CHICAGO — When weighing factors that can contribute to a coin-op laundry’s success, the vast majority of store owners (94.4%) surveyed in this month’s American Coin-Op Your Views survey say store cleanliness is top of mind when it comes to having a “great” laundry.
Next to cleanliness, operators attribute owner/employee friendliness (83.3%) and equipment (mix/numbers) (72.2%) to store success (respondents could choose any or all from among a list of six answers). Also receiving modest support were amenities, such as free wi-fi, vending machines, etc. (44.4%).
Garnering the least support for being the dominant aspect of a “great” laundry were “other,” such as lighting or location (22.2%), and store size (16.7%).
When asked what factor is most “overrated” when judging a store, the top three features cited by respondents were store size (61.1%), amenities (55.6%) and equipment mix/number (22.2%). Other choices were cleanliness (16.7%), owner/employee friendliness (11.1%) and “other” (5.6%).
Compared to 10 years ago, the operational efficiency of today’s laundries is “far better” (36.8%) or “somewhat better” (47.4%), respondents say. The remaining 15.8% see efficiency as being unchanged; no one taking the survey believes operational efficiency is “somewhat worse” or “much worse” than that of a decade ago.
To improve their overall coin laundry business, respondents often draw from a variety of resources, including customer feedback (73.7%), trade publications (57.9%), distributor events (47.4%), industry trade shows (47.4%) and industry associations/groups (42.1%).
American Coin-Op’s Your Views survey presents an unscientific snapshot of the trade audience’s viewpoints at a particular moment. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Subscribers to American Coin-Op e-mails are invited to participate anonymously in an industry survey each month. The entire trade audience is encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define owner/operator opinions and industry trends.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].