The Decline of the Laundromat

While the classic laundromat has been a common American staple for decades, they are now in recession. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of laundry facilities has declined by nearly 20% since 2005.

Why is this happening and what could it mean for your business?

Let’s discuss why laundromats are disappearing in large numbers and how, as a business owner, you can find alternate ways to ensure clean linens and uniforms for your customers and employees. Read more

The Pros and Cons of Using Polyester in Your Hotel Linen

should you use polyester in your hotel linen

Written by Hannah Villarba and Grace Ducanis

Polyester linens are some of the most popular choices for hotel linens for obvious reasons. They are not only the more affordable alternative to higher-priced, high-thread count 100% cotton or linen hotel bedding products; they are also more durable, are virtually wrinkle-free and quick-drying, not to mention can easily blend with other materials.

Read more

9 Awesome Laundry Storage Organizational Hacks for Your Commercial Business

laundry storage

No matter your industry, it’s likely you deal with the woes of storage and organization, especially when it comes to your linens, towels and uniforms. You have your business to run, but you also can’t leave your laundry strewn across your establishment.

Read more

March 3rd Is Employee Appreciation Day!

The first Friday of March is Employee Appreciation Day, and this month it happens to fall on March 3rd! There are many ways to recognize your employees, and many businesses are spreading their employee gratitude nationwide.

ways to recognize employee appreciation

Here are some great ideas to extend appreciation to your employees this Employee Appreciation Day:

  • Offer a complimentary breakfast or lunch. Employees love being fed, so buying breakfast or lunch for your employees is a simple way to say “thanks!” Gather around for a company breakfast or lunch and get to know your employees better. Make sure to also keep up to date on birthdays, anniversaries, special accomplishments, etc.
  • Help your employees out by giving them a helping hand on Employee Appreciation Day. Assist your employees with their duties, and take a slight load off of their work day by offering them assistance in their tasks.
  • Offer them the chance to be the boss for the day! This may also benefit the company overall by allowing employees to voice their opinions and offer up new ideas for the business that haven’t been heard of yet by management.
  • Provide employees with minute gifts, such as a thank-you note or a small present. Small and thoughtful gestures are always great and quick ways of saying thanks!
  • Give them time off this Employee Appreciation Day by perhaps allowing employees to arrive late to work or by going home early. Or even extending their lunch break by an hour or two. Taking away an hour or two from the work day may prove to also be very beneficial for your employees’ productivities.

 

Here at Linen Finder, we are very grateful for our employees this month, as well as every month. We are always finding ways to promote teamwork, as well as incorporate small gestures of gratitude for our employees!

Top 4 Challenges in The Commercial Laundry Industry

hanging laundry

If your commercial laundry business is ready to take their online marketing to the next level contact us at 888-770-2489

The linen and laundry service industries are used by almost every type of business to ensure that their linens are clean, pleasing to the eye, and sanitary.  Restaurants, medical facilities, hotels, spas, salons and more rely on commercial laundry service companies to provide them with the linens and uniforms necessary to run their business smoothly.  Given the importance and high demand of this service couldn’t anyone go out and start this type of company?  To put it blatantly, NO WAY!  There are many challenges in owning a laundry service which include:

1. Low Cost Labor Dependence – The profit margins in the linen service industry are small, and not getting any wider.  As a result companies must keep labor costs low, which is becoming increasingly difficult as employees attempt to unionize, new immigration bills fine companies that employ undocumented workers (which account for a numerous portion of workers), and there is continuing pressure to pay workers in line with other industries.

2. EPA Scrutiny – Industrial launderers are responsible for handling and disposing of many dangerous toxins and unsanitary materials, so as you can imagine the EPA is constantly monitoring them.  This creates a stressful situation, as managers have to stick to the highest standards possible set by the EPA while keeping costs low.  Costs associated with updating procedures to be compliant can easily stack up.

3. High Competition – By owning your own laundry service facility you enter into a world of intense competition on three fronts. You face competition from other laundry service companies, from the disposables industry and from on premises laundries.

4. Increase in Energy Costs – In this industry there are a few things that you must have in order to function properly such as trucks, dryers, and washing machines to name a few.  The issue with all of these things is that they require electricity or gas and lots of it. So, if gas or electricity prices increase then so do your overall expenses, further squeezing your bottom line.

All of these negatives may make it seem like the laundry service industry is not great to get into, but if you are willing to put in the hard work then it can be very rewarding and profitable.  It is not for someone who wants to be able to sit back and let the business run itself, you have to roll up your sleeves and get dirty, especially in the first few years.  In the end however, as long as you prepare for and navigate around the risks you can be very successful in this industry.

If your commercial laundry business is ready to take their online marketing to the  next level contact us at 888-770-2489 or visit https://www.linenfinder.com/marketing-programs/