In the competitive laundry industry, workers in laundry shops must possess these skills to not only ensure high-quality services and avoid complaints but also maintain a good reputation and foster continuous business development.
Washing Label
A washing label is an important information carrier for the clothes. It details the fabric composition, washing method, and precautions. This is not only the basis for the laundry staff to handle the clothes, but also the key to avoiding disputes. When a customer brings a piece of clothing that can only be washed but requests dry cleaning, the staff should patiently explain to the customer the possible consequences of dry cleaning (shrinkage, deformation, or fading) and explain the reasons why it cannot be dry cleaned.
If the customer insists on dry cleaning, laundry shops must keep a record and fulfill the obligation of notification to prevent unnecessary disputes caused by unexpected situations.
Awareness of Brand
Expensive clothes are often more challenging in terms of accessories, color matching, and washing difficulty, and the risk factor is also relatively high. Customers have stricter requirements for washing and ironing this kind of clothes. As a result, laundry shop workers must have brand service awareness. When receiving expensive clothes, they can remind the customer: “Hi, this piece of clothing has a relatively high brand value. I suggest you choose fine washing, as it can better protect the clothes.”
If the customer agrees, the staff should be extra careful during the washing process. Hand washing and brushing should be adopted. When drying, it should be folded on the clothes hanger. When ironing, the suction function should be turned on, high steam should be used, sharp corners should be avoided, and it is strictly forbidden to press hard. The brand awareness can not only show the professionalism of the laundry shop but also show respect for customers. In addition, the maintenance requirements for brand shoes, bags, leather jackets, etc., are relatively high, and the corresponding maintenance costs will also increase. Staff need to communicate clearly with customers in advance.
Fabrics
The characteristics of the fabrics determine the washing method and the announcements.
- Cotton, linen, and polyester fabrics favor alkali but are sensitive to acid.
- Wool, cashmere, and mulberry silk fabrics prefer acid over alkali, and products for removing blood stains should be avoided.
- Viscose fiber should be kept away from water washing.
- Metal wire fabrics require hand washing and should not be dried or spun for a long time.
- Soybean fiber is suitable for cleaning with neutral water and should be avoided in direct sunlight.
- Coated fabrics cannot be cleaned with de-glue products, and the drying temperature should not exceed 40℃.
Staff must be familiar with the characteristics of the fabrics so that they can choose the appropriate cleaning method according to the material of the clothes to make sure that the clothes won’t be damaged during the laundry process.
Product
When using detergents, staff should know the functions and characteristics of all kinds of products.
- Stain removers, oil removers, and products for removing pen marks or adhesive-based stains are all different.
- Main detergents also come in acidic, neutral, and alkaline types, so safety precautions should be taken when using them.
In addition, staff should regularly update their product knowledge and pay attention to the latest and most effective detergents so as to provide better washing effects.
Stain
There are many kinds of stains, including pigment stains, protein stains, grease stains, oil-based stains…
Staff need to learn to distinguish different types of stains so as to adopt the correct treatment methods:
- Carbon pens and eyeliner liquid are relatively easy to remove from polyester fiber fabrics, but they are more difficult to remove from other fabrics.
- Protein stains cannot be treated at high temperatures. Otherwise, the stains will become firmer.
- For old urine stains, sweat stains, blood stains, etc., the possibility of complete removal is relatively small. Staff should avoid excessive treatment to prevent irreparable losses such as shrinking, deformation, and color fading of clothes.
Reception
Reception is the front line of the laundry shops, and the link for collecting and inspecting clothes is really important. The staff should follow the “three looks” :
- First, look at the overall appearance. Check for any color differences or damages on the shoulders, back, arms, knees, and other parts.
- Second, look at the parts to check if the buttons and accessories are damaged, if the zippers are intact, and if the belts and fur collars are complete.
- Third, pay close attention to the details. Observe whether the clothes have problems such as shrinkage, bubbling, pilling, scratches, stringing, color mixing… Check if there are any holes in the belt position, and whether the coating is cracked or peeled off.
After the inspection, the staff should explain to the customers the current condition of the clothes, like the degree of dirtiness, the leather quality being prone to cracking, and the edges of the leather being prone to bleeding, and mark them in detail on the laundry receipt. If the customers rush to leave, the staff should take pictures as a record and tell the customers by telephone in time to ensure the accurate conveying of the messages.
Marketing
For newly opened laundry shops, attracting customers and showcasing the shop are top priorities. Flyers, posters, and banners are common promotional methods. Although the return rate may not be high, they are an indispensable basic means. The key lies in identifying the right time and place for distribution, so as to effectively increase attention.
As a community service industry, dry cleaning activities should mainly revolve around the area where the store is located. Laundry shops need to pay attention to both in-store and out-of-store publicity, formulate membership card promotion plans, and attract customers through appropriate discount activities.
At the same time, laundry shops should moderately connect with online platforms to prepare for the long-term development of the store and gradually expand the brand influence.
Conclusion
All in all, the operation of the laundry shops cannot live without professional technology and services. Only when the staff’s professional knowledge keeps growing and details are paid attention to can they win the customers’ trust and support. In this condition, they can maintain an undefeated position in the fierce market competition.
