Start an ironing service... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

impressive_ironing

Hi Rich
I would be very interested in seeing how your business progresses..keep us all posted
Jo

impressive_ironing

Hi Ive been ironing for work for 2 years now and I have often looked on this forum for help. Finally I got round to joining You all are so helpful and it's great to hear others experiences. Thanks espesh to Steph you seem to know what you talking about!
Jo

Hopey

Hi Everyone!

I am also keen to start an ironing business. I've read through all your posts (hope i've not missed any) and would like help for a couple of points made.
1) What software is available to make free websites?
2) Names - is there a way of checking to make sure i'm not stealing anyones name?!
3) Sounds silly but what are you delivering your finished ironing in? Boxes?

Any advice would be appreciated!!! Will return the advice when i have some!

lisa191

Thanks Jo! I was telling my mother in law of my plans on Friday and then she gave me the bad news! She had just had a flyer through her door offering an ironing service- and she only lives a couple of streets away from me! I knew there my be competition but its so close Im now beggining to reconsider the whole thing:(

I live in north london and I know its a big place and probably plenty of work for both of us. Do any of you ladies and gents have any competition close by and does it affect you?

Was started to get excited before the weekend, checking out irons (god how lame is that - getting excited about an iron!!!).
Im thinking of ringing the competition (posing as a potential customer of course) to find out what areas they cover.

Please can someone get me excited about this venture again?:j

theironman

Hi Lisa

I wouldnt worry about one starting nearby, if there are a number of people doing the same business its because there is potential out there for doing good business - healthy compteition is fine, dont worry. Make your brand your own and forge ahead.

We have delayed launching ours until late October - need more research and practice - its bloomin hard work and I want them clothes to look really good.

Can anyone let me know what their customers expect - perfect, crease free or are they fairly realistic with the types of items they give you as im finding it hard making them look PERFECT and worried it wont look any different to someone doing it themselves...... help!!!!

Rich

missspeedy23

Hi all

I've not been on for a bit - I've not been alerted to the new posts!

In answer to some of the recent questions, I've got a car and I just have a plastic pipe running between the 2 handles at the back and I've got a wiring flex running through the middle of it that ties around the handles at either end to make sure it stays put. Doesn't look great but it does the job - I just then hang the hangers on there and can get loads on it. I make sure I turn different customers hangers the opposite ways around so they don't get mixed up.

For returning folded items in I use Ikea big blue bags - they're only 40p and are the perfect size for putting t-shirts and bedding in. I can usually get 2 folded t-shirts side by side so they're great, I just write my company name in black marker on the side and put "please re-use" on it.

Website wise I bought a domain from 1and1.co.uk or something like that and then I've just built a free website using wix.com and forward my domain to that website so they still type in the nice web address and it forwards to the Wix one. You can even have a feedback form on there which I've been looking for for ages so I'm quite happy with it.

If you want a nosey my web address is www.pressed-to-perfection.co.uk .

As for names, as long as you're not a limited company you can basically call yourself whatever you like, as long as it's not a trademark like Apple or Microsoft! The only thing really to check is Yell.com etc to make sure there's no one nearby with the same name as that could get confusing. Saying that though there's someone in London with same name as mine and I've had the odd phone call from them...

As for quality, I tend to base it on how they send the stuff in the first place- if it's screwed up in a ball then I'm not going to break my back getting it perfect. You can tell the customers who just send you the crap they don't want to do so they'll be happy however they get it back. I do have some customers who like them perfect and have complimented me on how I do them so they get special attention. I used to drive myself mad when pressing bedding and it took me hours but now I fold everything in half lengthways to reduce the time and fitted sheets I tuck all 4 corners in and press like that - no-one has complained about that.

I wouldn't worry about having a competitor nearby, just make sure you're not charging a whole lot more. I tend to do special offers like 10% discount for new customers using their own hangers, advance purchase offers and loyalty offers so if you do something like that and they don't then you've got something on them.

Phew! Will get on with some ironing now...

Jo
x

zpr1c3

Hi,

I as after some advice, I have just finished University and am finding it impossible to find a job so want to try and set my own business up. I would like to go into ironing in the Lincoln area, however I am not sure how possible it is. I don't currently drive and by the sounds of this thread, most of you do, do you think it would be worth trying to start up a service that required people to bring their clothes to my home and pick them up?

giggles_alot

Just wondering if any of you have used Twitter to promote your Ironing Service, I've had a lot of interest through website but didn't know if it would be worth setting up a work profile on Twitter, allow other business to find and current customers to recommend. Does anyone have experience of doing this? As its free, guess theres nothing to loose?!

giggles_alot

Not sure if any one can give some advice on this/had same problem...
I have some clothes that were dropped off to me, I've had them since the end of May and despite calling the lady a few times to remind her that they need collecting she still hasn't picked them up. As she was dropping off to me and collecting again, I only have a name and telephone number as details for her and this telephone number is now unobtainable, meaning I now have no way of contacting her. There is only 10 items so I'm not even too bothered about the money. I'm sure you all know the type of clothes that you can't hang with other clothes, meaning they are limiting my storage space. How long do I keep them hanging? Waited long enough and chuck them in a bin bag somewhere?
Thanks for any opinions

missspeedy23

I have to say I've never experienced that one!! It does sound very strange, I wonder if she's moved and just forgotten about them? I think I would fold them in a box or something and just put them to one side just in case she does come back but it doesn't sound likely. Was she elderly? Do you have a surname as you could try searching on 192.com for her or a relative nearby to you?