From the Dependability People commercial Volume 51 Number 3 Award-winning Philadelphia Maytag-equipped laundry serves diverse neighborhoods. Store Owner Tommy Chan with Equipment Marketers Bruce Rainey. Visit mclaundry.com for digital brochures or for more information visit our website at MaytagCommercialLaundry.com
Cover Story Tommy Chan comes from a long line of extended family members who over the years have owned several Maytag-equipped laundries in the Philadelphia area. 2 MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER
Cover Story Tommy s Laundromat opened at the peak of the Great Recession that pushed unemployment rates to near record levels. But the owner is seeing signs of revitalization and remains positive for the long-term success of his newest and largest store. Tommy Chan s newest Maytag-equipped selfservice laundry is located in Northeast Philadelphia, across from the city s largest and most historic public school, Northeast High School. The student population totals nearly 4,000. The school was founded in 1892. While most of these high school students don t use our services themselves, a lot of their families do, said Chan. It s really quite a sight to see this neighborhood fill with energy and life when the bell rings signaling the end of the school day. Chan comes from a long and distinguished line of Chineseheritage self-serve store owners in the Greater Philadelphia area. Counting my very active mother, cousins, aunts and uncles, our family operates several laundromats currently and nearly all of them are equipped with Maytag washers and dryers. The stores operate independently but Chan says different family owners sometimes work together to purchase supplies in bulk. We re big fans of Maytag and Equipment Marketers, the Maytag Commercial Laundry Distributor serving the area, he added. The relationship was established back in the 1970s when my parents opened their first self-serve laundry. He teamed with Equipment Marketers Bruce Rainey to design and equip his newest store. I count Bruce as a personal friend and he and I spent a lot of time driving the streets and looking for a prospective location for a laundromat, Chan said. I can t say enough good things about how Bruce and the Equipment Marketers team have helped me and the family over the years. They know every aspect of the business. Chan finally settled on a location across from the high school after studying traffic patterns and MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER 3
Cover Story calculating the number of potential customers in the immediate area. He acquired a free-standing former convenience store property and immediately began an extensive renovation of the 3,500-sq.-ft. building in 2009, which included raising the building s then-existing low roof. The result is a modern, first-rate building, one the entire neighborhood takes pride in, said Chan. It is highly energy efficient, including extensive use of LED lighting, and is surrounded by an off-street private parking area that is easily accessible by customers. Chan says many customers simply walk to the store from nearby residences and apartment buildings. This neighborhood consists of middle-class families, a melting-pot of ethnic backgrounds, he noted. Apartments, condos and multifamily housing units dominate the area. Many of the residents have been hard-hit by the financial crisis but Chan is seeing signs of improvement. Many of the nearby apartment buildings offer laundry rooms but most are equipped with out-of-date, worn out washers and dryers that are often not working or have performance issues. We see a great opportunity to entice these people into using our new store, he said. It ll take time but I m confident this store will be highly successful in the years to come. There are two competing selfserve laundries within a mile of Tommy s Laundromat. Both offer free drying but Chan has opted not to match this. These stores are older and primarily offer smaller, top-load machines, he said. With our new efficient multi-load Maytag washers and dryers and amenities such as free wireless Internet, snack and soft-drink vending machines, flat screen TV monitors, We re absolutely dedicated to keeping this store spotlessly clean and in peak operating condition. Tommy Chan Tommy s Laundromat features a long list of amenities, including drop-off laundry service offered at 75 cents a pound. The store is fully attended. drop-off laundry service, easy in-and-out access, knowledgeable attendants, competitive pricing and much more, we can compete with anyone. Fully attended, the store had its official opening in September of 2010. Chan offered free detergent to all customers for the first three months. In addition he promoted the opening with advertising and the distribution of flyers door-todoor throughout the area with the offer of free detergent. Store hours currently are 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. 4 MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER
