Coin Laundry start-up

March 15, 2005 3:44 AM

I'm considering starting a coin laundry business. Can I have some suggestions for a good name? (It would be in Australia, so international pre-established names A-OK) Also has anyone here been in the business? Pitfalls, potential?

Also - it would be one of those kind that have comfy sofas and a nice big TV.

posted by Dag Maggot to work & money (36 comments total)

LUV 2 LAUNDER_TM
posted by shoos at 3:54 AM on March 15, 2005

"sit and spin"
posted by handee at 4:03 AM on March 15, 2005

Actually, I've just googled, and there is a "sit and spin" launderette. And I thought I was being original and facetious. Damn!
posted by handee at 4:05 AM on March 15, 2005

Coindexter.
posted by eatcherry at 4:17 AM on March 15, 2005

The key to making money in this business is being, or partnering with, a very competent washer-dryer maintenance and repair person. This lets you buy your equipment second-hand and not become dependent upon the predatory leasing-and-maintenance companies.
posted by MattD at 4:38 AM on March 15, 2005

Lounge Lizard Laundry
Filth Factory
Spin City
My Little Red Laundrette
Laundramatic
The Agitator
Pegged Out

I could go on...but it might become a soap opera
posted by peacay at 5:39 AM on March 15, 2005

There used to be a Sit and Spin in Seattle but it closed down. It was great because you could do your laundry and then hang out in the cafe and play old board games. Later they introduced live music (yeah, very Seattle). I took a blind date there once.

More in line with the original question, I always enjoyed pronouncing out loud the sign I would see in laundromats in NYC and SF: "Ultima Labada." It sounded very gloomy and fantastic.
posted by matildaben at 5:40 AM on March 15, 2005

Pleeper's Launderama !!!
posted by Witty at 5:42 AM on March 15, 2005

"Air One's - the Dirty Laundry"

(And show skin flicks on your big TV.)

By the way, it would be cool if you could get machines that lock like lockers until the customer returns with the key. Then people could wander off and not worry too much about their stuff. (And if they come back late, it charges them for it.)

Or maybe they already have stuff like that everywhere -- I haven't been in a coin-op in years.

Alternatively -- you could make a lot of money running a cafe/laundry in which customers could watch their laundry through a window as they spent even more money buying your coffee and cakes (or beer or...). The key to your service would be offering customers a clear view of the machines (and plenty of refreshments) without them having to sit in a hot, noisy laundry.

A different system could have numbers on a board in the cafe next door that light up when machines stop. You have a drink and wait for your numbers to start showing up. (You could even play bingo with the same light board!)
posted by pracowity at 5:47 AM on March 15, 2005

"My Beautiful Laundrette"

In Long Island, New York, such places (we call 'em "Laundromats" in the States) have attendants. The attendants run wash-and-fold service, where you leave stuff for washing and pay by weight. They do an ordinary wash and fold stuff (or put on hangers), while they are there to prevent vandalism and handle minor problems for customers.
posted by Goofyy at 5:50 AM on March 15, 2005

WashMatic
posted by madman at 5:51 AM on March 15, 2005

Here in Dallas, there is a combination laundromat/bar called "Bar Of Soap." You can do your laundry and drink a few beers. Oh, and play Galaga. They have a Galaga machine. I always liked that name.
posted by TeamBilly at 5:52 AM on March 15, 2005

Good laundromat names I have seen in the US:

The Mat
Duds 'n Suds
That Missing Sock (see also, self link)
posted by werty at 6:05 AM on March 15, 2005

There's a place downstairs from my friend's apartment here in NYC called "Laundrobot", which I have always considered an excellent laundromat name.
posted by saladin at 6:05 AM on March 15, 2005

The Lost Sock
posted by Livewire Confusion at 6:28 AM on March 15, 2005

As I've sort of mentioned before, I've always wanted to start a laundromat called "The Vortex."
posted by schoolgirl report at 6:46 AM on March 15, 2005

I second TeamBilly: locating next to a bar is good. I fondly remember drunken laundry night in college.
posted by mbd1mbd1 at 6:57 AM on March 15, 2005

MetaFilter
posted by SPrintF at 7:13 AM on March 15, 2005

Here in Dallas, there is a combination laundromat/bar called "Bar Of Soap." You can do your laundry and drink a few beers. Oh, and play Galaga. They have a Galaga machine. I always liked that name.

There's a similar establishment here called the Soapbox. At this point I think the laundry part is a small fraction of total revenue.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 7:18 AM on March 15, 2005

I walk past Laundrobot all the time.

I don't chill at the laundromat while my clothes are going, though. If someone wants to steal my boxers, they're welcome to them - meanwhile I'll be back at my apartment relaxing, eating, using the computer, or whatever.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 7:22 AM on March 15, 2005

I used to do my laundry at a place called "Bubbles 'n Beans" that had a full service coffee bar, big screen TV and a couch. It was worth the extra quarter or two it cost for the wash.

Another place I liked was "18 Minute Wash" which really did only take 18 minutes to do a load of wash. Plus, the machines were front loaders and did a great job washing the clothes.

