Mom & Pop Laundromat Future

[dkd926]

Hello all ! I've been reading the newbie section for about a week now, as I've also been considering buying a small existing mat & making a go of it. I've been seeing more & more of these monster mats popping up & wanted the groups opinion of the future of the big & small mats. Do you think that 10 years down the road, all the small mats will be gone? Or is it the other way around, that the biggies were too big for the business they brought in. Or can they both co-exist? Your opinions would be greatly appreciated.
-Doug

[Gatorlenny]

Co-exist. There will not always be enough room to support a monster mat in a given area and demographics. But still the bottom line is that monster mat must pay the same rate for water as you. The same rate for electricity and gas. Effectively reselling utilities is what we do. What will you do differently to earn a better return than the monster mat? That is what sets apart one mat from another.

[William]

The local hardware store in my town does a booming business, despite Lowe's and Home Depot less than a mile away. I comes down to selection and service. I go there, despite paying about 10% more, because the clerks help me find what I need, and I don't wait in a long line a the register.

Back to laundryland, I think the small operator will do just fine by concentrating on service, cleanliness, safety, etc. Don't sweat the big guys. The highway is strewn with carcasses of wannabe laundromat chains...

[pete f]

The location is key, most good ones are already taken by smaller stores. The big ones buy into not as good locations and hope to draw, a loosing business plan when it comes to mats. People go to the closest mat that supplies thier needs.

[dkd926]

Thanks for the fast replies.

[Monarch]

When I need to a lot of grocery shopping I go to the big grocery store. When I need to take care of a few things, I go to the local Mom and Pop.

Laundry is a matter of CONVENIENCE as well as necessity. If I do not have my own washer and dry, I may not have a vehicle as well. so convenience is a concern. If I have a local facilty with a machines sized to fit what I need to wash, I am in hog heaven.

So it there is not reason to back off totally. Just be careful.
Location
Location
Location

Norman