CHICAGO — How did your self-service laundry business measure up with others in the industry last year?
Did your drop-off service thrive, or did you see profits go down the drain? Are your vend prices in line with what your peers are charging?
American Coin-Op’s annual State of the Industry survey offers store owners and operators the chance to compare their operation to others in the industry.
The survey focuses on 2014-2015 business conditions, pricing, equipment, common problems, turns per day and utilities cost.
In instances where respondents were asked about 2014 business results, they were given the opportunity to state whether their results were up, down or unchanged.
This is a departure from surveys compiled in 2011 and earlier, when respondents were asked only if their business was up or down. Keep this in mind as you’re making comparisons to previous years’ results.
This survey is an unscientific electronic poll of American Coin-Op readers who operate stores. Some percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding.
COIN OR CARD?
Approximately 66% of respondents operate coin-only stores, 7.9% operate card-only stores, while 26.3% offer both.
The shares of card-only stores and stores that offer both payment types have increased since last year’s survey, particularly stores that offer coin and card, up from 12.7% in 2014.
PURCHASED IN 2014
An even 50% of respondents purchased at least one piece of equipment (washer, dryer, water heater, vending machine or other) in 2014, up significantly from last year’s 38%, and in line with approximately 48% of respondents in 2012.
Below is a breakdown of 2014 purchases. (Editor’s note: Percentages do not total 100% because some buyers purchased equipment in multiple equipment categories.):
- 47.4% of respondents purchased at least one top loader. The average purchase was five machines.
- 63.2% of respondents purchased at least one front loader. The average purchase was 9.2 machines.
- 36.8% of respondents purchased at least one dryer (regular or stacked). The average purchase was two machines.
- Equal shares of 15.8% of respondents purchased some type of water heater, vending machine or “other” types of equipment, like credit card terminals or security systems.
2015 SHOPPING LIST
Operators were asked if they purchased, or plan to purchase, new equipment this year.
Close to 29% of respondents—down 3% from last year’s survey—plan to add some type of equipment (washer, dryer, water heater, vending machine or other) to their mix, or have already done so.
Below is a breakdown of purchases operators have already made in 2015, or plan to make by the end of the year. (Editor’s note: Percentages do not total 100% because some buyers purchased/plan to purchase equipment in multiple equipment categories.):
- 18.2% of respondents have purchased, or plan to purchase, a new top loader this year. The average purchase is (or will be) 5.5 machines.
- 54.6% of respondents have purchased, or plan to purchase, a new front loader this year. The average purchase is (or will be) 5.2 machines.
- 45.5% of respondents have purchased, or plan to purchase, a new dryer this year. The average purchase is (or will be) 6.4 machines.
- Equal shares of 18.2% of respondents purchased, or plan to purchase, some type of water heater, vending machine or “other” types of equipment in 2015.
Missed earlier parts of this story? You can read them now: Part 1, Part 2
Check back Monday for the conclusion: trends in attended/unattended stores, utilities cost, 2015 operators forecast and more!
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].