Everet's Laundry Newsletter September 2023

 

Everet's Laundry Newsletter September 2023 Leaves are falling but hope your revenue is RISING! Tidbits from the Washtub #1 A lot of new owners are having changer problems, so this month is dominated by changer issues that I've seen and can help correct. If you are having problems with Rowe/American style changers see the links below! #2 There was no August 2023 edition of the newsletter. Everet A Heck of A Nice Guy Featured Articles this Month   Cleaning Rowe style coin hoppers: Cleaning-Rowe-style-changers   Fixing "I didn't get my change" error: Fixing-your-changer-didnt-give-me-my money error   Fix for coins dispensing slowly: Changer-dispensing-slowly? Easy-fix

The True Meaning of Christmas by Linus

On this day of Jesus' birth.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

Ev

A Heck of A Nice Guy but nowhere near as nice as Jesus!

 

Muppet Family Holiday Carol Sing-A-Long

If you haven't seen the Muppet Family Christmas Special in many years, 

enjoy this melody of carols they sing by clicking the YouTube player below.

Happy Holidays!

Ev

A Heck of A Nice Guy

Cashless Payment System: Do You Need It?

 

A question I get on an almost daily basis is,
“Do I need to go with a cashless payment system?”
This is followed up by:
“What kind of card readers or cashless payment system should I go with?”

I have had the experience of installing a couple of different systems and using several others.
I know many of you reading this have experience with one or more cashless systems and you’ve shared your insights with me over the years.
The answer to the first question is YES.
I think before asking yourself the second question above you need to ask a more important
question:
WHEN?
Follow that with:
WHAT TYPE?

For all of the different reasons you’ve heard about and all the different reasons you have experienced we are a society that relies less and less on physical cash.
The quarter will never go away completely, but our industry will rely on it less and less. So the answer to he question of if you should invest in a cashless system is absolutely YES.

The question of WHEN is a different story.

The first thing you need to decide is how long are you going to hold onto your store.
Are you going to work the store for many years yet, or are you going to sell soon?
If your answer is you are going to be done in three years or less, I would suggest you either leave the decision up to the new owners, or install a less expensive system that will pay for itself rather quickly but will not be a major expense or burden to change out for the new owner later on (more details on this option later).
If you are going to be in the business longer than three years, and/or you are having family members take over and you move into a retired or consultant mode then you definitely want to move on something sooner rather than later. This captures those people that are currently not paying with cash, but also keeps up with the changing technology. If you are going to be around long enough to add in hardware and software upgrades because of new technology or currency (i.e. Bitcoin) then make the move sooner than later.

If you are going to sell your store or retire in the next 1-3 years then I would argue that you either don’t add in a system and accept the results that come, or invest in a less costly system that you can give your current customers the cashless option, but don’t need tons of new customers to pay for itself. If you are staying in the business, then definitely start researching the systems out there.

Ev
A Heck of A Nice Guy

Two Problems with Any Cashless System

 

Two problems with any cashless system:
1. Technology changes so how do you know what works today isn’t obsolete tomorrow
2. They are expensive

We are just now seeing more and more card systems and completely card stores here in the upper Midwest as of the time of this writing, so you have a little time to wait to see where the technology goes, but don’t think you will NEVER have to decide on this issue. The same technology that changes the systems we will use is the same technology that is forcing us to move beyond the quarter. In 2015 all we had was simple card swipes and laundry store card readers. Now there are different things besides cash and credit cards. All the iPay, GooglePay, type systems. Chip cards. Tap cards. Currently we use phones to pay but I bet that will change in the next five years. Rings and key fobs are being used now. Digital chips in your finger can’t be too far away…what do you mean they are already here!? Plus all of these will have to be configured to use either “real” currency like dollars AND “virtual” currency like BitCoin and maybe even our own individual currency unique to us like EveretCoin or EvCoin. Day of First Contact is coming in 2063 so maybe after that we’ll have to accept gold pressed latinum, anamorphic gel, or federation credits.
The amount of things we accept as payment might change, but the way we accept that payment will change slower. We still use cash registers for example. They look different but function the same as they did 100 years ago.

The second hurdle you will have to overcome is the expense. Currently any system is between $75-$750 per machine. What is your Return on Investment going to look like?
Some of the cashless systems have a minimum order that you have to buy. Others do not.
No matter what system you choose you have to have some washers and some dryers on the system. If you just have systems on your washers but not your dryers you will tick people off because if forces them to have to pay cash for the dryers and vice versa.

