Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Bourne.
Candice, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I worked as a travel agent for over 17 years. Within the last 6 years, I specialized in selling cruise travel. I loved my job and I loved to travel. I was the top seller for my company selling over 3 million each year. I asked my boss at the end of year party how can I exceed that 3 million number next year and he said he was shocked I sold that much as it was twice the amount of the person in 2nd place so why don’t I maintain. I didn’t want to be a hamster on a wheel so I started researching businesses. My mother always complained that she no longer wants any business she has to sit in. She owned 3 pharmacies and was the only person licensed to dispense medicine so she had to be there everyday and had to be on her feet all day. That I didn’t want.
So after searching through business options online, I saw Coin Laundries. I researched the business and went to a few seminars and flew out to attend their convention in Las Vegas. I said that’s it I would like to buy one. I was up late one night selling a cruise to an Australian repeat customer and just happened to google laundry for sale in my area. One came up that posted within 24 hours of my search. I called the number and the seller answered and said to go look at it and gave me the address. It was almost 45 minutes away so I was not eager to look. A week passed and the seller called to find out my thoughts and I said I didn’t look yet so he said again to go look. So I did and I said this is it.
Now that I found the Business I needed to find all the funds. I went down 441 from Bank to Bank with my 800 credit score. No Bank wanted to take a chance on me because the economy at this time had tanked and I had never been in business before. So I scrapped up all my cash, told my 7 and 8-year-old at the time I am going to need to borrow their savings. My son said that’s ok mom, my daughter cried and said she don’t want to be broke. I pulled all the cash I could from all my credit cards and asked my boss for a small loan from my next paycheck which they approved and lastly, I called my Dad in the Caribbean Islands for a small daddy daughter loan.
I bought my business CASH. So here I am 6 years later. In between that time frame, I bought 2 other stores and sold one. I also had so many wonderful customers from selling travel for so long, I ended up buying a travel franchise so I still sell travel.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This road as a business owner definably have been challenging. This Coin Laundry business is a man’s world. It also involves learning how to repair the machines when they break down and hiring employees to run the business. The employees have been the most challenging part. Since it’s not their business they put very little effort into the job and that is a challenge if you are looking to grow.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Our Coin Laundry business ensures we have working machines at all times. We also are open 7am-3am during the weekdays and 24 hours on the weekend so we are available almost all the time. We open 365 days a year. We are open on all holidays. We offer wash and fold service, Dry-Cleaning service, Ironing and we pick up and deliver. We have accounts with Hospitals, Doctors, Spas, Chiropractors, Schools and more to do their Laundry service. What sets us apart is our turn around time and our quality fold. We are most proud of how clean we keep our store. We get great reviews about how clean we are all the time.
What were you like growing up?
As a child, I grew up with working both parents. They owned their own business and still do. I was interested in sports and outdoor activities, traveling.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.candycleanlayndry.com
- Phone: 954 966 8859
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: Candy Clean Laundry
- Yelp: Candy Clean Laundry
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