CHICAGO — Every region posted year-over-year gains in coin laundry sales in June, with operators in the Northeast seeing the largest increase (6%), according to results from this month’s American Coin-Op StatShot survey.
Operators in the South and West posted similar sales gains, up 4.8% and 4.5%, respectively, while those in the Midwest posted a modest gain of 1.4% over June 2013’s sales.
Second-quarter (April, May and June) sales for Midwest operators were also tepid, up 0.5%, over the same period last year.
“Major roadwork in front of one of our stores [is] causing a loss in washer/dryer business,” says an owner there. “Ancillary business is up, but not enough to offset the [washer/dryer] sales.”
Northeast operators posted a 5% sales increase over second quarter last year, while operators in the West also posted healthy year-over-year sales gains in the second quarter, up 6.6%. Southern operators reported the largest quarterly increase, up 7.8% over second-quarter 2013.
Regarding market conditions in the South, one owner says his/her store is seeing an “improving customer base,” but that “water prices are going up 15%.”
Another from the region says, “Migrant workers brought in to harvest crops brought in more business than expected.”
An owner from the West is seeing a similar scenario in his/her area, saying, “[Market conditions are] extremely busy with lots of new construction including a super-large Google addition to their existing plant.”
Despite their strong numbers, store owners/operators in the Northeast are reporting mixed market conditions.
“[Conditions are] consistent; no new competition [and] no one [is] closing,” one says.
“[Conditions are] terribly depressed,” says another. “There are more unemployed folks, and many people in the area are having to take multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet.”
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 via AmericanCoinOp.com. 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].