PEMBROKE, Mass. — A person I know took over a Laundromat and asked me to look at it.
It was one of those ratty-looking facilities, with 20 machines crammed into a 1,200-square-foot space, with pipes running along the ceiling, and a torn-up linoleum floor. If a movie needed a seedy Laundromat for a scene, this place was perfect.
The new owner actually obtained it as a payoff for gambling debts, so it wasn’t a carefully thought-out purchase. Even though it didn’t constitute his livelihood, he still wanted to make money out of it.
When I suggested he do a cheap makeover, he balked.
“Why in the world would I spend good money on this dump?” were his exact words. “The customers are used to it. They do their laundry every week, and leave.”
So, my job was two-fold. First, I had to convince him that spending some money on a makeover would be beneficial to the bottom line. Second, I had to suggest how much to spend and where the cash should be spent.
I argued that a new owner would not be proud of such a dumpy establishment. This did not move him. Then I suggested that a clean, well-lit establishment created a more pleasant experience for customers, so that when there was a problem, they would not simply go somewhere else. This moved him a bit.
Finally, I offered that a clean, bright Laundromat would create in customers’ mind the perception that their clothes were coming out cleaner.
With such a perception, they would talk up the place when someone asked where the best Laundromat is. That sold him.
“So how much do I spend?” he asked. A real makeover would go maybe $30,000 to $50,000, but you’re going to do a low-key, cheap makeover.
Such a cosmetic project wouldn’t last forever, but it might be good for five years. I suggested that the makeover budget would not exceed $5,000.
He then asked how he should spend the $5,000. Here are some of my suggestions:
LINOLEUM OR CERAMIC
Install a new floor, either linoleum or, even better, ceramic tile.
The existing floor was awful. If clothing were dropped on it, the customer would cringe.
New linoleum could be laid in for $1,000. Possibly a commercial tile job could be negotiated for $3,000.
Tile is easy to clean and maintain. Individual tiles can be re-grouted and replaced, and makes a place look shiny and new. And tile would last.
I suggested an off-white color that would mask dirt. A new floor would go a long way toward creating a new look.
A SOFT BLUE
Paint the wall. Perhaps a soft blue would be the best choice, giving the place a soft, comfortable feeling.
Painting the walls would cover the scratches, discolorations and rust stains that currently make the premises look old and worn.
To keep the cost down, I suggested that the operator and his family do the project themselves. To see his two teenaged sons working hard would provide them with an important lesson in life: that money doesn’t grow on trees, or automatically come out of Daddy’s pockets.
If he could convince his family to do the work, painting the walls might run $300 to $400.
DROP THE CEILING
Install a drop ceiling, or eliminate the ugly old pipes. Actually, there are only a few visible pipes. A plumber could put in new pipes.
Alternately, a carpenter could construct boxes to conceal the pipes. An even less expensive alternative would be to wrap the pipes in attractive, colorful duct tape.
While a drop ceiling might cost a few thousand dollars, the more minimal approaches would run a few hundred dollars.
Check back Thursday for the conclusion!
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