MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Restoration dry cleaners Lyons Textile Restoration recently purchased Springfield, Ill.-based Evans Garment Restoration, known for its patented garment and soft goods restoration processes, Lyons reports.
Joel Lyons, CEO, speaking to American Drycleaner editor Tim Burke by phone, says that, “Our goal is to go national in two to three years and global in five. Evans can help us get there as they bring 40 years dry cleaning experience and will help us to become a national player faster.”
The purchased happened Sept. 1, 2017, Lyons points out.
“How it happened, Lyons says, “Is that Evans invited me to tour its operation and once I saw a great, state-of-the-art facility, we were able to come together and make a deal.”
The Lyons company website writes it: “specializes in large loss restoration dry cleaning. But our true value is how we make life easier for insurance agents, claims adjusters and homeowners affected by fire or flood damage.”
They further claim on the site to “restore 96% of the clothing, drapes, rugs, blankets and other irreplaceable textiles entrusted to our care.”
Lyons indicates that his goal is to open corporate locations, “partnering with insurance companies and looking for the ‘best in class’ to join us.”
Also reached for comment is Mike Rusciolelli of Evans, who says, “Going forward, I’m hoping we will sell franchises around the country and expand our national footprint."
Lyons notes that his company strength is in what he calls a “hybrid strategy of teaching operators in textile restoration how to dry clean with measurable success along with marketing and branding.”
“I started in the late 1990s,” he relates, “started doing restoration jobs, and learned how to handle leather myself starting humbly in my own house in Memphis. In 2001, I opened a store behind my house and added an ozone room. Then Lyons took off. It serves 10 states now.”
He adds that, “this recent acquisition we’re calling ‘Evans 2.0.’”
He relates that his firm is looking for more partners and says, “We’re looking for the ‘A-team’ premier-type dry cleaning operators to join us in our re-launch on January 1.”
“We’re super-excited,” Lyons concludes.
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