Wash with Wally: Diversify Your Offerings

By Wally Makowsky | Oct 30, 2009

I’ve been in the coin laundry business for 25 years, and I’ve done very well financially. However, over the last year or two, my profits and volume have gone down. And, even though I increased my vend prices, my expenses are still outpacing my profits. I have three locations, and the results are the same for all three stores. What can I do to increase volume or profit? Or should I sell my laundries and find another type of business?

Unfortunately, most small businesses are facing the same – or even worse – scenarios as you. In fact, the majority of self-service laundries are faring much better than most other types of small businesses. For example, the drycleaning business is down 30 percent to 35 percent in most markets, most restaurants are off somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 percent to 40 percent, and on and on.

During the 1950s and 1960s, only 20 percent of American women were part of the work force. Today, that figure has tripled. What’s more, many men are not working just at full-time jobs but have taken on additional part-time work as well in order to make ends meet. These families have expanded their “services” out of necessity, so that they may live in a manner in which they desire.

What I’m saying is that small-business owners – much like many of today’s families – need to be multi-functional so that they are not dependent on merely one function or service for 100 percent of their income.

For today laundry owners, my advice is to get creative. Are you currently offering a drop-off laundry service? Are you seeking commercial accounts? You also may consider offering a towel service or a mop rental option. Perhaps look into additional vending at your store; if you have an attendant and some extra room, consider adding cell phone sales to the mix.

These are just some of the many avenues you can explore. Think outside the box. And, remember, that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. If you’re still making money, stick around and maybe diversify your offerings.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of soft-mount washers, versus hard-mount machines?

The main advantage of soft-mount washers is that they can be placed almost anywhere that has a stable floor, without special mounting bases, or needing to consider the thickness of the concrete or the presence of any floor supports. Basically, a soft-mount unit can go anywhere in which the floor is stable. I’ve seen them on wood floors, etc.

One drawback is that soft-mount machines are more expensive than their hard-mount counterparts, due to the types of shock systems built into them. Another potential issue: if the suspension system breaks down as the machine ages, it could require a major and costly repair job.

However, all in all, if you’re willing to pay the added price, soft-mount washers can be the best way to go for many self-service laundry installations.

I operate a small commercial laundry service, and I am currently servicing a restaurant that brings me chefs’ coats, dishwasher shirts and white aprons that are a cotton/poly material. The laundry items often have orange sauce and charcoal grill stains on them that are very tough to remove. I’ve tried everything I can think of to remove these stains. I’m stumped. Any suggestions?

First of all, one of the most important things to consider when doing this type of commercial laundry is to have a water temperature that is hot enough to do the job. Professional commercial laundries wash in water that’s 150 to 180 degrees.

Next, you need a “built” laundry detergent to tackle those stains. There are several built detergents on the market, but you need one with high levels of alkali and surfactant. Contact a local distributor that sells commercial laundry products, explain what you’re washing, and he will be able to recommend the types of detergents you need.

Also, with the poly-material aprons, be sure to use a color-safe bleach.