Boyd Woodard
BW Laundry Inc.
Magic Laundry, Lawndale, Calif
Neighborhood Wash, Hawthorne, Calif.
Before Getting into the Laundry Business…
Mr. Woodard was a senior manager of engineering at a multinational medical device company.
Store Openings
ML: September 2015
NW: December 2015
Business Hours
ML: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
NW: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Staff Members
Two full-time employees and three part-time attendants
Total Square Footage
ML: 3,000 square feet
NW: 1,200 square feet
Parking Availability
ML: 25 parking spaces (shared with four smaller tenants)
NW: 15 parking spaces (shared with an adjacent 7-Eleven)
Lease or Own?
Both stores are on five-year leases, with four five-year options.
Existing Laundromats
ML: The store was built in 2001.
NW: The oldest lease dates back to 1984, but the laundry could be older than that, according to Woodard.
Renovation Process
ML: It took three months to build out (not including planning), but the store was closed for only one day.
NW: It took four months to build out (not including planning), and the store was closed for two months, due to permitting issues.
Renovation Cost, Including Equipment
ML: $670,000
NW: $430,00
Turns Per Day
3.5 to 4
Utility Costs
Utility costs represent 18 percent of the stores’ gross revenues.
Marketplace Demographics
Both laundries are located in densely populated areas, with a large number of renters. The customer base is mainly African-American and Hispanic.
Competition
There are 10 other laundromats within one and a half miles of the stores.
Payment Options
ML: It’s a card laundry, with a CCI system
NW: It accepts quarters and also features a SpyderWash system. Woodard added that he’s strongly considering converting this store to dollar coin only.
Washers and Dryers
Magic Laundry:
10 Electrolux 18-pound frontloaders, $2.39
12 Electrolux 30-pound frontloaders, $3.49
8 Electrolux 45-pound frontloaders, $4.49
6 Electrolux 60-pound frontloaders, $6.59
4 Electrolux 75-pound frontloaders, $7.59
12 Electrolux 30-pound stack dryers, 79 cents for 22 minutes
8 Electrolux 50-pound stack dryers, 99 cents for 22 minutes
Neighborhood Wash:
7 Electrolux 18-pound frontloaders, $2.50
6 Electrolux 25-pound frontloaders, $3.25
9 Electrolux 45-pound frontloaders, $4.25
2 Electrolux 60-pound frontloaders, $6.50
2 Electrolux 75-pound frontloaders, $7.50
10 Electrolux 30-pound stack dryers, 75 cents for 22 minutes
3 Electrolux 45-pound stack dryers, $1.00 for 22 minutes
Water Heating System
ML: Raypack 500,000 BTU water heating system
NW: Bock Optitherm 400 water heating system, with a 125-gallon tank
Card System
ML: CCI card system
NW: SpyderWash card system
Bill Changers
ML: 1 American Changer bill-to-bill changer
NW: 2 American Changer bill-to-coin changers, and 1 American Changer bill-to-bill changer
Laundry Carts
ML: 15 R&B Wire Products laundry carts
NW: 10 R&B Wire Products laundry carts
Folding Tables
ML: 10 customized folding stations (four of these stations feature extra-large folding space)
NW: 8 customized folding stations
Flooring
Tile flooring
Lighting
ML: Drop ceiling fluorescent lighting
NW: Drop ceiling LED lighting
Beverage Vending
ML: BevMax 4 vending machine, featuring a variety of canned soda ($1), Starbucks beverages and Monster energy drinks ($2.25), Gatorade (1.25), and water ($1 and $1.25)
NW: This store’s lease restricts vending items that compete with the neighboring 7-Eleven store.
Snack Vending
ML: Crane Merchant Media vending machine, featuring 30 different snack and candy items
NW: This store’s lease restricts vending items that compete with the neighboring 7-Eleven store.
Televisions
Both stores have three 50-inch HDTVs
Wash-Dry-Fold Service
$1.25 per pound; 15-pound minimum
Additional Amenities
• Free high-speed internet
• Bulk water sales: 25 cent per gallon; $1 for five gallons
Distributor
Sterling Equipment Sales, Stanton, Calif., (714) 894-1888
