CHICAGO — September year-over-year sales for coin laundry operators were higher, on average, across the country, according to the results of this month’s American Coin-Op StatShot survey.
With the country divided into four regions, the South posted the largest gain for the month, 8.7%, when compared to sales for September 2014. In the Midwest, September 2015 sales were 6.4% higher than those of September 2014.
Operators in the Northeast saw their collective sales for the month rise by 2.9% compared to September 2014. Year-over-year sales were relatively flat in the West, up just 0.5% in September compared to September 2014.
Third-quarter 2015 sales were also positive for all regions, with the South posting a 10.5% increase from the same period last year. The Northeast (7.3%) and Midwest (6.7%) also reported healthy year-over-year gains for the quarter. In the West, third-quarter sales were 1.2% higher than they were for the same period in 2014.
American Coin-Op asked respondents to the anonymous, unscientific survey to share their business outlook for the remainder of the year, and many were positive. Here is a sample:
- West — “Continued light growth.”
- South — “Good, but weather [is] cooperating.”
- Northeast — “Hope it stays on track.”
- South — “Good. Should be able to maintain some growth.”
- Midwest — “Great potential. The increases have grown each quarter this year.”
There were some, however, who have a dimmer view of the months left on the calendar:
- Midwest — “Winter months tend to be slightly slower.”
- South — “Stagnant.”
- West — “Bleak.”
- Northeast — “I hope it will get better in 2016.”
The unscientific StatShot survey includes information on sales, wages, costs or other financial data based on survey information provided anonymously by vended laundry store owners.
American Coin-Op audience members are invited via e-mail to participate in the surveys, which are conducted online. All self-service laundry owners/operators are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define industry trends.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].