Today we’d like to introduce you to Hank Nelken.
Hi Hank, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born in Mississippi. Raised in Texas. Went to USC film school. Directed short films. Wrote a feature spec with Greg DePaul. Got an agent. Sold a feature pitch. Wrote the movie. Got it made. Sold a bunch more movies with Greg. Went solo. Wrote a new spec. Sold it. Got it made. Pitched a remake of a Cary Grant movie. They turned it into a sequel to an Ice Cube movie(Are We Done Yet?). Had two kids. Sold a bunch more movies and three network TV pilots, including an animated one. Wrote for Dreamworks Animation for a year. Pitched a TV show to Netflix. They bought it as a movie. Wanted a consistent revenue stream so I opened a laundromat. Then a second. About to open a third. Currently writing a spec TV pilot, running laundromats, and driving my children around the vast suburban sprawl that is Los Angeles.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Rejection. Had to get to use a lot of that. In Hollywood, it has many names. No. Hard no. Soft no. Pass. Hard pass. Soft pass. And of course the lack of any response at all. The key is to stick to what you believe in and never take no in any of its myriad forms as an answer. Also, have another revenue stream. That will give you the freedom to hold out for that wondrous and elusive word: Yes. Even that comes in many forms in Hollywood. I actually got a “soft yes” once. Still not exactly sure what it means, but it had the word yes in it, which I took as positive.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
In 2018, I founded Half Price Laundromat, a family-owned business that treats its staff and its customers like family. We have since opened two more locations in Los Angeles and added pickup and delivery service. Our number one priority is customer service. Hence our policy: “Happiness, Guaranteed.”
We specialize in commercial laundry services as well as residential.
If you need to get in touch with us for any reason, we are available 24/7 through live chat on our website. Our professional staff takes your laundry very seriously while always greeting you with a smile. In terms of price, we can’t be beat. In our stores, every Thursday is Half Price Thursday where all washers drop to half price all day long. We’re not called Half Price Laundry for nothing!
First-time pickup and delivery customers always get $15 off. Turnaround is 24 hours. For customers in a hurry, we offer same day collection. We service the entire Valley and we are always adding more zip codes.
What’s next?
Our third store is opening soon in Canoga Park. It will be our largest store to date and will offer commercial and residential laundry service to the entire west valley including Tarzana, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Chatsworth, and Porter Ranch. Our mission is to bring friendly, high-quality, affordable laundry service to the world, starting with Southern California.
Pricing:
- Free Pickup and Delivery
- Half Price Thursdays (In Store)
- $15 off first time pickup and delivery
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.HalfPriceLaundry.com
- Instagram: halfpricelaundry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/halfpricelaundromat
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/half-price-laundromat-los-angeles-2
- Other: https://www.yelp.com/biz/half-price-laundromat-arleta
