Expanding into Commercial Work
Are you interested in pursuing commercial accounts and expanding your vended laundry’s reach to serve salons, spas, medical offices, vacation rental properties, motels, moving companies and more? Planning is key to doing this successfully. Here, we provide some tips of the trade for expanding your business to serve commercial accounts.
Step 1: Launch Wash-Dry-Fold
Utilize slow hours and idle equipment for processing drop-off WDF. Research best practices, become a Coin Laundry Association member and develop an attendant training program, policies and procedures. Put idle staff and equipment to work for more revenue per square foot.
Step 2: Develop Commercial Work
Once you’ve got WDF down, go after small commercial accounts. Hire extra staff and develop pick-up and delivery service. This means you’ll need a delivery van and a point-of-sale software system that tracks orders and automatically notifies customers when they are complete. You’ll need to utilize equipment during slow hours, after hours, or rent/purchase another space with new equipment for processing full-service work.
Step 3: Install On-Premise Laundry Equipment
By investing in on-premise commercial washers and dryers, you can clean virtually any item – even food and beverage items stained with food and oil – thanks to sophisticated programming. Continental Girbau Genius Washers are the only washers on the market that can switch quickly from commercial programming to self-service programming by entering a simple code. If that’s what you have, you’re set. You just need to contact a chemical supplier to connect chemicals to your washers. If you don’t have Genius Washers, you’ll need to install a few on-premise machines to provide the programming needed. Consider purchasing/renting additional space for these OPL washers or replacing a few vended washers with Genius Washers that can do double-duty.
Step 4: Enter the Flatwork Ironer
At this step, start ironing flatwork items, including sheets, drapes, pillowcases and table linens. To do this and capture business from hotels, vacation rentals and catering companies, you’ll need to invest in a flatwork ironer. This will launch your commercial business and allow you to better serve residences wanting ironed bed linens and drapes.
Step 5: A Commercial Laundry Plant
If you haven’t already grown out of your vended laundry, the time might be near to establish a separate location for processing commercial work. Contact your Continental Girbau distributor to help you find a location and equip it to fit your goals.
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