Content about Laundry

FRANKFURT, Germany — IPSO is showcasing a fully operational vended laundry at Texcare International 2012. Visitors to the booth are able to see how the machines process clothing and linens and how advanced controls help owners increase energy efficiencies.

Vended laundry offers a high return on investment, little or no employee overhead and a relatively small initial investment, according to IPSO, making it an excellent business investment for any entrepreneur. And a vended laundry can be customized to accommodate almost any cultural and geographic factors, the company adds.

The display includes eight of IPSO’s new HD softmount washer-extractors and three DR tumblers. The washers  operate using the Cygnus standard control and are connected to a central pay system. The tumblers feature the DX4 control.

“At IPSO, we know our products work hard to get the job done and it’s important for customers to see that, too,” says John Balman, senior director of sales—Europe for Alliance Laundry Systems, IPSO’s parent company. “Having a fully operational coin store at Texcare gives us the opportunity to not only describe how a Laundromat works, but to actually allow our visitors to experience it.”

Texcare International—the World Market for Modern Textile Care—runs through Wednesday.

CHICAGO — The specter of ever-rising utility costs should be enough to spur the average laundry owner to track this expense and explore ways to minimize it.

In response to a series of questions from American Coin-Op, Gary Dixon, national sales manager for Huebsch, and Kent Walters, national sales manager for Maytag® Commercial Laundry, discuss the role that tracking energy usage and maximizing its effectiveness plays in a successful self-service laundry, and offered some important tips for corralling costs.

Often, the battle against rising utility costs starts with your equipment.

Q: What is the average life expectancy of today’s washers and dryers?

Dixon: Life expectancy will vary depending on machine usage, installation, preventive maintenance and other factors. However, it is not uncommon for laundry owners to get 12-15 years of life out of their machines.

Walters: The average life expectancy of today’s single- and multi-load washers is seven to 10 years. As a result of fewer moving parts, single- and multi-load dryers typically have a slightly longer life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. If washers or dryers are used more or less frequently, life expectancy fluctuates.

Q: How much impact can following a regular equipment maintenance schedule make in a store’s efficiency?

Walters: Store owners who want to maximize equipment performance must regularly perform proactive and preventive maintenance tasks. In washers, cleaning equipment and surrounding areas, tightening bolts that hold machines in place, and looking for leaks, checking belts, bearings, and seals for standard wear and tear, etc., are important. By performing regularly scheduled maintenance, store owners are less likely to incur a major breakdown, costing them additional money for parts and downtime. When maintaining dryers, it is critical to keep vents clean and make sure the dryers have enough make-up air.

Dixon: By following a recommended maintenance schedule, the laundry owner is ensuring that their equipment is operating at optimum efficiency. This translates to lower utility costs and keeps down time to a minimum. The result is happier customers and more profit.

Q: If a store’s energy efficiency begins to decline, where should the owner first look to make changes?

Dixon: The first place to look is in the washer-extractor control software. Are the water levels set where you wanted them? Is the water temperature different than where it was? Is the software notifying you of potential leaks?

Walters: If energy efficiency begins to decline, the first place a store owner should investigate is the dryers. Specifically, an owner needs to ensure all ventilation is free of lint, which can cut down on the amount of air getting to the dryer, as well as make-up air.

Q: Does water usage impact energy efficiency, and vice versa?

Walters: Yes, water is a big expense for store owners and using newer, low-water-use washers can save a lot of money in both water and sewage savings. High-spin-speed washer-extractors are necessary to maximize cleaning performance by spinning out additional water from laundry so dryers don’t have to work as hard to dry the load.

Dixon: It most certainly does. The amount of water in each bath and the number of baths in a cycle has a direct impact on water and sewer costs. Equipment designs that minimize wasted water below the wash cylinder will also have a favorable impact on water usage. Water-level adjustability is critical for optimizing water settings at a minimum level that is still acceptable to your customers.

Q: How can a store owner “train” their customers and attendants so their laundry’s energy efficiency is optimal?

Dixon: In any business, the culture and message that is communicated comes from the top down. If you are adamant with your employees about maximizing efficiency and provide a mission statement and guidance to them for realizing your goals, you will create the culture. This will, in turn, be communicated to your customers.

