2 Young Car Wash Entrepreneurs Make a Splash with their First Laundromat
Luv Laundry in the Feltonville neighborhood of Philadelphia is a stunning, modern 7,000 square foot laundromat that pays homage to its neighborhood’s heritage while nodding to the future of the retail laundry industry.
Chris Caporale and KC Fordham, the entrepreneurs responsible for the new development also own and operate car washes. “When we researched other businesses to diversify into, we kept landing on laundromats” commented Chris. The focus on customer service, efficiency and a pristine product – clean clothes, is a natural extension that carries over from their car wash businesses.
A Location with History
Driving down the major street that runs past Luv Laundry, Wyoming Avenue, the embedded trolley rails trace a path to the historic nature of the neighborhood. The original building that stood where Luv Laundry stands was an Acme store, and the developers worked to maintain some of its historic charm including an uncovered brick wall that revealed almost 100-year-old signage of a bar that once occupied the neighboring store. The ceiling in the laundromat is unlike any you will see in a typical laundromat. It is the original wood vaulted ceiling with a period-specific design.
Customer-focused Amenities
The amenities and features in this Luv Laundry location were thought out and designed with one main goal: to enhance the customer experience.
From the automatic sliding doors that open to an expansive entry area where customers are greeted by the large capacity 100-lb washers, to the picnic style tables and seating at the rear, no small detail was overlooked in an effort to make laundry an easier and more seamless experience. There is sturdy yet comfortable bench seating with integrated powered USB charging outlets.
The laundromat features a dedicated children’s reading space with chairs and tables and books. Chris notes “we recognize that children accompany their parents to the laundromat, and we designed the space to accommodate them”.
Technology plays a major part in the ease and convenience that is part of the Luv Laundry customer experience. It starts with an option on the washers that allows users to rinse the machine before using it. Customers can start the machines they use with an app. There are multiple payment options
Focus on Marketing and Branding
The heart-shaped stickers with the number of each machine are perfect examples of KC and Chris’s dedication to building a strong brand. The Luv Laundry logo can also be seen on the store’s box truck that traverses the neighborhood and is often parked at the laundromat. Inside the location, there are video screens that brightly display a constant rotation of useful information including laundromat rules, promotions and how-to-videos. Posted signage is in English and Spanish. Customer feedback and reviews are encouraged via posted signs with QR code to the Google Reviews.
Financing the Project
Luv Laundry’s owners chose Eastern Funding for financing for the new laundromat. As a lender that specializes in laundry and car wash businesses, Eastern Funding knew the industry and made the lending process seamless – something Chris and KC required.
Only the Beginning
For these entrepreneurs, this first store is just the beginning of their journey in laundry. They intend to grow the Luv Laundry brand regionally with more stores and services. The plan is to refine their processes and replicate the model across a portfolio of laundromats.
Watch Chris and KC’s testimonial video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnOaK4_Bu8E
