b'Page.14By: James Peuster, The Route ProIwasspeakingataseminarafewmonthsback Manydrycleanerscanandwillsurvivewithoutawhen I came to the conclusion that not everybody deliveryservice.McDonaldshasremainedNo.1wants to have a pick-up and delivery service. In my without delivering their product to the homes of manyusualarrogance,Ioftentrytopersuadeeveryone fastfood junkies. However, I do know that they havethatarouteserviceiscriticalforexistenceand beenresearchingoptionsforservicingtheirgrowth. But I have been humbled by some operators customerswithsomesortofdeliveryservice(theirwhohavethecountersystemssolidifiedandmay issue is keeping the French fries hot and fresh).not have the need nor the opportunity to have pick-up and delivery as an option for their customers. Sowhatdoesallthismeanforyou?Ibelieveindevelopingyourpeopletodevelopyourbusiness,Some demographics limit your options for servicing andIhaveseenverysuccessfulcleanersturnthecustomers.However,ifyourmarketand corner and grow even further and farther with routes.demographics show that your competition is doing Financially,itischeapertooperate,maintain,andit,thenyes,getgoingonarouteanddoitnow.I managecustomerswhoareservicedathomeorathaveseenclientsortheircompetitionget theiroffice.Thecostisusuallythetimetogetitswallowed up due to a lack of focus in developing started and the marketing effort you must undertakeroutes. The main thing to think about is that if you to get it going and growing.donthaveadeliveryservice,butyourcompetitordoes,youwilllosecustomerstothem,thisIdo I end with this thought: Which will cost you more inknow. your initial investment stages, opening a new store orbeginning a new route? I hate to present the option ofAfewyearsbackIwitnessedthreedifferent asafetynetand/oranexitstrategy,butthetruthisoperators close stores where delivery wasnt offered that you must sign a lease when opening a store and aas a service. All three had informed me that they had van you can sell or utilize for other parts of your drynotimetogrowroutes,northemanpower.Plus, cleaning operations. In other words, your risk is not astheyfeltthattheywouldhavetochargemorefor high but your potential is unlimited. With routes, yourtheservice,thuscurrentcustomerswouldget overall income is dependent on how much you wantticked. I watched as one of them closed two stores to grow.astheirclientsleftforahigherpriceddeliveryservice.Ialsowitnessedtheiremployeessaying,andIquote,Oh,theywouldneverleaveus;theylike coming to me.Convenience Is KingLoyaltyinthisindustryistakingabackseattoconvenience.Ifyourareahasthepotentialforadeliveryservice,youbettergetonboardwiththeidea of having a route, because I truly believe thatmore and more drycleaning customers are going tohavetheirclothesdeliveredinthefuture.Oursociety is getting busier and lazier at the same time.The need for convenience and more time is evergrowing and we have a partial conclusion.MWDLI.org 800-638-2627 MidwestDLI@gmail.com'