Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - How to begin building your laundry mat business?

BigBen · 12-01-2005, 02:00 PM

There is a place I used to go.

It was called the "Wash and Slosh"

Laundry machines on one wall, bar on the other, pooltables inbetween, little cubbies to hang out in and chill; backgammon and chess sets everywhere. Crappy little stage where a local rock band can get some stage time and get famous.

Fucking brilliant. Only bad thing: I would often get so drunk that I would forget my laundry there. Others did too.

The owner put up a little kiosk where they paid someone to change your laundry for you, and you got a wristband with a number on it to identify your laundry. People were stealing the pretty girls panties, I suppose. The bouncer would then grab your arm as you were leaving and escort you back to your clean clothes. I paid alot in tips.

Eventually when the laundry machines fell apart, the owner didn't replace them. He ended up with a very cool bar/pub/lounge with a unique atmosphere.

Remember what a Laundromat (<---- correct spelling, BTW) is. IT IS A SERVICE INDUSTRY. Give your patrons more than what they are expecting. Have other services available at reasonable costs:

Drycleaning
Folding
Ironing
Beer
Games
Entertainment
Fast Food

There are a thousand things your establishment can become. Go Big or Go home.

The good news: It is a cash business. Small amounts of cash means that if properly managed, you won't get tapped out in a Cash-flow situation.

Don't cater to everybody. Create a niche that will attract some loyal customers. Listen to your customers. Offer free laundry to a couple of customers every week and have them submit to a survey: How are you doing? What do they like/dislike? What do they do in their free time? What is more important, cheap detergent or good detergent?
Market Research is time and money seldom wasted.

12-01-2005, 02:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
BigBen Comedian Location: Use the search button	There is a place I used to go. It was called the "Wash and Slosh" Laundry machines on one wall, bar on the other, pooltables inbetween, little cubbies to hang out in and chill; backgammon and chess sets everywhere. Crappy little stage where a local rock band can get some stage time and get famous. Fucking brilliant. Only bad thing: I would often get so drunk that I would forget my laundry there. Others did too. The owner put up a little kiosk where they paid someone to change your laundry for you, and you got a wristband with a number on it to identify your laundry. People were stealing the pretty girls panties, I suppose. The bouncer would then grab your arm as you were leaving and escort you back to your clean clothes. I paid alot in tips. Eventually when the laundry machines fell apart, the owner didn't replace them. He ended up with a very cool bar/pub/lounge with a unique atmosphere. Remember what a Laundromat (<---- correct spelling, BTW) is. IT IS A SERVICE INDUSTRY. Give your patrons more than what they are expecting. Have other services available at reasonable costs: Drycleaning Folding Ironing Beer Games Entertainment Fast Food There are a thousand things your establishment can become. Go Big or Go home. The good news: It is a cash business. Small amounts of cash means that if properly managed, you won't get tapped out in a Cash-flow situation. Don't cater to everybody. Create a niche that will attract some loyal customers. Listen to your customers. Offer free laundry to a couple of customers every week and have them submit to a survey: How are you doing? What do they like/dislike? What do they do in their free time? What is more important, cheap detergent or good detergent? Market Research is time and money seldom wasted. __________________ 3.141592654 Hey, if you are impressed with my memorizing pi to 10 digits, you should see the size of my penis.