Promotion Idea

[Swampy]

I live in a town of 12,000. We have a Wal-Mart Supercenter and one other grocery store. I recently stared going to Dollar General for some supplies and realized that this store catered to my clientel, almost exclusively!

A lady in front of me bought detergent and Downy...the check out girl asked "do you need quarters?" She replied no, the laundry has a change machine.

I returned to my office, designed a poster giving one free top-loader wash to those bringing a receipt for $10.00 or more from Dollar General.
The manager jumped all over it. Said they would put flyers in customers bags if I provided them.

Won't this work?? If I get 100 receipts I'm only out $125. This could mean many new customers. ( An ad in our local newspaper would cost several hundred dollars and I doubt 100 people would even read it, much less came by the laundry.) I feel this is a way to get a lot of new customers in the laundamat.

Anyone tried anything like this? Like to hear some opinions.

Thanks!

[JBTcajun]

Is there a time limit?
How many washes can 1 person get?
How many washes can you use per visit?

[Kitty]

I must be tired, I don't get it......what is the incentive? What's the point? Didn't you say most of the store clientelle is your customer already?

[Anonymous]

That sounds like a great idea, wish I thought of it first. BTW you are not out the $1.25 which I guess is the price for a small load, as you are getting the revenue for the dryers. I think I'll give this a try if the dollar store is interested near me. Thanks.

[Swampy]

The discount is for the month of September only...I'll see how it works. The clientel at the Dollar General is my target market, but there are four other Laundromats in town and I can't assume they are ALL my customers now. Mine is really the cleanest and nicest in town. If I can just get a new customer in one time I feel I can keep them.

The incentive here is to get new customers in the Laundromat. That's what we're all wanting, isn't it?

[walker texas]

A free dry 30 min max, one per day per customer would be cheeper and just as attractive. I do it in my store with Register Tape Network- 90% extisting customers take advantage of it, very few new customers.

Whichever you do, ask if they are new or existing, and write in on the coupon.

[Kitty]

Sorry, busy day yesterday just couldn't get it.

This is similiar to the grocery stores do in our areas for video rentals, perscription stores.


Will you give a 1.25 to a customer that uses fronts, or is the promotion geared to fronts exclusively? How will you keep your attendants from using receipts for their own gain? Will you track the customer name and home location? What if customers bring in several receipts?

[pete f]

I live in a town of 12,000. We have a Wal-Mart Supercenter and one other grocery store. I recently stared going to Dollar General for some supplies and realized that this store catered to my clientel, almost exclusively!

A lady in front of me bought detergent and Downy...the check out girl asked "do you need quarters?" She replied no, the laundry has a change machine.

I returned to my office, designed a poster giving one free top-loader wash to those bringing a receipt for $10.00 or more from Dollar General.
The manager jumped all over it. Said they would put flyers in customers bags if I provided them.

Won't this work?? If I get 100 receipts I'm only out $125. This could mean many new customers. ( An ad in our local newspaper would cost several hundred dollars and I doubt 100 people would even read it, much less came by the laundry.) I feel this is a way to get a lot of new customers in the laundamat.

Anyone tried anything like this? Like to hear some opinions.

Thanks!

If I was attended I would try something like this. Great idea, and targets your "market" customers, much better than an ad in the paper keep it simple, seems like a good low cost promotion.

[mike]

What about asking the store let you put ad stickers on their soap products,

I've always thought that was a good idea (but I've never done it !)

[smellysocks]

free dry is the worst thing someone came up with for this business. Lets give away half revenue then pay top price for nat gas. We are here to make money keep it clean and working simply. no offense to anyone just my thoughts

[Kitty]

Giving away services is not a smart thought. There is little to no return. The goal of course is to gain "paying" customers that will out weigh your "free dry" offer.
We sometimes feel that we offer a "free dry" service here at COINWASH. We have started a service that provides an avenue that soaks our members with free information. We strive to promote the interchange of the invaluable information that helps hundreds of laundry professionals daily.
But like a free dry market, often the return is less than needed to sustain.

Many of you have inquired on ways to advertise and promote your business.
Coinwash is looking for the same information. We have added the classified section and we solicit corporate sponsors.
It is apparent we need the promotion of each of our members to continue to meet our goals. What do you suggest we do to keep growing? Too sustain and grow our membership as well as decrease our own out of pocket expense?

[Kitty]

I'd thought there would be some response......