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| Congrats, Ben! His 3rd FREE Laundromat in Arkansas! |
Big Brother is YOU.
Store security is vital. Important not only to you, but also your customers. Your patrons are predominantly single woman with children. I don’t mean they are un-married, but when they come to your Laundromat they will be without the “protection” of their spouse. One of the easiest defense measures that you can take is the installation of security cameras. The clients will appreciate the security, and your benefits are many.
Let’s not forget the demographic for a Laundromat is an economically depressed one. Beverly Hills will probably not be the best region of California for store scouting. Compton, however will be chocked full of laundry customers!
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| "NOT Today", indeed... |
I tour several Laundromats a month and notice that very few owners bother with cameras at all. Some have the obligatory sign reading “WARNING: HIDDEN SURVEILLANCE OF PREMISES” It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the only thing that they spent a dime on was the sign. Many stores show outward signs of a failing system in the form of mismatched or obviously broken cameras. You don’t have to be a career criminal to spot a broken down or phony camera set-up.
There is an initial expense involved with a surveillance system. A good system should run you just over a thousand dollars and certainly not more fifteen hundred. But, understand that this is part of doing business, and the camera system is just as important as good working washers and dryers!
What to look for
These features are tantamount for proper operation in a Laundromat setting:
Your shopping should always include a system viewable on the internet! This is precisely what it sounds like. Once operational, you can look in on your store from anywhere in the world, at any time you choose. All you need is your home PC, a laptop, or in some cases even your Blackberry or pda!
Now you can monitor store traffic flow, customer habits, and even employee work ethics. There’s nothing more satisfying than grabbing your morning cup of coffee on a Sunday morning, sitting down in your home office, and peeking in on your investments while still in your jammies.
The static IP address will run you about twenty bucks a month through your local phone company. And this is the best part, now you have added yet another customer perk to your full service Laundromat. Yep, you’ll be opening the router up for customer use and creating a FREE WI-FI “hot spot” for the happy customers. Throw a nifty sign on the glass and they will beat a path to your door. Why should the six dollar coffee retailers have all the fun?
• Eight (or more) cameras
Trust me on this, the more cameras the better. The price difference is nominal, and you will always find a spot for the extra camera(s). If your store is 1500 square feet, have one in the office, one on the front and back doors, and two angles on the change machines. At least one should have a view of the entire store. Use the rest to look down the washer rows. Don’t leave any blind spots.
The placement of several cameras will ensure anyone in your store will be seen (and captured on digital video) as soon as they enter.
• A good flat screen monitor
Placement of the monitor is also key. You want it in the office, out of the customer space. But don’t hide it. You want to deter the knuckle heads, so make certain that they “Know” it’s there. I have seen stores where they actually have a massive monitor on the wall in the mat. This is no good because it gives that would be bad guy the ability to see where best to strike. He may spot an area where there is a shadow or a large washer that he can target off camera. Don’t give him the chance.
Think about a place with the tightest overall retail security in the United States. Your local bank. Have you ever seen their monitor? They learned a long time ago it’s better to keep the hoods guessing.
• Dome Cameras
The black dome type cameras are best for a few reasons. Firstly, they also keep ‘em guessing. With these cameras it’s difficult to tell where they are pointing, this creates a greater deterrent. They are also difficult to tamper with.
• Go with the “Pros”
Purchase your system from a video security company. They will have professional staff on hand to answer your questions, keep track of your system for upgrades, and save you money. They even help with installation of the product. Don’t buy from a retail electronics store that specializes in plasma TV’s! Again, the “look” of an off the shelf retail
system is cheesy, and doesn’t give that professional appearance that you are after. I use Super Circuits and have had good luck with them.
Your surveillance system is just another amenity that your customers will appreciate, and help them to choose your store over the competition.
Good luck, and don’t get complacent with your stores’ security. If the system goes down, replace or upgrade parts immediately. Treat this just as you would your Washers or Dryers. Although it doesn’t take quarters, your security system will earn you money in the long run!
I get a lot more in depth with store security, including surveillance systems on my DVD/Streaming Course “Cleaning Up in Laundromats” as well as my Seminars. I hope to “see you soon”
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