NEW YORK — Victoria Aviles, owner of Bridge Cleaners & Tailors and King Garment Care in New York, made 2009’s list of top entrepreneurs in American Drycleaner’s sister publication, Crain’s New York Business.
After suffering a 20% drop in business at her two drycleaning shops, Aviles is adding services ranging from shoe polishing and repair to closet organizing. “I am willing to do anything in the world to keep the business growing,” she says.
When Bridge Cleaners lost its lease for the second time in two years in 2008, Aviles was forced to move Bridge into a 1,600-square-foot storefront — a space nearly 60% smaller than its previous location. In response, she took the machinery out of her two shops and reopened a two-story building that was once a fire station serving the Brooklyn Navy Yard. There, she practices “green” cleaning methods and has expanded her offerings with shirt laundering and same-day pickup-and-delivery services.
All six of the winners also shared their best recession strategies and biggest recession fears. Aviles is responding to hard times by adding new sources of revenue, many at the suggestion of her customers. In recent weeks, she has begun to clean pillows and help organize linen and clothing closets. Last month, she started repairing and polishing shoes and selling her proprietary Lady Victoria clothing detergent.
Bridge was a Merit Award winner in American Drycleaner’s Plant Design Awards in the January issue, and Aviles discussed her green initiatives in What It Means To Be Green.
For more information on Aviles and her Top Entrepreneur award, click here.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].