Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Community Service
Orginally posted - Jan 02, 2013 Your laundromat is a crucial part of the neighborhood in which it's located. And, as a small-business owner, you need to recognize this fact and do what you can to strengthen that bond with those within your community. Whenever I look...
Warming Up to Cold Calls
Originally posted - May 04, 2012 If you're serious about growing the commercial accounts segment of your laundry business, you can't avoid it - eventually, you're going to have to make cold calls on potential clients. Some laundry owners have their drivers handle...
Reflecting on Injecting
Originally posted - Feb 10, 2014 In past columns, we've discussed all of the different types of products and chemicals than can be used to successfully handle heavy-duty commercial accounts, as well as to service some of the more challenging wash-dry-fold orders. With...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Replacing Vinyl Tile with a Poured Resin Floor
My vinyl tile floor is old and needs to be replaced. I'm considering perhaps ceramic or some other form of decorative tile. What do you think? Are there other options available that you would recommend? One other great option is to go with a poured resin flooring....
Wash with Wally: Cleaning Drain Lines and Lint Traps
Is there a chemical and/or preventive maintenance procedure that will keep our main drain line clean? Occasionally, we experience a backup of water, which seems to be due to a buildup of a black greasy residue within the line. Would you recommend a periodic flush of...
Wash with Wally: Researching a Former Laundry Location
I do a considerable amount of drop-off laundry at my store, and I always seem to have a problem removing chewing gum from garments. Can you offer any suggestions for removing it? There are two ways to deal with this problem. One way is to spot it with a good paint and...
The Business Mind
Going Off-Script
How to Raise Your Laundry Business Above and Beyond the CompetitionYou might assume – understandably so – that most customers select a specific laundry based essentially upon location, vend prices and hours of operation. But that just isn't so.Let me explain...
Hard Facts on Dealing with the ‘Soft Costs’ of Business Ownership
Are Stress, Customer Diversity and Managing Your Employees Taking Their Toll on You and Your Laundry Operation? In general, self-service laundry owners typically face about 11 or 12 costs on a monthly basis. These costs can range from utilities and labor to vended...
Down to a Science
Five Research Findings That Can Jumpstart Your Marketing Strategy As small-business owners, you most likely write your own advertising. And, if you have no formal training or experience in copywriting, I'm willing to wager that you use what is referred to as a...
Viewpoint
Vital Signs
Neglect Your Store's Signage at Your Own Risk Because a laundromat is a self-service business, there is the tendency among some owners to have a "build-it-and-they-will-wash" attitude toward their stores. In other words, the focus is primarily on the equipment offered...
Mid-Year Report Card
I hope the first half of 2015 has been successful for you and your businesses. Recent surveys and economic indicators are all showing positive results, and it looks to stay that way for some time to come. In addition, the Coin Laundry Association accomplished some...
Avoiding Surprises
Running a small business is far from an exact science. And operating a self-service laundry – with all of the market-by-market idiosyncrasies this entails – at times can be even less of a sure thing. With PlanetLaundry's cover story in May focusing on industry myths...
Digital Marketing
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