CHICAGO — Asked about their goals for the New Year, nearly 58% of dry cleaners responding to this month’s Wire survey say they’ve made resolutions regarding changes to their business and personal lives. Roughly 32% haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions, and the remaining 10.5% answered, “Not yet.”
Many experienced some degree of success in meeting their 2012 goals, according to the survey results. A vast majority of cleaners polled (68.4%) said they met “some” of their goals last year, and 15.8% said they had met “all of our goals.” Just 5.3% reported they did not meet their goals, while 10.5% didn’t set any goals last year.
What about goals for 2013? Raising prices and/or cutting costs is the No. 1 business priority this year for 31.6% of respondents. Roughly 26% want to attract new customers, and 21.1% wish to explore extra services or new opportunities. Another 15.8% plan to add or update equipment. Just 5.3% consider sprucing up their store to be their top business goal.
Asked to name their “No. 1 personal priority for 2013,” 42.1% say they will try to lose weight or improve their fitness, and 26.3% want to get organized. Roughly 11% want to quit smoking/drinking, and 5.3% wish to spend more time with family. A couple of respondents say their personal priority this year is to prepare for retirement.
Many dry cleaners who were polled are optimistic about meeting their personal and professional goals. Nearly 58% say there’s a “good chance” they will succeed, 26.3% say there’s a “50/50 chance,” and 15.8% say “there’s no doubt” they will achieve their goals.
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—delivered twice weekly—are invited to take a brief industry survey anonymously online each month. All dry cleaners are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define opinions and industry trends.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].