Single Women And Laundromats

[heathersiegel]

08-21-03

Can a single woman make it in the 'mat business? I understand that this is a Momma-Poppa type of business. Do I need a man or at least a partner to consider this career? My Dad, may he rest in peace, once told me to go to pharmacy school so that I could work with a pharmacist side-by-side and maybe he would propose. Well, Dad was a sincere guy but foreign and chauvinist.
Besides, I flunked college chemistry. But does his advice apply to running a coin laundry? Would a single 'mat operator find me more attractive if we were to become partners, either business or personal or both?

[Kitty]

Heather,

I replied to your post on another website to this very same question.

It befuddles me that you are ask if you need a man to accomplish goals and succeed in a business. I do not believe that a man is a prerequesite to any womans potential success. If you do your homework and learn about the industry you will quickly realize, many successful woman have left there mark in the laundry industry, and have done so on their own. If you do not want to get your hands dirty or will not work 200% for yourself and need a man to do what you want, then yes, maybe you will need a partner. But then the partner really wouldn't need you. If your looking for a husband, look in the classified section of your local newspaper for the singles info.

[mike]

Heather,
You don't need to be a man,
I don't do my own repairs :-(
If your a woman, you have a distinct ADVANTAGE working in the store.
Most of the clientele are women.

[ajay]

I think, in my humblest opinion, women make better operator of Mats than men do. let's face it, who really does the laundry in household or at mat? Women love to chat and they relate better with other women. As far as technical work is concern, men are more technical than women: auto mechanics, plumbers, electrician, computer technicians - they all have one thing in common - they are 99.9% men.

As far as partnership, it gets complicated. if you can help it, don't partner. if you're not technical, you can always hire a person to help. If you willing to try, you'll learn as you go. If this is your first time, then don't go into a beaten up store. Pay little extra and get a nicer looking store with newer machines or buy a beaten up store, work with a distributor to redo everything for you. In any case, with new equipment, you'll get minimum 5 years before you have to do anything major. We are here to help, virtually.

ajay

[pete f]

Are you looking for a laundromat or a husband?

Most of the woman I know who have tried to run a mat on thier own have sold out becuase they could not repair things and it costs to much to hire repair guys all the time. I would not be partners with anyone in business, it can get difficult.

[Anonymous]

Heather,

I am really befuddled by your last question... but then, I spent 7 years as a single mom, and remember how hard it was to reinvent myself. I'm going to make a huge leap and throw out some assumptions that might be off the mark, but here goes.

I'm hearing you echo what your chauvinistic dad drummed into your mind: "I can't do it alone; I'm less valuable without a good strong man."

When you're willing to go to work on that, you'll have a REAL shot at success at being a business person -- and coincidentally, an equal partner in a relationship!

The reason is that if you are determined enough, you CAN succeed in a mat business! How can I say that when I don't own a mat (yet)? Because I taught myself how to be a software engineer -- another male dominated profession. If I could do that, you can be a mat owner, on your own, and SUCCEED.

Cheers,
pk



Originally posted by heathersiegel
08-21-03

Would a single 'mat operator find me more attractive if we were to become partners, either business or personal or both?

[Anonymous]

Get back in the kitchen where you belong!JUST KIDDING!!I have several very successful single female owners.Consider most of your clientele is women.Move forward,you can ask for help if you need it and a good distributor is a good place to start.Good luck I know the joke is still stinging,my wife constantly tells me I'm not funny and to know your audience I guess thats why I sleep in the garage...

[Pete_tx]

If it's any help. I have a girl (mid forties) who manages my mat.

She does any maintenance she can and calls me in, or the repair guy when she can't.

I agree women make better attendants, I've had a mixture of all ages, races, genders, and preferences and I'll take a qualified female over a qualified male any day.

As far as dating, yea I guess a lady that has her own business is a nice bonus. It wouldn't have to be a mat though. Most of my relationships have problems with my spending odd hours at my mat or receiving calls from the ladies who work for me at all hours of the night and day.

my 2 cents,
pete

[PeterH]

It helps a woman to have a man as a partner so she has someone to blame if the business fails...

[Anonymous]

Hey Kitty,

You gonna thwap these guys, or should I?

<schnort!>

pk

[BWJR]

I know a women that has run two very successful laundromats for over 25 years. I mean one of them is huge and does tremendous volume. Initially her and her husband went into business together and divorce changed the arrangement. She is the one that got me into this business 22 years ago, not by words but by how well she was running her Mat. The only comment I have in regards to women running a Mat in addition to what i have already said is that when children come along, you need to consider them firt and not your business.

