It is understandable how aspiring business owners are worried about starting their business. It is because of the pandemic and its neverending spread and consequences. However, if you did in-depth research, you know how the laundry industry is pandemic-proof.
If you have thought of starting a neighborhood laundromat or laundry service with wide scope services, then there are things that you should be ready about. You might be thinking about purchasing high-quality commercial washers and dryers to accommodate larger loads. But, there is more to it.
Successful laundry service has to provide more than the essentials and needs of the customers. So, whether you are about to start a new laundry service around town or renovate your existing laundromat, this article is for you.
Check out the following aspects or items you need to consider to give your laundromat a competitive edge.
1. Take Leverage of Technology
Every business on the Internet has been successful. Almost every industry sector and business are taking leverage of technology. A quick search for the things you need, such as searching for “laundry services near me,” gives you a list of laundry shops and their directions. That’s the power of the Internet and technology.
If you are still wary of introducing your business on the Internet and relying on technology, you are mission out higher profitability, safety, and target audience.
There is a couple of technological advantages for the laundry business:
- You can book a laundry appointment easily through their website, just like Liox. It is easy to appoint a schedule or call for inquiries as everything is seen on their website. There is no need for you to visit their laundry shop.
- A card or online payment system is the next advantage. You can simply pay them online. If you book an appointment online, you can easily pay for it without visiting their shop.
- Social media marketing is a hit these days. Make your business visible on social media to broaden your audience scope.
Thus, if you have not started taking leverage of technology, you must consider it now.
2. Equipment
Laundry services, especially those that target hospitality and healthcare establishments know how crucial their services are. These clients want freshly laundered items to be clean, fragrant, crisp, and ready to use. That’s why laundry services have to invest in high-quality equipment.
Your laundry business needs an energy-efficient washer and dryer to accommodate large full loads. Choose the appropriate washer and dryer. This will help you save a lot of money on your energy, repair, and maintenance expenses.
If you want to save money on your utility bills, you should get a dryer with a moisture sensor. This is vital because it keeps fabric overheated by automatically turning off the machine before it overheats.
But, these are not the only pieces of equipment you should look into. If you plan to serve establishments, you need feeders and multi-roll irons. These are iron and folding equipment that your facility needs to deliver their newly laundered linens and garments, crisp and clean.
If you run a laundry business, you may need to wash, dry, and fold a large number of fabrics regularly. So, investing in this equipment with a large capacity will help you increase your productivity.
3. Convenience
Do not focus on superficial things. You need to offer other amenities other than laundry service. It is important to provide comfort and convenience to your customers.
In this modern era, laundry clients want more, which includes comfort and convenience from your services.
Apart from the basic laundry services such as washing, drying, and folding; your consumers seek more convenience. Some of your consumers do not have time to drop off their laundry in their hectic schedules. If you want to gain more customers, it is best to offer laundry pickup and delivery services, which is more favorable for your busy clients.
Meanwhile, some of your clients love to drop by and wait for their laundry. You can provide comfortable seats and add entertainment such as the Internet or television. Even during peak hours, your customers do not bother to be there waiting for their laundry, with the comfort you provide.
If you want your customers to return or bring referrals, it is best to apply a loyalty program to your marketing strategy. An incentive scheme invites your customers to bring more people or return for some discounts.
Do not overlook the benefits of providing more convenience and amenities to your clients. It gives you more edge over the competition and brings delight to your consumers.
4. Quality Service
Quality service is the most crucial aspect every business should have, especially in the laundry service industry. Although we have talked about investing in the right equipment and taking leverage of technological advancement, even with these, you will not have customers without the best customer services.
Your service depends not only on the equipment and technology you can offer but also on the expertise and knowledge. You need to hire experts to manage your laundry service.
Thus, hire and train your staff. It is a good investment to train your employees because they are the ones who will give attention and care to your clients’ laundry. A highly-qualified staff knows which method to use to deliver exceptional results.
You do not want to ruin your client’s linen and garments, right? Experts make them happy.
Final Thoughts
With almost 2 and a half years in the pandemic, laundry services have proven that it is a pandemic-proof investment. Although the industry did not die even during an economic recession, you still have to do more research as a startup business.
Research is the right thing to do when planning to have a laundry service, not because it lasts. You should put it up without knowing anything. You need to learn the ups and downs of the business before putting it up. You have to look after several considerations to offer the ideal laundry service to your customers, and you should make it right.