HANOVER, Mass. — Kevin Dubois, president/CEO of Lapels Dry Cleaning, has co-authored a new book that he says demonstrates how current and prospective dry cleaners can take an entrepreneurial approach to their business rather than becoming an owner tied to their store day in and day out.
In Entrepreneurial Insanity in the Dry Cleaning Business, Dubois and co-author Roger McManus have created what they say is a road map for current and prospective dry cleaners to achieve a greater level of success in the industry.
“What we’ve found in training Lapels Dry Cleaning franchise owners is there are certain skills you can learn to successfully run a drycleaning business, regardless of what you previously have done,” says Dubois. “I always thought it would make for a good book. Fortunately, I met Roger, and he agreed.”
McManus has authored or co-authored other Entrepreneurial Insanity titles, including those focusing on the restaurant and sign businesses, and the tire industry.
“Can your business operate without you being there or do you have to be on the clock 24/7? Many people dream of owning their own business but it ends up with the business owning them,” says McManus. “This book provides time-tested solutions on how to be a drycleaning entrepreneur as opposed to a drycleaning store owner—the book will show you the difference.”
The 208-page tome covers managerial tasks such as hiring, marketing, daily operations, job descriptions and more, all specific to dry cleaners.
“I think people will read it and say, ‘Yes, that was me. This is what I thought getting into business was, and I’ve turned into this guy with my head down, waiting on customers or pressing pants, and I’ve got to get back to the bigger picture of growing my business,” Dubois says.
Some of the chapters include “Do You Own an Asset or a Job You Can’t Quit?”, “Are You the Doer, the Overseer or the Entrepreneur?” “What Are Your ‘Anti-Success’ Forces?”, “What Does Your Business Look Like Without You?”, and “If You Aren’t There, Who’s Watching the Store?”
“I maintain that I’m an entrepreneur, I’m going to grow my business, and maybe some days I have to press shirts, some days the boiler’s not working and I gotta to do something about it, but I don’t get derailed and become that person. That’s really been the premise of the book,” Dubois says. “Don’t get stuck in a job—work on the business, not in the business.”
The book is available in paperback or Kindle versions from Amazon.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].