Good Luck,

BWJR

[Kitty]

They each like to play king every now and again.....boys will be boys. Woman rule, if any of them would tell the truth, they'd all say the wife rules them, their kids, their house, their social life..........and for some their business too.

[JBTcajun]

Kitty i would agree with you but I draw the line at the business. To quote my grandfather In a marriage if the man is sucessful he had a good woman behind him, if he fails the woman had a stupid bum for a hubbi poor thing. The moral of the story is that if you are incharge of the business you can listen to her but the responsibility is yours. I would think that a woman has an advantage over a male in the mat biz as women would rather talking to woman, and in the wdf biz a woman not want man mess with her unmentionables. As for as the fixing of the equipment either sex has to learn and both are equally capable. My antiquated thoughts by an old school cajun.
good luck all

[Kitty]

JBT honey,

I wasn't referring to any of my brilliant friends here on Coinwash......more so, my former employer.

[heathersiegel]

08-23-03

Boy, ask a serious question! I have created controversy but I have not gotten an answer. Let's put it another way. What comes first--a personal relationship or a professional relationship? Should I walk into a local 'mat and proposition the owner or should I mention to any man on my first date that I want to own and operate a 'mat? Meeting men is not easy, fellows. Who should pop the question first?!? On the dating services, I am listed as ANIMAL LOVER SEEKS HUMANE COMPANION. Should I replace my handle with MEET ME AT THE LAUNDROMAT!!

[Fred50]

Am I on the wrong forum?

Is this the dating tips forum?

The armchair psychology forum?

BTW, I wear the pants in my house...because my wife says I can!

AS far as the business is concerned, that is my purview, no matter what my "partner" thinks.

[Anonymous]

Why are you so hung up on a man? What does a business have to do with your personal life? If your significant other will not support your business goals then you probably have the wrong significant other. On the other hand trying to have a sexual relationship with a business partner is usually a big mistake.

You need to separate these two aspects of your life and find the best person for both parts. That may mean two different people or if you are very luck it could be the same person. Trying to force one person into both roles could be a route to failure of both. Just go with the flow and let life take you along for the ride.

[pete f]

If you owned a laundromat you would meet single guys, that much I am sure of. I agree with Kirby's comments. Point yourself in the direction you want, keep yourself available and open. Something will happen.

[Kitty]

Heather,

Ask a question about the Laundromat business, not about dating ettiquette.

[cesar]

I think if your serious about getting into the Laundry business (or any other business) and want to be successful in that busines all your going to be thinking about for probably a year is running your business.

If you have to ask yourself do I need a partner, especially a gender specific partner, to make it in the business your probably not ready yet to go into business.


If your looking for a sugar daddy you should set your sites a lot higher than a laundromat owner.

[mike]

Cesar,

"Set your sights a lot higher than a laundromat owner" ?

How would this be POSSIBLE ? :-)

[Anonymous]

What comes first, a personal or professional relationship? If you think you can or should combine these, you're already in trouble. The only people I know who have done this successfully are couples who have been together -- without a professional relationship -- for YEARS.

If you want advice on buying/operating a mat, this is the right place. Otherwise, you're blowing bubbles.

heh... I cracked myself up.

pk

[cesar]

Mike,

A distributor, of course.

[JBTcajun]

Both are very important parts of ones life, interseting in many ways; but they are completaly seperate! My new mat at this time is A passion in my life and it cannot be sepreated from one of my other passions my wife. WE talk and dream togather as you would in any serious relationship. If working is part of what makes you a whole interesting and lovavle person your mate should be involved from the angle of their part or your whole interseting person, still seperate. As far as finding a person you need to network with friends ane realatives let them know you would appreciate their help. But i think first you should become secure with who and what you are, as what you do for a living will heave gerat effects on both. If you want a mat sink yourself into it, you will be consumed by it. Put off the mate untill you are secure with yourself, then you will attract them like a electro magnet. Good luck Charee!

[PeterH]

Stevie Nicks decided not to marry and raise a family because she is totally devoted to her music. That doesn't mean she didn't have her share of boyfriends!

Decide what you want and go after it. If you want to be a success, then you only have to look in the mirror to see who you need.

If you meet someone who thinks your goals are silly, then you know he/she is not the one for you. If you meet someone supportive, then maybe you found a keeper. If you meet someone who is totally into your laundromat, be careful, as you may have just met someone who will scam you out of it.