in on the road , so far sales up 25%. My competitor across the street complained to the sign ordinance NAZI's and they told him to fly a kite. If I had attached the sign to a pole or the ground I would need a permit and meet sq, foot requirements, but signage on my delivery truck is not restricted .

[thinkclean]

I put signs on the side rails of my pu truck and parked in on the road , so far sales up 25%. My competitor across the street complained to the sign ordinance NAZI's and they told him to fly a kite. If I had attached the sign to a pole or the ground I would need a permit and meet sq, foot requirements, but signage on my delivery truck is not restricted .

your comp across the street didn't match price?

[STOUT]

My winter months are always higher than my summer months.
AND it has nothing to do with tax rebates!

[James2011]

My winter months are always higher than my summer months.
AND it has nothing to do with tax rebates!

maybe most of your nearby customers have not received decent amount of tax refund.

[STOUT]

maybe most of your neaby customers have not received decent amount of tax refund.

Harold;

What is a "neaby"?

[bodman]

STOUT i re-opened up a 4 year closed mat 500 feet across the street from one that has been there since 1968. He is not happy/

[James2011]

Harold;

What is a "neaby"?

typo,

didn't you know it was a typo??

[Adamski]

STOUT i re-opened up a 4 year closed mat 500 feet across the street from one that has been there since 1968. He is not happy/

Dale,

Details? Did you do a complete rehab? How big is your new laundromat? What brand equipment does it have? How do your prices compare to Mr 1968? What are the major differences between the 2 laundromats?

[STOUT]

typo,

didn't you know it was a typo??

Oh I thought it was something you brought over from another country.

I suppose your spell check must not work on your computer.

[James2011]

Oh I thought it was something you brought over from another country.

I suppose your spell check must not work on your computer.
stout, you are a 10year old boy.

[BCW]

Well, I was having a decent Feb. until this week. Holy cats it's a bad week so far. The worst I've ever seen by far. Usually it will be made up from here through Mon. Wow! "What, me worry"?

Alfred E.

[thinkclean]

Well, I was having a decent Feb. until this week. Holy cats it's a bad week so far. The worst I've ever seen by far. Usually it will be made up from here through Mon. Wow! "What, me worry"?

Alfred E.

same trends here for me in northern NJ because of a severe snow storm that began on Thursday.

[Self_Suds_WV]

February average daily sales were 19% greater than January (which was 9% below our six month daily average).Not sure what caused the difference. Average daily WDF and vending was almost unchanged; the real difference was in self service. ATM withdrawals were up as well.

Interestingly, February was colder and had more snow than January.

Also, February 1 we began closing after last wash if there was no one in the strore and the roads were bad. Previously we used the last hour to clean and prep for the next day. Construction workers often come in during this last hour to pick up or drop off full service laundry and the college kids come in to use our $2 ATM.

During February we had both our best and worst one day gross total sales since we opened June 1, 2009.

I would love it if March were this good.

John

[Sudds]

Well Feb has come and gone. My unattended mat did well. I did better than last year. I haven't had a chance to crunch numbers on the other mat. I'll be glad when I get done with this semester's freakin' classes. Homework, work, and running 2 mats leaves me with very little to no time for anything else. Ugh.

[chixxi]

I thought for sure it had to be tax refund $$$$ that made things so good for February. We had a couple come in and load all 12 of our 18lb, two 30 and the 60, after they were finished she loaded five more 18 lb and the other bigger ones. I couldn't believe it!!! There is a smaller, cheaper mat in her town but she wanted to get it over with all at once. Oh...and she paid for super cycle for each one!!! Sure is nice though, every tenant has rent money today (have some rentals) and boy do I hate the first of the month, except for this month.

[Super Clean]

After crunching some numbers we are up over last February by $200. We are slightly down on our self service with the WDF contributing to the increase.

[Rhino]

Jan 10 beat Jan 09 by $600 and Feb 10 beat Feb 09 by $500. Hope to keep this up all year!:D