[villarrealsj]

I live near a military base, Camp Pendleton. There are over 50,000 Marines on this base. Basically, anything catering to the military around here makes good business sense, so I've thought about starting a laundry pick-up & delivery business. Let me explain. After the explanation are my questions. Remember... I'm all about low start-up cost, low overhead and low risk... so keeping that in mind. Here's my concept:

Having been a US Marine for 10yrs, I know exactly what these Marines go through living in the barracks(A.K.A. dorms). Most are single and lack responsibility, let alone the desire to wash their own clothes. Just like any college student, clothes pile up, etc. Marines don't want to spend time washing clothes and when they do, they're clothes get stolen, etc.

Well, why not provide them with a service that will pick-up their laundry each week at a designated date and time and have it back within 48hrs! Each barracks houses at least 100 Marines, many times more.

1. Make arrangements and get approval to come on the base and conduct business.

2. Have low cost laundry bags screenprinted with my biz logo and name.

3. Have laundry slips made to allow each customer to inventory what is going in the bag. One copy to the customer and 2 in the bag.

4. On a designated date and time, a truck arrives ready for pick-up.

*** Since I currently do not own a truck, I'll rent a truck for that day. Obviously, I want to maximize my time with the truck, so I'll schedule many pick-ups that day. Once I can afford it, invest in a truck for the biz.

5. 48 hours later, drop-off washed clothes.

That's about it... in a nutshell.

How will I get the clothes washed, you ask? Hmmm.. good question. Here's what I came up with:

Although some hotels have their own laundry facilities, many don't. They simply contract it out to loca dry cleaners or laundromats that provide the drop-off service. Why not do the same thing? It's a win-win situation. The laundromats or dry cleaners don't have to seek customers and I don't have to wash the laundry... that's a good thing (Martha Stewart's famous words...lol)

What I also love is the companies will fold the clothes and place them in the bag. Definite bonus for the customers. Especially if they're Marines.

LONG TERM: Once the business is up and running and the Marines are use to the routine, I would make arrangements to have large laundy bins(similar to large dumpsters) placed at each building. It would be secured with only one way to drop off laundry and no way to take any out. It would also be located in a well lit area with lots of traffic around to avoid theft. This avoids Marines missing the pick-up dates. Now, dropping that off... still trying to figure out a better way then making everyone show up at a particular time.


That's my concept. Here are my questions:

1. What do you think about the concept?

2. Is there a smarter, better or more cost effective way to wash the clothes? And washing them on my own is not an option...

Thanks in advance for the input!

[Eurosooner7]

Originally Posted by villarrealsj

I live near a military base, Camp Pendleton. There are over 50,000 Marines on this base. Basically, anything catering to the military around here makes good business sense, so I've thought about starting a laundry pick-up & delivery business. Let me explain. After the explanation are my questions. Remember... I'm all about low start-up cost, low overhead and low risk... so keeping that in mind. Here's my concept:

Having been a US Marine for 10yrs, I know exactly what these Marines go through living in the barracks(A.K.A. dorms). Most are single and lack responsibility, let alone the desire to wash their own clothes. Just like any college student, clothes pile up, etc. Marines don't want to spend time washing clothes and when they do, they're clothes get stolen, etc.

Well, why not provide them with a service that will pick-up their laundry each week at a designated date and time and have it back within 48hrs! Each barracks houses at least 100 Marines, many times more.

1. Make arrangements and get approval to come on the base and conduct business.

2. Have low cost laundry bags screenprinted with my biz logo and name.

3. Have laundry slips made to allow each customer to inventory what is going in the bag. One copy to the customer and 2 in the bag.

4. On a designated date and time, a truck arrives ready for pick-up.

*** Since I currently do not own a truck, I'll rent a truck for that day. Obviously, I want to maximize my time with the truck, so I'll schedule many pick-ups that day. Once I can afford it, invest in a truck for the biz.

5. 48 hours later, drop-off washed clothes.

That's about it... in a nutshell.

