August 3, 2023 • 31 mins
What happens when you combine two ambitious mamas, a laundry business, and the onset of a global pandemic? You get a story of pure resilience, innovation, and a business that continues to thrive despite all odds. That's what Claudia and Stephanie, co-founders of WeWash Laundry Co., bring to the table in this episode of the Buy Time podcast. Against all odds, they managed to launch their laundry business just six weeks before the world went into lockdown, and they're here to share their inspiring journey.
Struggling to balance work and family life, especially during a pandemic, is no easy task. Claudia and Stephanie candidly share how they manage to juggle it all. From relying on the support of their partners to keeping exercise a priority, these mamas give us a masterclass in time management. They show us that it's not just about keeping the business running, but also ensuring there's enough time for family, a lesson many of us could learn from.
This episode is not just an exploration of their past but also a look into the future. Claudia and Stephanie discuss their plans for expanding WeWashed Laundry Co., whether that involves franchising or opening a second location. But amidst all these plans, these two mamas remind us of the importance of taking time out to generate fresh ideas. With a firm belief that a balanced approach is key to business growth and success, Claudia and Stephanie are a testament to the power of combining passion, determination, and a dash of creativity. Tune in to hear their story, learn from their experiences, and be inspired by their unwavering resolve.
Visit Wewash Laundry Co. Website
Follow Wewash @wewashlaundryco
Follow Claudia & Stephanie
Until next time... Follow on Instagram @buytimepodcast
Follow Jacob K. Mead on all the socials @jacobkmead
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey everybody, this is Jacob K Mead and this is the
Buy Time podcast, where wediscuss everything there is to
know about buying back your time.
Be sure to like and follow andshare with somebody who needs to
buy back their time.
Enjoy today's episode.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to another episode of the Buy Time podcast.
My name is Jacob K Mead andtoday I'm super excited because
we have two guests and they areowners of WeWashed Laundry Co.
And go ahead and tell us alittle bit about yourself.
This is Claudia, and then wealso have Stephanie here.
Claudia, tell me a little bitabout yourself.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
So I am not originally from here, I'm from
San Antonio, texas.
I don't really have the accentanymore until I say y'all, and
then people say wait a minute,you're from the south.
I'm a mama to three Age range.
We have one that just graduated, all the way down to one who's
about to start preschool.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
So we've got the big gap, yeah.
And then, as far as Stephanieand I and the whole WeWashed
thing, we just we're two mamaswho despise doing laundry.
So we figured we are the OG,the original laundry haters.
Why not find those magicfairies to come in and do
(01:15):
laundry for us?
And that's kind of whereWeWashed Laundry Co got started.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
That's awesome.
I hate doing laundry myself.
My wife tries to get me doingit.
I'm like I don't want to dothis and she's like has piles of
laundry, so that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I feel like with children, it's just never ending
.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
It's never ending, it's always going.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Stephanie, what's a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
So I also have three kids.
I have three girls, so for usthere's multiple outfit changes,
which is a lot of laundry, andClaudia and I were actually in
my living room and we werecomplaining about laundry and
all the chores and all thethings and we were like you know
what the Des Moines area needs?
Something like this, let's doit.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
We're going to hear about it in New York, california
.
It's something that's very wellknown there.
Why not here in the Midwest,where families are running back
and forth to sporting events,mom and dad are both working, or
I mean even mom being at homefull time with babies, so a
little time in the day.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
They need someone to be able to support them.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah and so yeah, that's right.
That's how we ended up where weare today.
So who?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
knew who knew.
So what were you guys doingprior to this Sure?
What were you guys doing, whatwas your guys' adventure before
starting this company?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
So I graduated from St Ambrose University and that's
in Davenport, Iowa with publicrelations and marketing and so
I've always kind of been inevent management and traveled a
lot before I had kids and then Idecided we were ready to start
a family so I needed to kind ofget out of the event management,
because you're gone all thetime and then just do marketing
(02:47):
strictly.
So that's what I was doing andI was ready to kind of work for
myself and have a purpose andshow my daughters that women we
can do it.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
We can do it, so be a big boss.
Yes, so be a big boss, andyou're a woman, you're a leader,
and to show your kids thatthat's super empowering.
Claudia, what about you?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So I have somewhat of a marketing background as well
as a recruiting background.
Compared to this, I wasactually at home with my little
ones, but back in the day Ihired medical personnel to work
on military air force basesaround the US, and that's how I
got my middle class teacher todeal with the filter, AKA fail
cage usually Exciting stuff, soand her human resources
(03:30):
background.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Anything that's a problem.
Claudia gets Claudia go toClaudia, that's right.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
It makes it a little bit easier having someone that's
an expert in that field.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Yeah, I don't know about an expert, but well, we
have, I'm just three employees,yeah, and so with employees
comes problems right and I likeher to handle.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
With that, I don't mind.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, and that's important have someone that's
good at being able to handle.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, she's good with email and I'm good with phone
calls and in person.
Yeah, we kind of just balanceeach other.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
So 23 employees, so you guys are very familiar with
staffing.
Talk to me a little bit aboutsome staffing struggles I might
have gone through, or or what isyour staffing struggles like?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
You know, it's just forever changing.
I feel like there are timeswhere we are staffed To the max
and it's a well-oiled machineand everything's going great,
and then one goes and it couldbe due to you know they
specifically wanted to come andwork evenings with us to
Supplement their income.
Maybe they had a family medicalproblem they're trying to pay
(04:33):
off.
Or it's mom, who's at home allday, who, when dad gets home,
they can kind of exchangechildren.
Mom's able to get in a coupleof hours in the evening to
supplement their income.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
So it just, but from the beginning.
So we opened six weeks beforethe pandemic.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Really, our struggle has been completely up and down
and not really normal.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
We can't really say what.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
We've had a normal year because when COVID
Originally happened, youremember that we shut down for
everything.
Shut down, completely shutevery no idea what this virus
was.
People didn't want to work, sowe had to keep doing our
business, and we were the onesthat had to do everything, from
the driving to you did, becauseyou're the heart of the business
, yeah, so we just hired on twoemployees.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
It was so extremely slow that we had to get really,
really creative on how we weregoing to continue to Pump the
business up and grow thebusiness while it only being the
two of us.
So, like Steph mentioned, wewere the driver, we were the
launderer, we were the folders,we were the laundry deliver.
We've done it all.
So we say it all the timethere's nothing we would ever,
(05:40):
ever expect our employees to dothat we've never done yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
And finding the time to be moms on top of all of this
.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
I'm not sure how we like did it.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It's like I always say it's like having another
baby.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
We really.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Here's the crazy part is we both had little ones at
home under a year old, so wereally had two babies.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah, we did, and I think I've blocked it out.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
You know how you kind of block things out you do, you
get to a certain point and youstart to almost forget.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
I mean it's like when you have a baby.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
That's why you have more because you forget how you
know truth, the parenthood rightthere, why you guys have
another cuz we forget we forgot.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
That's too funny.
That's why it took me sevenkids between.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
I mean seven in between each kid oh that's great
.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
So you guys, obviously right during COVID,
having that savage struggle,having to actually work in the
heart of the company, that youthink that made you stronger
leaders now because you can tellyour employees that, hey, we've
done this.
Yeah, we know what you're goingthrough, we understand the
struggles and we can kind ofhelp you and we did everything
we possibly could wrong to learnfrom it.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, and every mistake and yeah, now it's, like
I said, a well oiled machineand that's and that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So you, you can take some time and step outside of
your business now and focus moreworking on your business versus
working in it, and that'ssomething I teach in my
workshops, and I teach how tokind of work on your business
versus working in it.
