StatShot: All Regions Report Better Vended Laundry Sales in 2012

CHICAGO — Three of the four regions reported sales increases for January, championed by the West’s 9.8% boost, according to results of the latest AmericanCoinOp.com StatShot survey.

The South enjoyed the next largest upswing at 4.2%, followed closely by the Northeast at 3.3%. The Midwest was the only region to see a drop in vended laundry sales, a 3.0% decline.

The 2012 numbers were all improved when compared to 2011 results. Here, the West once again led the pack with a 9.6% year-to-year sales increase, followed closely by the South at 8.1%. Annual sales were up 3.4% in the Northeast and 2.2% in the Midwest in comparison to 2011 figures.

While the overall sales results were mostly positive, respondents’ anonymous comments about their local market conditions were more varied:

• South: “Much less promising. Business was booming last year until election time, then bombed.”
• Midwest: “Increased traffic at one store, decreased traffic at second store seven miles apart. New stores opened near second store.”
• Northeast: “Not anywhere near 2012 numbers.”
• West: “A poor climate for my customer base means better profit margins for me as they cannot afford to repair/replace their machines as they go down.”
• Midwest: “Customers [are] overloading and damaging washers to try to save money.”
• Northeast: “Competitive, with fewer rooftops in my area.”

The StatShot includes information on sales, wages, costs or other financial data based on anonymous survey information provided by industry owners and operators.

Audience members are invited to participate in these unscientific surveys, which are conducted online via a partner website. Self-service laundry operators are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define industry trends.