sales drop continue

[James2011]

every year, one new laundromat popped up around my mat,
2009, 2010 and 2011, so my revenue/profit has been dropping continuously...
still falling down...
Is there any way to stop it? or hopefully to recover it?
Any idea would be greatly appreciated.
( I know 1) clean 2) no broken machine, 3) good customer service, is there other thing that I can try?)
( my mat is a top price leader)

[CanCanCase]

What are those other mats doing that you're not? Market and promote your laundry.

Are you a CLA member? If so, log in to the member's area and watch/listen to the December 2011 webinar on marketing and promotion...

-Case

[James2011]

I went those three mats and all card store, and all brand new machines..
price is a little lower than mine,
over 90% spanish customers,
my mat had 60~70 spanish/30~40 African american before, but now only 20% spanish people, so most of spanish people go other mats,
still no idear to promote my mat?
do I need to trigger price war?

[ldm]

James: Do you have the older mellow bi-lingual hispanic lady attendant that I have read on these various posts is almost a must in the hispanic areas to retain hispanic customers. Les

[James2011]

Originally Posted by ldm

James: Do you have the older mellow bi-lingual hispanic lady attendant that I have read on these various posts is almost a must in the hispanic areas to retain hispanic customers. Les

BINGO!
RIGHT ON!
I fired two hispanic ladies one and two years ago: first one: steal store money, e.g. wash and folder money, the second lady: caused two much trouble with customers especially with African American people....
and it's hard to find good bi-lang spanish lady...but I will try if it could help..thanks

[BMWHD3060]

Everyone loses in a Price War.

[Adamski]

Originally Posted by James2011

I fired two hispanic ladies one and two years ago: first one: steal store money, e.g. wash and folder money, the second lady: caused two much trouble with customers especially with African American people...

James,

Do you know why Spanish and African Americans have an inherent hatred for each other? It's because the Spanish Conquistadors used to kidnap African people and ferry them over here to become slaves. Sometimes, they'd even hang them up on beef hooks (like you'd see a side of beef hanging from a conveyor) for punishment (and usually death). It's no wonder the Blacks hate the Spanish.

[CanCanCase]

Originally Posted by James2011

I went those three mats and all card store, and all brand new machines..
price is a little lower than mine,
over 90% spanish customers,
my mat had 60~70 spanish/30~40 African american before, but now only 20% spanish people, so most of spanish people go other mats,
still no idear to promote my mat?
do I need to trigger price war?

DO NOT START A PRICE WAR unless you've got enough money in the bank to operate at a loss for years.

Marketing 101: find the features your store has that the others don't. Then, you have to show your prospective customers the advantages to using those features instead of the other guys', and what the benefit is to the customer...

Marketing 301: Have a big ego. Your store is the best...period.

-Case

[James2011]

Originally Posted by CanCanCase

DO NOT START A PRICE WAR unless you've got enough money in the bank to operate at a loss for years.

Marketing 101: find the features your store has that the others don't. Then, you have to show your prospective customers the advantages to using those features instead of the other guys', and what the benefit is to the customer...

Marketing 301: Have a big ego. Your store is the best...period.

-Case

Thanks Case, and Larry..and ldm, howard,
I appreciate it....

ps) my mat is coin only, all other are card-only.

[ldm]

Originally Posted by Adamski

James,

Do you know why Spanish and African Americans have an inherent hatred for each other? It's because the Spanish Conquistadors used to kidnap African people and ferry them over here to become slaves. Sometimes, they'd even hang them up on beef hooks (like you'd see a side of beef hanging from a conveyor) for punishment (and usually death). It's no wonder the Blacks hate the Spanish.

Larry: I am not sure the customer races are so familiar with their history in this respect any more. They seem to not get along simply because of the color of their skin, their dislike for cultures and dissimilar social habits. When I was in SoCal a mexican guy we worked with said the black people don't like them because they take their jobs, and they don't like the Guatemalan's and El Salvadorians, etc because they take the mexican's jobs...especially in larger city's. I dunno...probably some racists mixed it there as well. I went to a total hispanic L-Mat years ago in SoCal, and there were ladies there that were "protecting" the machines for their hispanic friends use...my wife convinced them that they needed to move...she is such a diplomat (not). Les