Don’t expect flocks and flocks of customers to come to your store solely just because you have a cashless system...at least immediately if you are re-equipping a current store.
You will get some new customers but…
-some of your customers might like to use quarters at your store as a place to get rid of their change
-those that are using quarters is a habit they are comfortable with
-they don’t have the technology to use other systems because they either don’t want or like it
To get more people to use whatever cashless system you have to advertise it in the store and on all of your advertising.
Be prepared to give incentives for people to try the system or switch over to it. You might need to offer a free wash if they download the app, or double the amount they place on a laundromat card or app to get them to try it. No matter what you do or try keep educating your customers. In my stores over the years whenever I need to give a customer a refund or start a machine for them I purposely use my phone and show them how easy the app is to use. My credit card swipes I have a store card that I can swipe that starts the machine but looks like a credit card so my customers can see how to use that payment method as well. My customers are very much resistant to change, but when they see it they are at least more open to it.

If you are building new, or doing a complete reequipping of your current store, then you can see the return perhaps a little faster in two ways.
The first is the cost of the card system can be built into the cost of the store or equipment. It is still there, but at least you don’t see it because it is built into the construction or equipment loan, and at least you don’t have to write the check for that amount out of your own pocket and can pay over time. If you add the cost after your machine purchase then physically seeing that check can be sobering.
The second is that you train your customers from the beginning to use whatever system you have installed.
Remember customers come to stores because they are clean, safe, and they can trust the machines to work.
If they like your store for all of those reasons, they will get used to using your cashless system as a price they pay to use your store. Odds are the vast majority will appreciate how your system works after 2-4 times coming and trying it.

No matter if you are adding a cashless system to your existing store equipment or starting with a system from scratch, your customers will apricate the option of not using quarters and you will appreciate not having to collect as much or having your existing quarter supply last longer.

Ev
A Heck of A Nice Guy

Everet's Laundry Newsletter July 2023

 

Everet's Laundry Newsletter July 2023 Keep the warm weather here!!! Tidbits from the Washtub Huebsch had relaunched their rebate program for the summer. These rebates ended on October 15, 2023, however for reference they are listed below. Huebsch is made by Alliance in Rippon and Manitowoc (same as Speed Queen, UniMac, Primus, Ipso).    Size       Rebate HU Vend Cabinet Hardmount Washer-Extractors 30LB      $300 rebate 40LB      $400 rebate 60LB      $800 rebate 80LB      $900 rebate 100LB    $1200 rebate HU Vend Tumblers Stack 30LB     $300 rebate Stack 45LB     $400 rebate 75LB               $200 rebate   Unfortunately there is not a rebate on small chassis washers or single dryers smaller than 75lb. Everet A Heck of A Nice Guy Featured Articles this Month   What is your most disgusting laundromat story? Here are some of mine: 3-disgusting-laundromat-stories   Understanding the model and serial numbers on Huebsch and Speed Queen equipment: Huebsch & Speed Queen -model-number-definitions.html   Need to change price on Huebsch or Speed Queen washers? This should help: change-price-on-huebsch-galaxy-600 washers

Everet's Laundry Newsletter June 2023

 

Everet's Laundry Newsletter June 2023 Wisconsin Summer!

Tidbits from the Washtub Do you have older equipment that you can't find parts, or maybe need to replace one machine but don't want to replace a whole row with new...just yet. I might have a possible solution. Details will come in the JULY newsletter. I don't have all of the details yet, but I hope to soon. Keep an eye on your email. When I was in radio that was called a "tease." Everet A Heck of A Nice Guy Featured Articles this Month   If you don't know how to change the price on Huebsch Galaxy 600 machines here is how. Speed Queen Quantum is almost exactly the same: Change-price-on-huebsch-galaxy-600   Lint Traps! Lint Traps! You-have-to-clean-lint-traps   My blog has always been work related. Since it is a personal blog, once a quarter I allow myself to publish something non-work related. This is an example. If you like racing or photography I hope you can appreciate this: Racing-photo-challenge

Hack #342 Fix Small Washer Door Handle

 

Have you come across a missing or broken door handle on one of your small chassis washers?
They break usually for two reasons:
1. clothes got locked inside and the customer pulled on the door to get them out
2. after many thousands of turns and people pulling on them they break

The screws that hold the handles on are not very long and don't go very far into the plastic cam or nut that holds the handle to the door. An easy solution is to use a longer screw. I personally like using a wood or drywall screw. It anchors the handle to the door and gives it more strength. Just don't get too long of a screw so the tip pokes out of the front of the handle. A person can really yank on it and get the door open without breaking the handle.