Yes, but talk to me a littlebit about the the struggle that
was to get to that point.
Was it something that came easyor was it something that
actually took time?
And then how did you feel whenyou got to that point?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Well, I think again it goes back to that time period
where we were so in it, becausewe didn't have employees and
because we were going throughthis Pandemic, that it was hard
for us to change our mindsetwhen the time came right, so
when we were able to finallyhire staff, and good staff, and
we had them trained very well,neither one of us really were
able to step away, even the waywe should have.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yeah, and I'd say that was probably one of our
biggest hurdles hurdlesOvercoming was no one's gonna do
it like we are.
It's our business and no one'sgonna do it better relinquishing
control.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Processes.
We're relinquishing yourcontrol.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
It's hard to do Because you want things to be
perfect and you got a relinquishand that was by far our biggest
struggle, and I think we werein the business too long, way
longer than we should have beenin the day-to-day Operating
right in the business.
But once we found those peoplethat could come in and pick up
where we left off, who weretrainable, who were great at
(08:06):
doing their job, it was kind oflike, oh, this is a breath of
fresh air.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Who else can we hire, and what can we hire, mm-hmm,
you know to do so, yeah, and atthis point now it's like we're
going back to the basics withour grassroots marketing, we're
trying to remember to stayfocused, because I think we were
spread so thin as anentrepreneur.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
You're just trying to figure out what works.
Hundred percent, you're doingeverything calling you left and
right.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Everyone wants a piece of what you're doing and
it's so hard to stay focused onwhat your actual mission is and
your goals yeah because you havepeople every, every corner of
your life.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah, I can guide you in the right, and I think when
you're being pulled in tendifferent directions, it's
extremely difficult to give anysingle thing.
You're all so, yeah, and that'sanother thing that your
personal life.
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
I mean that's really been a balance because as a
woman and as a mother, we havethese really high expectations
that we're running the householdand our can do it all.
Yeah, and that we can run thisbusiness and thankfully we have
a partnership, because I'm notsure how anyone can do it.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Align kudos to people that can just take it all on
like that, no it's verydifficult and you know, having
that partner, having someone torely on, you know that's
important, and you talk a littlebit about mindset, stephanie,
and that's so important toobecause I feel like when you
have a business, it's likeroller coaster of emotions.
You know, one day you feel likewe're killing it.
We're doing a great job.
Man, our sales are down, are wegoing to survive?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Yeah, I feel that in my personal business and it's a
struggle I've told everyone thatwe talked to, though, this
entrepreneurship is not for theweek and it's like you're on a
roller coaster ride the entiretime.
When you are high, you are high.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
There's no getting off from it.
No, when you're low.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yes, yes, yeah.
So, like she mentioned, justextremely thankful and grateful
to have that person, andtypically we kind of laugh about
it, but when she's on a high,I'm there to support, or when
she's on a low, I'm there tosupport, and it's kind of been
vice versa.
It's never we're both really inthe low at the same time.
So thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Tony, that's so important.
See, that's something my wifedoes for me is, when I'm feeling
low, she's there to be like,hey, listen, we'll get through
it.
Sales are slow right now, butwe know they're gonna pick up,
cause it's tough.
It is Well.
No, it's tough, and youmentioned how important it was,
stephanie, to have time to beable to spend with your family.
And how do you manage that?
How do you manage the work-lifebalance?
Obviously, you're running thissuccessful business 23 employees
(10:26):
is it?
And how do you do that?
How do you go about that?
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Well for me.
I know that I would never bethe best mother that being home
all the time, so for me, workingis important.
That helps my mental health andduring the pandemic, when we
were really in the businessconstantly and working all the
time, I almost became.
I was unhappy a little bit andI'm like gosh, why are we doing
this?
This is a grind.
(10:51):
What's the point of this?
I'm trying to build somethingfor our kids and for the
community and for myself.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
You're reminding me we hate doing laundry.
Yeah, so we are doing thelaundry.
That's exactly right.
That's what it was, and itbrings you down.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Oh yeah, so what I found for me personally is I
started exercising and I know itsounds so dumb.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
No, it doesn't.
It makes a big difference.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
I have really felt just so much better, like I can
handle my parenting better, I'mmore patient, I'm kinder, I'm
nicer to the employees, evenwhen they drive me crazy.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
You have to have an out.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Yes, I have to have that release, and so that is
mine, and also I'm a big podcastlistener.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
You know, hey, that's good.
I feel like I get a lot of that.
The audience still love that.
That's awesome.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I get these little nuggets that I need to hear.
It's like I think things arewhere they need to be when you
need it in life.
Yeah, and sometimes you know.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
That's 100% true.
My wife always says I've toldyou this a million times.
Why do you get it when someoneelse tells you it?
Because I just hear your voiceall the time, so sometimes you
hear it from someone else.
You know to understand it.
But it's so true.
I listen to podcasts myself,and sometimes the inspiration
that comes from that it'samazing.
So, claudia, what about you?
How do you go about buying time?
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Buying time.
Oh goodness.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
So you have the staff and so staff's in place
Obviously have your time there.
So how do you go aboututilizing that time?
What do you do in that?
So?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
we have a supervisor who basically is able to run the
show.
Rowan is fantastic from takingphone calls to responding to
emails, to dealing with ouremployees, and so that enables
me to be at home more with mychildren.
I am very much so that hands onmom.
I love attending every singlesports game I can.
(12:38):
All three of my children areall very active.
I love being able toparticipate and being in it for
school and volunteering andthings like that.
So I feel like this has reallyreally worked out for us,
because I am now.
We are now at a point to wherewe can step away and know that
it's going to be taken care of.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
So it's an important place to be.
I did a video a while back thatsaid do you want to be that
parent that says I will try tomake it?
Or do you want to be thatparent that says I will make it?
And that's important, I willmake it.
Your kids hear that, they seeyou and they're the next
generation.
And so it's so important to seethat, and it's awesome that
you've learned that especiallyso early on in your guys'
business, of how to be able tostep outside and work on your
business versus working in it,and so you have all this extra
(13:18):
time to be able to focus on thefamily.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
What matters most.
What matters most.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
And not doing laundry .
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Yes exactly, yeah, yes, Well, and for us for the
first two years we did ittogether like everything, and so
that was again draining.
So about a year and a half agoI said to her hey, why don't we
do a week on week off, on call?
So now she has a week where sheis totally on and I'm off, so I
can do my thing with my family.
(13:43):
I don't have to have my phoneby me all the time, which is
nice.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yes, guys, and here's the thing Instead of both of us
being in the grind all the time, it's really really nice
Because we have busy weeks, butI'm able to do it all.
As far as the emails, of phonecalls what not?
With our supervisor and ouremployees, of course, but I'm
able to do it all.
And then come Friday I'm like,oh, there's light at the end of
the tunnel, because I know I'mgoing to have the entire next
(14:08):
week off to where I'm not havingto respond to emails, take
phone calls, what not?
Speaker 4 (14:12):
I mean, we're still there, for sure, 100%.
You know you need that, but itdoes.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
It refreshes us for the next week, for when we're,
you know, I think, just mindsetis like, yeah, we're ready to
take on this week.
It's my week but.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
And this is a service , so we're service oriented and
we are like we're the onesanswering the phones and we want
to be giving the best qualityservice to our customers.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
So we're able to get that and that's one of the
things that I don't really feelwe are wanting to pass to anyone
else right now.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
We still want to be that voice on the other end of
the line yes Voice that theyhear when they call in.
