Successful businesses often get paid to solve a problem for their customers. And for a lot of people, especially in urban areas without on-site facilities, laundry is a problem:
It’s time-consuming, menial, and costly.
It sounds like an opportunity to create a mobile laundry service that lets busy people outsource the chore.
I invision this as a weekly or bi-weekly pick-up service. Just like the garbage man, right? You come by and grab the bags of dirty laundry and return them freshly cleaned.
Customers no longer have to worry about going to the laundromat, buying detergent, finding enough quarters, and killing time waiting for everything to finish.
Why I like it:
- Recurring Revenue Model. It’s a membership system; as long as you keep customers happy, you can collect income week after week, month after month, and year after year.
- Start Small. Starting out, you can make pick-ups in your own car, and maybe even use your own washer and dryer.
- Upsell Opportunities. Depending on how you price your service, folding and ironing could be extra, and you can add-on services like dry cleaning. In the beginning you can partner with a local laundromat or dry cleaner and they will probably be happy to offer some volume discount in return for your business.
I HATE ironing and I can’t be the only one!
It’s All About the Story
Convincing people to change their habits is never easy, but it can be done with a compelling story. You’ve probably seen the Dollar Shave Club video that’s been making the rounds lately. They’ve got a great story and there’s no reason you can’t create something similar for your mobile laundry service.
You’re selling convenience, yes, but you’re also kind of selling a lifestyle. ”Laundry?” your customers will say. “I’ve got people for that.”
Two Challenges to Overcome:
- Security — how will you arrange pick-up and delivery so clothes don’t get stolen?
- Privacy — how will you make customers trust you with their underwear?
What do you think? Done right, I bet something like this could take off in New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, or other apartment-dense cities.