https://youtu.be/YXyIox0s2Ik?si=JL4KtKEGZ35LnmI7
Transcript
A:
Hong Kong is renowned for its use of land at maximum efficiency. With the rise of 24-hour self-service laundry shops, the traditional laundry industry is facing decline.
I am Henry, and here with me is Hazel. Can you discuss why this decline is occurring? (compare) And how can we tell the industry is headed toward extinction? (data)
B:
[Yes.]
The traditional laundry industry is facing major challenges that are causing it to vanish over time.
[First of all,]
Young people are unwilling to join the industry due to low wages and demanding work. The existing aging workforce is experiencing high turnover as competition makes it hard to retain staff.
Work and consumption patterns are also shifting away from what supported traditional laundries. More people work from home and buy fewer clothes, reducing demand for dry cleaning and professional laundry services. Changes in formality of dress codes and rise of fast fashion have likewise diminished needs served by laundries.—
A:
[And]
Production costs are high for traditional plant-based operations while profits are low. Stringent environmental regulations have further increased operating expenses.
B:
[You’re right.]
As a result, many traditional laundry operators can no longer sustain their businesses due to these cost pressures. They are being replaced by 24-hour self-service laundromats which address many of the issues. By removing human labor from the process, they have much lower operating costs and wages. Location costs are also reduced by operating smaller storefronts. The do-it-yourself model is more appealing to busy independent younger consumers. It offers flexibility to customers who can now do loads at any time without relying on laundry drop-off/pick-up schedules.
A:[agree]
[Yeah, despite its ongoing recession nowadays, we all know that the traditional laundry industry was once very prosperous.]
Hong Kong is a small place with a narrow living environment.The emergence of the laundry industry has brought convenience to different citizens and businesses.
The laundry industry is one of the traditional industries in Hong Kong, with a history of more than a hundred years.It originated from domestic workers providing laundry services at Sai Yee Street in Mong Kok.It later evolved into shops and factories providing laundry services to the general public, as well as commercial and industrial customers.
[purpose]
In the past, traditional laundromats served an important purpose for both residential and commercial customers. They provided laundry services for those who did not have access to washing machines at home or in their buildings. This included many individuals living in smaller homes or apartments as well as hotels, hospitals and other businesses.
B:
[right.]
Traditional laundromats employed teams of laundry workers who operated the machines, sorted items and provided finishing services like ironing. This allowed customers, especially businesses, to outsource what would otherwise be a labor-intensive in-house function. Traditional laundromats handled both basic laundering as well as specialty cleaning for items like drapes, tablecloths or uniforms that required particular treatment.
A:
In the present, while some traditional laundromats still exist, their purpose has evolved due to changes in consumer needs, behaviors and rising costs as outlined earlier. Fewer residential customers lack washing capabilities at home now. Commercial clients have also reduced volumes as work-from-home increases and uniforms/formal attire decline.
B:
[That’s true.]
While traditional laundromats still aim to provide professional cleaning services, their core purpose now centers more around commercial accounts like hotels and healthcare facilities that maintain large linen/uniform needs. However, even these clients are consolidating suppliers to reduce costs. So the long-term purpose and viability of traditional operations is facing pressures.
A:
[Facing this situation, Who (you think)will be affected when it no longer exists? What would be their feelings and attitudes toward this?]
B:
[Well, naturally ]
Laundry owners are those who will be affected the most. Facing job losses and losing the businesses they’ve spent years building up, their quality of life will likely decline at least temporarily. Beyond just lost incomes, they will mourn the connections and relationships formed with customers and staff over the long careers in the industry. It will take time to adjust to this significant change through retraining, job searching and rebuilding new networks.
This applies similarly to the customer. The customer might lost relationships with a specific laundry store, or they might face difficulties to find a similarly skilled person to handle their clothes.
A:
[Yes, I believe that ]
Customers, especially commercial clients, will miss the personalized service and trust developed with their long-time laundry providers. Those who appreciate high-quality finishing may find it inconvenient to locate similarly skilled workers, as fewer people are joining the industry or receiving training.
With dwindling options for traditional laundering services, they may have no choice but to adapt to self-service models instead. There will doubtless be mixed feelings of sadness, resistance to change and hope for successful new beginnings.
B:
[Is there anything being done about traditional laundry’s impending disappearance?]
A:
[The society and the government have been seeking solutions for a while. According to different research, ]
Digitalisation of their business is a major approach for the owner to escape the fate of vanishing. Through online platforms or app, they allow customers to get information like prices and services anytime they want, and also offer online payment and also clothes tracking services. Work together with logistics companies, customers can now get their clothes washed with just a few press on their phone, anytime, anywhere.
B:
Also, using more energy efficient machines can increase competitiveness in this market. Laundromats are faced with the pressure of increasing costs. To address the issue at its roots, replacement of electric washing and drying equipment, as well as other energy-saving products is recommended, in order to reduce energy costs of daily operations, improving overall energy efficiency, and providing a safer working environment for staff. Additionally, as eco-friendly laundry is gaining traction, toxic or polluting detergents and chemicals should be avoided, and energy-saving technology and techniques should be utilised; reducing both costs and environmental damage.
A:
Advertising with social media platforms is helpful as well.
Not only could traditional laundromats improve their mode of operation and technology, they could broaden public outreach as well. Advertising campaigns could be carried out on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and WeChat, to garner public interest and increase profits.
B:
During the pandemic, laundry shops also need to seek more diversified development opportunities. Sunshine has provided diversified services within unmanned laundry shops to attract more customers, including vending machines, and phone charger rental services for customers to use while waiting for their laundry. In 2020, it even partnered with a tea shop to open a laundry and tea beverage store, investing 1 million Hong Kong dollars. The business of this store is 30% to 40% higher compared to the average business of other laundry shops within the group.
A:
[It’s really brilliant!]
Pioneering the 24-hour self-service laundry format, Sunshine Laundry, is a prime example of successful laundry transformation in Hong Kong.24-hour self-service laundromats have become the mainstream in the laundry industry. In the near future, due to land constraints, the demand for washing machines may gradually decrease, replaced by people carrying bags of clothes at any time to the self-service laundromat downstairs for laundry.
B:
[From today’s talking, we can tell that ]
With continually rising rents and salaries in Hong Kong, most traditional laundromats may find it difficult to avoid the fate of vanishing. Nevertheless, their value to society will not be forgotten. While most traditional laundries will likely not endure, I believe that some may survive to uphold the standard of excellent laundry service. Despite the challenges of high operating costs, a few laundromats may adapt and persist and in doing so, help preserve the craft and definition of quality that these establishments have provided for years.
A:
While the industry overall is facing a sunset, there remains hope that a limited number of laundries can reinvent themselves sustainably and thereby prolong the tradition for discerning customers seeking their expertise going forward.
By Ma Ho Kong & Qiu Xiaoyuan