And so let's say do you guyshave business contracts and
things like that with areabusinesses, or do you just work
with homes?
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Oh, no, so we do residential and commercial, and
that ranges anywhere from likebeauty salons to physical
therapy, to massage places.
To Did you say dental?
No dental.
We do a ton of like golf clubsdoing their table linens party
rental supplies.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
So you're giving them the opportunity to have more
time to focus on their business.
Absolutely and not just doinglaundry all the time.
Who wants to do laundry?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Or even I mean there are other companies who are also
in the same boat that most ofus are in, as far as it's really
difficult to find employees.
So when they have that employeewho's supposed to come in and
do the laundry who doesn't showup, I mean you can't just serve
your next lunch on dirty tables.
So we are their backup plan forthem being short staffed
(15:44):
themselves.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
And think about it.
How long does it take you to doa load of laundry?
Wash it dry, it Does it get putaway.
Do you put it away?
Does?
Speaker 2 (15:53):
it sit there for three days on the chair with the
wife saying it's going to getput away Right, which I try and
help with the best I can.
But with kids it gets.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
time just gets by us, but I mean, it takes like two
and a half hours from beginningto end.
And what could you do with that?
Two and a half hours instead oflaundry.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
So awesome.
You give people the opportunityto buy their time back and they
can spend it with their friends.
They can spend it with theirfamily, their loved ones, or
even taking some me time.
It's so important.
Nowadays, I think we all forgetto just take a breather and
focus on ourselves.
And it's awesome that you guysgive them that opportunity.
Now you have had this business.
What are some struggles?
And we'll start with you,claudia.
(16:30):
What are some struggles thatyou might have had in the
business currently?
What are some struggles thatyou've had that overcome?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
I would say staffing is constantly a struggle.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Seems to be a struggle for a lot now.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah, but that's everyone and I know we're not in
it alone.
I mean, you see now hiringsigns everywhere you go.
That's probably the biggeststruggle.
I think another big strugglethat we've overcome is, like you
said, just letting go of beingin control.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Relinguishing control is hard it makes you almost
feel guilty at point two becauseyou feel like you should be
working in your business versusworking on it.
And that's something that'sreally hard to overcome as well,
and I try and talk a little biton that in my workshops and
show business owners that youcan do it, but you need some of
their support you because it'stough and you guys have each
other to support each other.
To that and say, listen, we'redoing the right thing, we're
(17:20):
taking the right step and we'restepping away from our company
to work on it and it's awesome.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Yeah Well, and I do think employees they expect to
see us up there a lot and that'shard because they don't
understand all the things thatwe're doing behind the scenes.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Oh, 100%, and I get that in my business and that's
where that guilt almost comes in, because you feel like you're
not there and then they're notseeing you and they're like,
well, what are they doing?
Speaker 3 (17:41):
I don't see them physically something, exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
It's like I'm not on a beach somewhere kicking up my
feet.
It's sipping on a margarita.
I'm actually working, althoughI'd like to be there, oh,
wouldn't we all, especially asbusiness owners.
But I agree with that,stephanie.
I 100% agree that and employeessometimes don't see what goes
behind the scenes and get someof that paycheck at the end of
the pay period and it's toughand avoiding that guilt is so
(18:03):
hard to do but it's so great.
You guys.
You have each other to supporteach other.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Yeah, we always say ying and yang.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
It's a lady power team right there.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Double fuel.
So what are someaccomplishments, what are some
really big accomplishments thatyou've had in your business?
We'll start with you there.
View.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I would say I mean being able to be here today and
say we've been open for threeyears, as of February.
Yes, I would say that's a hugeaccomplishment, right there and
being able to have a staff of 23employees.
You know, it was definitely noteasy getting there, but we're
(18:43):
there.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
So, being able to be here today to share our story, I
feel is, and I mean, I thinkanother accomplishment that we
haven't really shared with youyet is that we do a lot of
consulting For this industry.
So all these people that wantto own these wash and fold
laundry companies because that'sa new up and coming that guess
who they're calling.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Of all places well in that, and I mean just growing
the company yeah, as much as we,as much as we've had, you know,
from year one, yeah has been ahuge accomplishment as well.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
But I mean the two people that really like we
really hate laundry and you'recalling us To help you, but it's
more about launching thisbusiness and how to make it work
and how you know who would haveever, ever thought we'd be the
laundry like experts.
Yeah, getting the business upand running in all the processes
and procedures and yeah yeah,yeah, I mean we laugh because
(19:43):
when we very first started, weboth backed in with this van
that we had just bought and thelaundry was to the ceiling and
we started crying we did becausewe had to do it.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
I can only imagine the laundry anxiety coming over
you.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Oh, we didn't do a laundry at home for our own
families, it's like, and nowwe're doing strangers laundry
and it never ends.
Hundreds of pounds of it.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Yeah it was thankfully.
We really don't do that anymore.
No, where's?
The what by?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
your time back there.
Yeah yeah, you put people inplace.
So we talked about yourstaffing and I Like always say,
having that dream team in place.
That's so important.
Before you start building outyour services, before you start
building out your products.
It's so important to have thatteam, because without that team
you're going to be stuck working60, 70 hours in your business.
How important is it to you guysto keep that dream team?
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Our dream team changes, though, because we have
more like entry-level Positions.
It's a service level, and mostof them are part-time Positions,
so they work four hours a nightand this.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
You're always looking for that.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
We're always looking and we just but we do have our
main.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Yes, like our laundry sorter, our launderers, our
drivers, yeah, they're mean,they are our main consistency.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Yeah, for sure, but I feel like we're always hiring
and we just have to have amindset that that's it's not a
problem, it's just anopportunity and we just need to
want.
It's not such a good up.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
It's just a good mindset.
You know, look at every problemas an opportunity to be able to
overcome it.
Because we get so many of thosein business it's you know, just
when you think you're goingdown the road into straight
narrow path, you start to seethe curves and it's sometimes
hard to overcome it and you canget really low.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
You know, during that time and that's hard and you do
feel alone.
I mean I don't have any otherfriends that are really business
owners, so I can't really.
They don't really really toughand that.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I was in that predicament for such a long time
and I didn't know very manybusiness owners and I started
connecting, building a group andreally talking with everyone.
I realized it's nice I havesome that can relate, you know,
because when I was first startedmy business no one knows that
y'all I had to sell stuff tomake payroll.
I had to not give myself apaycheck for a month straight to
pay my employees, yeah, butthey didn't see that.
(21:50):
My employees never seen any ofthat and then they don't,
because I don't want them to,because I Want to make sure that
they know that they have astrong leader in price.
But it you know.
But besides that it's hard.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
It's tough knowing that this is what you have to do
and I think you have to gothrough those struggles to have
the growth that we do.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
You know, hundred percent without those struggles,
you want to have success right,yeah and that's so important.
And so you do that.
You do laundry in in your freetime.
You're both moms.
It's amazing how you manage allthat time you have available.
That's.
It's just great that you'rebringing that and you're helping
other people be able to gettheir time back and Giving them
(22:28):
the opportunity to do the samespend with their families, spend
with their loved ones.
And so we talked about a littlebit about struggles, we talked
about some of ouraccomplishments, we, and we
talked a little bit aboutstaffing.
What are some other areas inyour business that you, that you
want our audience to know?
I know running business is hardand it is challenging.
