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Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvette Morton Williams.
Hi Yvette, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my professional career in pharmaceutical sales, marketing and consulting in New York City and in New Jersey. In 2010 we moved to Metro Atlanta area to change gears and purchase an existing laundromat.
It has been an incredible journey. My husband and I went from owning that first location to now having 5 in metro-Atlanta locations.
I am passionate about community service and spend more time on my volunteer “jobs” than on the laundromats most days.
I am on the Executive Committee for the Conyers Rockdale Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors and serve as their representative on the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council’s Advisory Board. I am set to be the next President of the Rotary Club of Rockdale County. I am also on the Executive Committee for the national Coin Laundry Association. I was appointed by Mayor Vince Evans to serve on his Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee and by State Court Judge Clarence Cuthpert to serve on the PEARL Advisory Board (Protecting our Elderly and At-Risk with Resources for better Living). I serve on the board for Mercy Heart (provides free medical and dental care to Rockdale County residents 200% below the poverty level). I spent the past three years as a board member for our county’s Boys and Girls Club also.
I was honored to receive the following awards recently:
• 2022: Woman of the Year, We3 Conference
• 2022: Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce James P Culpepper, Jr. Volunteer of the Year (2021)
• 2021: Rockin Women In Rockdale Award
I appreciate the opportunity to show other women that there are different ways to earn a living. I operate in a very male-dominated field (laundromats) and am familiar with the challenges associated with that. I expect that as I am inspired to grow by people doing cool things in our community, some may perhaps be inspired by me to reach a little further as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth ride, but it has been incredible. I never thought we would own multiple locations. The original owner of our first location misrepresented the numbers for the laundromat and we were not prepared for the long road and time it took to increase sales to make the store profitable.
My husband remained in NYC for the first 1.5 years after we moved here as he was finishing his career and nearing retirement. I arrived here alone with our two children while he offered remote support. The adjustment to a new location, running a business in which I had zero previous experience and managing two busy young children who did NOT want to be here and missed their dad, was a challenge.
We made it through that and have grown stronger from owning hundreds of machines that are prone to break (as any machine will do), negotiating commercial lease agreements and a purchase, renovating properties during the covid supply chain shortages, and balancing operations with ongoing staffing concerns.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As you see, we have multiple store names as we did not plan to have multiple locations. We have managed to tie the logos into one another so that they are similar looking.
We pride ourselves in having a more upscale laundromat than one may typically expect. Our stores feature convenient payment methods (dollar coins and credit/debit cards and Apple and Google Pay depending on the location).
We feature reading/learning/play areas in most of our locations (space permitting).
We are big believers in continuous learning and currently provide the Carl Van Williams Service Scholarship. This is a $4,000 award for a graduating high school senior who lives in Rockdale County and is active in the community. We previously offered a scholarship for teenage moms.
We appreciate being a part of our communities and have done events such as free laundry day, turkey/chicken/ham give away and an annual big customer appreciation day at our first Atlanta location every year on New Year’s Day.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I would definitely consider myself a risk taker. I believe the best part of life is on the other side of fear. I enjoy pushing myself to go to new places, literally and figuratively. Leaving a lucrative career to become an entrepreneur was risky.
Each new location we’ve started represented a risk. It has also been risky the way we chose to operate our locations by eliminating quarters early on.
I am drawn to people who chart new paths. I find it very exciting and it inspires me in ways that I can’t fully describe.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ourbestlaundry.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/conyersbestlaundry
- Linkedin: Yvette Morton Williams
Image Credits
Lynn & Lace Photography (family photo) Pictures of our big Free Laundry & Literacy Day last summer in our Atlanta store. Doug Shipman, the Atlanta City Council President visited during this day and one of the photos also. I have pictures of me in the tan dress winning the Woman of the Year Award last October. I love to travel and have a couple of photos of me during a recent trip to Cuba. Photo of our Conyers location at the start of one of our annual turkey giveaways.
