CHICAGO — Operators in the South had a sweet February, as year-over-year sales in the region last month were up an average of 10.7%, according to results of this month’s American Coin-Op StatShot survey.
Operators from the Northeast (up average of 6%) and West (up average of 4%) also reported healthy February year-over-year sales.
“We are in a technology boom with a new Google infrastructure adding new jobs,” says one operator in the West.
Midwest operators were the only ones to see a decline in February sales, down an average of 0.5%.
In terms of 2014 drop-off sales, operators in the West led the pack, up an average of 2.5% over 2013 sales. Respondents in the South trailed close behind, up an average of 2.4%.
Midwest and Northeast operators saw little to no growth in year-over-year drop-off sales. Midwest operators posted a 0.6% increase, while sales in the Northeast were unchanged.
Despite the minimal growth reported in his/her region, one operator from the Midwest says business in his/her store is “busier in the evenings now.”
“Employee theft was [the] biggest problem in 2014,” says an operator from the South.
One operator from the Northeast says that conditions in his/her region have “pretty much stagnated.”
“It’s a roller coaster ride—sales are not consistent,” says another from the region.
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].