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Survey: Many Thankful Because Their Laundry Operations are Performing Well

CHICAGO — With Thanksgiving coming up, American Laundry News asked laundry managers this month to comment via the Wire survey on the things they are thankful for.

Nearly 93% agreed with the statement, “I’m thankful, because our operation is performing well,” while just 7.4% disagreed.

Equal shares of 44.4% either “completely agree” or “somewhat agree” that “our (end-users or clients) appreciate our services.” There were also equal shares of 3.7% that “neither agree nor disagree,” “somewhat disagree” and “completely disagree.”

Respondents’ positions on equipment were slightly more varied. As for “Our equipment works well, and isn’t a concern,” 44.4% “somewhat agree” with the statement while 33.3% “completely agree.” Equal shares of 11.1% “neither agree nor disagree” and “somewhat disagree.” No one who took the unscientific survey “completely” disagreed with the statement.

Survey-takers were asked how confident they were in next year being better for everyone. Thirty-seven percent of respondents “somewhat agree” that 2013 will be better for everyone. Approximately 26% “neither agree nor disagree,” 18.5% “completely disagree,” 14.8% “completely agree” and 3.7% “somewhat disagree.”

Practically everyone who took this month’s survey could identify his or her biggest “turkey,” or headache-causer. Nearly 26% selected the all-encompassing “other” category, with explanations that touched on the federal government, union contracts, and insurance “chaos.” One respondent says he/she does not “get ‘headaches’ from people or equipment.”

Others on the list of “turkeys” were equipment (22.2%), end-users or clients (18.5%), employee(s) (18.5%), management (11.1%) and equipment distributor (3.7%). No one singled out a chemicals supplier, textiles supplier, competitor(s), or government regulator.

Lastly, the survey invited respondents to name one aspect of their service for which they give thanks every day. Many replies related to personnel, but there were others, such as:

  • “That we have plenty of customers who come to us every day!”
  • “When the day has ended and everything was done in a timely manner.”
  • “Rehabilitation of the mentally ill, and providing high-quality linens during rehabilitation stay.”
  • “That we have a product that is in constant need, and it cannot be outsourced to another country.”

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.

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Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].