8 Laundromat Business Tips to Help Attract Customers

A strong customer base is the lifeblood of any business, including laundromats. Loyal customers can provide the revenue you need to grow and expand your business. While attracting new customers is a high priority, it can also be a challenging task.

If you’re like many of the laundromat owners we work with, you may not be sure where to start. Luckily, here are plenty of ways to get your name out in the community and connect with potential new customers. Here are eight laundromat business tips to help get you started.

1. Host a Special Event

Hosting an event at your laundromat can help bring new customers through the door and encourage existing ones to return more often. Laundry-focused events, such as a Free Laundry Day or celebrating your store’s anniversary, are popular options. Many coin laundries also try community-focused events, such as summer reading programs.

We encourage laundromat owners to get creative with the events they hold and focus on what might interest their target audience.

2. Join a Community Business Group

Getting active in community groups, such as your local chamber of commerce, can be a smart move for small business owners. This involvement can help build brand awareness and shape customer perception.

Plus, these groups often promote their members throughout the community and offer leadership, growth and development opportunities that may support your laundry business long-term.

3. Sponsor a Team or Organization

Plenty of local sports teams and nonprofit organizations—including community theater groups, animal shelters or schools—look to community businesses to help cover costs. In exchange, they may wear your logo, provide ad space in printed materials or on a website, or invite you to speak at events.

Sponsorships can be a practical way to support the community while also staying visible to potential customers.

4. Partner with Other Local Businesses

Business partnerships can be beneficial for both parties. You may be able to reach new audiences and build long-term relationships with fellow business owners, such as small restaurants or cafes or gyms and fitness centers in the community.

Consider co-hosting an event, cross-promoting online and in-store, or offering discounts to shared customers. For example, a pizza delivery place may put fliers for your business on pizza boxes in exchange for access to machines to wash aprons and other linens. Or a university may let you include coupons in a welcome packet for new students living around campus.

5. Increase your Social Presence and Following

There are approximately 5.17 million people worldwide using social media regularly. Chances are, your customers are on at least one, if not multiple, platforms. Social media can be a useful tool for laundromats and a practical way to reach new customers.

Look for ways to improve your current efforts, whether that means posting more consistently, dedicating more budget to social advertising or expanding to a new platform (just be sure not to overextend yourself). Social media can also be a helpful channel for customer service, which may support customer retention.

6. Improve your Exterior Look

First impressions can matter. You only have a few seconds to make a positive impression on a potential customer, and that often starts before they walk into your building. With that in mind, give your exterior some extra attention.

Here are a few tips that may help:

• Make sure signage is visible and accurately represents your brand. (If you’re looking for professional signage for your laundromat, you can check out our shop.)
• Keep the parking lot clear and free of garbage and debris.
• Trim plants, trees and foliage.
• Wash windows regularly so they’re clear and bright.
• Pay attention to lighting and replace burned-out bulbs quickly.

7. Freebies, Rewards, and Giveaways

Everybody loves to get free stuff and feel that their patronage is appreciated. Rewards and loyalty cards, raffle prizes, coupons and goodie bags for new patrons can help bring new customers through the door. When you give away branded swag, like pens and T-shirts, you can also support name recognition throughout the community.

8. Upgrade your Equipment, Laundromat Technology and Amenities.

Upgrading your commercial laundry equipment and adding additional amenities (such as fluff and fold services) can be a great way to draw in new patrons and reconnect with old ones.

Many of today’s customers may be looking for convenience and advanced laundromat technology. Huebsch offers equipment upgrades and several tools to support a strong customer experience and help laundromat managers, too.

• Huebsch Command™ for management, reporting and remote access
• Galaxy Touch Controls to support a modern, user-friendly interface
• Scan-Pay-Wash, which enables cashless payments and rewards for customers, plus Insights-tracked controls for you.
• ProCapture™ by Huebsch® to capture up to 98% of dryer-generated lint* and help cut down on lint cleanup that can lead to maintenance and downtime

Got questions about growing your laundry business? The laundry experts at Huebsch are happy to help!