Business Bio: The Laundry Spot

David and Paula Leighton
The Laundry Spot
Middletown, OhioBefore Getting into the Laundry Business…David was an insurance agent, and Paula was a teacher.Store OpeningAugust 26, 2006Business Hours7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with last load at 10:00 p.m.Staff10 part-time employees, who split their time between two locationsTotal Square Footage4,374 square feetParking Availability30 parking spacesLease or Own?The Leightons own the property.The BuildingThe Laundry Spot was originally built from the ground up in August 2006. “We gave our store a total makeover in May 2018,” David said. “All of the washers, dryers and furniture, as well as the card system, were replaced. The store was repainted, renamed and rebranded. We shut down the laundry on May 14 and held a grand reopening on May 22.Turns Per DayOn average, 5 to 7 turns per dayUtility CostsUtility costs represent 11.06 percent of the business’ gross sales.Marketplace Demographics“Within a five-mile radius, the population is about 77,000,” David explained. “Of that population, 50 percent have household incomes below $50,000. Renter occupancy is about 37 percent. And 53 percent of the workers are white collar.” Competition“When we opened our store in 2006, there were five other self-service laundries in our town,” David said. “Today, there are only two stores, and I own both.” Payment OptionsAll washers, dryers and vending options feature card readers. Customers can pay with credit or debit cards directly at the machines. Loyalty cards can be purchased at a kiosk with either credit or debit cards or cash. Coins are not accepted anywhere in the store.Washers and Dryers6 Electrolux 18-pound 450G frontloaders, $2.47
11 Electrolux 30-pound 450G frontloaders, $3.46
5 Electrolux 45-pound 450G frontloaders, $4.69
8 Electrolux 60-pound 450G frontloaders, $6.09
2 Electrolux 75-pound 400G frontloaders, $7.48
12 Electrolux reversing 35-pound stack dryers, 26 cents for 15 minutes
6 Electrolux reversing 50-pound stack dryers, 26 cents for nine minutes
2 Electrolux reversing 83-pound dryers, 26 cents for five minutesWater Heating System1 Hamilton Engineering EVO DUO water heater (399,999 BTU) with a 200-gallon tankCard SystemCCI FasCard (Gen2) system, featuring one touch kiosk and two add-value kiosksBill Changers1 American Changer Bill Breaker AC7715Laundry Carts19 R&B Wire Products laundry cartsFolding Tables and Furnishings10 High Mark Manufacturing folding tables with shelves
1 High Mark Manufacturing high bar with five fixed stools and charging stations
5 High Mark Manufacturing cluster table/seating units
3 High Mark Manufacturing indoor/outdoor premium seating units (one four-seat unit and two three-seat units)FlooringCeramic tileLightingLED tubesBeverage, Snack and Laundry Vending1 Vend-Rite Manufacturing Vision Vendor – one side dispenses soap products (single-use and bulk), and the other side dispenses beverages and snacksTelevisions1 60-inch televisionWash-Dry-Fold Service$1.29 per pound, with a 10-pound minimumCommercial Accounts$2.29 per poundAdditional Amenities• ATM
• Baby-changing table
• Electronic digital sign
• Heated sidewalk (for the winter months)
• Free Wi-Fi accessFinance CompanyAmerican Savings & Loan, Middletown, OhioDistributorTeeters Products, Fletcher, Ohio, (800) 521-9864