So what's what's something youcan give our audience to kind of
inspire them?
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Oh, oh goodness.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
Well, for me I think we talked a little bit about it
about going back to the basicsand staying organized and
focused in on your goal For meI'm old school, I love a to-do
list, you know, because you'regonna get a million things
thrown at you and you just tostay focused on that one goal,
which for us right now isbuilding the business.
It's yeah, there's not justwriting.
Awareness yes of an educatingand that's a really hard goal
(23:15):
when you have a new business toeducate people on what the
product or service and then toget them to try to use the
service, you know, because it'snot a really well-known service
here, in the Midwest.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
But here's the thing once they typically try, once
they once they try us by thesecond time.
For a majority of the timethey're hooked.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, they got their time and they don't have to
touch the laundry.
They're like oh man, this isnot.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
I mean, it's just like doing your grocery delivery
to your front door or havingsomeone Bring dinner to your
front door.
It's one less thing For you todo.
It's something to get off yourplate, right?
And?
Speaker 4 (23:50):
then you can use that time too, if you're a business
owner, work on their business.
Yes, that's what you should bedoing working on your business
versus working in it.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Yes and that's so important.
I do a lot of coaching and oneof the things when I do it in my
coaching is I always try andcoach how to make your business
a time asset versus a timeliability, because I see so many
business owners who maybe havehad businesses for 40, 50 years.
Then they're retiring and theywould work 40 hours a week,
every single day of theBusinesses open, and I'm like
(24:19):
you don't want your business tobe a time liability, you want it
to be a time asset and soimportant that you're
understanding that at such anearly stage.
You know, three years into yourbusiness and starting when
COVID was around, that's amazingthat you're able to get to that
point where you're able to stepout and actually have your
business run Without you guysalways having to be there.
Yeah, and that's that's.
That's awesome to hear, andEspecially of teaching about
(24:40):
time and time management sogreat, they got easy to do that.
So, yeah, we talked strugglesand we talked a little bit about
staffing and so your business,where do you want to take it?
Where do you see the future andgo?
We'll start Stephanie and thenwe'll kind of talk with Claudia
and see what she thinks too.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Yeah, I don't know.
We go back and forth on this.
To be honest with you.
We've thought, you know, do weopen a second location out in
West Des Moines, just so thatour drivers aren't commuting
cover?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
a bigger area.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
We've talked about.
Do we open another?
We wash in another town or citynearby?
We just don't know what thefuture we've talked about
franchising.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
We talked about taking our consultation service
out and kind of branching to awhole nother business.
That's another business modelthat we could explore and, you
know, help other laundry owners.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Yep, I just feel right now We've got a really
good thing going as far as, likeI said, a well-oiled machine
and the balance, the life.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
Yeah, my balance is so important.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
That's the most important thing in a business.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
So we're kind of just tossing up new ideas of where
we think we're gonna go next andyou can get that inspiration
Because you can need to take aweek off.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
So that's my.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
My best ideas seem to come in the shower.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
You got a shower, but when?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I take a nice hot shower.
I'm like oh, I guess.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
She'll even call me.
I'm like are you in the shower?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
I am I gotta get this idea out before I forget.
That's why I was like a notepadin the shower, just to kind of
write down, she has her, she hasher phone.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
So now we've got like the shared.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
There you go.
I have this idea.
I don't know what it is.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
It's like that shower , shot it down before I forget
about it.
Am I alone in that?
No, you're not.
I have the same thing.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
It's like this best idea comes from normal.
I forget it when I step out.
I'm like, wait, what was I eventhinking about?
So I love that you're just like, hey, let's call her and get
this on the books.
Sometimes it's the best ideasyou've had, helps you grow your
business, grow your company, butit's.
I tell you, it has been awesomehaving you guys on the show and
be able to talk with you,claudia and Stephanie, about how
you've been able to buy yourtime back and then the struggles
(26:48):
you've gone through and howyou've been able To overcome all
of those to get to where youare now, and I love that.
You said you know at the startthat you were, we're doing
everything, you were runningeverything, and I think that's
how you start with a business is.
Sometimes you are doing it alland then there has to be
something that clicks.
Whether that's it, you'remissing out on your kids events.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
I think it was our mental health, mental health.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
You're like I'm sick of this laundry throw it away.
Something clicks and you go.
I need to focus on getting moretime and getting that staff and
getting that team in place thatactually can manage your
business.
And so great to hear it three,three years in that you're
already at that point.
I think you're going tocontinue to see success.
Is there anything our audienceshould know?
How can they get a hold of you,claudia, if they wanted to know
(27:28):
more information about?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
so you can go online wwwwewashlaundrycodecom.
Super simple, up in the righthand corner.
Schedule a pickup.
Oh, make it cuz everything isdone online and it's a very
customized service, so you'reable to not only Well, here's,
let me back up a little bit.
You don't have to do any of thesorting of your laundry,
(27:51):
literally just pile it all inbags.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
I know I get in trouble if I throw the whites
with the reds.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
So you won't have to do that anymore.
So you literally just throw allyour laundry and do any kind of
sensible bag.
We tell people who don't haveour we Wash Laundry Bag, trash
bags work best.
Our driver will then tag everysingle bag, take it back to our
warehouse, to where our laundrysorter will check pockets.
They will separate by color,launder to your preferences.
(28:17):
So you're even able to choose.
Do you want fresh scent?
Do you want free and clear?
Do you want a luxury detergent?
Do you want wool balls used?
Do you want dryer sheets used?
Do you want something air driedversus put in the dryer?
So what do you want hung?
What do you want folded?
So very customized service.
But here's the thing.
You fill that out one time.
It's saved in your profile andthen after that you can click a
(28:38):
button to sign up for weeklypickups.
We have bi-weekly pickups or asneeded.
So there's no sort of contractever.
You can call the night beforeyou can actually.
Now we have a text reminder.
Because everyone's so busy weforget what we just ate for
lunch.
A text reminder goes outroughly 6 to 7 PM the night
(29:00):
prior saying hey, don't forget.
You have we Wash Laundry Order.
That's going to be picked uptomorrow morning between blah,
blah, blah, typically 7 and 2.
And so, yeah, I mean it's justeasy.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
One last thing.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
It's picked up right from your front door and you
don't have to be home.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
That is amazing.
I just I love here.
And then, stephanie, I know yousaid you do some consulting, so
how can they find out moreabout that?
Speaker 4 (29:24):
They can email us.
Hello at wewashlaundrycocom,and we'd love to help a new
business.
I know you're doing the samething here.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
I'm all about helping businesses and helping them
grow.
We do love it.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
It's fun to kind of meet people from all over and
it's just.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
It's refreshing, it's to be able to hear these people
come to us with their troubleswe were once there and to help
them grow from that and givethem tips and pointers and
advice.
Speaker 4 (29:52):
So rewarding, it's so rewarding, we're having fun.
And let's not forget, we needto have fun in our life, not
just work, work work 100%, taketime, relax, have fun.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
That's sometimes when the best ideas come up to you
anyways.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
I have to tell myself that, though, because I'm very
serious and I'm like chill out alittle bit.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
I'm always being told I'm guilty.
My wife's like just relax for aminute.
If you can't take a breather,you're always trying to come up
with the next idea and I'm likejeez, she's right, I do need to
take a breather.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
That's entrepreneur's .
That's entrepreneurs.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Yeah, some people aren't built for it, because
you've got to be built for it,because it is tough, you've got
to have thick skin.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
And before you've got to be willing to grind yes,
100%, and it's like I said, it'sthat roller coaster it never
ends.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
You think it did?
