Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Churilla.
Hi Sarah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been in the laundry and drycleaning business since I was 14 years old. I came across what (was) The Laundry Basket in Roswell, GA when I was renovating my house and thought it was a cute laundromat that I wanted to purchase. Months later in November 2021, my washer broke and I used the delivery option, which I fell IN LOVE with… one day, I got a call that my laundry would be late. The owner (Andrew Lucas) called and we got to talking about how he was a new owner of only four weeks and didn’t know much about the laundry business. I told him that I would love to chat with him because I was considering becoming a laundry consultant and thought the delivery business had a lot of potential. Once at lunch, I discovered that Andrew (also my husband’s name) had long haul COVID and was too sick to continue his executive job and left to buy a laundromat.
We both have one son (both named Drew), and both are on the autism spectrum. At the time, my son was four, and his son was 16. The coincidence started a unique bond between us, and we decided to go into business together. I left my job selling laundry to hospitals, and we started to build a new, modern brand with beautiful stores and a user-friendly app that offers DIY laundry, drop off, and pick up/delivery for residential customers and commercial accounts. We now have 2 branded laundromat locations in Roswell & Acworth/Woodstock and a 3rd location (a drycleaner) in East Cobb. One day, we would love to have a plant and start a program for adults with special needs that we call the LaunDrew program, after our sons.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Transitioning from the corporate world (I was in healthcare laundry sales), where the infrastructure is set, to a business ownership role where you have to create the infrastructure yourself has been challenging. Timelines, expectations, construction deadlines, and lease terms (leasing companies do not want to lease to drycleaners) have also been challenging. Finally, building a team and a company culture in a world where quality hourly employees are hard to come by has been challenging but also rewarding–we feel that we have the best team in our industry.
As you know, we’re big fans of Tumble & Dry. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a laundry and dry cleaning delivery service that offers a luxurious feel at a competitive price point. Our customers can wash their own clothes in our beautiful laundromats using state-of-the-art equipment or drop them off. We also have a user-friendly app for Tumble & Dry where customers can schedule a pickup and delivery right to their door–much like Instacart for your laundry. Our employees are friendly, professional and helpful so that T&D customers are guaranteed to have a pleasant experience with us every time. We set ourselves apart with our catchy branding, social media presence and our ability to offer customers garment cleaning at every level: from ballgowns to dog beds to shoe cleaning–we do it all.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
We owe a lot of credit to the Roswell Moms Network on Facebook because they have rallied around us and supported our business from Day 1. This group of 8500 women have consistently used and supported our services and helped us grow organically. In addition, we have a phenomenal marketing company (Vintage Rebel in Milton) that has helped mold us and guide us through the nuances of starting a successful small business while providing a stunning brand. Finally, our employees–they are so dedicated and make our customers feel welcome and safe in our stores. Their attention to detail and sense of urgency has shaped us into a brand that people want to do business with.
Contact Info:
- Website: tbldry.com
- Instagram: tblndry
- Facebook: Tumble & Dry business page on Facebook
Image Credits
Tran Bui Productions for 1st image of 2 owners, no credit for photo by van of owner Sarah or the one by the door with the 2 dogs, Photos of the store are from Albright Photography.