Near where I work is a place called "Harvey Washbangers", I have never been there though.

I think that the name is important, but more important is a CLEAN place, with reliable machines. Also, if there is something good to do while you wait (TV, internet, drinks, excercise machines) you might be able to draw loyal customers.
posted by jonah at 7:44 AM on March 15, 2005

Where I used to live in Montreal, there was a laundromat/cybercafé. I have no idea whether it made money, but it struck me as the best idea ever.

The laundromat I go to now has beer and pool tables.

I can't remember the names of either at the moment, which perhaps proves that computers/beer/pool are better advertising than a name.
posted by Jeanne at 7:57 AM on March 15, 2005

Goofyy, you may be interested to know that there is a "My Beautiful Laundrette" in Naples, Italy.
posted by teleskiving at 7:58 AM on March 15, 2005

Dag Maggot's Frikin' Awsome Space Laundry!

Sani-Laundry, where you will not catch the herpes

The Ironic "Laundry"

Your Mother Is Sad That You Do Not Own Your Own Appliances Yet
posted by Capn at 8:02 AM on March 15, 2005

I'm sure The Spin Cycle's been used. Or there's The Gentle Cycle, for those who are scared of rough and rowdy hard core laundromats. Or The Rough and Tumble Dry, for those who are bored with soft and sissified upscale laundromats...

How about Suds? Or Froth? Lather? (Läther? I would go to a Frank-Zappa-themed laundromat, but I may be the only one.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:21 AM on March 15, 2005

Dirty Business
posted by madamjujujive at 8:25 AM on March 15, 2005

Wishy Washy
Dirt2Clean
Suds n' Studs
Suds n' Duds (gf's suggestion)
Lazy Laundry
Spin Psycho
Sit n' Sud
Loose Undies
Down Unders
Sofa So Good
Clothes spin (or any variation of)
Bubble Wash
Laundry Lounge
Loungin' Laundry
The Lavatoir
The Permanent Press
Wrikles
I've Had Enough of your Sheets
Full of Sheets
Clean Sheet (ok, I'll stop)
Tumble Times
Rough and Tumble
Down Under Delicates
Delicious Delicates
Soaked 'n Suds
Clean Concience
Laundrymate
Do Not Irony


My personal favs are The Lavatoir and Spin Psycho

Slogans:
"a place to air your dirty laundry"
"Brought to you by the Wishy Washy washing machine Makers of Walla Walla, Washington" (god I love Buggs Bunny)
posted by furtive at 8:58 AM on March 15, 2005

'Rette Butler
posted by timyang at 9:06 AM on March 15, 2005

Dr. Wellington's House of Sanitation (a real classy joint)
Down Underoo's
Monkey Shines! (logo is a sparkling money)
Come Clean
Smudgy's (logo is a cute, dirty kid)
The Cleen Masheen
Spick and Span
Vege-Mighty Clean
The Cleanery
The Sanitarium
Suds McSheen (logo could be a sparkling Irish guy with a bubbly, soapy pint in hand)
Mr. Sparkle's
The Wash Pit
Hellbient's Laundrette (if you name it this, I will visit and cut your ribbon at your grand opening!)

good luck!
posted by hellbient at 9:48 AM on March 15, 2005

Hell Bent for Lather (working off of Hellbient's nick)
posted by furtive at 10:48 AM on March 15, 2005

I've always wondered if a Laundromat+cybercafe/bar/correhouse/whatever does significantly better than a laundromat alone. Seems that laundry is just long enough to want to leave, but just short enough to not really have any time to do anything while it's going.

Oh, and "Machine Wash Warm", "Suds & Suds" (beer), "My Favorite Laundromat" (if it has extras), "Mom's" (could serve food as part of schtick).

On preview: I like "Hell Bent for Lather!"
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 10:56 AM on March 15, 2005

W.A.S.H.
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 11:57 AM on March 15, 2005

hehe, the W.A.S.H. one is good too. My gf want's me to suggest Dr. Bubbles. The logo could be a monkey with a bubble pipe or similar, maybe with his tail doing laundry on a washboard.

The rollerskates go without saying.
posted by furtive at 12:40 PM on March 15, 2005

Hell Bent for Lather
heh, good one. not sure if it's close enough to warrent a trip for me, though. I'm not that big in Australia anyway...

on postview, I said:
Monkey Shines! (logo is a sparkling money)
that's monkey - I'd hate for you to waste a bunch of dough on a sparkling money sign.

One thing I've learned here: monkeys are synonymous with cleanliness.
posted by hellbient at 1:34 PM on March 15, 2005

There's actually already a "My Beautiful Laundrette" in Australia (specifically, on King Street in Newtown, Sydney). Great name.
posted by web-goddess at 2:42 PM on March 15, 2005

Thanks - lots of great names. Hell Bent for Lather wins for sheer creativity, but I also like the quirky playfulness of Mr. Confusion's "The Lost Sock" Third place definitely goes to Capn's "Dag Maggot's Frikin' Awsome Space Laundry!"
posted by Dag Maggot at 4:58 PM on March 15, 2005