Seeing a 24-hour Laundromat as a beacon of welcome is another argument around-the-clock practitioners offer. So, pitching the benefit will generally fall on deaf ears. I think when people hear that the Laundromat is open 24 hours, seven days a week, they say, “That’s nice,” but whisper to themselves, “What’s the point?”ĭoing the laundry is just not such a critical function. “No, sir, we’ll just manage until I can get to the Laundromat at a decent hour,” says the customer. That hour is when all the crazies come out. Not too many people can stomach doing anything out of their home at 3 a.m.īesides being dark and cold, it’s dangerous out there. They’ll simply wear the outfits they have on for another day. Perhaps it’s good to know that if there ever came an occasion when they couldn’t wash their clothes until 3 a.m., they might think about doing so.īut, more probably, they’ll postpone the task for a day or two. Third, I would like to ask him why he thinks 24-hour service makes him unique.ĭoes he think his customers appreciate the backup option? Does he feel that customers appreciate that the Laundromat is really going to bat for its patrons? Does he think that the customer feels secure in dealing with a large company? ‘WHAT’S THE POINT?’Ĭertainly, 99% of customers do not wash their clothes in the early-morning hours. If he determines that a third would most likely come during normal hours, that must be factored into the breakeven analysis. One might come in the middle of the night and talk to customers, asking why they do their laundry in the early-morning hours. The second question is, how many of his early-morning customers would come during regular store hours? If he loses $100 a week, that’s a $5,000 cut, and that’s a stiff penalty to pay for a questionable brag. He offered: “I always put ‘Open 24 hours, seven days a week’ in my bullet listing of offerings, and I feel I’m ahead of competition.”įirst, what does he mean by “approaches breakeven”?ĭoes he mean he loses $200 a week? Does he mean losing $100 a week? Does he mean he actually breaks even for half of the week? I spoke to another 24-hour operator, who said that late-evening volume approaches breakeven.īut, he went on to say that it is such a great feature to brag about that it is worth staying open all night just for the goodwill. However, Laundromats are not manufacturers, and I don’t think the same economics apply. The owner always said, “I made money because I got maximum use of my equipment-the most expensive expense in the manufacturing process.” The business rocketed to $15 million in sales. He purchased huge four-color presses and began operating 24 hours a day, six days a week. That led to a massive increase in business. Once he got his bearings, he expanded into printing circulars for discount centers. I grew up living next to an eye doctor who had bought a small chain of local newspapers. WILL YOU BREAK EVEN?įor sure, utilizing equipment 24 hours is a strategy that has made a lot of people fortunes. This operation warrants being open 24 hours. Plus, our cleaning man tends the business as he cleans, so it’s a twofer.” A lot of people in this area work the third shift and come in afterwards to do their laundry. He says, “At 3 a.m., we’ll have six or seven customers. Tyrone Akins, co-owner of Laundry Café, in inner-city Philadelphia, says his 24-hour operation exceeds breakeven. So, 56 hours times $18 is $1,008, or roughly $1,000 expense every week.Īt an average of each customer spending $7, that’s roughly 140 late-night customers every week. to 6 a.m.-eight hours a day for seven days a week, or 56 hours.Īt a cost of $6 utility and $12 staffing, that’s $18 an hour. The first question to answer is: Does the Laundromat do enough volume during the hours of 10 p.m. If the store isn’t manned, there are dangers of vandalism and homeless people seeking shelter. There are costs to staying open 24 hours-utilities, evening help, and problem-solving. Night owls are sure to patronize the 24-hour Laundromat, plus staying open all night makes for great visibility.īut, still, is staying open 24 hours a day a viable strategy? IS THE COST WORTH IT? It looks good to add that feature in a bullet listing.Ĭustomers who have no time during the day and evening come as late as they want to get their clothes cleaned.Ĭustomers with unusual schedules find the offering helpful. Should the Laundromat be open 24 hours a day? Certainly, it is a positive feature of good service.
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