HANOVER, Mass. — The Lapels Dry Cleaning franchise reports it has opened a new plant and store at 597 Washington St. in Stoughton, Mass.
Lapels Dry Cleaning of Stoughton, formerly Loyal Cleaners, is owned and operated by Matthew Wiltshire. His business has served the greater Norton, Massachusetts, area for the past 17 years.
“Lapels Dry Cleaning utilizes the world’s only 100% environmentally non-toxic cleaning process,” Wiltshire proclaims. “I know how much people have loved our drycleaning services, and I’m delighted to bring this service to Stoughton and, particularly, Loyal Cleaners customers.”
In 2018, Lapels Dry Cleaning and its parent company, Next Step Franchising, struck a deal with Greybull Stewardship, which gave it a minority share in Lapels. As part of this investment deal, Greybull make a commitment to provide self-funding options for future Lapels locations that met certain criteria. Through his ownership of Lapels Dry Cleaning of Norton, Wilshire met that criteria.
“As a franchisor, we have an appetite for converting existing dry cleaners as either an acquisition, as in Matthew’s case, or a transfer, where the current dry cleaner transitions into a Lapels Dry Cleaning,” says Kevin Dubois, CEO of Lapels Dry Cleaning. “Through the Greybull partnership, a franchise owner like Matthew, who was already a member of the Lapels family of franchise owners, can easily scale their business and bring in additional cash flow with our self-funding.”
Lapels has pioneered its eco-friendly dry cleaning experience over the past two decades, the franchisor says. It has a partnership agreement with GreenEarth® for its newer locations. Lapels claims its cleaning process leaves no odor and is gentler on clothes, thus lengthening garment life.
Lapels’ emphasis on customer service starts with a “warm and inviting reception area, with friendly customer service representatives, and alteration services,” the franchisor says. Lapels offers “Automatic Rewards,” with customers earning credit toward free dry cleaning for every dollar they spend; loyalty programs; a VIP program that eliminates the need to wait in line; the use of a 24-hour drop-off service; and free home delivery to all customers.
“Given the backdrop of what’s going on in the country and world, I’m especially delighted that we can bring the Lapels type of drycleaning service—including free pickup and delivery—during the COVID crisis,” Wiltshire says.
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