The price of water in my area is ridiculously high and still rising. My washers are set to offer a pre-wash, a wash and three rinses. But I’m thinking of eliminating either the pre-wash or one of the rinse cycles. What do you think?
My first thought would be to increase your vend prices. However, if you feel a price increase would hurt your business too severely, eliminate the last rinse.
Your pre-wash should be set at a low water level anyway to maximize the use of chemicals, whereas the rinse cycle is generally set on a high level to maximize the removal of the chemicals and dirt that are suspended after the garments have been washed. It’s important to maintain your pre-wash and wash cycles to ensure proper stain removal.
In addition, by eliminating a rinse cycle, you’re not only saving on water but also electricity, because the rinse cycle is typically longer than the pre-wash cycle.
But, again, I would consider increasing vend prices before eliminating any cycles.
I’m considering purchasing some used equipment for my self-service laundry. What should I consider before agreeing to any deal?
First of all, new laundry equipment is probably the way to go in almost every instance. However, if you decide to purchase used equipment, I would suggest the following guidelines:
• Get the model and serial numbers of the machines. Then, call the manufacturers of the machines, give them those numbers, and they will be able to tell you the true age of the machines.
• Find out where the machines came from. Was it a busy store? After all, some equipment in very busy stores can much older than its true age.
• Above all, get a written guarantee that will cover parts and labor for a certain period of time.
Sometimes the dealers are unaware of problems with the equipment they’re selling until after the machines are installed and running. When machines are held in storage for a while, the seals can sometimes shrink, which may result in the main bearings going bad. Also, moisture can affect some of the electronics, like you mentioned.
So, it’s always a good idea to get some type of guarantee in writing.
I’ve found an existing laundry that’s been closed up. All of the plumbing and electrical are still intact. I only have to reequip it, and I’m in business. What should I look for or try to find out before I sign the lease?
I would proceed with extreme caution. My first question is why did the store close? If the location was doing any kind of business, it would have been sold. After all, why close when you can sell? Laundries can sometimes become so run down that they simply can’t be sold.
Thoroughly inspect the marketplace. Maybe a competitor is building a new laundry nearby. Or perhaps the rent was too high? Or maybe the neighborhood has changed. Be sure to get the very latest demographics for the area – because population shifts or decreases can kill a laundry business.
In addition, try to get the store’s last few utility bills so that you can gauge how much business it was doing before it closed.
I would do all of this before pulling the trigger and signing the lease.
I’m researching getting into the uniform business. What types of finishing machines would you recommend?
Clearly, the exact type of equipment you’ll require will depend on the kinds of uniforms you plan to work with. Most likely, you need a hot head press, a legger press, a shirt press and a shirt washing machine, which is different from a standard laundromat washer.
Will you need a steam tunnel? That will depend on the volume you anticipate doing, as well as the types of uniforms you’re going to do.
Your best bet is to call a few equipment companies and have them send out sales representatives who can lay out exactly what you’ll need, based on the types and amount of uniforms you plan to be working with.
