MARCH/APRIL 2018 31 Embracing Vended Laundry Development Why It Makes Sense & How To Get It Done Yesterday’s laundromat has transitioned into today’s laun- dry center – an all-in-one supercenter offering multiple laun- dry services and appealing to a broad range of demographics for maximized revenue diversification and profit potential. These laundry service centers not only cater to self-service customers, they market to professionals, families and busi- nesses through full-service wash/dry/fold, pickup and de- livery, drop-off drycleaning and commercial laundry services. Some even utilize on-premise ironing systems to capture bigger commercial accounts that require ironed sheets, pillow cases and table linens. If you are a fabricare operator with an established presence and brand, consider expanding your reach, revenue and profit by investing in your own laundry. Why? 1. Maxed Geography & Demographics: Your dryclean- ing/fabricare plant likely has satellite locations and an es- tablished clientele within a specific geographic region. Reach new markets within your area – including self-ser- vice laundry customers, full-service laundry customers and commercial accounts – with a vended laundry cen- ter. Use the vended laundry as a drop-off drycleaning spot, and simultaneously use your drycleaning plant and satellite loca- tions to support and grow full- service vended laundry services (wash/dry/fold). Tap into pickup and delivery services already in place and use them for both enter- prises. Maximize the overlap to your advantage and clinch down on your geographic area to help eliminate compe- tition. 2. Diversification: A vended laundry allows you to diversify and expand revenue streams and clientele. The traditional self-service laundry is resistant to economic fluctuations because clean clothes are a basic human need. When downturns occur, generally fewer people can own homes (and their own laundry equipment). They frequent vended laundries more often. Simultaneously, today’s vended laundries cater to busi- nesses and professionals alike. Such diversification helps fabricare/ drycleaning operators counter economic downturns and maximize revenue. 3. Marketing & Management Overlap: Get more bang for your buck by marketing and managing one brand and multiple services. Now that I’ve made the case for expansion into vended laundry, use the steps that follow as a guide for either devel- oping or purchasing a location. How? STEP 1. Partner with a qualified laundry equipment distributor. Be picky. Interview multiple distributors and select the best one based on what they can provide you. Look for a distributor that offers assistance with site BULLE TIN NO. 1 By Joel Jorgensen, Vice President of Sales, Continental Girbau Inc. LaundryLogic