if you could start over what whould you do different

[JohnnyG]

about your first laundrymat? what would u do that you didnt do and what wouldnt you do that u did do

[apartment_guy]

Originally Posted by JohnnyG

about your first laundrymat? what would u do that you didnt do and what wouldnt you do that u did do

OK, since no one else has bitten on this thread, I will take a run at it... notwithstanding that I don't actually own a mat (but own a couple of apartment laundry rooms).

I would ignore the advice given to me by distributors and seek the advice of the members on this board. In all likelihood there would be conflicting opinions, which would permit me to identify the pros and cons and make a truly well-informed decision.

[couvsuds]

I would have done a few more big machines and less smaller, but it's a minor wish. Had I known, I probably would have installed Spyderwash from the get-go rather than 8 months after opening, but I knew nothing about Spyderwash when I was building the store.

[chad]

Would have added more big machines and no tops. Would love to have more dryers as well.

[chslaundry]

on our main store, i would have gone with the smaller washer aisles perpendicular to one wall-o-dryers. we currently have the double aisle layout, with most of the washers running down the center, which feels really clogged at times.

[rjwarner]

I would have increased storage area for wash dry fold business.

[canon]

Now that i have 6 mats, i would have introduced cards to my area.

[spieldog]

I bought my store, but if I built it-Like many others-I would have added more large washers. We have (2) 50lbs, I would have added at least 2 more (or change them to larger even still.

[Adamski]

Originally Posted by spieldog

I bought my store, but if I built it-Like many others-I would have added more large washers. We have (2) 50lbs, I would have added at least 2 more (or change them to larger even still.

spieldog,

Now this is an interesting quote. Here's how I read it:

You wisely bought an existing store with a strong customer base and your two 50# washers are doing at least 6 TPDs averaged over at least a week.

On the other hand, if you had built a new store with a wide array of large washers; you would have started with zero customer base and no guarantee you'll be able to create a large enough base to survive.

Now you seem to hint that you might somehow have been better off building the new store instead of buying the existing store. Are you sure? I don't see that at all.

The strong TPDs on your washers mean you should have the funds to modify/rehab your laundromat gradually over time. That means that while the store you could have built will be getting older year after year; the store you bought will be getting newer year after year.

I've been in the business a long time (44 years) and I have no regrets about the way my place is set up. Can you guess why not? It's because my store is evaluated on a continual basis and things that are no longer practical are eliminated and new things are always being added. For example: toploaders are being phased out and 20# hardmount washers are being phased in. Hence, no regrets.

[couvsuds]

Originally Posted by Adamski

spieldog,

Now this is an interesting quote. Here's how I read it:

You wisely bought an existing store with a strong customer base and your two 50# washers are doing at least 6 TPDs averaged over at least a week.

On the other hand, if you had built a new store with a wide array of large washers; you would have started with zero customer base and no guarantee you'll be able to create a large enough base to survive.

Now you seem to hint that you might somehow have been better off building the new store instead of buying the existing store. Are you sure? I don't see that at all.

I don't read his quote like that at all. I think he's merely speculating that had he built new, this is what he would have done. Your points are all valid, however.