Cover Story Maytag multi-load washers in 18-, 30-, 50- and 80-lb. capacities dominate the equipment mix. The efficient store layout provides customers with plenty of space to load and unload the washers, even during peak times. MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER 5
Cover Story daily. Saturdays and Sundays are generally the laundry s busiest days. Drop-off laundry service is available at 75 cents a pound, a business segment showing good growth. The attendants handle the wash/dry/fold service and all tracking and billing is handled professionally with a computerized system. Chan is a big supporter of the neighborhoods in which he operates, believing that his business will prosper if neighbors have good feelings toward him and the employees. We re absolutely dedicated to keeping our stores spotlessly clean and the equipment in peak operating condition. We go out of our way to make certain new customers understand how to operate the Maytag washers and Equipment Marketers, the Maytag Distributor serving the area, has worked with Chan family members since the 1970s. We re very proud of this long-term relationship. Bruce Rainey dryers and to recognize the cost benefits of using the large-capacity, energy-efficient machines. The attendants are specially trained to demonstrate to customers how to get the most for time and dollars using the card payment system instead of coins. The system consists of individual card readers installed on each machine and two Value Transfer Machines (VTMs) located near the front of the store. The VTMs feature 15-inch color touch-screen monitors with tri-lingual voice and screen instructions. The VTMs allow customers to either purchase No need for quarters at Tommy s Laundromat. All of the Maytag washers and dryers are activated using a smart card system, allowing for easier operation and greater customer convenience. 6 MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER
Cover Story or add value to their cards using cash or credit/debit cards. The card system saves customers the hassle of having to put so many quarters in the machines and it helps us move to a more advanced and computerized way of bookkeeping, Chan explained. The store features five Maytag 80-lb. washers priced at $8.85 ($9.25 Super Cycle); ten Maytag 50-lb. washers at $5.85 ($6.25 Super Cycle); seventeen Maytag 30-lb. washers at $3.85 ($4.25 Super Cycle); twenty-one Maytag 18-lb. washers at $2.45 ($2.75 Super Cycle); five Maytag 45-lb. stack dryers at $0.80 for 10 minutes of dry time; and twenty-three Maytag 30-lb. stack dryers at $0.35 for 10 minutes of dry time. Tommy s Laundromat has been honored by Equipment Marketers in its annual Most Beautiful Maytag Coin Laundry contest for its customers. Chan was recognized with an engraved plaque and a laundry cart filled with name-brand merchandise, including a Maytag clock, rugs and neon signs. Congratulations! US Capital Corporation provided equipment financing assistance for this project. The Maytag Mix 21 17 10 5 23 5 Maytag 18-lb. Washers: $2.45 a load ($2.75 Super Cycle) Maytag 30-lb. Washers: $3.85 a load ($4.25 Super Cycle) Maytag 50-lb. Washers: $5.85 a load ($6.25 Super Cycle) Maytag 80-lb. Washers: $8.85 a load ($9.25 Super Cycle) Maytag 30-lb. Stack Dryers 35 for 10 minutes of dry time Maytag 45-lb. Stack Dryers 80 for 10 minutes of dry time MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER 7
New Maytag MHN30 Washer MODEL MHN30PD Cut utility costs and maximize profits with THE NEW Maytag ENERGY ADVANTAGE high-efficiency front-load washer. MODEL MHN30PR Consortium for Energy Efficiency ENERGY STAR Qualified Maytag ENERGY ADVANTAGE high-efficiency front-load washers can save you up to 60% yearly on water, energy and sewer costs. * 2011 CEE Tier III Rated Maytag MHN30 washers are 2011 CEE Tier III rated, the highest level of energy and water efficiency, according to the nonprofit Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). 5-Year Parts Warranty Maytag s exclusive extra-protection 5-year limited warranty ** on all parts is the best in the business and it provides added peace of mind for your equipment investment. **See warranty for complete details. MODEL MHN30 Key Features: Save up to 60% yearly on water, energy and sewer costs compared to conventional top-load washers. * High-speed extraction cuts drying time (as high as 1,000 RPMs). 180 door opening for easier loading and unloading. Quick Cycle reduces total wash time. TurboWash System delivers better cleaning with less average water use per cycle. Front control panel with 22 angle for easy viewing. Design meets ADA accessibility guidelines with optional pedestal. ENERGY STAR qualified and CEE Tier III rated. Available in coin and card reader options. * May tag Commercial front-load washer compared to commercial top-load washer. Individual savings may vary. 8 MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER
