franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
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Speed Queen have done it all dozens of times and never failed. They helped
us with various applications and consents, and they knew who to approach
afterwards to get things speeding along. They were superb.”
The Manurewa laundromat, on the southern side of a main road, has
benefited from the imagination and experience of all parties involved. “The
site is ideal,” says Jason.
“It’s lovely and bright in the sunshine and we made sure it’s well-lit at night,
which is vital for 24-hour operation. We’ve gone for a bright, eye-catching
blue that stands out on the road, and there’s ample parking.”
Jason says Speed Queen helped ensure the space was fully utilised, including
3D design plans to show how the 47 machines would look after installation.
“Our position is so visually prominent that we felt we didn’t need to do much
marketing. The only promotion we’ve done has been ads on social media and
flags over the footpath.”
A tremendous experience
After a full year of operation, Jason says the business is performing well. “It’s
doing what we hoped it would do. My fellow investors and I are very happy
with how it’s going. It’s steady, reliable, and has reached a good rhythm,
which is exactly what we wanted.”
“It’s been a tremendous experience working with Speed Queen. They held
our hands through the process far more than I was expecting. Now that the
business is well-established, success is down to us as operators, but we
know Speed Queen is still there to help.
“Provided it’s kept clean, bright, polished and always attractive to customers,
we’re confident it will continue to do really well with the lightest of input
from us.”
A compelling investment
A medium-sized investment with Speed Queen Laundromats will be between
$250,000 and $350,000, with a deposit of $100,000 typically required says
Speed Queen Head of Laundromat Sales, Royce Little. “Automation and fully
cashless operation make a laundromat such a compelling investment,”
he explains.
“Some of our owners live a long way from
their laundromats. With no cash handled
on site, there is minimal temptation for
break-ins. And you can be open 24 hours
a day.
“The return on investment is in the region
of, or better than, 20–30%. So, if this
sounds like you, why not get in contact
with me!”
Speed Queen has come of age in New
Zealand, and the laundromat concept
continues to build on its reputation and
success, with Sudz Laundromat in Manurewa
proving the model works.
“It was the automation that particularly
attracted me to a Speed Queen laundromat,”
says Jason Foord, operator of the Manurewa
Speed Queen-equipped Sudz Laundromat.
“We run a frozen food business, but we
are always looking to diversify our income.
The low management requirement through
Speed Queen’s automated systems had
huge appeal.”
Speed Queen is not a franchise; it must be
noted. Owners like Jason operate under their own brand, which can bring
advantages to those looking for good ‘hands-free’ investments. “We were
quite lucky,” he explains, “because we started with a superb site. One of the
business partners in Sudz was relocating his operation and wondered what
else his building could be used for. When we looked at what makes a great
laundromat location, we realised that all we had to do was make it smart,
brightly lit and open the doors.”
Creating a successful business
Jason had first had the idea of opening a laundromat several years earlier.
“Running a full-time business meant I didn’t have much time to put into
researching it,” he says.
“When we eventually did open, what was vital was that it didn’t interfere
with our already successful business. We boiled down our equipment supply
option to two providers. Speed Queen won the day for two reasons. Firstly,
their focus was on helping us create a successful business. It wasn’t just
about machines.
“Having said that, the second reason was their equipment. The industrial,
American-made, robust-as-blazes machinery was built to last and makes a
very good return on investment. More than that, the machines are incredibly
smart. The combination of the touch-screen wizard with the payment system
makes it very intuitive for customers. We literally have no ‘how to use’ or
pricing signage… We don’t need it with Speed Queen,” says Jason.
“Our ability to remotely manage the laundromat has been excellent. The
combination of cameras, remote capabilities of the payment system and
cloud connectivity to the Speed Queen machines means we can do almost
everything remotely. What little we can’t do, we ask the cleaners to handle
while they’re there.”
Having chosen Speed Queen as the supplier, Jason was impressed by the
management of the process and the fit-out. “We were first timers, but
CLEAN &
BRIGHT
Opportunity: Retail
Automated Speed Queen-equipped
laundromat proves to be an ideal
diversification strategy
Speed Queen
www.speedqueen.co.nz
Contact
Royce Little
09 528 5600
royce@speedqueen.co.nz
Advertiser Info
Automated and fully cashless