Content about Washer

March 25, 2013

Internet Sensation Drummer Boy to Play During Clean Show

ATLANTA — Drumming performance on family washer has amassed nearly 1.8 million views on YouTube

ATLANTA — If all of the exhibits and educational sessions aren’t enough to draw you to New Orleans for the Clean Show this summer, how about an Internet sensation?

The show’s management announced Friday that 11-year old Jonathan Carollo, whose drumming performance on a washing machine went viral, will be performing at the June 20-22 event in New Orleans.

First posted to YouTube last September, Carollo’s Whirled Beat video has amassed nearly 1.8 million views and has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, USA Today and The Huffington Post.

Carollo’s father, Dan, posted the video for family and friends on Facebook but then uploaded it to YouTube after several people encouraged him to share his son’s talent with the world.

The boy routinely drums on objects around his family’s Washington state home and decided that the top loader, with its large steel drum, was the perfect-sounding instrument when he grew bored playing his drum kit.

“We are extremely delighted to have such a talented person play at the show … especially when it’s on an appliance that most of our exhibitors and attendees work with on a daily basis,” says John Riddle, president of Riddle & Associates, the Clean Show’s management company. “It certainly will give them a new way to look at their washing machines.”

March 12, 2013

Survey: Laundry Owners Weigh Best and Worst About Their Stores

CHICAGO — What’s your most popular washer? Best revenue-generating season? The worst thing a customer has done to or at your laundry?

CHICAGO — They say you have to take the bad with the good. And so it is that American Coin-Op asked readers to list the best and the worst things about their store in this month’s Wire survey.

POPULAR WASHERS

Thirty-three percent of respondents say a 40- to 50-pound front loader is their store’s most popular washer, followed by a 27- to 35-pound front loader (30%) and an 18- to 25-pound front loader (23.3%). Equal shares (6.7%) chose a 55- to 60-pound front loader and a 70-pound-plus front loader as most popular. No one who took the unscientific survey said a top loader was their store’s most popular washer.

SLOWEST DAY, BEST SEASON

Wednesday is the slowest business day (38.7%), edging out Tuesday (29%) and Thursday (25.8%). Summer is the best revenue-generating season (35.5%), followed by winter (32.3%), spring (22.6%), and fall (9.7%).

QUENCH THAT THIRST

Soft drinks, by far, are the best-selling food/drink item at laundries. Roughly 52% of respondents say soft drinks are the No. 1 seller, followed by snack chips (19.4%) and water (6.5%). Approximately 13% of respondents say they don’t offer vended items in their laundry.

BUT IT’S GOTTA BE DONE

Doing repair/maintenance work (32.3%) is the least favorite task for owners, followed by “solving customer problems” (25.8%), collecting (12.9%) and cleaning (12.9%). Only 9.7% selected “supervising employees” as being least favorite.

A CUSTOMER DID WHAT?

Respondents were asked to name the worst thing a customer had done to or at their laundry. Answers were varied, and some were downright disturbing. Incidents of theft (money, a toilet seat) and vandalism (poured beverages on floor, ripped off washer door) were most common. Following are examples of the rest:

“(Customer) brought in laundry with dozens of roaches in it. When I walked in, the bugs were crawling everywhere in plain sight: all over the washers, in and out of her laundry basket, etc. I told her not to ever bring her laundry back here. My attendant and I spent hours killing roaches and, of course, I also had an emergency exterminator visit.”
“One blew ours up a few years before we bought it. He was washing greasers (oil field clothes) and he poured some gasoline into the washer with the clothes. It was a gentle explosion, though. It didn’t seriously injure any of the customers.”
“Take clothes off and wash them.”
“Butchered a manta ray on one of our tables, then put (it) into one of our dryers, turned it on high, then left.”
“Had a bowel movement in the middle of the store because the restroom was busy. Then used others’ clothes to clean himself.”
“Washed old, rubber-backed carpets, clogging the washers drain and flooding the store.”

While the Wire survey presents a snapshot of readers’ viewpoints at a particular moment, it should not be considered scientific.

Subscribers to Wire e-mails—distributed twice weekly—are invited to take the industry survey anonymously online each month. All self-service laundry owners and operators are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define operator opinions and industry trends.

