Top Tips for Laundromat Owners: Lessons from Free Laundry Day with Laundrolab & 2ULaundry
Are you a laundromat owner or thinking about diving into the business? The Laundromat Resource Podcast (Show 207) featuring the Laundrolab and 2ULaundry team is packed with valuable insights that can help you build a community-driven and successful laundromat. The “Free Laundry Day” initiative showcased more than just generosity—it’s a blueprint for how laundromat owners can blend community service with robust business growth.
Whether you run a single store or a franchise network, these actionable takeaways from the episode will help maximize your impact and build lasting relationships with your customers.
1. Embrace Community Engagement as a Core Value
Tip: Clearly define and communicate your laundromat’s core values—especially community service—and integrate them into your operations.
Practical Application:
Host Community Events: Organize regular events like Free Laundry Day, donation drives, or back-to-school giveaways. These create goodwill and let your customers know you genuinely care.
Celebrate Local Partnerships: Partner with nonprofits, libraries, schools, or local charities to amplify your reach and impact. For example, Laundrolab collaborated with Laundry Cares and the local library to offer free books and reading sessions during their event.
Share Your Values: Post your values in-store, on your website, and social media. This attracts like-minded customers and team members who believe in your mission.
2. Leverage Partnerships for Bigger Impact
Tip: Collaborate with local and industry partners to expand the scope and resources of your community initiatives.
Practical Application:
Nonprofit Collaboration: Work with established nonprofits (like Laundry Cares or Laundry Project) for support, playbooks, and volunteers. They often have resources to provide free laundry supplies or books.
Business-to-Business Synergy: If you have multiple business channels (e.g., pickup and delivery services), cross-promote community events and involve your broader team for volunteer support.
Local Services: Think beyond laundry—a nearby library ran storytime for kids, and local pizza shops provided snacks. Consider partnering for services like haircuts or job fairs to make your event a community hub.
3. Systematize Events for Smooth Execution
Tip: Develop and follow clear systems and checklists for hosting events, even if you’re a solo operator or new owner.
Practical Application:
Area Assignment: Assign volunteers or staff to specific sections of the laundromat (“own your zone”) so every customer receives attention and help.
Registration and Flow: Use strategies like painters tape for marking machines or sign-up sheets for time slots to prevent chaos during events.
Resource Planning: Prepare materials (detergent, pizza, raffle tickets, etc.) and establish a schedule for replenishing supplies to keep things running smoothly when there’s a rush.
4. Promote and Plan Ahead
Tip: Give yourself plenty of lead time to market your events, recruit volunteers, and coordinate logistics.
Practical Application:
Early Communication: Start planning at least 6–8 weeks in advance. Use flyers, social media, and local community groups to spread the word.
Seek Feedback: After your event, gather feedback from staff, volunteers, and attendees to refine your process for next time.
Franchisee & Staff Support: If you’re part of a franchise, lean on your network for marketing assets, SOPs, and execution checklists—these resources can save you significant time and energy.
5. Measure Impact and Learn from Each Event
Tip: Track your event’s results and use the data to improve future community initiatives.
Practical Application:
Collect Metrics: Measure attendance, pounds of laundry washed, reviews received, and social media engagement. Laundrolab tracked 27 tons of laundry and more than 700 books given away in a single event!
Monitor Business Uplift: Notice the correlation between community days and business performance—many owners find increased repeat customers and reviews after big giveback events.
Document Lessons Learned: What worked well? What would you change? Evolve and refine your event approach, scaling up each year for bigger and better results.
6. Make It Personal and Celebrate Success
Tip: Personal connection drives deeper customer loyalty—get to know your customers and celebrate your team.
Practical Application:
On-the-Ground Involvement: Attend events alongside your staff, greet customers, and share in the experience. The joy from customers and volunteers is palpable and energizing!
Recognition: Publicly thank your volunteers, staff, and partners. Recognize your “neighbors” (customers!) and use stories of impact in your marketing.
Share Success Stories: Post photos, quotes, and outcomes from your event online. Stories attract new customers and inspire other laundromat owners to get involved.
Final Thought
You don’t need a big team or a franchise behind you to make a difference. Even single-store operators can host impactful events with the right planning, community support, and heart for service. Start small, build momentum, and watch how blending “doing good” with doing business transforms both your community and your bottom line.
Ready to take your laundromat to the next level? Start planning your own community day—whether it’s Free Laundry Day or your own twist on it. For more practical insights and stories, tune into the Laundromat Resource Podcast and connect with the community!
