[semy]

Hi all,

Im thinking of starting a new venture into the world of domestic ironing. I have no experience in this profession (well 6 years in the army must count for something)

I have a couple of people that have said they would help me out with the ironing bit so i could spend time on advertising etc. I was thinking of charging per item or maybe wieght of a bag im not 100% sure on this yet though. Also is there a need for a steam press or would a decent steam iron do the job?

As for advetising i was thinking of leaflets put into hairdressers and post offices etc and a spread in the local rag. My other problem is do i run a collection/delivery service if so how much or would it be free, could i use a car or would a van be needed?

As you can see i have got alot of ground work to do and i know this is the place to get some good answers to my dumb questions 

Many thanks

Semy

[CMS]

I used to use an ironing service a few years ago. They used to collect on a Monday night and deliver back on a Wednesday. All ironed clothing came back covered in plastic and was charged by weight. Can't remember exactly how much. I think I paid about ten pounds for a black bin bag full but it was back in 1995.

[Prestige1]

Hi
Semy I run a cleaning business and have an iron service too. Pick up and delivery, it is very profitable without the hassle encounted with my cleaning part., we have colour coded hangers and deliver the garments with sleeves. I charge £1.90 per pound in weight and pay the ironers 70p per pound that’s about 3 to 4 gent’s shirt per pound. It is a good investment, hope this helps good luck Phil

[Jan K]

i also run the ironing business alongside the dom cleaning business, I also charge by the weight, although I charge £2.50 per kilo..........I do the stand alone ironing myself at the mo, as I don't have too many customers that take it on its own....most take it alongside their cleaning service.

I collect one day and deliver the next (cos I can at the moment). I determined my prices by ringing around my (very few) competitors to find out what they charged.........it's the only way to determine how much to charge I believe!

[semy]

Thanks for quick replys, do you use a steam press at all? ive seen them for sale for abour £200-£300ish or is the stand alone steam iron good enough for the job?

Also how do you advertise your service or are you using your current customers. Are all your clothes returned on hangers and packaging. Do you offer starch or any other little side earners?

Thanks once again

regards
semy

[Jan K]

i have got a steam press which i only really use for ironing bed linen.............i invested in a pretty good steam generator iron cost me £180....which broke after 15 months, and while I am waiting for the part to arrive to get it going again, I bought myself a cheaper one at £50..............it isn't so powerful but its doing the job and is better overall than the more expensive one...........think i will be hard pushed to go back to the more expensive one when the part arrives!

I only advertise in Yellow Pages and on Yell.com.............as I do all the ironing in my own home, I get my customers to give me their washing in a basket and supply the hangers. No extras, just a simple ironing service..............it's all mine seem to want at the mo, its really cos they hate doing it or can't be bothered to do it themselves!! So I enjoy ironing and it fits in nicely with the rest of my business!!

[Pristine_Cleaning]

Hi All,

Just a quick question for all of your ironers,  How many items, (shirts trousers etc) would you iron in an hour. and what are you using to iron them, Steam Iron, Steam Press etc.

Thanks

John

[Prestige1]

My ironers earn arround £8 per hour, but these are good ironers. I pay them 70p per pound in weight. one thing I have noticed is if you need staff it does fit in with most people and you get a great responce form adds.
kind regards Phil

[semy]

I was just wondering about the ironing boards, is there a type or brand that i should be looking for? Also where do you get your hangers etc from ?

Cheers 


Semy

[Prestige1]

My girls just use good quality irons and ironing boards. I get all my laundry products from alex reid you can view products at www.alexreid.com minimum order can vary from £150 to £250. my girls get
Blue hangers
roll of sleeves
rail
Iron
One nice touch I require from the girls is I cut strips of "Bounce" you know the fabric softner tishues and slide a small strip on each hanger, makes the garments smell nice!
kind regards Phil

[semy]

Great Idea about the bounce, do you supply all your hangers?
Many thnks phil

regards

semy

[Pristine_Cleaning]

Sorry to be a pain about this guys, Im trying to figure out realistically how many items could be ironed in an hour or in a day (8 hours),  This is a service Im interested in offering locally in my area and was just wondering if I got the right person to do the work and the right equipment would it be financially worth it.

Any estimates would be appreciated

Thanks

John

[Prestige1]

I have timed a shirt to be ironed to a high standard by a good ironer is 3.5 mins there are about 3 to 4 gents shirts per pound. but these are the most difficult items to iron, you will make more on a heavy per of jeans especially if they are still a bit damp! or sheets etc. hope this helps. my advice is to keep it seperate from your cleaning and keep that business under the VAT threshold £58k.
To give you an idea
on a 29lb load costs the customer £55.10 you pay the ironer £20.30  and it will cost arround £3.50 for hangers and sleeves making £31.70 profit for picking up and droping off. and don't forget to ask for your hangers back and save more on the next load.
Kind regards Phil

[Ian Gourlay]

Be careful of planning regulations if you are employing staff to work on your premises.

[semy]

I was just wondering , do u offer starching of shirts as an extra or are there any other things you can do as extras? the missus said about lavender and water sprayed on to the bed sheets as they are ironed?

cheers

Semy

[Prestige1]

Semy
I woudn't offer what you suggest as extra, but what you are offering is a bennefit of using your service, a small cost to secure repeat business, you will find if you do a good job you will qyickly build up your clients list. you can charge extra for next day delivery. we starch shirts as required at no extra charge. to me presentation is key.
Kind regards Phil

[Pristine_Cleaning]

Thanks Phil, it gives me a good idea of the timing and costs etc.  Cheers

John

[Ian Gourlay]

I am facinated by all these blokes doing   ironing???


Phil.
On a more serious note is ironing carried out in an industrial  unit or do you use outworkers

In such a low entry level business area do you ever have problems with staff setting up their own service.


Regards

Ian

[Prestige1]

Ian
To be honest I would love to go into this area more as it poses hardly any hassle or risk. the ironers work from there own homes, we stress that all ironing is caried out in a smoke free envioronment and I do inspect and smell the homes. but apart from the od garment problem and the odd ironer letting me down its good business if you can get it. as far as staff setting up on ther own, they don't know who the ironing is from and I only pay them for what they do. some of my cleaners do the odd load for a bit extra cash. if you get a customer the key is to keep them and build slowly.
regards Phil

[Ian Gourlay]

Phil THanks  for sharing that