Dry-cleaning franchises

    /24-7PressRelease/ - DUBLIN, IRELAND, March 09, 2007 - Household chores are generally a bore to anybody and everybody, with washing clothes one of the most hated.

However, where there's a chore, there's a market and there are always people willing to take advantage of these gaps. Laundries and clothes washing franchises are highly popular, although they generally only target areas where people do not have the facilities to wash their own clothes in their home - such as blocks of flats or older housing estates.

Nevertheless, many are still successful, and combining laundries with other franchises such as dry-cleaning, which targets a similarly small market is proving even more popular.

With people working longer hours and having more cash to spend on luxuries, having somebody else to do the laundry is fast becoming a possibility for many. And anyone looking to get into the service industry will find that both laundry and dry-cleaning franchises offer the potential for a steady income without the stresses and long hours associated with many areas of the industry.

Figures from the Research and Markets website reveals that the UK dry-cleaning and laundry market grew by 6.7 per cent from 2000 to 2004, generating sales of 1.37 billion. This figure is also expected to continue increasing as the market expands.

Of course, the market is quite wide for any potential franchisee, meaning there is a wealth of opportunities available to take advantage of. In the US, chains such as Hangers pride themselves on the influence their brand name can have, highlighting the distinct advantages of taking on a franchise rather than going it alone.

But potential franchisees need to be sure they have the correct business and personal skills to succeed in the industry, as well as the financial backing to be comfortable in their venture.

The service is very much customer facing, meaning any franchisees will not only need to have excellent communication and customer service skills, but be able to spot these abilities in others to increase their workforce.

There are currently 50 per cent more women in the workforce in the UK, with this figure continuing to grow, although this is not solely a job for the fairer sex. Professional services can often include many different kinds of dry-cleaning, washing and garment repair, requiring different skills.

And running a franchise would require a business and marketing brain as well as an ability to succeed in the sector.

Anybody looking to get involved in this kind of franchising should make sure they research the market thoroughly before committing themselves, and speaking to their bank or financial consultant prior to making any concrete decisions.

Copyright Adfero Ltd 2007

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