Speaker 1 (30:36):
You're still on the ride, buckle up.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Well, it has been my pleasure to have you on the
podcast here and I really lovewhat you've done with.
We watched Laundry Co.
It's been amazing to hear yourstories and being able to share
a little bit about that Well,thanks for having me.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much it was fun.
Guys, again, thank you so muchfor listening.
This was another great episodeof the by Time Podcast.
My name is Jacob K Mead, and ifyou want to see more of the
(31:01):
episodes, go to bytimepodcastcom.
Or if you want to work directlywith me, jacobkmeadcom, click
on the link, apply and untilnext time thanks for listening
to today's episode.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
My name is Jacob K Mead, and until next time, thank
you.
Hey everybody, this is Jacob K Mead and this is the
Buy Time podcast, where wediscuss everything there is to
know about buying back your time.
Be sure to like and follow andshare with somebody who needs to
buy back their time.
Enjoy today's episode.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to another episode of the Buy Time podcast.
My name is Jacob K Mead andtoday I'm super excited because
we have two guests and they areowners of WeWashed Laundry Co.
And go ahead and tell us alittle bit about yourself.
This is Claudia, and then wealso have Stephanie here.
Claudia, tell me a little bitabout yourself.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
So I am not originally from here, I'm from
San Antonio, texas.
I don't really have the accentanymore until I say y'all, and
then people say wait a minute,you're from the south.
I'm a mama to three Age range.
We have one that just graduated, all the way down to one who's
about to start preschool.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
So we've got the big gap, yeah.
And then, as far as Stephanieand I and the whole WeWashed
thing, we just we're two mamaswho despise doing laundry.
So we figured we are the OG,the original laundry haters.
Why not find those magicfairies to come in and do
(01:15):
laundry for us?
And that's kind of whereWeWashed Laundry Co got started.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
That's awesome.
I hate doing laundry myself.
My wife tries to get me doingit.
I'm like I don't want to dothis and she's like has piles of
laundry, so that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I feel like with children, it's just never ending
.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
It's never ending, it's always going.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Stephanie, what's a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
So I also have three kids.
I have three girls, so for usthere's multiple outfit changes,
which is a lot of laundry, andClaudia and I were actually in
my living room and we werecomplaining about laundry and
all the chores and all thethings and we were like you know
what the Des Moines area needs?
Something like this, let's doit.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
We're going to hear about it in New York, california
.
It's something that's very wellknown there.
Why not here in the Midwest,where families are running back
and forth to sporting events,mom and dad are both working, or
I mean even mom being at homefull time with babies, so a
little time in the day.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
They need someone to be able to support them.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah and so yeah, that's right.
That's how we ended up where weare today.
So who?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
knew who knew.
So what were you guys doingprior to this Sure?
What were you guys doing, whatwas your guys' adventure before
starting this company?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
So I graduated from St Ambrose University and that's
in Davenport, Iowa with publicrelations and marketing and so
I've always kind of been inevent management and traveled a
lot before I had kids and then Idecided we were ready to start
a family so I needed to kind ofget out of the event management,
because you're gone all thetime and then just do marketing
(02:47):
strictly.
So that's what I was doing andI was ready to kind of work for
myself and have a purpose andshow my daughters that women we
can do it.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
We can do it, so be a big boss.
Yes, so be a big boss, andyou're a woman, you're a leader,
and to show your kids thatthat's super empowering.
Claudia, what about you?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So I have somewhat of a marketing background as well
as a recruiting background.
Compared to this, I wasactually at home with my little
ones, but back in the day Ihired medical personnel to work
on military air force basesaround the US, and that's how I
got my middle class teacher todeal with the filter, AKA fail
cage usually Exciting stuff, soand her human resources
(03:30):
background.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Anything that's a problem.
Claudia gets Claudia go toClaudia, that's right.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
It makes it a little bit easier having someone that's
an expert in that field.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Yeah, I don't know about an expert, but well, we
have, I'm just three employees,yeah, and so with employees
comes problems right and I likeher to handle.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
With that, I don't mind.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, and that's important have someone that's
good at being able to handle.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, she's good with email and I'm good with phone
calls and in person.
Yeah, we kind of just balanceeach other.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
So 23 employees, so you guys are very familiar with
staffing.
Talk to me a little bit aboutsome staffing struggles I might
have gone through, or or what isyour staffing struggles like?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
You know, it's just forever changing.
I feel like there are timeswhere we are staffed To the max
and it's a well-oiled machineand everything's going great,
and then one goes and it couldbe due to you know they
specifically wanted to come andwork evenings with us to
Supplement their income.
Maybe they had a family medicalproblem they're trying to pay
(04:33):
off.
Or it's mom, who's at home allday, who, when dad gets home,
they can kind of exchangechildren.
Mom's able to get in a coupleof hours in the evening to
supplement their income.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
So it just, but from the beginning.
So we opened six weeks beforethe pandemic.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Really, our struggle has been completely up and down
and not really normal.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
We can't really say what.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
We've had a normal year because when COVID
Originally happened, youremember that we shut down for
everything.
Shut down, completely shutevery no idea what this virus
was.
People didn't want to work, sowe had to keep doing our
business, and we were the onesthat had to do everything, from
the driving to you did, becauseyou're the heart of the business
, yeah, so we just hired on twoemployees.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
It was so extremely slow that we had to get really,
really creative on how we weregoing to continue to Pump the
business up and grow thebusiness while it only being the
two of us.
So, like Steph mentioned, wewere the driver, we were the
launderer, we were the folders,we were the laundry deliver.
We've done it all.
So we say it all the timethere's nothing we would ever,
(05:40):
ever expect our employees to dothat we've never done yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
And finding the time to be moms on top of all of this
.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
I'm not sure how we like did it.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It's like I always say it's like having another
baby.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
We really.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Here's the crazy part is we both had little ones at
home under a year old, so wereally had two babies.
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah, we did, and I think I've blocked it out.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
You know how you kind of block things out you do, you
get to a certain point and youstart to almost forget.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
I mean it's like when you have a baby.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
That's why you have more because you forget how you
know truth, the parenthood rightthere, why you guys have
another cuz we forget we forgot.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
That's too funny.
That's why it took me sevenkids between.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
I mean seven in between each kid oh that's great
.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
So you guys, obviously right during COVID,
having that savage struggle,having to actually work in the
heart of the company, that youthink that made you stronger
leaders now because you can tellyour employees that, hey, we've
done this.
Yeah, we know what you're goingthrough, we understand the
struggles and we can kind ofhelp you and we did everything
we possibly could wrong to learnfrom it.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, and every mistake and yeah, now it's, like
I said, a well oiled machineand that's and that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So you, you can take some time and step outside of
your business now and focus moreworking on your business versus
working in it, and that'ssomething I teach in my
workshops, and I teach how tokind of work on your business
versus working in it.
Yes, but talk to me a littlebit about the the struggle that
was to get to that point.
Was it something that came easyor was it something that
actually took time?
And then how did you feel whenyou got to that point?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Well, I think again it goes back to that time period
where we were so in it, becausewe didn't have employees and
because we were going throughthis Pandemic, that it was hard
for us to change our mindsetwhen the time came right, so
when we were able to finallyhire staff, and good staff, and
we had them trained very well,neither one of us really were
able to step away, even the waywe should have.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yeah, and I'd say that was probably one of our
biggest hurdles hurdlesOvercoming was no one's gonna do
it like we are.
