Smart Card Laundries

Just ten years ago, there were absolutely no laundries operating on a "Smart Card" system in the United States. Though there have not been any official studies done on the number of "Smart Card" installations, the National Coin Laundry Association estimates that there are now approximately 500 or more stores operating on the 'Smart Card' system In the United States with more being built every week.

Northwest Laundry Supply Distributing, Inc. has pioneered this technology in the Northwest having installed a number of successful "Smart Card" laundries for new owners in addition to operating several company owned stores. Smart Cards are quickly becoming an accepted, even preferred, method of operation for laundry owners looking to offer the customer incentives that would be difficult, even impossible, if operating on a coin based system. For instance to encourage the customer to put more money on their Smart Card, the Smart Card machine can be programmed to add $22.00 of value on the card when the customer places a $20.00 bill in the machine. This creates a positive 'float" since most customers will not likely use all of the value on the card at once but instead return at a later date to use the remaining value.

Also, by making use of the variable pricing options, (such as charging $1.49 for a wash rather than $1.50) odd dollar amounts are always left remaining on the card encouraging people to return and replenish dollar values to their cards. The Smart Card system also makes it more attractive than ever to own multiple coin laundries since every single machine in every store can be linked to one computer, allowing the operator to check on turns per day and monitor collections for every machine in every store with a few keystrokes.

YOUR INVESTMENT

Using the following example: A Maytag Smart Card Laundry with 28 smart card washers, 3 large capacity triple load smart card washers, 12 - 301b. stack smart card dryers, a smart card machine, a soap vender and interior signs. The equipment package would be approximately $150,000.00. The expense of making the building ready for smart card laundry will take approximately $55,000.00. Typically this includes all the water lines, sewer lines, gas lines, venting for dryers, installing the hot water tanks, folding tables, service counter, installing and leveling the machines, carpentry work and in some cases, the floor and wall coverings. There could be additional costs, depending on location, for utility fees and deposits and special decor or signage.