As sectors across the economy begin to shake off the ramifications of 2020, many are looking towards 2021 with a renewed sense of optimism and possibility. With the economy in a better position than previously anticipated, unemployment rates lowering, businesses reopening, and people starting to spend more time outside of their homes, many business owners are wondering how to take advantage of these positive changes.
Although many laundry facilities were able to remain open throughout the previous year, there are still some ways you can set yourself and your business up for even greater success moving forward. Here, we’ll take a look at what goals laundry facility owners should set for 2021.
Maintaining a safe environment
Even moving into this year, it’s paramount that laundromat owners work towards keeping their facilities clean and safe. Patrons will appreciate the effort and will feel safer in your facilities while employers will be more willing to stick around. The CDC still has the following guidelines in place for facility owners:
- Cleaning dirty surfaces with soap and water before using a disinfectant.
- Wearing disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting and only wearing them once.
- Surfaces that are regularly touched – such as knobs, dials, and buttons – should be wiped down after each use or as much as you can do.
- Using a disinfectant that’s on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of Disinfectants for Coronavirus.
- Creating and maintaining a daily cleaning protocol.
Improving marketing techniques
With more people willing to leave their homes, 2021 is a great chance to attract new customers. Instead of waiting for them to come to you, you should be actively seeking patrons. Here are a few steps you can take to drastically improve your marketing techniques and improve your business’s exposure. Check out the laundry room marketing specialists at Laundry Locations.
Setup a website
A website is essentially an online storefront. And even though laundry facilities are brick-and-mortar stores, a site can still do wonders for attracting new customers since most people being their product and service searches online. That includes laundry services. Without a website, you run the risk of losing potential customers to competitors.
Join Google My Business
Registering with Google My Business is a must for small businesses who want to increase their local exposure. With an account, you can input all of your facility’s most important information such as contact information, location, opening hours, and more for customers to see. When people search for a laundry facility in your area, your business will have a higher chance of popping up as a top search result.
Set up social media accounts
Social media is a powerful marketing technique you can use to increase your laundry facility’s exposure while connecting with current customers. LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are some of the most popular among small business owners. Choosing two or three and remaining active should suffice. Make sure to remain active and regularly update your profile with important information about your business.
Updating your equipment
Are your customers constantly having problems operating your laundry equipment? Do buttons jam and knobs fall off? Can you hear your facility’s washers and dryers from across the street? If you’ve been putting off updating your equipment for more than a few years, 2021 is the ideal time to upgrade your facility. Not only will your current customers love you for it, but you’ll also have a competitive advantage over your competition when trying to attract new clients. Better yet, you’ll end up saving money in the long-run by avoiding downtime and costly repairs. And with Cleaning and Laundry Equipment’s competitive and flexible financing options, you won’t have to worry about burying your business in the short-term.
Diversify your payment system
Over the past year, the country experienced a coin shortage. Laundry facilities that only have coin-payment systems in place suffered the most from the lack of quarters in circulation. Although this coin shortage is improving, it still highlights the importance of having diverse forms of payment. With updated equipment, customers can start paying directly through their mobile devices, something that’s expected to increase in the coming years. In addition to being more attractive to customers, this form of payment is also more convenient and cost-effective to laundromat owners.
Whether you’re looking to improve the operations of your current laundry facility or you want to enter into the industry, Cleaning and Laundry Equipment can help. With years of experience serving laundromat owners in the Pacific Northwest, we have the expertise and equipment to make your business successful. Feel free to contact us for more information about what we offer.