It's our business and no one'sgonna do it better relinquishing
control.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Processes.
We're relinquishing yourcontrol.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
It's hard to do Because you want things to be
perfect and you got a relinquishand that was by far our biggest
struggle, and I think we werein the business too long, way
longer than we should have beenin the day-to-day Operating
right in the business.
But once we found those peoplethat could come in and pick up
where we left off, who weretrainable, who were great at
(08:06):
doing their job, it was kind oflike, oh, this is a breath of
fresh air.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Who else can we hire, and what can we hire, mm-hmm,
you know to do so, yeah, and atthis point now it's like we're
going back to the basics withour grassroots marketing, we're
trying to remember to stayfocused, because I think we were
spread so thin as anentrepreneur.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
You're just trying to figure out what works.
Hundred percent, you're doingeverything calling you left and
right.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Everyone wants a piece of what you're doing and
it's so hard to stay focused onwhat your actual mission is and
your goals yeah because you havepeople every, every corner of
your life.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah, I can guide you in the right, and I think when
you're being pulled in tendifferent directions, it's
extremely difficult to give anysingle thing.
You're all so, yeah, and that'sanother thing that your
personal life.
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
I mean that's really been a balance because as a
woman and as a mother, we havethese really high expectations
that we're running the householdand our can do it all.
Yeah, and that we can run thisbusiness and thankfully we have
a partnership, because I'm notsure how anyone can do it.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Align kudos to people that can just take it all on
like that, no it's verydifficult and you know, having
that partner, having someone torely on, you know that's
important, and you talk a littlebit about mindset, stephanie,
and that's so important toobecause I feel like when you
have a business, it's likeroller coaster of emotions.
You know, one day you feel likewe're killing it.
We're doing a great job.
Man, our sales are down, are wegoing to survive?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Yeah, I feel that in my personal business and it's a
struggle I've told everyone thatwe talked to, though, this
entrepreneurship is not for theweek and it's like you're on a
roller coaster ride the entiretime.
When you are high, you are high.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
There's no getting off from it.
No, when you're low.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yes, yes, yeah.
So, like she mentioned, justextremely thankful and grateful
to have that person, andtypically we kind of laugh about
it, but when she's on a high,I'm there to support, or when
she's on a low, I'm there tosupport, and it's kind of been
vice versa.
It's never we're both really inthe low at the same time.
So thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Tony, that's so important.
See, that's something my wifedoes for me is, when I'm feeling
low, she's there to be like,hey, listen, we'll get through
it.
Sales are slow right now, butwe know they're gonna pick up,
cause it's tough.
It is Well.
No, it's tough, and youmentioned how important it was,
stephanie, to have time to beable to spend with your family.
And how do you manage that?
How do you manage the work-lifebalance?
Obviously, you're running thissuccessful business 23 employees
(10:26):
is it?
And how do you do that?
How do you go about that?
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Well for me.
I know that I would never bethe best mother that being home
all the time, so for me, workingis important.
That helps my mental health andduring the pandemic, when we
were really in the businessconstantly and working all the
time, I almost became.
I was unhappy a little bit andI'm like gosh, why are we doing
this?
This is a grind.
(10:51):
What's the point of this?
I'm trying to build somethingfor our kids and for the
community and for myself.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
You're reminding me we hate doing laundry.
Yeah, so we are doing thelaundry.
That's exactly right.
That's what it was, and itbrings you down.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Oh yeah, so what I found for me personally is I
started exercising and I know itsounds so dumb.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
No, it doesn't.
It makes a big difference.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
I have really felt just so much better, like I can
handle my parenting better, I'mmore patient, I'm kinder, I'm
nicer to the employees, evenwhen they drive me crazy.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
You have to have an out.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Yes, I have to have that release, and so that is
mine, and also I'm a big podcastlistener.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
You know, hey, that's good.
I feel like I get a lot of that.
The audience still love that.
That's awesome.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I get these little nuggets that I need to hear.
It's like I think things arewhere they need to be when you
need it in life.
Yeah, and sometimes you know.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
That's 100% true.
My wife always says I've toldyou this a million times.
Why do you get it when someoneelse tells you it?
Because I just hear your voiceall the time, so sometimes you
hear it from someone else.
You know to understand it.
But it's so true.
I listen to podcasts myself,and sometimes the inspiration
that comes from that it'samazing.
So, claudia, what about you?
How do you go about buying time?
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Buying time.
Oh goodness.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
So you have the staff and so staff's in place
Obviously have your time there.
So how do you go aboututilizing that time?
What do you do in that?
So?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
we have a supervisor who basically is able to run the
show.
Rowan is fantastic from takingphone calls to responding to
emails, to dealing with ouremployees, and so that enables
me to be at home more with mychildren.
I am very much so that hands onmom.
I love attending every singlesports game I can.
(12:38):
All three of my children areall very active.
I love being able toparticipate and being in it for
school and volunteering andthings like that.
So I feel like this has reallyreally worked out for us,
because I am now.
We are now at a point to wherewe can step away and know that
it's going to be taken care of.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
So it's an important place to be.
I did a video a while back thatsaid do you want to be that
parent that says I will try tomake it?
Or do you want to be thatparent that says I will make it?
And that's important, I willmake it.
Your kids hear that, they seeyou and they're the next
generation.
And so it's so important to seethat, and it's awesome that
you've learned that especiallyso early on in your guys'
business, of how to be able tostep outside and work on your
business versus working in it,and so you have all this extra
(13:18):
time to be able to focus on thefamily.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
What matters most.
What matters most.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
And not doing laundry .
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Yes exactly, yeah, yes, Well, and for us for the
first two years we did ittogether like everything, and so
that was again draining.
So about a year and a half agoI said to her hey, why don't we
do a week on week off, on call?
So now she has a week where sheis totally on and I'm off, so I
can do my thing with my family.
(13:43):
I don't have to have my phoneby me all the time, which is
nice.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yes, guys, and here's the thing Instead of both of us
being in the grind all the time, it's really really nice
Because we have busy weeks, butI'm able to do it all.
As far as the emails, of phonecalls what not?
With our supervisor and ouremployees, of course, but I'm
able to do it all.
And then come Friday I'm like,oh, there's light at the end of
the tunnel, because I know I'mgoing to have the entire next
(14:08):
week off to where I'm not havingto respond to emails, take
phone calls, what not?
Speaker 4 (14:12):
I mean, we're still there, for sure, 100%.
You know you need that, but itdoes.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
It refreshes us for the next week, for when we're,
you know, I think, just mindsetis like, yeah, we're ready to
take on this week.
It's my week but.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
And this is a service , so we're service oriented and
we are like we're the onesanswering the phones and we want
to be giving the best qualityservice to our customers.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
So we're able to get that and that's one of the
things that I don't really feelwe are wanting to pass to anyone
else right now.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
We still want to be that voice on the other end of
the line yes Voice that theyhear when they call in.
And so let's say do you guyshave business contracts and
things like that with areabusinesses, or do you just work
with homes?
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Oh, no, so we do residential and commercial, and
that ranges anywhere from likebeauty salons to physical
therapy, to massage places.
To Did you say dental?
No dental.
We do a ton of like golf clubsdoing their table linens party
rental supplies.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
So you're giving them the opportunity to have more
time to focus on their business.
Absolutely and not just doinglaundry all the time.
Who wants to do laundry?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Or even I mean there are other companies who are also
in the same boat that most ofus are in, as far as it's really
difficult to find employees.