December 27, 2012

PWS Schedules Service Schools Throughout 2013

LOS ANGELES — Free classes to address front loaders, top loaders, bill/coin changers, boilers and more

LOS ANGELES — PWS – The Laundry Company has released its schedule of service schools to be hosted at its Los Angeles and San Francisco offices in 2013. The free service classes are scheduled on Saturday mornings throughout the year.

In Los Angeles (6500 Flotilla St.):

Jan. 12 — Vending Machine Service
Feb. 16 — Front-Load Washers
March 30 — Top-Load Washers; Front-Load Washers; Drying Tumblers
April 20 — 30/45-Pound Drying Tumblers
May 18 — Hot Water Boilers
June 15 — Standard Bill and Coin Changers
July 13 — Rowe Bill and Coin Changers
Aug. 10 — Top-Load Washers
Sept. 14 — Top-Load Washers; Front-Load Washers; Drying Tumblers
Oct. 19 — Front-Load Washers
Nov. 16 – 30/45-Pound Drying Tumblers
Dec. 14 — Top-Load Washers

Call 323-721-8832 to sign up for a class.

In San Francisco (365 Swift St., South San Francisco):

Jan. 12 — Front-Load Washer-Extractors
Feb. 16 — Front-Load Washers
March 30 — Top-Load Washers; Front-Load Washers; Drying Tumblers
April 20 – 30/45-Pound Drying Tumblers
May 18 — Hot Water Boilers
June 15 — Standard Bill and Coin Changers
July 13 — Rowe Bill and Coin Changers
Aug. 10 — Top-Load Washers
Sept. 14 — Top-Load Washers; Front-Load Washers; Drying Tumblers
Oct. 19 — Front-Load Washers
Nov. 16 — 30/45-Pound Drying Tumblers
Dec. 14 — Top-Load Washers

Call 650-871-0300 to sign up for a class.

September 5, 2012

Paradise Laundry Goes ‘Topless’ in New Store

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Paradise Laundry focuses third store entirely on front loaders

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — When Paradise Laundry Inc. chose to open a third store in this Northern California city of roughly 122,000 people, it decided that it would be topless—minus top loaders, that is.

For more than 20 years, the coin laundry known as the “Laundry Basket” had been primarily a top-loader store (17 of 23 washers were of the top-load variety). But when Paradise Laundry owner Deborah Dower decided to buy and renovate the southern Roseville site, she elected to go entirely with Dexter front-load washers, 14 of them.

“An older top-loading washer can use up to 42 gallons of water to wash one load, which is more than twice as much water of a high-efficiency (HE) front-load washer,” says Dower, whose business was honored recently by the Sacramento Board of Supervisors for its sustainability and water conservation. In making the switch, Paradise Laundry was able to boost the store’s wash capacity by 150% while using 40% less water.

When Paradise Laundry remodeled its first Roseville location, it reduced the number of top loaders there from 22 to 12, intending to further reduce the number to just six. “We thought people would stop using the older-style machines when they realized how much better the HE washers worked, then we would replace the tops with high-efficiency front loads. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Much to our surprise, there are times each week when all 12 of the top-load washers are busy.”

Many California cities have been hit with double-digit water and sewer rate increases due to the need to replace aging underground pipes, according to Dower.

“Recognizing water and sewer rates are going to continue to increase, we decided at this new location we would not even offer top-load washers,” she explains. “Instead, we would put in double-capacity front-load washers and price them the same as a top load. My worst fear is for someone to come in, take a look, see we don’t have any top-load machines, then turn around and walk out. We are hopeful the equivalent pricing will give them incentive to try the high-efficiency washers.”

Paradise Laundry will host a grand-opening celebration at its Cirby Way store on Sept. 19.

April 9, 2012

Survey: Operators Soldier On Amidst Lagging Economy, Increasing Costs (Part 2 of 3)

CHICAGO — How do you think your self-service business compared to others in the industry last year? Did you have a good year or a bad year in 2011? How does your pricing compare with others?

