A coin laundry business gives apartment dwellers, campers, senior citizens and college students the ability to have clean clothes without investing in the purchase of their own washer and dryer. Some customers, such as campers and students, don't have the space for the appliances or an available water source for the washer. Because of the varied customer groups, you can clean up in the coin laundry business and be part of the 60-year-old industry.
Customers for a coin laundry can be transient. College students graduate. Campers locate to another campground and apartment dwellers buy their first house and move. Fliers are an inexpensive method of getting the word out to new people in the area. Leave them in the lobbies or pinned to a bulletin board. Advertising in the college and community newspapers lets people know you're there. Ask if the campground will hand out flyers at check in. Direct mail postcards are another option. Online advertising venues include community sites, Facebook pages and through location-based online ads. Only those looking for a coin-operated laundry in your city will see your ad, rather than anyone searching under laundry. Hold a contest for free use of the washer and dryers for customers who post a photo of themselves outside the laundry on your social networking sites.
Your laundry can be a great location for social events. Creating a fun atmosphere brings customers back. Consider your customer base. If it's mostly young singles, schedule a mingles night where they come and meet each other while getting their clothes clean. Older customers could meet to play cards or discuss the latest mystery bestseller. Create a charity drive for gently used clothing to donate to homeless shelters. Ask customers to donate cleaning supplies for the shelter or to donate to a food bank.
You might not think that a coin-operated laundry business could get much publicity, but there are opportunities. Schedule a series of press releases that focus on getting clothes clean, removing stains and fabric care. For example, a release for summer could include tips that swimming pool chlorine should be rinsed from bathing suites after wearing.
Make your laundry stand out from the competition with comfortable chairs, vending machines, late-issue magazines and colorful posters or artwork. Include free Wi-Fi. If security permits it, a big-screen, high-definition television gives a customer something to do while she waits for her laundry to dry.
Brian Hill's first writing credit was the cover story for a national magazine. He is the author of three popular books, "The Making of a Bestseller," "Inside Secrets to Venture Capital" and "Attracting Capital from Angels." Among his magazine article credits are the March 2005 and June 2008 issues of "The Writer." His interests include golf, football, movies and his two dogs.
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