New To The Site

[WoodstockLaundry]

Hello All,

My name is VC and I am from the real Woodstock, Woodstock, NY! First I would like to note what a great “place” Planet Laundry is and to congratulate those responsible for its’ existence. I do hope this resource is controlled as it seems and not by some man “behind the curtain.” I would also like to thank everyone who takes the time to contribute their valuable opinions and experiences. That is what makes the place so great.

I am opening a new laundry/laundromat and I am here because I want to learn. I want to learn from the folks who have the “hands on” experience with the day to day operation of their businesses. I am well aware that most of you have “forgotten more than I know” about this business but I am working hard to balance the scales.

Coming from a family of retailers, having practiced as professional civil environmental engineer for ten years, and having now owned a small hardware store for seventeen years I am thankful for my business background. (You can check out my hardware store at www.Woodstock-doitbest-Hardware .com and my shopping site at www.ShopWoodstockHardware.com.) However, I am old enough to know this experience could be just enough to set a trap for myself. So I am here to truly learn.

There has been a coin operated laundromat in our small town forever. Over the years the facility has become run down and both the building and equipment is in a state of disrepair. Over the past few years the business was monopolize by folks running a drop of service who as you might expect were most concerned with their drop off business rather than that of the absentee owner. I should have used the phrase “was a laundromat” above because several months ago the business was boarded up for unpaid taxes.

So in the next week or two I will be opening a new laundromat that I just built in a building I own. It is a great space and completely remodeled with all new equipment, tile floors, and will have amenities such as free wifi, TV, and vending facilities so the space is inviting. The business will be attended full time and I soon hope to have a wash and fold service up and running.

However, unlike most of what I read about on this site, the space is rather small. However I am doing the best I can with the space I have. I have some experience with the need to be creative to generate income in a small space. It is what you do in a small town. If things work as planned I will have a busy, bustling laundry.

Lets stop here for now. That is my introduction. Probably way more than anyone needed to know but I would hate to be accused of not being a positive contributor to such a great site. With all that said I would be happy to entertain any thoughts or recommendations that have entered anyones mind as they have read this. Especially those folks who have experience with a “small” laundry.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

VC

[MrMachine]

Hi VC,

You sound like a sharp guy who is well balanced in his interpretation of our industry.
A Mat that was sub-contracted out to a drop off partner, is usually the perfect laundromat to buy. They almost always become run down, not necessarily because of a bad market, but because the wrong incentives and efforts (or lack thereof) are there.
Therefore, if you take it over and rehab it into something nice, or build another Mat to take it's place, the odds are pretty good that you will do well.

There is a lot of wisdom and experience on this site, and I always feel that any "newbie" who has the smarts to find this site, is on the right track.

Good luck and welcome,