Marcus Sheridan is back! After last year’s powerful session on AI, sales, and marketing, Marcus returns to take the conversation even deeper, helping you refine your approach and drive more revenue.
Trish Lindo returns to share her expertise on branding and building a personal brand, giving you the tools to stand out and elevate your business presence.
Jeffrey Moak will dive into Business Growth and Innovation, exploring strategies, creative solutions, and actionable insights to drive expansion and improve operations.
Randy Roberts will lead Sales 201: Laundry Differentiation - sharing strategies for connecting with customers, telling your story, and standing out in your market—whether you serve residential or commercial clients.
Reserve your seat.
Tickets are available now at www.laundryceo.com
Are you slowly killing your laundromat by alienating self-service clients?
What’s meant to increase your revenue, like adding Wash & Fold (WNF) services, might actually push away the foundation of your business—your self-service clients. There’s no faster way to lose their loyalty than by making them feel like they’ve been kicked to the curb for other services.
This question has been gnawing at me for a long time. Why? Because I’ve been there, and trust me, the stakes are higher than you think. Expanding your services is like walking on a tightrope. Without the right balance, everything suffers. If you’re not strategic, you’ll end up prioritizing one revenue stream while cannibalizing another.
When done right, adding WNF can address common challenges like:
- Stagnant Self-Service Revenue
Self-service laundromats aren’t growing at the same pace as they used to. Many shop owners need additional revenue streams to thrive and stay relevant. - Bridging the Revenue Gap
For some laundromat owners, the numbers just don’t add up. Self-service alone isn’t bringing in enough income, and WNF can be a much-needed profit booster. - Seizing Market Share
The competition is tough, the market is saturated, and offering WNF services is a way to stay ahead.
Thinking about the thinking of laundry:
Are you running a laundromat or a laundry business?
- The Laundromat is Dying (or is it?)
Let’s be real. Some laundromat owners feel the pressure of a declining industry. Offering WNF is a way to pivot and stay relevant, capturing a changing market before it’s too late. - Becoming a Full-Service Shop
Clients want convenience. Adding WNF can help your business become the go-to spot for all their laundry needs. - Meeting High Demand
Some areas are begging for WNF services. If demand is high, it only makes sense to offer it.
All of these reasons make WNF a good addition to your business, but if you don’t plan properly, the “opportunity” could backfire.
I learned that lesson the hard way.
Our WNF business grew fast, like “doubling every month” fast. At first, it was exciting. Who doesn’t want more business and more revenue? Everything was great until we ran out of space to process orders. Peak self-service times (evenings and weekends) became a nightmare, and WNF started to dominate machine usage, leaving only 50% of our machines for our self-service clients.
They were pissed.
Complaints rolled in, and some clients stopped coming altogether. We tried running a third shift by processing WNF orders overnight, but outgrew that solution within two months. Eventually, we had no choice but to lease a separate space across the street to handle WNF and pickup & delivery. It ended up working out and led to the launch of The Soap Box, but we lost clients along the way.
Our self-service business declined because we failed to balance the needs of both sides. Learn from my lesson—growth without a strategy is a recipe for alienation. If you’re serious about WNF, you need a growth plan (or else WNF will take over your store).
That's all I got for you today.
Waleed
🏴☠️ ✌️
Echoing the wisdom of Steve Jobs.
If you don't cannibalize yourself, someone else will.
