Laundromat Success - Bad Neighborhood revival (not just on Sunday)

What should I focus on to make my new store a success? Can I revive a "bad" Laundromat?"

"After watching the DVD and seeing Danny go out and talk with people it gave me the inspiration to go out right here in Atlanta Georgia and open my first Laundromat. I have been looking into Laundromats for over 4 years, talking with distributors, builders, and even a man who has 6 stores, none of them were able (or willing) to show me the tricks that your DVD taught me. Your DVD saved me over $100,000. in the first six months in free rent alone. I never would have thought of even asking for it until you introduced me to the concept! Thank you, Danny!"

Sebrina Barrett - Atlanta, GA

Bad neighborhood

A bad element at some point moves into a neighborhood, and that area becomes dilapidated, un-profitable, and even downright scary. When approaching a store while scouting I always see the “bad element” as a good thing. Something that I can change, and change fairly easily. It just takes a little sweeping up, and some neighborhood involvement in most cases.  What do I mean by a bad element, well, if you feel you may be knifed at any moment and it’s a sunny Tuesday afternoon, you know what I’m getting at. Most of this breaks down into one issue, people. People hanging around not doing laundry. If they aren’t doing laundry they simply do not belong on the property. Make your attendants aware of this, and get clear permission from the landlord to trespass undesirables from the premises. You need to get rid of these people if you want your store to be successful. Other bad signs are homeless shelters, soup kitchens, or transit stops adjoining your property.  

Coin Phones

I despise pay phones. They are a sure sign that someone is doing the wrong thing by the customers. If you have pay phones out front, inside, or even on your corner get rid of them! Make sure there isn’t a pay phone in or near your store.  A pay phone may create $20 or less in income monthly for the owner, but the damage they do in bringing the unwanted types is astronomical.  Besides, everyone as a cell phone these days.  If they don’t, you probably don’t want that person in your store. 

Like a good neighbor

There are also certain types of businesses you don’t want to share space with.  A liquor store is one of them. Am I saying that every liquor store is a bad bet as a fellow renter? No. But by and large these quick stop joints can become a hang-out, and there in lies the problem. If the owner keeps descent ground rules, and is certain that his customers consume his wares off premises then not to worry. You will easily figure out if the opposite is true by simply observing the scenery over a typical weekend. You do not want your folding tables, seating area, and flat screen Television turning into a lounge for the Wino sect.  I am not saying that even a crap neighbor can’t be taught a few techniques to clean up his act, but don’t count on it lasting. It is up to us as the laundry owners to come in and get rid of the people under our roof, and milling about the complex, we don’t need the hassle from a pushy tenant who shares a different belief. A belief that the good customers will be scared off by policing the bad eggs. Or just plain scaredy cats. 

 Lorena Bencomo "I bought this store, 

Not knowing a thing about the business..."

That said, never live in fear.  It is up to the owner of any business to come in and lay down the law.  This is your business.   This is how you put food on the table for your family.  You can’t live in fear.  You don’t have to be Charles Bronson, you don’t need to come in and start accosting potential customers.  You just need to be clear. “If you are not doing laundry you can’t be in the store.  If you are not doing laundry, you can’t be in front of the store.” PERIOD.

If you come in and start acting like the police of the strip mall, it will make everyone better for it.

I will teach you How to buy a laundromat - But with one difference - you will obtain it for FREE .

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