So when they have that employeewho's supposed to come in and
do the laundry who doesn't showup, I mean you can't just serve
your next lunch on dirty tables.
So we are their backup plan forthem being short staffed
(15:44):
themselves.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
And think about it.
How long does it take you to doa load of laundry?
Wash it dry, it Does it get putaway.
Do you put it away?
Does?
Speaker 2 (15:53):
it sit there for three days on the chair with the
wife saying it's going to getput away Right, which I try and
help with the best I can.
But with kids it gets.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
time just gets by us, but I mean, it takes like two
and a half hours from beginningto end.
And what could you do with that?
Two and a half hours instead oflaundry.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
So awesome.
You give people the opportunityto buy their time back and they
can spend it with their friends.
They can spend it with theirfamily, their loved ones, or
even taking some me time.
It's so important.
Nowadays, I think we all forgetto just take a breather and
focus on ourselves.
And it's awesome that you guysgive them that opportunity.
Now you have had this business.
What are some struggles?
And we'll start with you,claudia.
(16:30):
What are some struggles thatyou might have had in the
business currently?
What are some struggles thatyou've had that overcome?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
I would say staffing is constantly a struggle.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Seems to be a struggle for a lot now.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah, but that's everyone and I know we're not in
it alone.
I mean, you see now hiringsigns everywhere you go.
That's probably the biggeststruggle.
I think another big strugglethat we've overcome is, like you
said, just letting go of beingin control.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Relinguishing control is hard it makes you almost
feel guilty at point two becauseyou feel like you should be
working in your business versusworking on it.
And that's something that'sreally hard to overcome as well,
and I try and talk a little biton that in my workshops and
show business owners that youcan do it, but you need some of
their support you because it'stough and you guys have each
other to support each other.
To that and say, listen, we'redoing the right thing, we're
(17:20):
taking the right step and we'restepping away from our company
to work on it and it's awesome.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Yeah Well, and I do think employees they expect to
see us up there a lot and that'shard because they don't
understand all the things thatwe're doing behind the scenes.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Oh, 100%, and I get that in my business and that's
where that guilt almost comes in, because you feel like you're
not there and then they're notseeing you and they're like,
well, what are they doing?
Speaker 3 (17:41):
I don't see them physically something, exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
It's like I'm not on a beach somewhere kicking up my
feet.
It's sipping on a margarita.
I'm actually working, althoughI'd like to be there, oh,
wouldn't we all, especially asbusiness owners.
But I agree with that,stephanie.
I 100% agree that and employeessometimes don't see what goes
behind the scenes and get someof that paycheck at the end of
the pay period and it's toughand avoiding that guilt is so
(18:03):
hard to do but it's so great.
You guys.
You have each other to supporteach other.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Yeah, we always say ying and yang.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
It's a lady power team right there.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Double fuel.
So what are someaccomplishments, what are some
really big accomplishments thatyou've had in your business?
We'll start with you there.
View.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I would say I mean being able to be here today and
say we've been open for threeyears, as of February.
Yes, I would say that's a hugeaccomplishment, right there and
being able to have a staff of 23employees.
You know, it was definitely noteasy getting there, but we're
(18:43):
there.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
So, being able to be here today to share our story, I
feel is, and I mean, I thinkanother accomplishment that we
haven't really shared with youyet is that we do a lot of
consulting For this industry.
So all these people that wantto own these wash and fold
laundry companies because that'sa new up and coming that guess
who they're calling.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Of all places well in that, and I mean just growing
the company yeah, as much as we,as much as we've had, you know,
from year one, yeah has been ahuge accomplishment as well.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
But I mean the two people that really like we
really hate laundry and you'recalling us To help you, but it's
more about launching thisbusiness and how to make it work
and how you know who would haveever, ever thought we'd be the
laundry like experts.
Yeah, getting the business upand running in all the processes
and procedures and yeah yeah,yeah, I mean we laugh because
(19:43):
when we very first started, weboth backed in with this van
that we had just bought and thelaundry was to the ceiling and
we started crying we did becausewe had to do it.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
I can only imagine the laundry anxiety coming over
you.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Oh, we didn't do a laundry at home for our own
families, it's like, and nowwe're doing strangers laundry
and it never ends.
Hundreds of pounds of it.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Yeah it was thankfully.
We really don't do that anymore.
No, where's?
The what by?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
your time back there.
Yeah yeah, you put people inplace.
So we talked about yourstaffing and I Like always say,
having that dream team in place.
That's so important.
Before you start building outyour services, before you start
building out your products.
It's so important to have thatteam, because without that team
you're going to be stuck working60, 70 hours in your business.
How important is it to you guysto keep that dream team?
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Our dream team changes, though, because we have
more like entry-level Positions.
It's a service level, and mostof them are part-time Positions,
so they work four hours a nightand this.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
You're always looking for that.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
We're always looking and we just but we do have our
main.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Yes, like our laundry sorter, our launderers, our
drivers, yeah, they're mean,they are our main consistency.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Yeah, for sure, but I feel like we're always hiring
and we just have to have amindset that that's it's not a
problem, it's just anopportunity and we just need to
want.
It's not such a good up.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
It's just a good mindset.
You know, look at every problemas an opportunity to be able to
overcome it.
Because we get so many of thosein business it's you know, just
when you think you're goingdown the road into straight
narrow path, you start to seethe curves and it's sometimes
hard to overcome it and you canget really low.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
You know, during that time and that's hard and you do
feel alone.
I mean I don't have any otherfriends that are really business
owners, so I can't really.
They don't really really toughand that.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I was in that predicament for such a long time
and I didn't know very manybusiness owners and I started
connecting, building a group andreally talking with everyone.
I realized it's nice I havesome that can relate, you know,
because when I was first startedmy business no one knows that
y'all I had to sell stuff tomake payroll.
I had to not give myself apaycheck for a month straight to
pay my employees, yeah, butthey didn't see that.
(21:50):
My employees never seen any ofthat and then they don't,
because I don't want them to,because I Want to make sure that
they know that they have astrong leader in price.
But it you know.
But besides that it's hard.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
It's tough knowing that this is what you have to do
and I think you have to gothrough those struggles to have
the growth that we do.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
You know, hundred percent without those struggles,
you want to have success right,yeah and that's so important.
And so you do that.
You do laundry in in your freetime.
You're both moms.
It's amazing how you manage allthat time you have available.
That's.
It's just great that you'rebringing that and you're helping
other people be able to gettheir time back and Giving them
(22:28):
the opportunity to do the samespend with their families, spend
with their loved ones.
And so we talked about a littlebit about struggles, we talked
about some of ouraccomplishments, we, and we
talked a little bit aboutstaffing.
What are some other areas inyour business that you, that you
want our audience to know?
I know running business is hardand it is challenging.
So what's what's something youcan give our audience to kind of
inspire them?
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Oh, oh goodness.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
Well, for me I think we talked a little bit about it
about going back to the basicsand staying organized and
focused in on your goal For meI'm old school, I love a to-do
list, you know, because you'regonna get a million things
thrown at you and you just tostay focused on that one goal,
which for us right now isbuilding the business.
It's yeah, there's not justwriting.
Awareness yes of an educatingand that's a really hard goal
(23:15):
when you have a new business toeducate people on what the
product or service and then toget them to try to use the
service, you know, because it'snot a really well-known service
here, in the Midwest.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
But here's the thing once they typically try, once
they once they try us by thesecond time.
For a majority of the timethey're hooked.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, they got their time and they don't have to
touch the laundry.
