Wash with Wally: Shoe Repair

By Wally Makowsky | Apr 09, 2010

In past columns, you’ve expressed that laundry owners would be wise to diversify. I operate a mail-order shoe repair service and currently offer this service in conjunction with a number of coin laundries and drycleaners. I would like your advice as to how I could expand my shoe repair business and, therefore, help today’s laundry owners diversify their offerings. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Over the years, the shoe repair business has been shrinking. In addition, the typical coin laundry customer doesn’t buy high-end shoes, and most of the cheaper shoes on the market are not repairable.

I think you would have more success in selling your shoe repair service to drycleaners, whose customers are more white-collar and wear more expensive footwear. Good luck.

We are contemplating going after a large fire-restoration account where our company would handle washing and drycleaning household and personal items that have been saturated with smoke. What are the best products to use on the laundromat side, as well as on the drycleaning side? Also, is there any special equipment or processes we should know about?

First of all, you need a full-service drycleaning operation. I assume you have one already. If you don’t, the equipment to handle this type of work will cost you about $300,000. If you already have a drycleaning operation, all you need is a 75-pound washer and dryer, along with an ozone machine and an ozone room. The ozone room is used to neutralize the smoke and any other foul odors.

On the supply side, Big D Industries makes an array of odor-removing chemicals for the laundry and drycleaning sides of your operation. These chemicals are to be used alongside and added to your normal washing procedure.

On the laundry side, I would recommend a high-grade commercial detergent that contains ozone, plus a detergent booster to help remove carbon stains that are often associated with fire. All of these products can be purchased from your local distributor, and their sales representatives can help you in the setup and use of these chemicals.

In addition, before you jump into the business, be sure you have secured these accounts. Most fire-restoration accounts are brought in through insurance adjusters, so you have to be prepared to work with them in order to maintain this segment of your business. Also, you’re going to have to carry accounts receivable, which are usually paid in 60 to 90 days. So, be cautious and do your homework.

I’m building a 3,000-square-foot laundry. I will use my own well to supply water to the store. My question is whether I should go with air conditioning or water-cooling. My other store has swamp coolers.

If you have well water, you should go with swamp coolers. In general, well water stays cold all year long. Just be sure you install the proper amount of coolers. Don’t undersize this project.

All in all, water-cooling is much cheaper than air conditioning and much easier to maintain.

A customer of mine recently brought in a chocolate-colored suede coat, on which she had spilled cola. Do you have any tips that would help me remove this dark stain for her?

Suede can be very fragile to dye release. You can try using warm water and a drop of dishwashing detergent. Rub at the stain, while at the same time, wipe with a damp cloth. If you’re lucky, you mind be able to get the stain out without discoloring the suede coat.

However, if it’s an expensive garment, I would suggest that she simply send the coat to a professional suede and leather cleaner, which would have access to all of the proper cleaning processes, as well as re-dying capabilities; if they remove a spot, they can re-dye it. This might prove to be your best bet.