By all appearances Neighborhood Wash’s store owner, Boyd Woodward, already had an enviable career working as an engineering manager for one of the most desirable companies on the planet. Even with his corporate success, something remained amiss for the Southern California native.
“I always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” Boyd said. “And I couldn’t shake the feeling of urgency – that if I didn’t figure out something soon, I may never fulfill my dream.”
A meeting of entrepreneurial minds – and spirits
It was during the research phase where Boyd secured two vital pieces of industry information: the Electrolux brand had a great reputation among seasoned laundry owners and the name of a highly regarded distributor of Electrolux Professional equipment – Sterling Phillips from SES Laundry Inc.
“Based on my initial findings, I was already leaning towards Electrolux Professional equipment,” Boyd said. “Yet after hearing praise after praise from so many laundry professionals, well, it just confirmed that Electrolux was the only choice for me.”
A store with optimal visibility
Boyd purchased a laundromat 35 miles away from his home. It created some operational challenges and inconveniences. It also offered up an exceptional opportunity that Boyd felt would pay off. Boyd named his store Neighborhood Wash due to its prime location in the middle of a high-density neighborhood in Hawthorne, California.
The task at hand was transforming the badly maintained store into an efficiently run, modern Laundromat.
Neighborhood Wash gets a facelift
“The 1,400 square-foot laundry underwent a complete overhaul,” Boyd said.
The once neglected Laundromat now has a fun, friendly vibe with family appeal. Neighborhood Wash is bright, open and has a large mirror giving patrons a superior view of their surroundings.
“Safety is key,” Boyd said. “In addition to creating a much more open floor plan, I installed eight security cameras.”
Neighborhood Wash also boasts free amenities such as Wi-Fi and flat-screen televisions.
Electrolux – eco-minded and a stellar reputation
The old equipment mix was about 75 percent top loaders, which were eliminated. Neighborhood Wash’s outdated washers and dryers have all been replaced with Electrolux washers and dryers.
The Electrolux high-speed machines are part of the ENERGY STAR® program. Laundry owners can lower their utilities by 20-40% with these high extraction models. They are designed to respect the environment at every point of production, usage, and disposal. The high-speed machines also save your customers a great deal of time — a priceless commodity these days.
“I believe that people will continue to put a premium on their time,” Boyd said. “So I wanted my store to offer up features that ensure convenience and efficiency, ultimately saving my customers’ time. The Electrolux high-speed extract equipment in combination with the Electrolux dryers truly provides this service.”
“Since customers like large-capacity washers, my 75-pound and 65-pound Electrolux machines are right in the front of the store while the smaller 18-, 25-, and 45-pound machines are in the back.”
Everything falls into place
In a marketplace crowded with aged laundries, Boyd is confident that Neighborhood Wash will continue to make its mark. Even the newer laundries can’t compete with it, according to Boyd.
“They don’t offer the conveniences, such as multiple payment options and the time-saving, high-speed Electrolux equipment that my store offers,” Boyd said. “I’m excited about the future of Neighborhood Wash.”
Boyd opened a second Laundromat, Magic Laundry in Lawndale, that is also thriving.
