Ironing Business

[TLR]

We do WDF and Dry Cleaning Drop Off at our store. Does anyone have experience in trying to add an ironing profit center to their business. Give me some feedback - good and bad.
Miele offers a rotary iron that may work with this idea. Does anyone have experience with this product?
I have a lot of requests for ironing - and they do not want to pay dry cleaners to iron. It seems like it would be a big demand with medium to higher income customers that the coin operated business does not reach today. This may lead to these customers to utilize other services of our industry that they do not use today - ie bringing large loads to wash quick, WDF, etc.
It is very popular in the UK.


TLR

[Anonymous]

I did $1400 in 2004 in Hand Ironing. It's a good "filler" to keep your attendants busy during slow times. And, after you buy the board and iron, there's really no cost because you're paying the attendant anyway. I give them a $.25 bonus per piece ironed.

The only problem you'll run into is if/when your WD&F business conflicts with the ironing. We charge $1.75 to iron a long-sleeve shirt. And my attendants can only get through 8-10 per hour, and can't maintain that pace very long. So optimistically, I can get $17.50 per our in revenue from hand ironing. We charge $1.05 per pound of WD&F, and I can typically get 30 pounds per hour from my attendants, equating to $31.50 per hour.

So, sometimes ironing customers have to wait while we work on WD&F....which doesn't make them happy, but is just the way it is.

[fluffy]

My thoughts are basically the same as Jim's. When I bought my laundry they were doing tons of ironing...but it wasn't making any money. They had two employees who all they did was iron, and the shirt prices were $1 per shirt. I do a fraction of what was done before, because I raised prices to $1.65...if I had the option to choose, I'd say WDF makes more sense.

[DirtyLaundry]

As a former drycleaner, I can tell you - no one likes to press (iron) clothes, it's time and labor intensive, and customers don't want to pay what it is really worth.

[gjnic]

I do ironing in my mat. I charge 2 bucks per garment if they are already washed. (Thats for adult and children clothing) Most Items are the school uniforms. I do pretty well with it. I purchased a small steam presser which cut WAY BACK on ironing time. It takes a little practice at first, but its well worth it. I give my customers a 2 day turn around. They seem to be happy, They are back every week.