A fast-paced lifestyle in a big city, makes it impossible for many to spend some time to cook real food and even do their laundry.*And that's what take-out stores*and laundry shops*are made for.
These kinds of businesses are indeed very promising and in demand, since most people now, especially 'millenials' are into this way of living. While food business is already at high demand, laundry business is another booming industry that follows*the shift of many individuals to*condo-living. This is one factor why venturing in such business is a good thing.*So if you are interested on this kind of business, check out the tips on How to Start aLaundry Businessfrom our #MentoringMonday discussion with our guest mentor.
1. Invest in Good Machines
Purchasing good machines (washers and dryers) should be your top priority.
Invest in high quality equipments, and don't just settle for the cheaper ones. You may opt to get a*front loader machine for a*long-term investment, because its cost of washing is much cheaper*compared to a top loader machine.*But take note that*before acquiring these machines, it is important to first check the service history of*the*supplier. If they do not have presence in your area and no readily available technicians to cater to your concerns are do repairs, don't buy from them. Remember, service should be 50% of *your decision when purchasing your machines.
2. Get the Right Location
Getting the right location is very crucial for your business. Factors*such as: proximity, security, cost, and even water supply*are to be considered before establishing a shop in a certain place.
In highly urbanized areas, people prefer to have easy access to laundry *shops because most of them don't have the luxury of time to travel *far to get their clothes washed. *It is best*to set up your business near your customers. The nearer you are, the better. At the same time, it should also be well secured. Also, it's good to be located near other stores like groceries, flower shops, coffee shops, etc. to complement the other needs of your customer. So while they wait for their laundry, they can do other errands without*having to waste time.
Water supply is an important factor too, when getting a location. Hard water may result to waste in detergents and graying of clothes, which obviously, you wouldn't want at all.*And last but definitely not the least is, think of how much it would cost you to rent the space. If it's too much your budget, then look for a spot somewhere else. Don't *push too hard. You'll find a perfect spot eventually -- just be patient in searching for one.
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3. Don't be Afraid to Compete
Don't be afraid of competition. One good sign that a market is good for laundry is that there are lots of strong competitors nearby. The only important thing is that you need to have a unique selling proposition. And this USP will help customers to distinguish you among your competitors.
Check your competition around and see what they offer. Do they open late? Do they deliver or customize? How much is their pricing? Know all of these before you open your own shop. You can do a quick survey to the customers of your competitors to know what is important to them (it may be parking space, price, etc.). One tip *is *that never go into price war, unless you are sure you can win by having the biggest budget, which is a rare case.
Think five steps ahead.*Don't make fun of the name of your shop -- it's not a long-term move. A*good name and a good logo can bring a lot fortune. You might not realize this now, but once your business grows, it can be a problem later on.
4. Perform Local Store Marketing
Although laundry business is very promising as it is, it still needs to be marketed well. And the key to acquire more customers is through LSM or local store marketing.
Tarps, Facebook ads and flyering are good marketing strategies to reach out to potential clients. However, not all these would work. It would depend on your area, and your target market. So if you are targeting condominium tenants, you may opt to use flyering and putting up tarps in key areas. But if you are targeting a bigger market, you may go for Facebook advertisements or even newspaper ads.
5. Handle Complaints Well
It is important to always listen to the customer's complaint. That's the very first thing you should do. *Allow them to vent out all their frustrations, and then act quickly to solve the issue. Communication is key to settle an issue; so you must connect to them right away and discuss how you can appease the complainant in a fair manner. Remember, most customers dislike lack of communication.
Keep them posted on what is going on, and assure them fair investigation.*If you have checks and balances, you should be able to find the missing item. If you do not find it, communicate to the customer right away. Sometimes, it's *the customer who made the mistake, so in that case, you should talk to the customer professionally and explain the results based on your investigation.
These kinds of businesses are indeed very promising and in demand, since most people now, especially 'millenials' are into this way of living. While food business is already at high demand, laundry business is another booming industry that follows*the shift of many individuals to*condo-living. This is one factor why venturing in such business is a good thing.*So if you are interested on this kind of business, check out the tips on How to Start aLaundry Businessfrom our #MentoringMonday discussion with our guest mentor.
1. Invest in Good Machines
Purchasing good machines (washers and dryers) should be your top priority.
Invest in high quality equipments, and don't just settle for the cheaper ones. You may opt to get a*front loader machine for a*long-term investment, because its cost of washing is much cheaper*compared to a top loader machine.*But take note that*before acquiring these machines, it is important to first check the service history of*the*supplier. If they do not have presence in your area and no readily available technicians to cater to your concerns are do repairs, don't buy from them. Remember, service should be 50% of *your decision when purchasing your machines.
2. Get the Right Location
Getting the right location is very crucial for your business. Factors*such as: proximity, security, cost, and even water supply*are to be considered before establishing a shop in a certain place.
In highly urbanized areas, people prefer to have easy access to laundry *shops because most of them don't have the luxury of time to travel *far to get their clothes washed. *It is best*to set up your business near your customers. The nearer you are, the better. At the same time, it should also be well secured. Also, it's good to be located near other stores like groceries, flower shops, coffee shops, etc. to complement the other needs of your customer. So while they wait for their laundry, they can do other errands without*having to waste time.
Water supply is an important factor too, when getting a location. Hard water may result to waste in detergents and graying of clothes, which obviously, you wouldn't want at all.*And last but definitely not the least is, think of how much it would cost you to rent the space. If it's too much your budget, then look for a spot somewhere else. Don't *push too hard. You'll find a perfect spot eventually -- just be patient in searching for one.
3. Don't be Afraid to Compete
Don't be afraid of competition. One good sign that a market is good for laundry is that there are lots of strong competitors nearby. The only important thing is that you need to have a unique selling proposition. And this USP will help customers to distinguish you among your competitors.
Check your competition around and see what they offer. Do they open late? Do they deliver or customize? How much is their pricing? Know all of these before you open your own shop. You can do a quick survey to the customers of your competitors to know what is important to them (it may be parking space, price, etc.). One tip *is *that never go into price war, unless you are sure you can win by having the biggest budget, which is a rare case.
Think five steps ahead.*Don't make fun of the name of your shop -- it's not a long-term move. A*good name and a good logo can bring a lot fortune. You might not realize this now, but once your business grows, it can be a problem later on.
4. Perform Local Store Marketing
Although laundry business is very promising as it is, it still needs to be marketed well. And the key to acquire more customers is through LSM or local store marketing.
Tarps, Facebook ads and flyering are good marketing strategies to reach out to potential clients. However, not all these would work. It would depend on your area, and your target market. So if you are targeting condominium tenants, you may opt to use flyering and putting up tarps in key areas. But if you are targeting a bigger market, you may go for Facebook advertisements or even newspaper ads.
5. Handle Complaints Well
It is important to always listen to the customer's complaint. That's the very first thing you should do. *Allow them to vent out all their frustrations, and then act quickly to solve the issue. Communication is key to settle an issue; so you must connect to them right away and discuss how you can appease the complainant in a fair manner. Remember, most customers dislike lack of communication.
Keep them posted on what is going on, and assure them fair investigation.*If you have checks and balances, you should be able to find the missing item. If you do not find it, communicate to the customer right away. Sometimes, it's *the customer who made the mistake, so in that case, you should talk to the customer professionally and explain the results based on your investigation.