Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Harada.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have worked in the corporate environment for the past 17 years, but my passion has always been in entrepreneurship. I never felt it was enough to just trade my time for money, but having a steady job has kept me afloat, so I am grateful for that. I have always had a side business that usually takes up most of my free time outside of my day job. The goal has been to build the side business into the main business and I am still working on that. I started small on eBay, selling Nike shoe laces that I bought in bulk to build up feedback. Then that stemmed into my first real business called Lacedup Authentics, selling Nike shoes that I would source from authorized dealers and stores. I was selling on eBay, my website, to a local clientele and wholesaling to other local stores and sellers. That business took off, but it was only me handling all aspects of the business, so I didn’t sleep much. During this time, I was focusing on self-development, trying to soak up knowledge and wisdom from books, audio books, seminars, and mentors. I attended one seminar that presented about 20 different business ideas to create passive income. One of the cash flow vehicles they presented was coin operated laundromats. At that point, the seed was planted in my mind. Once I sold my sneaker business, I made a decision that I would get into the laundry business. Not knowing the first thing about it, I reached out through my network and my network’s network to speak to everyone I could about the business. It wasn’t easy and I encountered plenty of challenges, but in early 2013 I purchased an existing laundromat. More than 4 years later, I still run the business and it is doing very well. I can’t say I did it alone. I was blessed to have had help from good friends and family, some of whom are partners in the business.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Anyone who runs their own business knows that challenges are inevitable, but, as with life, that is how you grow and learn.
Acquiring the business was a stressful time for me and there were several times when I questioned whether it would happen. However, getting declined over and over by investors and banks only made me focus more intensely on my goal. Once it finally happened and the previous owners handed over the keys, learning how to run the business and make it successful was the new challenge. I’ve had to learn on my own, have made expensive mistakes, almost been electrocuted multiple times servicing machines, and two months into owning the laundromat, the water heater broke. We have had floods, fires, black outs, break ins, theft and all types of other struggles. We expanded the hours to be open 24 hours, and the laundromat is mostly unattended. The neighborhood is not so nice, so you can imagine the types of characters that come through the doors with no intentions of doing their laundry, especially once we added the free Wi-Fi. Regulating who comes in has been one of the biggest challenges. I thought running a passive income business would allow me more time to rest and sleep, but it was the opposite. I’ve spent countless nights monitoring the CCTV cameras to ensure my customers can wash in a safe and secure environment. Every day brings new challenges to address. Some days are harder than others, but I believe there is always a silver lining in the struggles even if you don’t see it during the tough times. This keeps me looking forward focused on my goals. Simple, but not always easy to do.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about So Fresh So Clean Laundromat – what should we know?
So Fresh So Clean Laundromat is a self-service coin-operated laundry in South Gate, CA. We love and appreciate our customers and it shows in how we conduct our business.
We have a loyal client base, some that have been coming to this laundry for decades and have seen all the changes in ownership and business styles. There is a lot of competition around the area, some that are open 24 hours, but I believe people choose to wash with us because we have built up a reputation for providing a high level of customer service and reliability, something I pride myself on. Having a business that is open 24 hours requires an understanding of responsibility and availability no matter what time it is.
We understand this and strive for excellence when there is an opportunity to go above and beyond for our customers. They can tell we have a focus on elevating the customer experience and environment through renovations, upgrades and amenities. So many of our customers have told me how much they enjoy washing here now more than ever. My response is always the same. I appreciate you and value your business.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Several essential qualities come to mind… At the top of the list, I would have to say a clear vision, grit and persistence to get there, and unwavering faith and belief that you will get there. A clear vision is your WHY because you will ask yourself throughout the journey, “why am I putting myself through all these struggles?”, when you want to quit. The persistence to keep pushing through the challenges is the required grit because the struggles can be enough to make most people give up. That can be the difference between achievement of your vision and failure. Self doubt can be crippling. Unwavering faith and belief is a choice. Simple, but not easy. But with confidence in yourself, your abilities, and a high work ethic, it gets easier. This is how I live my life and this is how I run my business and I believe I am successful in both.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3481 Tweedy Blvd., South Gate, CA 90280
- Website: http://www.sofreshsocleanlaundry.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sofreshsocleancoinlaundry
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/so-fresh-so-clean-coin-laundry-south-gate-2
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