Alliance Laundry Systems, a U.S based giant in the commercial laundry is set to launch a laundry business in Kenya, a move which will benefit many entrepreneurs in the industry.
The enterprise is focused on entrepreneurs from major cities in the country, who will get full laundromat store concepts as well as the operational and technical support.
According to the Regional Sales Manager Sub-Saharan Africa from Alliance, Jean-Paul Mailhac, There is a fast-growing demand for laundry services and products, together with a thriving economy and yearly growth of more than 6 percent, Kenya is the ideal place to start a laundromat.
“We have already witnessed that Kenyan entrepreneurs are passionate about a laundromat. We have received so many inquiries from Kenya so far and it is quickly becoming a need in this society as people spend a lot of time and effort on their looks,” said Mr. Mailhac.
Alliance Laundry Systems terms urban centers as having the highest profit potential, which is why it is targeting them.
“For many Kenyans living in municipal areas, owning a washing machine is a considerable investment. The normal practice is washing by hand, an inefficient and environmentally damaging process. With an emerging market for Laundromats, this task can be easily and efficiently taken over,” Mr. Mailhac explained.
The lack of uptake of Laundromats in the country is due to the to the lack of global best practice experience limited local technical expertise and no specific retail cleaning knowledge. These make the reasons why Alliance has decided to promote the concept in the country. Kenyan entrepreneurs will also reap incredible profits through the venture, noted Mr. Mailhac.
The Laundromats are expected to offer convenience to their users in the urban centers and cutting the cost of running and owning a washing machine from their budgets.
“A Laundromat can professionally clean and dry laundry, making garments look newer, last longer, feel better, abolishing the need to own a luxurious machine. One other advantage is having the flexibility to use the laundromat whenever necessary, due to the closeness of stores. In the right locations, one store can service a 9km2 area – meaning plentiful opportunities in larger cities,” the Alliance Regional Sales Manager Sub-Saharan Africa pointed out.
The alliance is planning to hold several events in Nairobi to float the idea and explain in detail all the advantages laundromats in the country will offer.
“We will help entrepreneurs from start to finish. Not only by providing the best-in-class machines, but also by giving them all the valuable input needed to operate a successful and profitable laundromat,” said Mr. Mailhac.
Alliance Laundry System is present in 140 countries with a team of more than 2,900 employees.