Any One Netting More Than $5,000 per year Profit on Soap Sales?

[chslaundry]

The Savannah Soap Store is the most impressive laundromat i can recall. they're selling an experience as much as a service.

$18.00/$15.00 (hot/cold) on the Continental 130# softmount.

[CanCanCase]

Originally Posted by chslaundry

The Savannah Soap Store is the most impressive laundromat i can recall. they're selling an experience as much as a service.

$18.00/$15.00 (hot/cold) on the Continental 130# softmount.

that 130# is underpriced IMO. $18 for a hot wash is only $.14/lb. My machines all command at least $.16-$.18/lb.

Back to soap sales. What's the ROI on a folding table or restroom? I look at the Visions a bit differently...

- For every customer who brings their own detergent, there is at least one who won't have detergent with them. This is especially true (and amplified) if your store is open late-night/24-hr, or you do business in a high-traffic tourist area.
- How many of the customers who have to leave the store to buy detergent really come back? Won't they see the low price on a large container and decide that maybe their time washing at home (or another laundromat) is worth the savings?
- Each customer I send away to buy detergent elsewhere actually has a negative return... Not only did I lose the soap sale, but I'm also losing at least one wash, a few dry turns, maybe some ATM use. I'm also losing "good will" value that can't really be calculated.

-Case

[surfflite]

Originally Posted by couvsuds

Just like having an ATM in the store, laundry soap sales really aren't meant to be a great profit point. Mostly just for customer convenience for the real profit point ... getting people to use the washers and dryers.

I have a hard time believing anyone can make good money selling soap. You can't compete price-wise with grocery stores and big box chains.

Obviously, you've never been an Amway distributor.

[Sudds]

Well, my numbers aren't spectacular either. I agree with what most are saying that the basic purpose of selling the soaps is for the convenience factor. But in this business every little bit helps correct? If a stand alone unit has the ability to sell soap for me and make some profit while not costing me dime in utilites why not?

[couvsuds]

Originally Posted by Sudds

Well, my numbers aren't spectacular either. I agree with what most are saying that the basic purpose of selling the soaps is for the convenience factor. But in this business every little bit helps correct? If a stand alone unit has the ability to sell soap for me and make some profit while not costing me dime in utilites why not?

Oh you have to sell soap, for convenience. And for the small amount of time and effort it takes, it produces a good ROI over time. It's just that you can't get the volume it takes to make a lot of dough.

[Adamski]

Guys,

I don't normally disclose gross or net but let me say this:

After allowing for product costs, electricity and machine depreciation; I anticipate that my Vision vender (snacks, candy, chips, pop, water, juice, energy drinks, bottled detergent, laundry spot treatment, coin vend box supplies, nylon bags, plastic bags and bottled bleach) will NET enough to make the 0 interest payments on the new $15,000 John Deere tractor that I'm looking at. That's just a FUN way of looking at my Return on Investment, I suppose.

[ldm]

Originally Posted by Adamski

Guys,

I don't normally disclose gross or net but let me say this:

After allowing for product costs, electricity and machine depreciation; I anticipate that my Vision vender (snacks, candy, chips, pop, water, juice, energy drinks, bottled detergent, laundry spot treatment, coin vend box supplies, nylon bags, plastic bags and bottled bleach) will NET enough to make the 0 interest payments on the new $15,000 John Deere tractor that I'm looking at. That's just a FUN way of looking at my Return on Investment, I suppose.

I am always intrigued by those "0" interest deals. Toyota will sell cash at a $3,000 discount, or sell without the $3,000 discount for "0" interest. They must not be sure what to call that $3,000 charge if you don't pay cash. Oh yeah, this Toyota was pulling a Vision Vender full of soap on a trailer. Les

[dbrown2508]

Case, Larry and others:

I do currently sell soap, snacks, pop etc. With each of them, I try to keep to just the most popular items. With soap, this means single vend Tide powder, and 25 load Tide liquid (from the attendant during attended times). After the attended times, they have to use the Vend Rite machine.

Guess I'm asking:

1) Should I be selling the cheaper brands (the ones that sell at a fraction of the national brands) - I don't because I'd have to sell them for much more than they could find elsewhere (so I can make some money on it).

2) Is a Vision Vendor worth it for the incremental soap sales - I've got other machines to sell pop (a machine provided by Coke), a small vending machine (with 5 selections for chips, and 5 for candy bars), plus the Vend Rite single vend machine.

[Adamski]

Originally Posted by dbrown2508

... Is a Vision Vendor worth it for the incremental soap sales - I've got other machines to sell pop (a machine provided by Coke), a small vending machine (with 5 selections for chips, and 5 for candy bars), plus the Vend Rite single vend machine.

Doug,

Obviously, one can sell vended items in a variety of ways. The cheaper ways have limitations though. I like providing Five Star service for my customers, though, and that's why the new Vision vender fits my store's vending needs. My hope is that my competitors will never provide anything like a Vision vender for their customers.

[Xiong]

Originally Posted by surfflite

Obviously, you've never been an Amway distributor.

yeah, last check the owners of amway were billionaires selling a laundry detergent

i'll be happy if i could do $5k profit on detergents