New Maytag Stack Washer/Dryer Introducing the ultimate laundry pair Tight on space? Go vertical! The all-new Maytag stack washer/dryer delivers the same energy efficiency and capacity as our side-by-side units. The sleek, compact design takes up half the floor space as a conventional washer and dryer pair so you can double your profit potential. Available in microprocessor coin-drop and card reader-ready payment systems, the Maytag stack washer/dryer is certain to change the way you look at laundry. Energy Star qualified and CEE Tier III rated. Saves up to 60% * on energy costs. Ultra-convenient supply dispenser automatically adds detergent, bleach and softener. Time-saving Quick Cycle. 180º door opening for easier loading and unloading. Heavy-duty door hinge. Single payment system; available in coin-drop or card reader-ready. Convenient, front serviceable design. Factory-installed pedestal. Easy-to-use Computer Trac controls provide unsurpassed pricing flexibility. MODEL MLG20PD STACK WASHER/DRYER * May tag Commercial front-load washer compared to commercial top-load washer. Individual savings may vary. MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER 9
Maytag Commercial Laundry Signs & Decals NEED SIGNS? Interior Wall Signs and Machine Decals Prevent Over-Sudsing Decal CMLP061A - English/Spanish Maytag H.E. Front-Load Use Wall Sign 24" x 36" CMLP155A - English Maytag Front-Load H.E. Detergent Usage Instruction Sign 24" x 24" CMLP083 - English CMLP086 - Spanish Maytag MHN30 Front-Load Washer Top of Machine Instruction Decal 21" x 6" ML110025 - English/Spanish ML110032 - English/French Maytag H.E. Front-Load Washer Instruction Sign 23" x 23" ML100128A - English ML100140A - Spanish Maytag Front-Load Washer Instruction Sign 23" x 23" ML100089A - English ML100117A - Spanish Maytag Top-Load Washer Instruction Sign 23" x 23" ML100154A - English ML100195A - Spanish Maytag Multi-Load Dryer Instruction Sign 23" x 23" ML110013A - English ML110014A - Spanish Exterior Signs, Channel Letters and Window Display Signs Channel Letters Interior Illuminated Window Display Signs Additional signs and decals available Contact your Maytag Commercial Laundry Distributor for more information and pricing. Single-Face Flush Wall Mount or Double-Face Pole Mount Exterior Signs 10 MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER
Maytag Multi-Load Factory Rebates Load up on savings with rebates up to $600.00 on Maytag multi-load equipment. Enjoy superior efficiency and profitability. With our multi-load washers and dryers, you can get up to $600.00 back. Rebates vary by product model type. See your distributor for details. Hurry, offer ends soon! MAYTAG COMMERCIAL MERCHANDISER 11
To find the independent Maytag Commercial Laundry Distributor serving your area, visit MaytagCommercialLaundry.com and click the Distributor Locator link. See Maytag Commercial Laundry at the Clean Show Booth #2721 in Las Vegas June 6-9, 2011! Financing as low as 3.99% Fixed * on Maytag Commercial LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT Now is a great time to upgrade to new Maytag Commercial washers and dryers. Act now for low fixed rate financing, the best warranty in the business and significant utility savings that can put more money in your pocket month after month. Limited Time Contact your local Maytag Commercial Laundry Distributor or call U.S. Capital Corporation at 1-866-374-0722 for complete details. * Rates are effective through June 2011. 3.99% Fixed for 12-month term. 24-, 36-, 48-, 60-, 72-, 84- and 96-month terms available. Offer subject to change without notice. Subject to credit approval. Rates may vary depending upon individual credit profile. Additional restrictions may apply. Published by Maytag for owners of Maytag Commercial Laundry equipment in the United States, Canada and foreign countries. For further information or address changes, write Froehlich Communications, Inc., 309 Court Avenue, Suite 234, Des Moines, IA 50309. Registered Trademark/ Trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.