Walters: Having a trained attendant who can show the customers the proper way to use the equipment is always the best. Signage is another great way to train customers and attendants on use of machines, proper amount of detergent, operating instructions, etc. Signage should include simple-to-follow instructions located in easy-to-read places.

Q: Besides laundry equipment choice and usage, where are some other opportunities to shore up energy efficiency?

Walters: Store owners should obtain an energy analysis of the store through their local laundry equipment supplier to help determine areas that need improvement. In addition to equipment, owners should consider incorporating energy-efficient options, such as high-efficiency water heaters, T-8s, electronic ballasts, light sensors and task lighting.

Dixon: There are many variables that impact energy efficiency. Some things to consider: alternative sources for energy needs, type of water heaters, choice of lighting and fixtures, window tinting, the thermostat setting, and even landscaping are just a few things to look at.

Q: To whom may a store owner turn for assistance in improving their store’s energy efficiency?

Walters: Whether shopping for new equipment, looking to upgrade existing equipment, or needing some assistance related to a store’s laundry operations, it is important to connect with a reliable, established distributor for guidance. The best laundry distributors are those that have a long history in the business and have received positive reviews for the customer service they provide.

Dixon: The relationship a laundry owner has with their local distributor can pay dividends into the future. The local distributor is well versed in what is available from the equipment manufacturer. They also have an intimate knowledge of the area they serve.

Q: Do you have any other comments to add regarding energy efficiency in the self-service laundry?

Dixon: Over the past several years, many laundry owners have postponed upgrading their equipment to products that are more energy-efficient; this is certainly understandable. However, when the time comes and it makes good business sense to do so, it is important to not just look at the price of the products. It is also important to look at the cost of ownership of the equipment and energy efficiency is a major factor in this cost.

Click here for Part 1!

PEMBROKE, Mass. — Just like your business grows one customer at a time, so you improve your operation by implementing one little idea after another. In time, your business becomes a different entity. It is little changes over time that makes the difference. Here, then, are a number of little ideas I’ve seen in different Laundromats that aren’t generally used, or little ideas told to me by others, or even little ideas that popped into my head.

HANG A PURPLE NEON SIGN IN YOUR FRONT WINDOW

Nothing attracts attention quite like purple neon. The sign could say “Open 6 to Midnight” or “We Clean Your Clothes” or simply “Laundromat.” Passer-bys will take notice, and the identification could result in new customers.

PUT A SANDWICH BOARD ON YOUR FRONT SIDEWALK

Have it professionally made. Offer a feature or a service or a price break. Better yet, put a rail on the sides of your sandwich board so ads can be added and removed at will. People walking by will take notice. You never know when this might mean something.

ANNOUNCE THAT YOU OFFER HIGH-QUALITY EQUIPMENT

Whenever you purchase some new equipment, put up a sign in your front window that reads “New Washers/Dryers” and “State-of-the-Art Equipment.”

One of the most common complaints about Laundromats is malfunctioning equipment. Coins get stuck, machines stops working, dryers have no heat, and washers don’t rotate clothes, that sort of thing. So, if you can become known as an operator who keeps his equipment in fighting trim, replacing older models regularly, this will give you an advantage in the market. The front-window sign reinforces that impression.

PLACE A WOODEN BENCH OUT FRONT

Give your customers a comfortable place to sit while waiting for their laundry to finish. Who knows, maybe two strangers will strike up a conversation. Maybe even people will become…friends. Laugh if you will, but who among us has not walked into a Laundromat with the hope of meeting someone special and finding romance. It is possible in such an environment because it’s hard to put on airs when you are doing a mundane task. I submit that if self-service laundries could further this image, they’d boost their patronage by 50%.

But whatever, a long bench out front is a nice place to wait on a mild, sunny day.

SELL THREE SIZES OF LAUNDRY BAGS

Laundromats that don’t sell laundry bags are missing a sales opportunity. Most Laundromats sell only one size, but different families have different needs. So, sell three sizes—at different price ranges of, say, $6, $8 and $10—and win extra business.

