Wayne and Nick Bernaiche
Clean n Green Laundromat, LLC
Glastonbury, Conn.
Business Philosophy and Vision
“Our vision for this store – and the trend we see occurring around the country with other new successful ventures – is that pride in the business, above and beyond customer service, and creating an enjoyable atmosphere for customers are the keys to success,” Nick explained. “It’s a very simple formula.
“When my father and I first began building our store, we researched the market and saw a need for a self-service laundry to meet these customer standards. We care about the environment and believe that the laundry industry is well positioned to become a major benefactor in the coming years, as water and other natural resources become strained due to high demand and low supply. Consumers have long embraced the idea of buying in bulk when it comes to food and other consumables, and we believe this mentally will ‘spill over’ into the laundry business – creating an even greater demand for high-efficiency, large-capacity laundry facilities as people’s consciousness about conservation slowly adapts to the evolving world with which we’re going to face.
“The future is sustainability, efficiency, and a much higher level of respect and stewardship for our natural world. As a laundry community, we can educate our customers every time they are in our stores, and slowly people will come to realize they’re making a smarter choice by saving resources, time and money on their own utilities and repair costs. A great laundromat is an invaluable asset to a community.”
Store Opening
July, 19 2013
Business Hours
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Staff
Two part-time attendants
Total Square Footage
3,000 square feet
Parking Availability
“We have a large parking lot that is mostly empty on the weekends, because the surrounding stores are closed over the weekend,” Nick said. “We have more than 30 parking spots.”
Lease or Own?
10-year lease, with two five-year options under negotiation
The Construction Process
Clean n Green Laundromat was built new from the ground up. The entire buildout process took seven months to complete.
Turns Per Day
“We are currently doing 3.5 turn per day,” Nick explained. “We are hoping to be consistently at 4 turns per day by the end of the second quarter of this year; our growth pattern shows we’re on track to reach this goal.”
Utility Costs
The store’s utility costs represent 16 percent of the business’s gross sales.
Marketplace Demographics
“The demographics are mixed,” Nick said. “We are located on the borderline of two very different socioeconomic towns.”
Competition
There are two other self-service laundries within a two-mile radius of Clean n Green.
Payment Options
Coins, loyalty cards and credit cards
Washers and Dryers
6 Speed Queen 20-pound frontloaders, $3.00
8 Speed Queen 40-pound frontloaders, $5.75
4 Speed Queen 60-pound frontloaders, $8.75
3 Speed Queen 80-pound frontloaders, $11.75
10 Speed Queen 35-pound stack dryers, $1.25 for 30 minutes
10 Speed Queen 45-pound stack dryers, $1.50 for 35 minutes
5 Speed Queen 75-pound dryers, $2.00 for 32 minutes
Water Heating System
AO Smith Cyclone XI water heating system
Card System
SpyderWash card system
Bill Changers
1 American Changer bill changer
Laundry Carts
14 R&B Wire Products laundry carts
Folding Tables
Customized, wood-top folding tables
Flooring
Tile flooring
Lighting
LED lighting
Televisions
3 41-inch televisions
Children’s Play Area
The store has a small, semi-enclosed area, which features kids’ toys and games. “We also have a television where kids can watch cartoons, which their parents appreciate,” Nick explained.
Additional Amenities
“Starting this month, we will be designating one 40-pound washer and one 45-pound dryer as ‘completely hypoallergenic’ for our customers with skin and chemical sensitivities,” Nick said. “We will provide Charlie’s 100 percent biodegradable soap to anyone who wants to use those machines. We also will be selling Charlie’s soap products over the counter. In fact, we’ve already received a great deal of interest just by displaying the soap samples in the store.”
Wash-Dry-Fold Service
$1.25 per pound; 10-pound minimum