They're like oh man, this isnot.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
I mean, it's just like doing your grocery delivery
to your front door or havingsomeone Bring dinner to your
front door.
It's one less thing For you todo.
It's something to get off yourplate, right?
And?
Speaker 4 (23:50):
then you can use that time too, if you're a business
owner, work on their business.
Yes, that's what you should bedoing working on your business
versus working in it.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Yes and that's so important.
I do a lot of coaching and oneof the things when I do it in my
coaching is I always try andcoach how to make your business
a time asset versus a timeliability, because I see so many
business owners who maybe havehad businesses for 40, 50 years.
Then they're retiring and theywould work 40 hours a week,
every single day of theBusinesses open, and I'm like
(24:19):
you don't want your business tobe a time liability, you want it
to be a time asset and soimportant that you're
understanding that at such anearly stage.
You know, three years into yourbusiness and starting when
COVID was around, that's amazingthat you're able to get to that
point where you're able to stepout and actually have your
business run Without you guysalways having to be there.
Yeah, and that's that's.
That's awesome to hear, andEspecially of teaching about
(24:40):
time and time management sogreat, they got easy to do that.
So, yeah, we talked strugglesand we talked a little bit about
staffing and so your business,where do you want to take it?
Where do you see the future andgo?
We'll start Stephanie and thenwe'll kind of talk with Claudia
and see what she thinks too.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Yeah, I don't know.
We go back and forth on this.
To be honest with you.
We've thought, you know, do weopen a second location out in
West Des Moines, just so thatour drivers aren't commuting
cover?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
a bigger area.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
We've talked about.
Do we open another?
We wash in another town or citynearby?
We just don't know what thefuture we've talked about
franchising.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
We talked about taking our consultation service
out and kind of branching to awhole nother business.
That's another business modelthat we could explore and, you
know, help other laundry owners.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Yep, I just feel right now We've got a really
good thing going as far as, likeI said, a well-oiled machine
and the balance, the life.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
Yeah, my balance is so important.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
That's the most important thing in a business.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
So we're kind of just tossing up new ideas of where
we think we're gonna go next andyou can get that inspiration
Because you can need to take aweek off.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
So that's my.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
My best ideas seem to come in the shower.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
You got a shower, but when?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I take a nice hot shower.
I'm like oh, I guess.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
She'll even call me.
I'm like are you in the shower?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
I am I gotta get this idea out before I forget.
That's why I was like a notepadin the shower, just to kind of
write down, she has her, she hasher phone.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
So now we've got like the shared.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
There you go.
I have this idea.
I don't know what it is.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
It's like that shower , shot it down before I forget
about it.
Am I alone in that?
No, you're not.
I have the same thing.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
It's like this best idea comes from normal.
I forget it when I step out.
I'm like, wait, what was I eventhinking about?
So I love that you're just like, hey, let's call her and get
this on the books.
Sometimes it's the best ideasyou've had, helps you grow your
business, grow your company, butit's.
I tell you, it has been awesomehaving you guys on the show and
be able to talk with you,claudia and Stephanie, about how
you've been able to buy yourtime back and then the struggles
(26:48):
you've gone through and howyou've been able To overcome all
of those to get to where youare now, and I love that.
You said you know at the startthat you were, we're doing
everything, you were runningeverything, and I think that's
how you start with a business is.
Sometimes you are doing it alland then there has to be
something that clicks.
Whether that's it, you'remissing out on your kids events.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
I think it was our mental health, mental health.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
You're like I'm sick of this laundry throw it away.
Something clicks and you go.
I need to focus on getting moretime and getting that staff and
getting that team in place thatactually can manage your
business.
And so great to hear it three,three years in that you're
already at that point.
I think you're going tocontinue to see success.
Is there anything our audienceshould know?
How can they get a hold of you,claudia, if they wanted to know
(27:28):
more information about?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
so you can go online wwwwewashlaundrycodecom.
Super simple, up in the righthand corner.
Schedule a pickup.
Oh, make it cuz everything isdone online and it's a very
customized service, so you'reable to not only Well, here's,
let me back up a little bit.
You don't have to do any of thesorting of your laundry,
(27:51):
literally just pile it all inbags.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
I know I get in trouble if I throw the whites
with the reds.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
So you won't have to do that anymore.
So you literally just throw allyour laundry and do any kind of
sensible bag.
We tell people who don't haveour we Wash Laundry Bag, trash
bags work best.
Our driver will then tag everysingle bag, take it back to our
warehouse, to where our laundrysorter will check pockets.
They will separate by color,launder to your preferences.
(28:17):
So you're even able to choose.
Do you want fresh scent?
Do you want free and clear?
Do you want a luxury detergent?
Do you want wool balls used?
Do you want dryer sheets used?
Do you want something air driedversus put in the dryer?
So what do you want hung?
What do you want folded?
So very customized service.
But here's the thing.
You fill that out one time.
It's saved in your profile andthen after that you can click a
(28:38):
button to sign up for weeklypickups.
We have bi-weekly pickups or asneeded.
So there's no sort of contractever.
You can call the night beforeyou can actually.
Now we have a text reminder.
Because everyone's so busy weforget what we just ate for
lunch.
A text reminder goes outroughly 6 to 7 PM the night
(29:00):
prior saying hey, don't forget.
You have we Wash Laundry Order.
That's going to be picked uptomorrow morning between blah,
blah, blah, typically 7 and 2.
And so, yeah, I mean it's justeasy.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
One last thing.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
It's picked up right from your front door and you
don't have to be home.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
That is amazing.
I just I love here.
And then, stephanie, I know yousaid you do some consulting, so
how can they find out moreabout that?
Speaker 4 (29:24):
They can email us.
Hello at wewashlaundrycocom,and we'd love to help a new
business.
I know you're doing the samething here.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
I'm all about helping businesses and helping them
grow.
We do love it.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
It's fun to kind of meet people from all over and
it's just.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
It's refreshing, it's to be able to hear these people
come to us with their troubleswe were once there and to help
them grow from that and givethem tips and pointers and
advice.
Speaker 4 (29:52):
So rewarding, it's so rewarding, we're having fun.
And let's not forget, we needto have fun in our life, not
just work, work work 100%, taketime, relax, have fun.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
That's sometimes when the best ideas come up to you
anyways.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
I have to tell myself that, though, because I'm very
serious and I'm like chill out alittle bit.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
I'm always being told I'm guilty.
My wife's like just relax for aminute.
If you can't take a breather,you're always trying to come up
with the next idea and I'm likejeez, she's right, I do need to
take a breather.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
That's entrepreneur's .
That's entrepreneurs.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Yeah, some people aren't built for it, because
you've got to be built for it,because it is tough, you've got
to have thick skin.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
And before you've got to be willing to grind yes,
100%, and it's like I said, it'sthat roller coaster it never
ends.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
You think it did?
Speaker 1 (30:36):
You're still on the ride, buckle up.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Well, it has been my pleasure to have you on the
podcast here and I really lovewhat you've done with.
We watched Laundry Co.
It's been amazing to hear yourstories and being able to share
a little bit about that Well,thanks for having me.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much it was fun.
Guys, again, thank you so muchfor listening.
This was another great episodeof the by Time Podcast.
My name is Jacob K Mead, and ifyou want to see more of the
(31:01):
episodes, go to bytimepodcastcom.
Or if you want to work directlywith me, jacobkmeadcom, click
on the link, apply and untilnext time thanks for listening
to today's episode.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
My name is Jacob K Mead, and until next time, thank
you.
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