Need Ideas to build business

[blueridgemat]

I have had mat for almost 2 years- remodeled 2 year old building that was previously a clothing store. We have 12 Neptunes and 10 Huebsch V series 30 # machines, 10 stack Huebsch dryers.

Here's my question. We are really busy on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but not so busy on the other days. Our nearest competitor is 1/2 mile away and he doesn't seem that busy. But recently, when he closed for a few days during the week to replace his ceiling, our Mid-week business doubled. Their store is 30 plus years old, unattended and only about 1/3 the size of our store. We are in a rural area. Are people just that lazy that they don't want to change? We are a little higher in price but it is way newer, cleaner, better lit. What are ways to attract more business, both in walk in's and wdf ?(my wife and I are the attendants- 10am to 5pm every day but Sunday, which is 1pm to 5pm. Other mats are 10 plus miles away but keep in mind our entire county only has 95,000 people.

Thanks,

Blue
Ridge
Mat

[anonymous]

well those seem to be short hours i have 2 24 hour unattd and one attd 7am -10 pm sat-mon are the busy days

[anonymous]

What hours does your competitor operate?

If you are not at least open the same hours you should be. Even being open an extra hour later might help your business.

[pete f]

I am going to assume you are open longer than 1-5 on Sundays, you mean Attended? From my observations, and experiance, it is common to achive your sales level with a new store within 1 year of opening. You may get incremental after 6-8 months, but most willl be becuase you raised prices or landed a new account. People are not really lazy, but they will go to the nearest mat that has the service they want. And most really do not like change. You started a mat 1/2 mile away from an existing one in a rural area? WHY?

I have a 30 yr old small store, unattended. Someone smart built a new 3000 sq ft store directly across the street, over 3 times the size of mine. My little store still makes decent money on my investment, yet the big store looses every month ( their rent is almost the same as my gross!). Why? he has new washers, satilite TV, attendents, better a/c, curb side help, etc. My place is 1 block closer to the apartments, is clean, and has newer machines, and a/c. Big is not always better, and customers don't see a reason to change?. Plus he over estimated the market.? If you are doing OK, then great. Looking for more pie will take more effort than it may be worth. I watch the guy across teh street market agressivly, full page adds, flyers, signs, etc. seems no change. I have never even bought an ad in a local rag.

[ajay]

People are creature of habit. Once they get used to something it's difficult for them to change. Your Sunday Attendant hours should be expanded - on the average most mats do just as much business on a weekend as weekdays(mo-th). If you do want a little break, pick your slowest day during the week or just close(booth area) for 2 hrs daily. Also, you mention your prices are little high than your competitor. That alone is enough for your competitor to stay in business - Mat customers are definately price sensitive and they WILL switch over a quarter. If you want to see your clientelle change, over some specials during the week and see if your numbers change (i.e. 30lb washers for $1.50 on wednesday). Do 12 wash with 13th free deal.

ajay

[blueridgemat]

I am going to assume you are open longer than 1-5 on Sundays, you mean Attended? From my observations, and experiance, it is common to achive your sales level with a new store within 1 year of opening. You may get incremental after 6-8 months, but most willl be becuase you raised prices or landed a new account. People are not really lazy, but they will go to the nearest mat that has the service they want. And most really do not like change. You started a mat 1/2 mile away from an existing one in a rural area? WHY?

I have a 30 yr old small store, unattended. Someone smart built a new 3000 sq ft store directly across the street, over 3 times the size of mine. My little store still makes decent money on my investment, yet the big store looses every month ( their rent is almost the same as my gross!). Why? he has new washers, satilite TV, attendents, better a/c, curb side help, etc. My place is 1 block closer to the apartments, is clean, and has newer machines, and a/c. Big is not always better, and customers don't see a reason to change?. Plus he over estimated the market.? If you are doing OK, then great. Looking for more pie will take more effort than it may be worth. I watch the guy across teh street market agressivly, full page adds, flyers, signs, etc. seems no change. I have never even bought an ad in a local rag.

Thanks everyone for your input. We started this mat because other mat is so old and is unattended. My wife works for the town and knows everyone in the town limits (she sees them when they pay water bill, vote, etc) so the word of mouth advertising is working pretty good. We are breaking even now even with all the start up costs. Once we pay off the equipment lease it will be even better (2 years into a 7 year lease to purchase) We are doing almost exactly what we predicited in our business plan except for the wdf income.

and yes, we are open 6am to 9pm 7 days a week, I was just giving the attendant hours! We haven't ran any ads either. We just put how we are different (offer wdf, new machines, kid play room) on our big sign out front.

I have given away things like free laundry bags (.75 cent vend size)
and that went over pretty good. Any other inexpensive goodies that I can give away?

Thanks,


Blue Ridge Mat

[Kitty]

From my experience, I have seen mats level out the revenue, while others see steady increase for much more than 15 years with the business growing with the area. I have seen revenue in excess of 300K grow more than 30% in seasoned stores and have seen the level of revenue level out at 220K I have seen it stagnant at 120K in yearly sales. Marketing is different in every area and the challenge is determining what will show results and what will not.

Marketing programs may work in areas that have competitors, the key is to capitalize on your competitor weakness while promoting your strengths and advertising reasons for customers to change to using your services. The success of the promotion will be whether the customers you capture during your advertising will be retained

[anonymous]

Sounds to me like you are doing fine. 2 years is not a long time. You didn't say how much double is. Like are you only doing 1 tpd week days or are you doing 3 tpd week days? If it's one and that's all you picked up when the comp closed then don't worry if you picked up 3 tpd then it would be worth going after.

Gary

[anonymous]

I have had mat for almost 2 years- remodeled 2 year old building that was previously a clothing store. We have 12 Neptunes and 10 Huebsch V series 30 # machines, 10 stack Huebsch dryers.

Here's my question. We are really busy on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but not so busy on the other days. Our nearest competitor is 1/2 mile away and he doesn't seem that busy. But recently, when he closed for a few days during the week to replace his ceiling, our Mid-week business doubled. Their store is 30 plus years old, unattended and only about 1/3 the size of our store. We are in a rural area. Are people just that lazy that they don't want to change? We are a little higher in price but it is way newer, cleaner, better lit. What are ways to attract more business, both in walk in's and wdf ?(my wife and I are the attendants- 10am to 5pm every day but Sunday, which is 1pm to 5pm. Other mats are 10 plus miles away but keep in mind our entire county only has 95,000 people.

Thanks,

Blue
Ridge
Mat

I was in a mat in Pensacola afew weeks ago and in talking to the attendant I was told that the owner converted to butane for the dryers because it ws cheaper than Nat Gas. All new machines too.