Need advice re:premium service wdf

[Nicony]

Hi
I want to purchase a laundromat that has been mismanaged for past three years there is potential to make more money due to area and the towns$$ very single or couples w/ no childen and upper income.

I believe that they would be willing to pay for a premium service for pick up delivery of wdf. I want to market one price for wdf drop off and another price for pick up based on pounds. I have and idea of pricing.
Current owner charges 1.25 for wdf.

Also how do you set yourself apart so that your wash-dry fold is a cut above the other mats.
Please respond I am in due diligence period and I have to make a leap of faith that I will be able to build the business and make my money back. I know I cannot do worse than the current owner. He does not even fill his own vending machines.
Thanks alot to all the veterans

[Gatorlenny]

We are working on the same issue of pickup/delivery of wdf. We have a pretty successful wdf business now. After going through many gyrations on paper what we have decided is to charge a flat fee that covers both pick up and delivery. Each new pickup gets the flat fee. We are pretty set on $7. WDF is priced at .95/lb with a 10/lb minimum. A poll we did with our customers shows a pretty good response, so we believe we will have roughly 40 customers per week and it will build from there. Remember to not be cheap! Customers that do wdf are generally a little better off income wise. By freeing up thier time and fuel for them to do other things to do other things, this is a good deal. Also keep in mind you need a vehicle, payment,gas, maintenance, insurance, labor all factored into your equation.

[pete f]

I do not do w/d/f but get asked about it all the time. I agree with Lenny, set some sort of min, but don't be to cheap. I met with the manager of the bank branch today, she asked me about w/d/f. She drops at a store, actually a w/d/f, dry clean drop site, not a laundromat 5 blocks from one of my stores. I would say impression will be the first impression of your work. Do the w/d/f professional, take care to details, use good quality cleaning products, ask about customer preferences to detergents. Treat them like royalty, the price will not an issue at all. But caveot, keep in mind everyone likes a bargain, even the well to do. Mix up specials into the marketing program, ie, 50#;s get 10# free or something. Get creative and find out what they like.

[Nicony]

thanks for the information and ideas but how do you make your service a cut above the competition that will make them come back for more .

I am really interested in doing the wdf biz with the upper class in mind.

[Silent Roo]

Nicony

Walk before you run. Understand there are issues with a moble was dry and fold. I would suggest getting the laundry and drop thing down first. IT WILL TAKE YOU MUCH LONGER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO THAN YOU THINK!

keep in mind it is difficult to keep someone full time for delieveries look to local Drycleaners they may run routes can you partner? They may be willing to allow you to do their laundry at a price? If they don't have the pick up suggest a joint venture where you do all the work collect all the money and get a discount on their cleaning service. Also look for a quality Shoe Shine/Repair Shop for the same discount. The more services you offer the better.

how to be a step above.
1. Quality
2. Price
3. Service
4. Quality.

It always costs money to do it right. It will mean a NEW van, Nice Laundry bags with a Cool Logo. Shrink wrap/Plastic wrap on the clothes or boxed. Uniformed workers, those are the given. TO be a cut above you need a hook or a special service only you can do. Something that sets you apart. What that is I don't know...... It must come from you.