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Being different is better than being better.
That was the main theme of Jason Vana’s presentation at this year’s Laundry CEO Forum.
Many laundromat and laundry business owners don’t realize this because the emphasis is always on being better than the competition. But think about this, if you’re only focused on being better, you’re still in the same crowded space competing with everyone else.
If you focus on being different, you create your own space.
Standing out in the market isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s necessary for high profits, greater loyalty, and stronger client relationships.
In fact, businesses that differentiate themselves experience:
- 58% higher revenue growth
- 73% higher customer loyalty
- 36% more repeat purchases
- 46% higher profit margins
- 20-30% higher prices
Let’s look at a few laundromats that are doing things differently.
Thinking about, the thinking of laundry:
The foundational elements of laundromats are the same, washers and dryers. What are you doing to stand out?
They realized that their market values sustainability, so they positioned themselves as the eco-friendly laundromat. This included:
- Energy-efficient machines
- Live plants throughout the store
- Bike-based pickup and delivery
- Biodegradable, three-ingredient detergent
- Website resources with eco-friendly laundry tips
They wanted their laundromat to be a place of relaxation, so they focused on providing a spa-like experience using:
- Japanese-spa decor
- Luxury detergent
- Website messaging that emphasizes cleanliness, relaxation, and luxury
Located in the small town of Willard, Washboard Cafe’s owners saw the lack of a local coffee shop as an opportunity to create a neighborhood hangout spot. They did this by:
- Serving coffee and donuts
- Installing seating areas with tables for remote work
- Using rustic decor to create a warm, inviting atmosphere
All three of these laundromats provide the same service – washing clothes.
The clients’ clothes are equally clean whether they go to Celsious or Lux Water, and yet these laundromats have their own loyal followings. None of these businesses said “we’re the best” or even “we’re different.” Instead, they found a way to be different and showed it through every detail of their brand.
So how can you be different?
More than likely you already are. You just need to highlight those differences like:
- How you process laundry
“We only use X process to make sure all your garments are Y.” - The size of your store
“Our X square foot store provides you with Y to accomplish Z - Your packaging
“Our packaging is X which offers you Y.” - Types of detergents
“Our selection of X products for you to use Y.” - Machine types
“Our machines do X which helps you have Y.” - Store hours
“We are open early/late for clients who need laundry before or after X.”
Being different isn’t just about standing out for the sake of standing out. It’s a smart business move that makes you more money, and who doesn’t want that?
Did you miss Jason's session at the Laundry CEO Forum and would like to view the video of it? Just comment below and let me know.
That's all I got for you today.
Waleed
✌️🏴☠️
P.S. Want more laundry industry insights? Join me on LinkedIn where I share daily perspectives on the laundry business.
Echoing the wisdom of Coco Chanel
In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different
Thanks for reading this edition of Wash Weekly. I hope you enjoyed the topic this week. If you didn't, we'll try it again next week.