Why Your Laundromat Should Sell Merch (and Why You Shouldn’t Panic if It Shows Up in a Crime Report)

At Wash Bar, we’ve learned that laundromat merchandise isn’t just “extra,” it’s a legitimate profit center and a brand-building machine.

We started small, selling Wash Bar-labeled laundry bags in a variety of colors. But here’s the twist: we only release a new color each quarter. This creates a sense of urgency and keeps people coming back. It worked so well that we now have more than 100 customers who own every color we’ve ever offered. That’s several thousand bags sold… and counting.

Here’s the wild part: I can go to Aldi, Walmart, or even the local farmers market and almost always spot one of our handled laundry bags being used for something other than laundry, carrying groceries, hauling stuff to the park, even doubling as a picnic tote.

And yes… I’ve also seen our bags pop up in social media screenshots from local thefts. Some business owners might freak out about their brand being tied to a “perp walk.” Not me. I love it! Why? Because it creates buzz. And as any politician or movie star will tell you, “any publicity is good publicity.”

Those laundry bags alone add thousands of dollars to our bottom line every quarter. That’s right - selling laundry bags is a legitimate revenue stream.

The Next Big Merch Play: T-Shirts

This fall, we’re adding T-shirts to the mix. We already print custom shirts for our staff each quarter, and the number of requests we get from customers for their own Wash Bar shirts is unreal. People ask on our website, Facebook, and even in the store every week.

Here’s the math:

• Order 100+ shirts and you can get a quality tee for under $4
• Full-color, front-and-back printing runs about $1.50
• That’s a $5 total cost per shirt
• We sell them for $10—a screaming deal for customers

Not only do we make money, but we also create walking billboards all over town. And on special occasions, I’ll give away 100 shirts for free. People will literally fight over them. Makes no sense… but it works.

Crazy Publicity? Ask Joe Exotic

If you had Netflix during the COVID lockdowns, you probably ended up watching Tiger King at some point. One of my stores is just a few miles from Joe Exotic’s wildlife park. In the documentary, Joe often wore a ball cap from Seth Wadley, a local dealership in our town.

No one from the dealership will go on record, but a credible source told me (while I was getting my oil changed) that the Netflix series caused them to sell over 10,000 of those hats. That’s the power of unexpected publicity.

So who knows? Maybe one day someone will rob a bank in a Wash Bar shirt and the meme will go viral. Could be the best “accidental” ad campaign ever.

The Takeaway for Laundromat Owners

Selling merch isn’t just about making a few extra bucks. Done right, it turns customers into brand ambassadors. Create merch with your logo in a catchy color. Change it up regularly to keep it collectible. Dedicate a small section of your store to it.

You’ll make money, you’ll get exposure, and you’ll build a brand that people actually want to be seen with. 

Merch: it’s not just for rock bands anymore.