I have been into the laundry business for many years, although I only recently got into it as a sole owner. Before now, I was managing the business for someone else. In those days, we got a good job offer somewhere, and my boss decided to shut down the laundry business so we could focus on the new job. However, some of the clients refused to accept that decision. They said there was a way I handled their clothes, especially ironing, that made it very special, so they insisted that I must keep working on their clothes and they're not getting laundry
At first, I thought they stayed because of the cheap price I was charging them, which was not actually cheap though. But that was not the case. They stayed because there was truly something unique about the way I handled their clothes. So even after we moved on to the new job, I was still handling their clothes despite my very tight schedule.
At that time, there was no steady power supply, so I depended on public electricity to iron their clothes. In those days, electricity was usually available at night, so whenever there was light at night, I did not sleep. I would iron throughout the night just to meet up with their needs.
When I fully got into the business on my own, this special skill of mine brought in clients and helped me retain them.
To be sincere, I never thought of laundry as a skill. For God’s sake, it is something everyone does at home. But then again, people say it is a skill, especially when it comes to ironing clothes to perfection. I do this with ease. I have never seen it as something that requires any special formula, unlike how people describe it.
This skill is what I am currently using to fend for myself. Although the business has not fully blown yet, I am still pushing it to reach that climax stage where it will fetch me millions of naira in one or two days. There are days when I do not get good patronage, and there are also days when I return home at the close of the day with smiles on my face.
The struggles I faced?
It is just like every other business out there. One needs consistency to sustain a business, especially a small-scale one. When I started, even with my good and gifted hands, I struggled to get patronage. Of course, I did not expect things to be easy because laundry work is mostly driven by referrals. Clients tell a friend, and gradually, the news spreads abroad.
Thanks for reading.
This is my entry to Indiaunited contest
The photo used is mine