American Coin-Op’s annual State of the Industry survey offers you the opportunity to compare your operation to others in the industry. It focuses on 2011/2012 business conditions, pricing, equipment, common problems, turns per day, and utilities cost.

The survey is an unscientific electronic poll of American Coin-Op readers who operate stores.

WASHER PRICES

Respondents were asked about their current washer prices, and if they increased prices this year or planned on doing so by the end of the year.

Eighty percent of respondents offer top loaders. The price range for a top-load wash is $1 to $3.50. The most expensive top-load wash was the same price last year.

Here are the most popular top-load prices followed by the percentages of respondents using them:

1. $2 (25.8%)

2. $1.75 (20.6%)

3. $1.50 and $2.25 (14.4% - tie)

5. $2.50 (11.3%)

The biggest change is that $2 jumped from No. 3 last year to No. 1 this year. This moved last year’s No. 1 $1.75 into No. 2. Tying for third were $1.50 and $2.25.

A handful of operators continue to charge $3 or more for a top-load wash. This is the second straight year that there have been multiple prices topping $3 reported in the survey.

The most popular prices for some of the small front loaders are:

18-pound washers: $2.50
20-pound washers: $2.50
25-pound washers: $3

The lowest price in the above grouping is $1.75 (20-pound washer) and the highest price is $5 (also a 20-pound washer). Overall, this year’s most popular small front-loader prices are a bit more expensive than last year’s prices.

The price range for a 30-pound wash is $2 to $5.50. Here are the most popular 30-pound prices, along with the percentages of respondents using them:

1. $3.50 (34.8%)

2. $4 (10.9%)

3. $3, $3.25 and $4.25 (8.7% - tie)

The most popular price for a 35-pound wash is $3.50, followed closely by $4.50. The price range for a 35-pound wash is $3.25 to $5.25.

The most popular price for a 40-pound wash is $4.50, but $4 and $5 aren’t far behind. The most popular 50-pound wash price is $5.50, followed closely by $5.

The most popular price for a 60-pound wash is $6. The price range for an 80-pound wash is $6.25 to $13, with $8 being the most popular price.

The most popular prices for the largest front loaders (125 pounds) are $14.99 to $15.50.

Because the group of operators who respond to our survey is different each year, prices tend to vary. But the survey consistently has shown that operators offer a wide variety of front loaders (prices for 20 different capacities were logged this year) with a broad price range.

DRYER PRICES

Operators have historically tended to shy away from raising dryer prices, choosing instead to focus on washer price hikes. The average store owner continues to operate under the belief that customers will be upset by tinkered-with dryer prices but less apt to complain about washer price hikes.

Here are the most popular dryer prices, followed by the percentage of respondents using them:

1. 25 cents/6 minutes (23.1%)

2. 25 cents/8 minutes (18.5%)

3. 25 cents/5 minutes (16.7%)

4. 25 cents/7 minutes (13.9%)

5. 25 cents/10 minutes (8.3%)

The No. 1 price remains the same as last year, but fewer operators are using it. Seven minutes of drying time dropped from second last year to fourth this year, and the 25-for-8 and 25-for-5 prices each moved up a spot from last year. The 25-for-10 price—once an industry staple—remained fifth at practically the same percentage as last year.

As usual, there were a wide variety of dryer prices reported. The most expensive (and longest cycle) was $1.75 for 35 minutes.

A handful of respondents reported they offer free dry in their stores.

DROP-OFF SERVICE PRICING

Drop-off-service pricing ranges from 75 cents to $2 per pound. Here are the most popular drop-off-service prices (per pound), followed by the percentage of respondents using them:

1. $1 (34.9%)

2. $1.20 and $1.25 (10.8% - tie)

4. 90 cents (6%)

5. $1.10 (4.8%)

The drop-off-service prices remain similar to 2011 prices, and there are a greater variety of prices charged. There were 21 different prices charged per pound amid the operators who took our survey.

Slightly more than two-thirds of the respondents offer drop-off service, which is down from last year’s survey.

PRICE HIKES?

We asked operators if they have already raised washer and/or dryer prices in 2012 or intend to do so before year’s end.

Approximately 50% say they have raised washer prices this year or intend to raise prices by the end of the year. Roughly 31% of respondents say they are not planning to raise washer prices this year, and 19% are undecided if they are going to hike prices in 2012.