OFFER A DEAL FOR WASH-DRY-FOLD SERVICE

Most “Laundromateurs” charge a per-pound price—say $1 per pound. The customer does 15 pounds and pays $15. But how about incentivizing the offer? The first 8 pounds will cost the customer $8, and each additional pound will cost 69 cents (with a minimum order of 8 pounds). That way, the customer feels he/she is getting a deal. The same 15-pound order will cost $12.83 (8 pounds X $1 + 7 pounds X 69 cents). You’re losing $2 on this sale, but you will gain more total business.

For one thing, the customer will be happy to save money (in his/her mind) and will give you more laundry in future orders (“after all, it’s only 69 cents a pound”). Customers who haven’t tried your wash-dry-fold service will say, “What the heck, I might as well use their service instead of wasting my time here.” The loss in unit-sale dollars will result in total greater revenue. That is always the way sales incentives work.

HANG A LARGE CLOCK IN YOUR STORE

Sure, most people have cell phones and can just look at their gadget of choice to see the time. But not all of your customers have them. Why not make it easier for everyone to know what time it is? It is just a service you should provide.

GIVE MACHINES NAMES, NOT NUMBERS

Some of you don’t assign any machine identity. Others number their machines. How about giving each machine a name? You could name them after celebrities: Clooney, Madonna, Eastwood. Or professional athletes: Manning, Woods, Ortiz. Or just funky names: Orville, Fritz, Miranda. It’s a whimsical touch that might bring a smile to the face of your customer who comes to you and says, “Miranda isn’t working.”

SELL A VALUE CARD

Offer $10 worth of laundry for $8. Giving the customer a break is always a good strategy. It makes the customer appreciate you that much more. When someone has a problem, they’ll be more forgiving. When a new Laundromat opens up that is closer, your customer will remain loyal to your store.

PAINT A MURAL ON YOUR EXTERIOR SIDE WALL

Have an exterior wall that’s just a white rectangle? Select an artist, who, for a moderate sum, will paint an interesting mural the length of the side. What subject? If you are located in an ethnic neighborhood, choose a scene depicting the “old country.” If in a dull commercial area, paint a group of smiling, larger-than-life faces. If the spirit moves you/the artist, a vivid abstract will do. The point of the effort is to draw attention to your building, and thus to your Laundromat.

You ever have someone call up and ask, “Where is your place?” If you do, all you have to say, “I’m the building with the water mural.” Plus, you become an arts supporter, and that’s something you can use to rope in the arts community as customers.

SET UP A GLASS DISPLAY OF YOUR MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

Include all the detergent products in their colorful boxes, along with stain stick products, laundry bags, and whatever else you peddle. With a display case attractively arranged, patrons will have a look. You never know what might happen. If you sell soap bars (as an add-on), they might buy. They might purchase a box of detergent for next time. If you have a Laundromat decal, they might purchase that. The first rule of retail sales is to make it attractive.

If any of these ideas float your boat, give them a try. Even better, give them all a try.

CHINO VALLEY, Ariz. — It’s been more than two years since Heavenly Graham opened Sudz Yur Dudz. Like many Laundromat owners, Graham opened her store while pursuing another career. Owning the store offered her another revenue stream, while not taking too much time away from her janitorial business.

She approached the investment through careful planning and research. She chose a convenient and well-visited area in the Chino Valley shopping center, with favorable foot traffic.

With the location secured, Graham needed to determine which machinery would be best for her customers and her bottom line. She chose Pellerin Milnor and, through the guidance of local dealer Laundry and Cleaners Equipment Co., elected to equip the store with Milnor’s coin-operated washers and high-efficiency dryers.

In order to get financing, Graham submitted a comprehensive business plan to her bank, laying out strategies to create a positive cash flow. “The community rallied in support of a new Laundromat,” she said. “Our employees are professional, helpful and friendly, creating an excellent reputation, which will contribute to long-term returning customers.”

Using Milnor Capital to finance the equipment helped her to reduce her terms and have more funds for operational expenses.

Sudz Yur Dudz is located across Highway 89 from a senior mobile home park; many of the park’s residents rely on her store for their laundry services.

