There are currently about 29,500 coin laundries in the United States and that number continues to grow. With so many options, customers can have their pick of laundromat facilities, especially in large urban areas like Chicago. So what can laundromat owners do to keep their customers coming back again and again? Here’s 5 tips to help you inspire customer loyalty at your laundromat.

1. Give perks and freebies.

Everybody loves free things. Discounts, freebies, and giveaways can be great ways to entice customers to return to your laundromat on a regular basis. The best part is, there’s a variety of loyalty discount programs that can be tweaked to fit your laundromat’s needs, budget, and customers.

Here are a few ideas to try out at your facility:

• Use a punch card system that allows customers to earn free wash and dry cycles after using your machines a designated number of times.
• Offer customers coupon book with perks customers can use during follow up visits.
• Having weekly recurring special (such as “Wash Wednesday” or “Sudsy Saturday”) where prices are discounted to entice penny pinchers to visit your facility.
• Offer your customers a free wash and dry during their birthday month.
• Offer discounts to niche groups like seniors or military personnel. 

In addition to having happy customers, a recent survey shows that 73% of members are more likely to recommend and say good things about brands with good loyalty programs, so those using your perks are likely to tell others about how awesome your facility is!

2. Add a credit card vending system to your business.

A credit card vending system is a great way to encourage customer loyalty at your business. Instead of using quarters at each machine your customers will have the option of using their credit card to pay for a wash and dry cycle. Convenience breeds loyalty.

In addition to credit card, Coin-O-Matic’s credit card vending systems allow the use of In-House Customer Loyalty Cards.  With In-House Loyalty Cards, you have unlimited options for bonus programs for your existing customers and advertising opportunities to attract new business. 

3. Keep the kids happy.

With hectic schedules, sometimes parents have no choice but to bring their children along when they do laundry. Unfortunately, the outing can go south real fast when the youngsters get bored or cranky. Having a family-friendly facility will help keep restless kids occupied, impress their parents, and make your facility stand out from others. Happy kids mean happy parents who will choose your facility over the competition, and encourage their friends to do the same.

Try these kid-friendly suggestions for your laundromat: 

• Add a TV and have a selection of family-friendly movies on hand.
• Add free Wi-Fi so children can use smartphones and tablets.
• Have a variety of games, coloring books, and puzzles for youngsters to play with.
• Give free stickers, candy, balloons, or a small toy when kids visit with their parents.

4. Keep your laundromat clean and updated.

People visit your laundromat to get their clothes clean. A dirty and rundown facility would be a huge turn off, causing customers to run to the competition. While it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities that come with running your laundromat business, it is important to make cleanliness and upkeep top priorities at your laundromat.

Take special care of the outside of the building, which is what new and returning customers first notice. Make sure trash is picked up, all the lights work, and damages are repaired on your storefront. If your building is looking a little run down, improving your laundromat’s signage can go a long way in improving your image and helping to attract and retain customers.

Inside, make sure your machines are in working order and make necessary repairs quickly, so loyal customers aren’t forced to visit another facility out of necessity. Consider upgrading your laundry equipment to help outshine the competition and impress customers.

Owners should also pay special attention to the bathroom cleanliness. Unclean, inaccessible restrooms can be a deal breaker for visitors, especially women with children utilizing your laundromat.

5. Stay in touch with customers.

More than half of consumers are loyal to brands that interact with them through their preferred communication channels, according to a survey. That means you need to be communicating with your laundromat customers and potential customers in a personal, meaningful way.

With 68% of adults in the U.S. using Facebook and 49% using Instagram and Twitter, social media is a powerful tool to help you reach your customer base and keep them informed about your business, services, and promotions. Surveys and emails can also help you touch base with clients and keep your laundromat at the forefront of their mind.

At Coin-O-Matic, we want you to have a successful laundromat business, full of happy, loyal customers. Coin-O-Matic’s laundromat investment specialists are happy to assist in stocking your Chicago-area laundromat with commercial laundry equipment, provide laundromat financing, help with ongoing business consulting, and more. Contact our laundromat investment specialists to get started!