Coronavirus Impact on the Laundry Industry
The pandemic has caused a number of issues within the laundry and dry cleaning industry. Most noticeably, production of small chassis laundry equipment has lengthened to a 6-month delivery. While large chassis, commercial equipment has moved to an 8-12 week window, possibly longer, at this time. Delays with regards to labor and raw material sourcing has affected every manufacturer and product line. That said, we work diligently to reduce lead times as much as possible.
Your patience is certainly appreciated and won't go unnoticed.
Major Issues and Our Plan
- Problem: Production Window
- T & L Approach: We work with you individually to determine the best solution for your situation. Whether it's getting creative with facility design or rearranged current layouts, there's usually a solution we can come up with that will meet your schedule. Don't let manufacturer lead times deter you from your goals. Just give us a call, and we'll work through the details together.
- Problem: Increased Building/Renovation Costs
- T & L Approach: There is no hiding the fact that raw building materials are 2 and 3 times their historical average cost. Many customers have expressed concerns about the cost of renovations and builds. As a matter of fact, we've heard that other equipment/service providers are even advising clients not to invest at this time. While it's true input costs are up, it's also true that many companies and industries are thriving. So we're not going to advise you not to invest unless it's very risky. Instead, we'll work on a design/layout/footprint that makes sense from today's perspective. We'll make sure you have room to grow and scale your operations such that you're ready to leverage market changes rather than be crushed by them or miss the opportunity. And should the situation call for cleaning power to the max, now, we'll be ready to build out the most effective solution for your space. Teamwork makes the dream work!
- Problem: Replacement Parts
- T & L Approach: it's true, some replacement parts are very hard to come by at the moment. However, there are a number of channels and vendors we work with to get you back up and running as quickly as possible.
- Problem: What-if's and Paralysis
- T & L Approach: We are here. Things have changed. What are we going to do about that? For us, it's simple. Costs could come down at some point in time so we make sure not to over invest. On the other hand, costs may never actually come down because of fixed inputs (permanent increase in wages, for example). One thing 5 decades of business has taught us is that there are times of boom and times of uncertainty. Sometimes, like now, it's both. So don't get caught being greedy and don't be scared to invest in yourself. Sure, the world has changed. But, all in all, the things that used to work will continue: hard work, excellent customer service, smart investing, opportunism, etc.