Four different machine capacities offer them and other Sudz Yur Dudz customers, including individuals and families, flexibility in choosing the right machinery based on their needs.

With approximately 1,500 square feet of retail space, there is plenty of room for customers to wash, dry and fold their laundry comfortably.

With only one other coin store in the area, Sudz Yur Dudz has positioned itself for success in this market. A few months ago, the store began offering commercial laundry services during off-hours to local restaurants, a car wash, a mid-size hotel and the local Humane Society. The program fully utilizes its equipment and maximizes the store’s revenue stream. 

BISMARCK, N.D. — Oil field clothes can tear up a washing machine. Several laundry businesses have had to close their doors to workers but others are building their businesses around the boom.

A sign on the door of King Koin Laundrette Car and Dog Wash at 2125 E. Thayer Ave. reads “Because of odor and residue problems, we no longer allow oil field clothes in this establishment.” Owner Mike Walsh hung it there about two years ago when damage to his washing machines and dryers became too much.

“We tried for about three years,” Walsh said. “Now we refer them to somebody else when they call ... It was just getting out of hand.”

A similar sign hangs at Interstate Laundry and Carwash at 1438 Interstate Loop. Customers can be charged for washing oily clothes at Boulevard Laundromat at 1310 E. Boulevard Ave. A new machine can cost as much as $10,000 and the upkeep became too high as more oil field workers made their way to Bismarck.

Walsh said the gloves the workers wear are saturated in oil and it was getting left behind in the washers.

“It wasn’t a good fit for us,” Walsh said. “We had to protect our other customers so when they bring their stuff in, they don’t get their stuff ruined.”

Walsh also is short on dryers. It can take as long as an hour and a lot of cleaning supplies to get one back in working order after oil field clothes have been in it.

“The dryers are the worst because it just bakes in there,” he said.

Soap and Suds Laundry Mat at 122 W. Bowen Ave. has opened its doors to the rig workers, though. Owner Louis Baltrusch thinks he is the only self-service Laundromat to allow oil field clothes in Bismarck.

“Why shouldn’t I work with them?” Baltrusch said.

It just takes a lot of soap to make it work.

“Before, guys would come in and use the top loaders and leave a mess behind,” he said.

Baltrusch now has three washing machines at the front of the Laundromat that he asks rig workers to use. He sees at least 30 to 40 workers each week.

“It’s really picked up the last couple years,” he said. “I’m going to have to get some more of them because they’re used so much.”

Interstate Laundry and Carwash used to have machines set aside for oily clothes too, but had to stop when the number of oil field customers increased.

Baltrusch watches for any workers as they come in the door to tell them which machines to use and what to do.

“If I see somebody coming in with a pretty dirty tote, it’s a pretty safe bet he’s a rig worker,” he said.

Baltrusch has oil field customers put two scoops soap to the washing machine in each of the first two rinse cycles. Then he has them take a towel and wipe it down when they’re finished.

“You could put in a white comforter right after and not have a problem,” he said.

Baltrusch said the water in the washer looks like mud during the first rinse cycle, but by the final cycle the water is clear. The oily clothes are then clean and don’t mess up his dryers.

Rig workers can drop off their oily clothes at Arrowhead Cleaners and Laundry Inc. at 1140 N. Third St. The company has two older machines that it uses. Turrito’s Dry Cleaners at 1041 E. Interstate Ave. and 1131 E. Main Ave. and Dakota Dry Cleaners at 820 E. Broadway Ave. do not take oil field clothes.

With very few places in Bismarck taking oil field laundry, many workers are dropping their clothes off in other towns on their way home and picking them up on their way back to work.

“I have a lot of guys call me and ask if I take oil field clothes,” said Melvin Pirkl, owner of Superior Laundry Cleaners in Dickinson, N.D. “They say we just came from Bismarck and they won’t let us.”

Pirkl said his business has more than doubled because of the oil boom. It really picked up for him about a year ago.

“I’m so busy, I don’t know which way to turn,” he said. “I have laundry bags sitting in front of me and I don’t know what to do first.”

Pirkl said he even comes in to work at night to try to get caught up. The biggest problem he faces is equipment damage due to overload.

