April 10, 2017

Meet Joe Copeland of Happy Bubbles Laundromat in North Hollywood

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Copeland.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My partner Gary and I wanted to start a business. We both worked in the electrical and construction trades for most of our life. We’re getting older now and wanted to do something more fun in our lives. We looked into the self-serve laundromat and wash & fold business. It was a good match for us. Our technical background allows us to keep our equipment up and running. Our construction background allows us to continuously improve the customer experience. We love chatting and getting to know our customers, most of which come by every week to wash.

Our interactions with our customers have been a big part of our success. When we see a new customer, we let them know they are special and look forward to seeing them again and again.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When we purchased the existing laundromat much of the equipment was in poor shape. The previous owner lacked the expertise in operations and management to build a profitable business. Gary and I took over 18 months ago. All profits are continuously re-invested into new equipment and additional hours for our 3 attendants.

The laundromat business in North Hollywood is very competitive so we’re always looking for new ways to please our customers so they continue to choose us for their laundry needs. We recently added an outdoor patio, new soda and snack machines, new dryers, and a wash & fold service.

The road was definitely not smooth to get to where we are. We’ve been working at it every day for the past 18 months. We’ll continue each day for 6 more months before we take a break. It’s hard work but the payoffs are rewarding. People are starting to find us and frequently comment that they like the atmosphere of our laundromat.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Our company is Happy Bubbles Laundromat. We specialize in self-serve laundry and full service wash & fold.

Right now, we’re known for our pleasant atmosphere, friendly attendants, clean facilities, and working machinery.

We are proud that many of our customers drive long distances just to wash at our laundromat.

I believe what sets Happy Bubbles apart from other laundromats is that as owners, Gary and I are committed to excellence and a positive experience. We work hard to make sure every customer is pleased and returns to us each and every week.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. I graduated from Sylmar High School, did my undergrad at Woodbury University in Burbank, and my MBA at USC.

I had several friends in my neighborhood to play with as a kid. These were the days before computers, cell phones, and cable TV. All the kids in my neighborhood rode our BMX bicycles everywhere and played outdoors because there was nothing else to do.

As I grew up I became interested in technology, computers, and eventually business.

Growing up I usually felt out of place like I didn’t belong to any particular social group. In the MBA program at USC, the school did a personality assessment at I discovered a lot about the way my mind works. I’m very theoretical, philosophical, and visionary than the average Joe. That was a revelation to me. I finally found out why I didn’t belong. It’s because those whose personality are like mine are rare. I stopped trying to fit in and now seek friendships with those mental outlooks are similar to mine.

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