Content about Market research

CHICAGO — Sixty percent of respondents to American Laundry News’ final Wire survey for 2012 said their laundry’s poundage this year was “somewhat higher” in comparison to 2011 figures.

For everyone else who took the unscientific online survey, their 2012 throughput was at or below 2011 levels. Thirty percent reported processing “virtually the same amount,” and the remaining 10% lamented processing “much less.”

Total estimated production for 2012 ranged by operation from 600,000 pounds to 14 million pounds, according to these anonymous responses.

Operators whose production rose attributed it primarily to gaining institutional business or increasing total accounts (71.4%); adding, replacing or rebuilding equipment (14.3%); expanding a facility or relocating to a larger site (14.3%); and/or “other” (14.3%). (Respondents could choose any or all among several suggested factors or offer their own.)

Why did some operations fall short of annual goals or expectations this year? A slowing or loss of business due to the economy, staff productivity, maintenance efforts, administrative indifference or lack of support, and regulatory changes all were seen as receiving some of the blame, according to respondents.

Finally, respondents were asked how they thought their boss would grade their 2012 managerial performance. Half believed they would receive a B (50%), while 40% said they would receive an A. The less-than-sunny remainder (10%) said they would receive an F.

The Wire survey presents a snapshot of readers’ viewpoints at a particular moment but should not be considered scientific.

Subscribers to Wire e-mails—distributed twice weekly—are invited to take a brief industry survey anonymously online each month. All managers and administrators of institutional/OPL, cooperative, commercial and industrial laundries are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define operator opinions and industry trends.

CHICAGO — Many managers and operators polled in this month’s AmericanLaundryNews.com Wire survey place great importance on continuing education, based on the number who said they have received training or certification or have attended educational sessions.

Asked to classify their industry knowledge, 44% of respondents say they are extremely knowledgeable (12%) or more knowledgeable than other managers or operators (32%).

Twenty-four percent say they are as knowledgeable as other managers or operators. Another 24% say they’re knowledgeable but “need to brush up on a few things.” Eight percent of respondents say they are too busy running their operation to spend time learning about the industry.

Half of the respondents have attended a training program or certification program specific to laundry/linen or textile services management, and 72% have attended or participated in an industry-related educational session (association conference, convention seminar, webinar, service seminar, etc.).

Roughly 47% are planning to attend or participate in an educational session in the next year, while 22.4% are not. The remaining 30.6% are unsure.

When respondents were asked to pick an area they’d like to learn more about, there was no clear favorite. Energy conservation was the leader at 20%. Three categories—laundry chemistry, labor management, and operating costs—tied at 16% each. Sales and marketing was just behind at 14%.

There was another three-way tie between maintenance, different types of equipment, and “other,” each of which garnered 6% of the votes.

Thirty-four percent of survey respondents are planning to attend the 2013 Clean Show, which will offer a wide-ranging agenda of educational seminars. Fifty-four percent are not planning to attend, and the remaining 12% are undecided.

While the Wire survey presents a snapshot of readers’ viewpoints at a particular moment, it should not be considered scientific.

Subscribers to Wire e-mails—distributed twice weekly—are invited to take a brief industry survey anonymously online each month. All managers and administrators of institutional/OPL, cooperative, commercial and industrial laundries are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define operator opinions and industry trends.

To sign up for the Wire, click the “Subscriptions” button at the top right-hand corner of this page and follow the instructions.

CHICAGO – Summer usually brings stormy weather and sometimes flooding, which can cause consternation for the laundry manager or textile rental operator who has to cope with a power outage, blocked road, or another obstacle to keep his or her laundry running.

CHICAGO — When asked to compare their laundry’s poundage this year to its 2007 throughput, more than 60% of those who responded to the final Wire survey of 2008 said it was “much higher than anticipated” (12.9%) or “somewhat higher than anticipated” (48.4%).

Approximately 19% reported processing “somewhat less than anticipated,” 12.9% reported processing “virtually the same as anticipated,” and the remaining 6.5% lamented processing “much less than anticipated.”

CHICAGO — Whether you believe the United States is in recession or not, there are many signs of economic weakening. A sizable majority of respondents to this month’s Wire survey say the sluggish U.S. economy has adversely impacted their laundry/linen operation or textile rental services business in the last 12 months.