HANOVER, Mass. — In celebrating the first anniversary of his two locations, Lapels Dry Cleaning of Fort Mill, South Carolina, and Lapels Dry Cleaning of Charlotte, North Carolina, Todd Huston implemented COVID-friendly activities to mark the occasion.
“We were off to a great start and then a pandemic. You can’t change that fact. But prior to that, things were going well,” says Huston. “So, instead of having an event in the stores and inviting a whole bunch of people to attend during a time when that’s not the wisest move, we decided to hold some smaller activities that give back to the community and customers who have been so good to us this first year.”
Those activities included partnering with Knowledge Perk, a local specialty coffee roaster, on an anniversary blend of Lapels coffee. Customers who arrived first to each store received a pound of the anniversary coffee blend. The top 10 customers for each location also received a pound of coffee.
Other promotions included giveaways and drawings with local merchants, including a craft brewer and an area pizzeria. Also participating was Nothing New, an online retailer that makes footwear out of recycled products—something that aligns with Lapels’ sustainability efforts and environmentally friendly philosophy.
“While a big event would have been nice, safety has to be everyone’s primary concern right now. And the giveaways have been very well-received,” says Huston.
He says he’s been pleasantly surprised by a recent uptick in business: “In July, we actually welcomed a few hundred new customers, something you don’t expect during a ‘normal’ month. So, we’re feeling quite positive as we head into year two and as the greater Charlotte area comes out of the pandemic.”
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