Most people operating laundry businesses are seeking additional sources of profit and ways to add on to the bottom line. In an average coin or card operated laundry, the usual items added are the vending of soap & supplies, fluff & fold, drop off dry cleaning services, or a combination of any or all of these.
There are two other types of income sources that are quite commonly found in laundries. The sale or vending of candy, snacks, and soft drink and/or installation of game playing machines.
Back in the old days, these used to be referred to as Pinball Machines. Now, instead of mechanical devices, everything is done by electronics.
Some laundry owners use route vendors who own all of the equipment, supply the food and drink, do all of the work and pay the laundry a percentage commission on what is sold. Other operators buy their own machines, purchase then load the drinks and candy.
There isn’t a lot to say about the sale of snacks or soft drinks, and there usually isn’t much to be said for the extra income either, as there won’t be very much.
Amusement game machines, on the other hand, can be an excellent source of income for a laundry as some people will spend more money on the games than they spend doing wash. However, the game machines can be a possible source of problems as well. It all rests on the types of games and the ages of those attracted to them.
The games in a laundry are best directed at young mothers and their small children. Popular games for older teenagers can create noise and security problems.
Everyone in our business knows that few people actually like to do laundry. They come to a laundry business to save time, and some also come for the comparative peace and quiet they find there. If there are a group of noisy teens, will there be any peace or quiet?
First of all, what are kids that age doing in a laundry. Secondly, there never seems to be just one, they come in bunches. A gang of teenaged kids there playing games will eventually antagonize the female adults who are really the main part of a laundry’s clientele.
They’ll resent the fact that the kids gathered around the machines are usually quite noisy, and they will be angry with you and your laundry for allowing this unattractive nuisance to exist.
Part of the attractive nuisance idea comes out of the way the machines are built. Made more of plastic and composition materials, the machines are very easy to damage and make into an eyesore. They are also very easy to break into and rob. There is hardly any metal there at all.
It’s pretty hard to maintain the appearances of amusement machines unless they are brand new. That’s the reason we suggest that at first owners rent out the machine space to those in that business and let them pay you percentage based on their income. After, if you see that the income possibilities are that good, you may choose to buy.
Either way, there are certain rules to follow if you are considering the addition of game machines in your laundry.
1. Select machines with games that “used to be hot” but are now passe to older teens. Slower games seem to work better in laundry locations.
2. Locate the game machines as much away from the laundry’s machines as you can. Having a separate gaming area is ideal.
3. Before adding games, check to see if there are any city licensing requirements. In some cities a license must be displayed.
4. Don’t rush out to buy machines. Instead make a deal with a gaming route operator and try it out at his expense first.
5. Sturdy construction and ease of repair will be something to look for, especially if you are buying.
