CHICAGO — Operators in three of the four regions reported May sales increases compared to the prior year, led by the Midwest’s 8.7% gains, according to this month’s unscientific AmericanCoinOp.com StatShot survey.
Nationally, operators saw month-to-month sales rise 2.4% compared to May 2012.
Sales in the West were up 3.7%, the third straight positive month there. May-to-May sales in the South were basically flat, rising just 0.3%. The Northeast was the only region to report a business slowdown, with monthly sales falling 2.3% from the previous May.
May marked the third straight month that coin laundry sales increased in at least three regions this year.
While there were a few positive comments made when asked to describe current market conditions in their area, most respondents didn’t provide a favorable assessment.
“Market is steady and stable right now,” reports a laundry owner from the South. “Beginning the slow season of the year for this market area.”
“Most businesses in our area are just hanging on,” says an owner from the West. “The only real estate that is selling well is bank repo’s that are going for significantly less than appraised value, and that is with the mines running full blast.”
“May was same as last year,” says a respondent from the Northeast. “June is slower by about 10%.”
AmericanCoinOp.com’s StatShot includes information on sales, wages, costs and other financial data based on anonymous survey information provided by industry owners and operators.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].