In this example I'm showing a Maytag door, but you can try this same solution with similar doors.
Ev
A Heck of A Nice Guy

What Do You Collect?

 

At the end of WWI there was a sarcastic saying that English soldiers fought the war for honor. French soldiers fight for glory, and American soldiers fight for souvenirs. This was because American soldiers brought back a lot of "war trophies" likes guns, flags, helmets, etc.
It is only natural for people to want souvenirs.
We as human beings I think like to collect things.
They remind us of  experiences, are interesting, or just fun.
I've known a lot of laundry room managers, staff, and laundromat owners. The majority collect SOMETHING related to laundry careers, even if it is only while they are working there and then throw it away when done.

The original owner of my first laundromat collected zipper pulls. He said he gave them to his brother for Christmas. He also kept a few for the times he found a jacket he wanted to keep that needed a zipper pull, or for customers who needed a zipper pull because theirs had been lost in the washer. He had a bunch. 

Other laundry staff I know collect keys.
Sometimes they group them by brands, shapes, colors, or designs.

How many Kwikset keys you have found over the years?

Other laundry staff save all of the stick pin earrings they find. One laundromat owner told me, "haven't found a real diamond yet, but I'll keep looking for that giant karat that will allow me to retire!"

I don't collect rings, but I've saved a bunch of the rings that no one has claimed.
All are cubic zirconia. One my wife wears as a back up wedding ring if we are out someplace that she doesn't want to risk losing her real ring.

I joke I'll make her the biggest bling ring ever using all the other stones as a celebration of when we retire.

As for me...I collect all the little cars that get left behind or lost under the machines.

They're not worth anything but they are fun to look at. Some I've gotten out from drain pipes or drain troughs that were in there for quite a long time. It is interesting to see what that sludge will do to a Matchbox car (Hey! New idea for a blog article!)!

Some laundry folks collect lighters, pens, video game cartridges, and of course we all collect the money we find in the washers and dryers!

What do you collect?

Ev
A Heck of A Nice Guy

Recruiting Salespeople? You Have to Overcome These Ideas

So if you are looking to hire your first salesperson (or 2nd, 3rd, or 15th) you've probably read one of the many articles I've written about that topic (i.e. the one below)

https://everetShould-you-hire-your-first-salesperson

You-decided-to-hire-salesperson-other.html

What to Pay Your First Salesperson

If you are the person that will manage these salespeople you will have to overcome some important mindsets in the head of the prospective salesperson.
Some of these are below. I've written them as if I was giving that advice to someone LOOKING for a sales job. It is YOUR job to make sure you have counterpoints to these things so if they are brought up in an interview you know how to handle them to get them to come and work for YOU. What worries do your sales position recruits have? Here are some of the bad ones:

1. There will be resistance to change from the way they sold/presented to the way you sell. They will place a lot of trust in you to represent them and sell their product in a professional and upstanding way. You'll have your own style. There will be clashes. My advice, learn their presentation and selling styles. They will know their current clients better than you and you might learn something new. Then incorporate their best elements and your best elements into a great pitch. Your style isn't perfect and neither is theirs, but keep an open mind that they know their product and clients and try what they tell you. You'll learn something that you can use with other prospects. I guarantee it!

2. If you want to keep a secret, don't tell the boss.

3. Be prepared to start projects and have them be dropped or forgotten. 

Entrepreneurs are usually people with a vision for themselves and what they want their company to be. As a result when they see an idea someone else is doing, they will often try to incorporate it into their business. The project will start with good intentions, but don't be surprised if it gets dropped when they see the next idea. You might know this as "shiny key syndrome."
Bigger companies that have too wide of a command structure suffer the same problem.
Lack of focus.

This can be maddening because you think the company will be doing something and it will never get off the ground and you might not even know it. Unless it was something mission critical, just put the notes aside and move on. If it is worth fighting for, then make your case. Sometimes people just need to be reminded why they started the project to begin with. Sometimes the projects come back.

4. If the boss says they are not a micro manager they probably are.
Sometimes this starts out as a good thing. When starting you need to learn their business and what made them successful. You need to reinforce your good sales habits. Proving you can live up to their matrix of how many calls, appointments, etc. is good. If all they live by is numbers and can't see the forest through the trees then you have a choice to make. At some point you either have to always give them what they want, or eventually put your foot down in a professional way and tell them no.
When working for a small company I was asked to do at least 25 cold calls per day to decision makers. This isn't a lot and was accomplished along with the other duties I had to do. At first at the end of the day I would have to turn in a spreadsheet with who I called.
No problem.
Then I was asked to indicate when I called them so we could see what time was most effective reaching these decision makers.
No problem. Good idea.
Then I had to keep track if I reached their voicemail and if they returned my call.
Again a good thing to track.
I was also asked to keep track what side of town they were on.
There was never a good answer to that since I already had their address before calling them.
The data and what I was asked to track kept getting more and more minute.
He never did anything with the data.
Finally I asked again what ALL the points were to what I was being asked to do.
He didn't have an answer so I politely told him I would continue to keep track of all pertinent information and if he ever wanted it to look it up in our CRM database.