Regarding dryer prices, 17.8% have raised dryer prices this year or intend to do so later in the year. Roughly 64% don’t plan to hike dryer prices this year, and 17.8% are undecided about raising their prices.

In 2011, only 34% said they raised washer prices or intended to do so by the end of that year, and 13% said they raised dryer prices or intended to do so before that year’s end.

Check back Wednesday for Part 3: Equipment Purchasing Trends, Plus Common Managerial Headaches

September 27, 2011

Student’s Design Links Coin-Op Wash Cycle to Gaming Ability

LONDON — It wouldn’t be unusual to see coin-op washers and arcade games in the same laundry, but what if they were one and the same?

Lee Wei Chen, an art design student attending Kingston University in London, has designed a video game that involves doing the laundry.

His “amusement washing machine” resembles an arcade-style video console, but the bottom half is a washer. Chen linked the circuitry of the two, so the washing cycle is dependent on the gamer’s progress.

Players insert three coins, which gives them three “lives” and turns on the washer. If the player fails to progress beyond a certain level, the washer doesn’t move to the next stage in its cycle until more coins are added.

Chen’s device was part of the university’s display during the London Design Festival over the weekend.

Do you think something like that would ever go over in the States? If so, parents might finally be able to take advantage of all that time their kids spend playing video games.

August 4, 2011

Sunshine Laundry Wins Continental’s Oldest Washer Contest

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Coco and Louie Lin, owners of Sunshine Laundry, a vintage mom-and-pop corner laundry in Philadelphia, are the winners of Continental Girbau’s Oldest Washer Contest. The contest debuted as part of Continental’s 15th anniversary celebration, says company President Mike Floyd.

Sunshine Laundry utilizes eight washer-extractors that span three decades of Girbau history. A rare trio of 30-pound-capacity Golder Girbau washers—manufactured in the mid- to late 1970s—represent the workhorse ancestors of several of today’s Continental Girbau models.

“The Golder Girbaus are over 30 years old and still running strong,” says Russ Arbuckle of Wholesale Commercial Laundry Equipment SE. “That’s a real testament to the quality of these machines.”

In addition to the three Golder Girbaus, the unique neighborhood laundry is also outfitted with three 40-pound Girbau washer-extractors, exported to the United States under a private label 23 years ago. These six older Girbau machines sit near their newer counterparts—two 30-pound Continental washers.

The laundry’s previous owner, Montha Thong, discovered the old Golder Girbaus for sale at a neighboring coin laundry. She called on Arbuckle to inspect the washers prior to their purchase.

“After I saw the condition of the machines, I was in shock,” says Arbuckle. “The Golder Girbaus ran great, despite three decades of continuous use.” He assessed their condition and advised the upgrade of minor parts.

January 20, 2011

Preventive Maintenance: Tools of the Trade

CHICAGO — If you’ve read my columns, I hope you realize that performing routine preventive maintenance (PM) on your laundry equipment is a must if you want to get the most out of it. These efforts touch on utility-cost savings, maintaining customer satisfaction and extending the life of your equipment.

January 3, 2011

Washers, Dryers a Holiday Hit?

NEW YORK — Although the holiday number crunching is still going on, sales of major appliances, such as washers and dryers, are becoming more of factor at this time of year, especially on Black Friday, according to a host of store reports.

For the past three years, major-appliance sales have had a growing impact on holiday sales totals. Spurred by discounts and rebates, washers and dryers vied with TVs and jewelry for a large piece of the Black Friday pie. It wasn’t uncommon to see washer-dryer pairs packaged as a two-for-one deal.

April 7, 2010

Avoiding Equipment Nightmares

March 26, 2010

State of the Industry Survey: Operators Take a Hit in 2009 (Part 2 of 3)

July 17, 2009

Basic Preventative Maintenance Increases Performance, Life of Equipment

June 20, 2009

Exhibitors Bring Efficiency to Clean '09

June 20, 2009

Large, Bulky Loads No Problem for New Washer

June 18, 2009

Clean Educational Session: Tips for Keeping Energy Costs Down