(This article originally appeared in the Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune and is posted here by permission. You can find the original article here.)

WALTHAM, Mass. — Mac-Gray Corp. has once again been awarded Whirlpool’s Energy Advantage Award, the third time the company has received the honor since the award began in 2006.

“We are delighted to have been selected to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our strong commitment to both technology innovation and environmental sustainability,” says Stewart D. MacDonald, Mac-Gray CEO. “We believe that an environmentally friendly approach to business and cost-effective customer solutions are not mutually exclusive.”

Mac-Gray deployed the most ENERGY STAR®-rated washers and dryers of any Whirlpool distributor in 2011, Mac-Gray says. “Mac-Gray remains the top provider of laundry facilities management to colleges and universities as a direct result of our well-established position as a ‘green’ company,” MacDonald adds.

“Whirlpool Corp. is pleased to announce this award,” says Robert English, Whirlpool’s general manager of Global Commercial Laundry. “Mac-Gray stands out as a company dedicated to energy conservation. They have long been the industry leader when it comes to the conversion of laundry facilities from coin to their various card technology platforms, reducing both operational expenses and the CO2 emissions associated with the collection of coins, while increasing customer satisfaction.”

CINCINNATI — Coin laundry owners and operators may want to follow the progress of a new strategic partnership between Procter & Gamble and the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency worldwide through research, education and advocacy.

Their collective effort will be to publicize the environmental and energy-savings benefits of washing laundry in cold water. The Alliance will work with P&G’s natural resource education initiative called Future Friendly to provide consumers with the information they need to convert from hot/warm-water washing habits to cold-water washing.

Heating of water is a major use of energy. When doing laundry, heating water can account for up to 80% of the energy used per wash load in the United States. By moving to cold water, Americans could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 11 million metric tons annually, P&G and the Alliance say.

A major barrier to adopting cold-water washing habits is the consumer worry that washing in cold water will not clean as effectively as warm/hot water. To combat this notion, a P&G detergent specially formulated to perform optimally in cold water will be showcased.

P&G Future Friendly will work with the Alliance as part of an Earth Day-focused campaign that encourages consumers to change their laundry habits for the better. Featuring a Facebook sweepstakes, pop-up events and media activities, the campaign will utilize Alliance-provided data and consumer-friendly language to illustrate the environmental benefits of cold-water washing and drive consumer action.

CHICAGO — Phil Arvin and his two partners opened their first Maytag-equipped coin laundry in Memphis, Tenn., last March. The 5,000-square-foot attended store is equipped with new energy-efficient 60- and 80-pound washers that are much larger than those in competing stores and thus could command a higher vend price, Arvin says.

But the group followed the suggestions of distributor Justin Laundry and established prices that are comparable to the laundries nearby, Arvin says. “Even though we’re offering a much higher quality product, we didn’t want to be perceived as the higher priced place.”

This is just one example of how the market can influence a laundry’s pricing strategy. But other factors are at work, too, and there are some basic premises that the self-service laundry operator should keep in mind when establishing or changing vend prices.

Criteria for Setting Price?

Upon what criteria should a laundry owner base his or her wash and dry vend prices?

“It really comes down to two issues,” says Kevin Hietpas, vice president of sales and marketing for Dexter. “No. 1 is what’s happening to his costs. How have costs impacted the viability and profitability of his business? Owners should have a good sense of where their business is tracking from a performance standpoint.

“No. 2 is where is he competitively. None of us exist in a vacuum, so you want to understand, ‘I might want to get to a certain point, but as of right now the market won’t let me go there all at once.’ That’s a secondary concern, because I think if the owner is providing good value, it’ll be reflected in his costs. He’s not going overboard with what he’s charging, nor is he under pricing for his service.”

“We have a lot of ‘rules of thumb’ in this industry,” says Gary Gauthier, national sales manager, vended laundries, Milnor Laundry Systems. “When it comes to pricing, it’s typically recommended that gross monthly receipts from washer/dryer revenues should be at least four times the monthly rent and at least five times the monthly utility expenses.”

A store owner needs to be aware of and factor in the competition’s prices when determining his or her own washer and dryer pricing, says Kent Walters, national sales manager for Maytag/Whirlpool Commercial Laundry.

