Zombie Mat rises again
Alliance Distribution and Speed Queen deliver for owner
Morning traffic on Stewart and Gray Road in Downey, California is in full swing…much as you’d expect in the
greater Los Angeles area. Customer traffic inside Suds R Us Laundromat on this Tuesday morning is also
mounting, with Speed Queen tumble dryers and washer-extractors spinning. This is a scene that every
laundromat owner loves to see, and William Oh is no exception.
“I think I’m squeezing as much as possible out of this little store,” Will said.
But a couple years ago, this image of a bustling business was in jeopardy.
A familiar business
Will was aware of the benefits and challenges of the laundromat business, having watched his parents operate
their own laundry business for years. So, when the IT professional was pondering another business, he went
with something he had experience in. That was step one.
Step two involved finding a location that would work. He pictured a larger footprint store but admits “it’s hard
to go big out of the gate.” So, the roughly 1,800-square-foot “zombie mat” that previously occupied the space
became the initial project.
Now came step three – a compete remodel and retool of the long-neglected laundromat. But that proved a bit
harder task.
Distributor hero
While Will was ready to go with another equipment brand and distributor, the COVID pandemic changed that
plan. The manufacturer was heavily impacted and unable to deliver products for his project. As any business
owner knows, a development that delays opening in a significant way is a major issue.
That’s when plan B was executed. Enter Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution West and Senior Account
Representative Yumi Ryoo.
“Yumi and [Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution] saved the day,” Will said, of the team stepping up to get the
new equipment installed. He counts this decision among the best he’s made.
Making a splash
Will didn’t just want to reopen the laundromat; he wanted the entire business to showcase his commitment to
the neighborhood. This meant installing equipment that had a “wow” factor and heavy dose of technology. For
that, he installed Speed Queen Quantum Touch controlled machines and brought in the Insights customer and
owner app.
“I wanted to be unique in the area. Quantum Touch definitely had that X factor,” Will said, adding that he’s been
pleased with his decision to go with the Speed Queen Insights. Living 25 minutes from the store, being able to
manage the business and remote start machines is a definite advantage.
“I definitely love Insights,” he said. “I can do everything from my phone.”
The Insights customer app continues to build in popularity among his customers since Suds R Us Laundromat
opened in October of last year and is tracking about 45 percent acceptance versus coin payment.
The future
Will is committed to driving his business forward soon and it comes with a change in the formula – going bigger.
He’s focused on finding another location that will enable him to double his current footprint. What’s not going
to change is his commitment to Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution and Speed Queen.
The full-service distributorship and friendship built with Ryoo, Oh feels he has a team that is focused on his
success well into the future and for him, loyalty is everything.
