Customers come to your store to use your equipment, but it’s the quality of your store that keeps them coming back week after week. If you’re in the process of updating your machines, this is the perfect time to take stock of your amenities, services and space.
Making other store improvements during the replacement process minimizes the disruption to your customers and lets you take advantage of planned downtime. A refreshed, inviting environment will also help you make the most of your new equipment investment by keeping existing customers happy and attracting new ones.
If they have a choice, most people are willing to drive past a nearby, poorly managed store if there is a better-managed store a bit further away. If you want to be that better store, here are some updates to consider.
Updates to Your Space
Let’s face it, shiny new equipment makes less of an impression if the rest of your store is dingy. When replacing your machines, either partial replacement or full retool, these updates can be the easiest to identify first, especially if you’re significantly re-working your layout.
A fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference for little cost and disruption. Switching out old fluorescent lighting for LED lighting is another relatively easy update that can be taken care of while your store is open for business
If you do have to close your store to accommodate equipment installation, it makes financial sense to take on larger projects at the same time. Your Maytag® distributor can connect you with contractors with laundry store experience who will be able to work with installation technicians on scheduling, not just around them, to efficiently renovate customer bathrooms or install new flooring.
If nothing else, invest in a deep clean after the contractors leave. You may be surprised how big of a difference that can make.
Upgrading Your Services
A grand re-opening is the perfect opportunity to unveil new services. If you’ve been considering hiring store attendants, now is the time. In addition to being there to quickly address customer feedback, they’ll help make sure the refurbished store and new equipment stays in good working order.
Having staff can allow you to get in on the growing “laundry service center” model. According to a 2020 industry survey by the Coin Laundry Association, 53% of store owners report increasing demand for wash-dry-fold services.1 Combining self-service with wash-dry-fold, alteration services, dry cleaning drop-off and other commercial services can be a significant source of revenue for stores near business districts full of busy professionals.
Even if you don’t intend to switch to an attended store model, consider offering drop-off service or additional staff support during the renovations to keep customers happy as they accommodate the disruption.
Adding Amenities
Don’t forget your other equipment and amenities as you finish out your renovations. Replace laundry carts with broken wheels and damaged folding tables and consider adding more tables if you’re gaining space from switching out top-loaders for higher-capacity multi-load washers.
According to the 2020 CLA survey, the top two most common non-laundry amenities in stores were vending machines (81%) and WiFi (65%).2 If you have extra space, both snack vending machines and video or arcade games can provide a small revenue boost, and if outsourced to other vendors, require very little of your time.
Although WiFi access can be another small revenue stream, the widespread availability of free WiFi means your customers may resent having to pay for it. For college students or school-aged children doing homework, it’s a necessity. If you have a larger space, consider setting up a separate quiet seating area away from televisions and video games.
Finally, and especially if a large percentage of your customers are families with children, consider ways for your store to act as a community hub, whether it’s just a bulletin board or inviting in community groups to conduct health screenings or hold story hours.
Becoming a Maytag® Equipped Laundry
If you don’t know where to start with remodeling or refreshing your store, you might benefit from becoming an authorized Maytag Equipped Laundry. Any store 100% equipped with Maytag Commercial Laundry machines are eligible.3 In addition to adding the recognizable Maytag name on the outside, you’ll have access to professional signage and design guidance for everything from paint colors to lighting fixtures to give the inside of your store a clean, polished look.
You can get more information on the benefits of becoming a Maytag Equipped Laundry and more tips for growing your business by talking to your local Maytag Commercial Laundry distributor.
1, 2 2020 Coin Laundry Association Industry Survey
3 Terms and conditions apply.
