PARTIALLY ATTENDED LAUNDROMATS

By: Laundromat 123

Although there has been a focus on brand new million-dollar Laundromats in much of the current online chatter, the reality is that the vast majority of stores are smaller, often unattended Laundromats. Single store ownership is still in the majority. Here are a few tips to help the unattended Laundromat owner operate their business.

  1. Post a sign stating you are an unattended Laundromat with irregular owner and employees in attendance. Many stores are only unattended or partially attended and customers will accept that there is not always someone there to hold their hand. It's a Laundromat, which is defined as a self-service store.

  2. Avoid being a 24-hour store in most urban settings. Theft and vandalism can frequently cost you more in repairs that you gain in income, especially from the midnight to 5 AM hours. Insurance costs can also be higher or unavailable for 24-hour operations.

  3. Equipment failure for clients: Hopefully your equipment is in normally operational status. Provide an "out of order card" that allows customers to hang on malfunctioning washers or dryers and to fill out a tear off portion to put in your mail slot to request a refund. Some owners also post an emergency number that can be used to report problems.

  4. Law enforcement issues: Are you having so many problems with law enforcement issues that you expose your staff to danger? Contact your local police agency and ask if they will do regular drive-bys. Make sure you have a camera system installed and noted in posted signs.

  5. Use of bathroom: Use a pay toilet or lock it during non-attended hours. You are not a neighborhood free toilet location. You can mark your toilets as “Employee Use Only” and allow known customers to use upon request when you have workers or yourself available. This protects your customers from unwanted visitors to your store. Although a convenience item, Laundromats don’t need one or two free toilets to be successful.

  6. Give an advanced notice to your customers if you’re going to increase prices and your increased costs are based on utility and rental increases. Your customers will understand the price increases are being done because of inflation and utility price increases, but customers react better when they’ve been forewarned. Tell your customers you need the increases to remain open and provide this store for their benefit. A little softness cushions against customer complaints and involves them in understanding that this is their Laundromat.

  7. Even if you can’t or choose not to be frequently in your store, try to do something every month so your customers know you’re trying to make “their Laundromat” more usable. It can be small, such as entrance rugs, replacing a noisy fan in the bathroom, putting up a bulletin board, taking down a messy bulletin board, put up a clock, a new television, new paint on the walls, a paper towel dispenser, holiday decoration or a new trash can or two. Don’t wait to do a bunch of improvements; the steady, even small change, builds customer loyalty. Try it, it works!