How will I get the clothes washed, you ask? Hmmm.. good question. Here's what I came up with:

Although some hotels have their own laundry facilities, many don't. They simply contract it out to loca dry cleaners or laundromats that provide the drop-off service. Why not do the same thing? It's a win-win situation. The laundromats or dry cleaners don't have to seek customers and I don't have to wash the laundry... that's a good thing (Martha Stewart's famous words...lol)

What I also love is the companies will fold the clothes and place them in the bag. Definite bonus for the customers. Especially if they're Marines.

LONG TERM: Once the business is up and running and the Marines are use to the routine, I would make arrangements to have large laundy bins(similar to large dumpsters) placed at each building. It would be secured with only one way to drop off laundry and no way to take any out. It would also be located in a well lit area with lots of traffic around to avoid theft. This avoids Marines missing the pick-up dates. Now, dropping that off... still trying to figure out a better way then making everyone show up at a particular time.


That's my concept. Here are my questions:

1. What do you think about the concept?

2. Is there a smarter, better or more cost effective way to wash the clothes? And washing them on my own is not an option...

Thanks in advance for the input!

Sammy,
I really do think you have a great idea and it can be very profitable as well. The main thing I would be concerned about(which you mentioned) is the consistency, Drop-off, pick-up, etc. This is a great idea because it would add much needed convenience to those customers. Do you have any ties or have you dropped any lines to any of the local laundry services?

[Nick]

Its not a bad idea. The problem lies with the laundromat. All you're really doing is delivery for them, which means you're not adding any value or anything unique to the service/idea, but hey if they're happy to charge you a low enough fee that you can put a decent margin on and then charge to the marines then go for it. You said you like low risk though. The problem is even if you start doing this, there is nothing to stop the laundromat raising their prices once they work out that all you're really doing is delivery, something they could probably do themselves and make more money. You need some kind of sustainable advantage, so I would start out doing as you described then after a week or two when you've demonstrated that you're bringing them some decent business see if you can get them to sign a contract that states they won't raise their prices.

If you manage to find a laundromat that will do this then give it a shot. Goodluck.

[villarrealsj]

Well, I haven't contacted any laundry facilities about this, but I have taken a look at how many there are and their locations. Within 20 miles there are about 20 facilities that offer laundry, dry cleaning services. I want to find out which ones can facilitate this and would be interested.

Thanks for the response.

[villarrealsj]

Originally Posted by Nick

Its not a bad idea. The problem lies with the laundromat. All you're really doing is delivery for them, which means you're not adding any value or anything unique to the service/idea, but hey if they're happy to charge you a low enough fee that you can put a decent margin on and then charge to the marines then go for it. You said you like low risk though. The problem is even if you start doing this, there is nothing to stop the laundromat raising their prices once they work out that all you're really doing is delivery, something they could probably do themselves and make more money. You need some kind of sustainable advantage, so I would start out doing as you described then after a week or two when you've demonstrated that you're bringing them some decent business see if you can get them to sign a contract that states they won't raise their prices.

If you manage to find a laundromat that will do this then give it a shot. Goodluck.

Exactly, and that's what I would do... a contract agreement. Like I always say... "Great Minds Think Alike!"

[Bored]

Originally Posted by villarrealsj

Exactly, and that's what I would do... a contract agreement. Like I always say... "Great Minds Think Alike!"

Wouldn't a greater mind think differently?

[villarrealsj]

Originally Posted by Bored

Wouldn't a greater mind think differently?

Very funny... but kinda true...

[Bored]

Originally Posted by villarrealsj

Very funny... but kinda true...

Yea, sorry to rant on the quote which is headlining your blog, but I really don't like that quote. What separates great minds from one another is their difference.

Assuming your a business man, you are using that quote in a business context. Do you really think that a successful entrepreneur thought just like everyone else? If great minds thought alike, wouldn't they just be normal minds?



Sorry, my passion for philosophy is as big as my passion for business.

[villarrealsj]

Originally Posted by Bored

Yea, sorry to rant on the quote which is headlining your blog, but I really don't like that quote. What separates great minds from one another is their difference.

Assuming your a business man, you are using that quote in a business context. Do you really think that a successful entrepreneur thought just like everyone else? If great minds thought alike, wouldn't they just be normal minds?



Sorry, my passion for philosophy is as big as my passion for business.

Thanks..... I still like that quote.