This is a sponsored post by Cents. Find out what Cents can do for your laundry business here. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.
The holiday season is all about family, friends, gratitude, and joy. This time of year is a favorite not just because of the weather, the decorations, or even the extra time with family and friends.
Can I let you in on a little secret? It’s a secret that motivates people, directs their actions, and forms their opinions. And yes, it does have to do with the holidays, but it’s also much more than that. It holds the power to make or break your business. And I want to give you some practical tips on how you can utilize this secret to boost your business this holiday season.
The Big Secret
Before I let you in on this big secret and give you some tips on how to improve your business with it, I want to point out the video below. It has some really great tips on how to make more money with your laundromat. Make sure you check it out!
Ok, are you ready for the secret as to why so many people love the holiday season and how that applies to your business? Here it is: people love the holiday season because of how it makes them feel. That’s right, the decorations, the time with loved ones, the Starbucks holiday cups all create a feeling in people that they love.
How does that apply to your laundromat? Well, knowing that feelings lead to actions that align with those feelings can give you a blueprint to a better business. And those actions lead to an appropriate result.
If you’re following my train of thought here still, this means that if you can shape the perception that your community has about your business, you can invoke positive feelings about your laundromat. That will lead to more repeat customers for you.
You can piggyback on the holiday spirit to borrow some of those good feelings for your laundromat business. Here are some tips on how we can shape the perception of our laundromats to drive more business.
1. Deck the halls
Insert your laundromat into the flow of the holidays. Tap into the positive vibes by being a part of them.
One way you can do this is by decorating your laundromat with holiday decorations. Be sure decorate appropriately for your community. Being inclusive generally promotes more positive vibes. That’s what we’re going for.
People travel from miles around to go to malls, neighborhoods, and places of worship just because they have created a beautiful and festive space. The same can be true of your laundromat. You don’t have to go all out, but adding some holiday touches can give you an edge over the other laundry options in your community.
2. Tis the season of giving
One of the things people love about the holidays is giving and receiving gifts. As a laundromat, you may have the ability to facilitate both!
Giving gifts to customers, even if they’re just small ones, communicates that you care and subtly triggers the need for reciprocity. Offering candy canes, hot cocoa with marshmallows, or laundry discounts makes people feel good. If you give authentically, it will pay off for you!
You can also be a gathering point for your community to give to each other. Partnering with a local non-profit to do a toy drive, a coat drive, or something similar also perpetuates those good feelings we all get when we give to others.
Give and let give. That’s what I always say.
3. Make your days merry and bright
Paying attention to the atmosphere of your laundromat is always important for the very reason the Big Secret outlined above. When people have a positive experience in your business, especially when they’re doing a chore they don’t love, they’re much more likely to return and tell their friends.
Keeping your laundromat bright, clean, and upbeat can play a major role in creating a positive atmosphere. This means making sure the basics are taken care of, like making sure all of the lights are working, making sure your laundromat stays clean for your customers, and ensuring your employees are friendly, inviting, and welcoming.
But, beyond the basics, use all of the senses to create a place that your community wants to be. Add holiday scents to your store, like pine, cinnamon, or pumpkin spice. Add fun, upbeat music to your store to promote that holiday cheer. As I mentioned before, deck the halls with some festive decor, even if it’s just a little bit. And consider offering a free treat every now and then for your customers to try. Mini candy canes, cookies, or babka are great options.
The Bottom Line
There’s nothing magical about the holidays for your business, per se. But something magical does happen during the holiday season that you can tap into and transfer some of the good feelings going around to your business.
The tips above are only ideas to get your creativity flowing. The real message of this post is that your community’s feelings about your laundromat are a major determining factor in the success of your business. Be proactive about shaping those feelings, and therefore the community’s perspective of your laundromat. The holidays can be a great time to do that!
