Fresh & Crisp Laundry and Dry cleaning

Front view

Here is another interesting story a young entrepreneur. 

The company Fresh & Crisp Laundry and Dry cleaning started November 2015  is doing tremendously well. Ik Obasi who hails from Abia state after quitting his job at a telecommunication company decided to set up a laundry and dry cleaning service.

Let’s hear him:

What inspired you?  Having applied for many jobs in the past whereby the attractive ones seem unreachable. Sometimes they will ask you (a job seeker) to pay a lump sum of money in order to secure a job you are not even sure of. After seeing all these and what youths suffer in the name of job seeking hence the desire and zeal to become a job creator burned inside of me. Even in that drive I was confused about what, where and how to start. First I began to study my environment on a wide range to identify a need that requires a solution. However I observed that we particularly need laundry & dry cleaning firm as there were only a few established ones. I thought to myself, why not start a laundry & Dry cleanings services? That was my turning point! My love for neatness, good and sharp looks also spurred me to start up one.

 How did you start? I arranged with someone who is in similar field. In his firm he tutored, guided and directed me on the nitty-gritty of the job. I had to watch the process, see them do it and I learnt. This lasted 2 to 3 days and that was it. The crux of the whole matter was starting my own company and that was November 2015. Next is creating awareness which is targeted at getting clients from my locality first.

What is your staff strength? When I started last November, I was doing all by myself. Then by December patronage started to increase. That was when I got one staff that was solely in charge of the ironing. Time later, I also got a receptionist for festive period to assist. But presently it’s just me, one staff and we are doing great.

What were the requirements?  These include and are not limited to:

·         Office or a space with backroom

·         Washing machine- Optional (can do manual for a start)

·         Furniture & Fittings

·         Painting

·         Fliers, banner etc.

·         Receipt booklet

·         Company registration @CAC

·         Built padded table for ironing

·         Cellophane bag for packaging

·         Hangers

·         Detergent

·         Water

·         Spreading area

·         Steam iron box

·         Fan or Air conditioner

·         Generator(optional for a start)

·         Etc.

What is the average startup cost? Well it depends on your area but it will not cost more than 400,000 naira. It can be lesser if you start in a compound first before moving into an office. If also you do a thorough manual wash before procuring washing machine, these will cut down the initial required capital. The main thing is to start and if you must, start from somewhere.

Please explain the process:  First I receive cloth from a client. This is followed by drafting a receipt indicating a 70% advance payment, details of the cloth and pick up date.

Tagging: After that I take a picture of the cloth or clothes transfer to the laptop, save against the client’s name and tag them. This is to for easy identification and to guard against sheer mix up.
Sorting: I sort clothes that have similar colors taking cognizance of the ones that run colors. Those are to be washed separately to avoid any cross contact.


How do you build your clientele?  Honestly speaking, it is not easy sourcing and maintaining clients especially at this on stage. This is because considering the fact that you are not the sole launderer and drycleaner domiciled in that area. In actual fact, competition is inevitable especially in the society where people are working so hard to earn a living.
With all these, I had to cut down my own price especially being a starter in the field to attract customers. When others charge N600 for a pair of suit and N400 for a shirt, mine became N500 and N300 respectively while maintaining my standard and excellence. This fetched me certain amount of clients who till date patronize my company and I ensure I render excellent customer service cum management, thanking them for their patronage while craving their indulgence them to call again.

What is your selling point?  Mostly in terms of pricing, I give discounts to new customers and also set a standard pick up time for 48 working hours. I tend to convince a prospective client and give them reason why they should patronize my company, assuring them on excellent services; prompt pick up/delivery, affordable services etc. I must say, those who did never regretted doing so as I keep getting recommendation.

At what margin do you make your profit and How has it been so far? Well for a starter like me, it’s quite impressive. The cost of washing suit is N300 or less and shirt is N150 so for a pair of suit and a shirt I make N200 and N150 respectively. So if I was 300 pair of suits and shirts in a month I will make N60, 000 and N45, 000 respectively totaled N105, 000.

What are your challenges so far?

·         Non steady patronage: Sometimes turn up will go up and down.  So my hands are on the desk mapping out means of attracting clients.

·         Low pricing: Prospective customers who have never tried your service may turn out to price you very low. What I do? I calm down and explain the modus operandi of washing suits, why the price differ, why it requires steaming instead of direct heating as in the case of shirts and others. By the time I finished narrating, they will be fully convinced and assured of the services I rendering.

·         Power outage: What I do is to time myself, work with and take advantage of the power supply in my area. So far the power outage is not frequent but few times it happens, I resort to the generator as a backup.

What is your marketing Strategy?  I have already printed fliers to distribute. Also I plan to meet establishments; company’s, houses etc. and introduce my company to them.

Aspiration:  I am working towards becoming the one stop dry cleaning company worldwide staring from Ikotun in Lagos and its environment.

I also intend to expand with time.

Advice to aspiring youths:  All I can say is Patience!  You need a whole of it while starting up, not just laundry and Dry Cleaning Company but every business requires patience.  For the first three months, ensure you have a fall back capital set out from the initial capital used in starting the business, no amount is small. It’s a step by step growth. I can recall I made gain of N40, 000 the first month and it kept increasing. I was fulfilled and said to myself, wow I made it!

 *****

 Me: Thank you Ik, it was a wonderfully inspiring moment with you. This will go a long way educating youths who want to set up a laundry firm. McFochGate wishes you the best in your endeavours.

For those residing in Ikotun area of Lagos state(see address on the banner), Fresh & Crisp Laundry and dry cleaning services hereby requests your kind patronage. He will surely render good services. Let’s encourage a hardworking citizen like us.

 

**For further consultation, questions, advisory services towards starting up a business etc.Want to share your experience, stories to inspire others, kindly contact us. We will arrange a meeting with you.

Dear Youths, Dear aspiring Young Entrepreneurs, Dear All, If I can do it, if IK can do it, if others can do it, then  you can do it. It’s a matter of telling yourself I can! You don’t have to wait and sit for things to happen, for that job in your fantasy to manifest. Most times it doesn’t work that way. 

**Do you know that you may be gainfully employed, earning big bucks and yet unfulfilled? You may have that innate unrest, passion and quest for entrepreneurship; why not take the bold step. What if this job is taken away from you and another one doesn’t show up fast, what would you do to survive?  Do you know you can be employed and also be an employer of labor, it’s about priority and time management.

**If you want to be among people who will create jobs for others why not dare your fear. McFochGate is also here to guide you through. So many great people solved a problem by looking the most feared in the eyes and challenging them. First what to do? Identify a need, think up an idea, take a bold step and move into action. As a starter, you may have to be the CEO, receptionist, marketer, accountant, etc. depending on the nature of the job. Most of it all encourage yourself and don’t encourage any negative talks. Don’t think of the return first, it will eventually come but build first. 

**Mingle with people who will motivate and inspire you especially people who have passed through that stage to get to an enviable height. Learn from your mistakes, learn from their own mistakes as well, and don’t wait until it happens to you. Above all keep growing, keep learning, be customer centric, ensure excellent service, maintain high integrity, be humble, be hardworking, cut down your sleep, read entrepreneurship books, research, surf the net, wear a smile always, look good, be what you sell, keep strategizing, and don’t stop.

 I also advise you to maintain a good customer relationship and ensure you get proper feedback from your customer, by this you will decipher their needs, expectations, comments and how they feel about your services. This will enable you to improve further.

God being your help, you will get there.

Cheers!