“The owner’s goal should be to produce the best experience for the customer from ambiance to equipment and services—and the costs associated with washing and drying play a large part in this equation,” Walters says.

How Do Your Front-Load Prices Compare?

American Coin-Op surveyed its e-mail subscribers about their November 2011 front-load vend prices — their lowest and highest, and whether the prices had changed since the previous November. Those polled were not asked to identify machine capacities.

Results from the anonymous, unscientific StatShot survey show the lowest and highest prices varied quite a bit among the four regions.

In the West, customers could get a front-load wash for as little as $1.50. The lowest-priced front-load washes ranged from $1.50 to $3.75. Nearly 88% of these prices were unchanged from November 2010. The remaining 12.5% of respondents had raised their lowest-price wash during the 12 months.

The price range for the most expensive front-load washes in the Western region was $2.75 to $7.89. Every respondent reported these prices were unchanged from a year earlier.

Low-end front-load prices in the South ranged from $1.75 to $4.25. Approximately 62% of respondents had kept the same low price since November 2010, and 31.6% had raised the price. Just 5.3% had lowered the price.

Southern customers faced the widest price range of all regions — $2 to $17.50. Nearly 58% of operators reported having raised their high-end price since November 2010, and the remainder were unchanged.

In the Northeast, the most inexpensive front-load prices were $1.50 to $5.50. Just 6.7% of operators had raised their prices in the previous 12 months, while the remainder had kept the prices unchanged.

When it came to the most expensive wash, Northeastern customers were paying $2.25 to $8 in November. Approximately 21% of respondents had raised this price compared to November 2010, while the remainder had stood pat.

The most inexpensive front-load prices in the Midwest ranged from $1 to $4.50. Just 5.9% of operators had raised their prices since November 2010, while another 5.9% had lowered them. The remainder had kept prices unchanged.

On the high side of front-load prices, Midwestern customers faced a range of $2.50 to $8.79 in November. Some 12% of respondents had increased prices, with the remainder keeping the status quo.

Tuesday: Should you announce a price change?

FALL RIVER, Mass. — American Dryer Corp., which has manufactured dryers for the commercial coin-operated, on-premise and industrial laundry markets for nearly 50 years, has officially entered the commercial washer market, the company announced.

“We now offer the same quality you expect from ADC in energy-efficient washer-extractors,” says Joe Bazzinotti, the company’s president and CEO. “After nearly five decades of providing superior drying solutions, it simply felt like the right time to offer a companion for them—EcoWash is just that.

“At ADC, we want to be able to provide the same quality and innovation in a complete package.”

ADC designed and tested its EcoWash units to ensure the best quality and key features to meet even the toughest demands, the company says. Simple controls and a selection of rigid-mount (90-200 G-force) and freestanding, high-spin units (350 G-force) can match a laundry specific’s needs.

PHILADELPHIA — Distributor Super Laundry Equipment has hired Daniel Massimini as coin laundry sales manager for eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. He brings more than 16 years of laundry industry experience to the company.

“Dan’s experience and commitment to his customers, along with our company’s commitment to provide the best products, best service, best prices and best financing will be a great combination and fill a void in an underserved market,” says Tom Duckworth, Super Laundry vice president.

LOS ANGELES — PWS-The Laundry Company has re-launched its website, www.pwslaundry.com, enabling owners of laundry equipment to easily search a selection of more 85,000 laundry parts online.

Users can quickly find a desired part by entering a part number, model number, or part description. The site is designed to make the purchase of parts user-friendly, by including thousands of pictures, diagrams and repair manuals.

Complementing the new site is a fully staffed call center ready to answer all parts-related questions via phone, e-mail or live web chat, PWS says. Individuals specifically trained to help customers identify the proper replacement parts across all equipment manufacturers are available.

Where the previous site attracted more than 35,000 visitors a month, PWS Co-President Brad Steinberg maintains the new website should attract “at least 75,000 visitors a month within the next year.”

PWS reports that it is the nation’s largest distributor of commercial laundry equipment as well as the largest broker and developer of vended laundries.