5. Don't sign a non-compete.
They might be worried that you'll walk off with their financial statements or sales numbers. Perfectly logical. Problem is you will be one of a few people in the company. If they go belly up you don't want to be tied down about where you can look for a job or who you can call on. They have to remember you are building THEIR business and they get 80% of your take at any time. Offer to sign a non-disclosure agreement instead. Then keep quiet about the information you see if you ever do leave.

6. If you are working for an owner who always has to be in control of the meeting with a customer, prospect, or any other sales situation, prepare to sit back and be reduced to the level of their sales assistant. Some sales people like having the owner take the lead and be out front. If that is your personality type (I'm not referring to sales drive) then stay in the position and thrive by cranking out great appointments and hitting all of your metrics in terms of calls, appointments, etc. Be a good Robin to the owners Batman.
If you don't enjoy this role and ALWAYS have to be in charge in a meeting with a new or current customer, look for a new company because odds are it won't change unless business gets so good they'll have to give up control of some accounts. Depending on the company and what you are selling either of these scenarios might happen.

7. If you are working for an owner that prefers to NOT be too involved in the sales arena, then be prepared to take charge of the meetings, follow up with the customer, and constantly remind the owner of what they need to do to help you succeed.

8. Expect to get blamed when things go wrong:
Lets say There wasn't enough client meetings set in a given month. You did everything right, it was just one of those months.

In the owners eye they NEVER had a bad month, missed call goals, appointment quotas, or sales. Baloney! In their eyes they are brilliant in sales.  Arguing this point with them doesn't always work because in their mind if THEY were doing whatever it was they accuse you of not doing things would succeed. It will usually take an person not involved in the process (usually a wife or office manager) to tell them they are wrong. They won't apologize for being wrong, however you know they'll realize they were wrong because they will talk about it and say "I was thinking about ______ and I think we need to try doing it this way______"

9. Be careful about the boss meeting with long time customers who you know extremely well: They may act like the client was never yours and try to monopolize the client and cut you out completely. I'm not saying you can never have the boss meet these people, however I'm saying if your boss is the controlling type this could happen.

I once had a vice president meet with a long term client of mine without telling me.
The client bought a new package from the VP (that plan wasn't presented to the sales staff yet). When I confronted the VP his response was "you introduced me to him awhile ago so I called him, and what are you worried about you'll get your commission." I explained that in this case he was right, but he could have also said something that ruined the relationship, caused confusion on who the client should call with questions, and said he wouldn't like it if I just started calling his clients without asking him. He admitted I was right and I called my client and explained that I would be able to handle all calls regarding the new package and apologized for the VP not bringing me to the meeting and blindsiding him.

10. Be prepared for your reputation to take a hit in some way from a bad owner who wants revenge because they will think you ruined their company or at least wasted a bunch of time. They never mention that is was THEIR fault for lack of training, CRM tool, marketing materials, or anything else that is a basic sales tool for salespeople to be successful.

If you work for an entrepreneur that has a good reputation and you help them build their business you'll get some of the reflected glory from the owners circle of contacts. 

If that entrepreneur sucks at building relationships or sales, you'll hear about that too.
If you get some of the credit just thank them and accept it. Don't let it go to your ego. If you get some tarnish because you were working for a bad individual, listen and move on.
If you move to another job don't argue for your former boss either way and don't join in blasting the person. Both are traps. Plus your client has already made up their mind what they think of the former boss and that is water under the bridge. Work on building the current relationship.

11. Until the money really starts rolling in, or there has been a change in their lifestyle because of your success (being able to take a vacation for the first time is an example), entrepreneurs will question their decision to hire their first salesperson. You may get a few comments in the "things were easier around here before I hired you" vein. Don't take it personal. Remember it is one thing to be responsible for yourself, it is another to now have someone else depending on you. It is a tough lesson for some entrepreneurs to learn. Your ultimate job is to make them say "I'm glad I hired a salesperson!"  .

Thanks!

Ev
A Heck of A Nice Guy