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THE COMPETITION AMONG startups trying to get their hands on busy customers’ laundry cash is getting hotter.
While London-based ZipJet, which we first covered when it launched in Dublin last month, boasts thousands of customers in the UK and Berlin, home-grown dry cleaning app Laundrie has been quietly building a customer base – and undercutting its larger rival.
The Dublin company, founded by former finance worker Evan Gray, now has its sights on mainland Europe with plans to launch in Italian fashion and finance capital of Milan ahead of a possible roll-out in other Irish cities next year.
Like ZipJet, which has the backing of German tech giant Rocket Internet, Laundrie handles the booking and delivery component of the work. The actual laundry, ironing and dry cleaning is carried out by an approved local business.
Gray told TheJournal.ie the appeal of the service came down to simple convenience – having your suits, shirts and frocks dry cleaned and washed without having to leave home or the office.
I’ve been in a white -collar job and it’s a pain because you usually can’t get out of your office before 6 o’clock, when your dry cleaners are already closed,” he said.
Ripe for the market
Gray admitted there was little difference between Laundrie and ZipJet’s services, with the exception of price. A quick scan of his company’s current pricelist shows most of its charges are between 10% and 40% lower.
Milan had been picked as the next city in which to launch because there was no one offering dry cleaning on an app, making it “ripe for the market”, Gray said.
We want to be the first app that people download for dry cleaning, because the way I see it that is the way this service is going to go. And once someone else gives someone a good service at a good price, they’re not going to be so easily swayed.”
Gray said the company was focussed on Europe rather than Ireland for the immediate future as there were only a few cities on the island – Cork, Galway and Belfast – where the app would be viable.
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I have a fantastic app it’s called the WIFE
think you mean the SLAVE app
No, WIFE.
Wash Iron Fcuk Etc
my washing machine won the contract back in 07 sorry guys
One euro to wash a pair of socks? I’m in the wrong business
€1 to wash a pair of socks? It would be cheaper to buy a 5 pack of new socks in penny’s
I will say best of luck to Evan though.
Wow expensive
Let’s hope enda and Joan and rest of them don’t see this. Imagine what expenses will come to. They even have a per sock charge lol
Great idea. It’ll do well.
It’s not new though, there are a load of similar apps out there – http://techcrunch.com/2015/07/10/shrinking-the-competition/
I’m not sure if there’s a big market for it. Most large companies will offer a similar service to staff and most dry cleaners the same.
We have more than 25 Dry Cleaners already online in West Britain , http://www.thedrycleanerapp.com
Did you seriously call Dublin ‘West Britain’?
I thought that might get your attention Evan! A Cork man just wanted to let you know your a few years late ;) You might get acquired by Laundrapp , they like to spend that VC money like it will never run out :) Best of luck in Milan, I’m going to London!
Well Evan I wouldn’t be too worried about the the idiot from Cork there that you’re a few years late. Looks like he launched over 4 years ago and has only managed to get 25 stores online according to his own statement! Sounds like sour grapes to me! By the looks a twitter his company can’t even respond to customer complaints, not that he has any id say! Best of luck on your venture anyway, and may ya do better than him for a start anyway!
Well Evan I wouldn’t be too worried about the the idiot from Cork there that you’re a few years late. Looks like he launched over 4 years ago and has only managed to get 25 stores online according to his own statement! Sounds like sour grapes to me! Best of luck on your venture, and may ya do better than him for a start anyway!
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