DryPass is a web-based app that allows users to arrange for the pickup and delivery of dry cleaning. Users pay a membership to access the service. (Courtesy DryPass)
The time has come for a local entrepreneur to unfold a concept he’s been thinking about since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reggie Nuwordu recently launched DryPass, a startup that offers dry cleaning pickup and delivery.
Via the company’s website, customers can select a local dry cleaner and coordinate the drop-off and return of their clothing. DryPass makes its money through a $5 monthly subscription fee. The contracted drivers get paid through variable delivery fees.
Nuwordu, who has a background in the dry-cleaning industry, said the startup aims to simplify and speed up the process of getting clothes dry cleaned. While some dry cleaners already offer their own in-house delivery services, Nuwordu said he was inspired to build a service based on more uniform pricing models between in-store and delivery and less rigid delivery schedules.
“(Dry cleaners) would upcharge on whatever the price was at the cleaners,” Nuwordu said. “You’d typically get your clothes on a certain day. (With DryPass) you can get it picked up whatever day and get it back whatever day you want.”
Nuwordu said the dry cleaning industry suffered when office workers switched to remote work, and accordingly took a more relaxed approach to what they would wear, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the movement toward hybrid schedules and more time back in offices gives DryPass an opportunity to pick up some work.
Reggie Nuwordu. (Courtesy Ryan Nicole Visuals/DryPass)
“I suspect there will be an uptick in dry cleaning orders because of that,” he said.
DryPass launched publicly in late December after about a year of testing out deliveries. The platform currently has two dry cleaners on its website, one in Midlothian and the other in the East End of Richmond.
Nuwordu said DryPass has paying subscribers to its service but declined to share how many were currently enrolled.
Nuwordu expects to onboard two more dry cleaners before the end of January, with one being in Chesterfield and the other in Powhatan. The ultimate goal is to have at least five businesses on the website.
He said one challenge he encountered in onboarding businesses was that dry cleaners feared they lacked the staff to handle the new orders that would come through DryPass. To get around that concern, Nuwordu said the platform has an order cap feature to help manage the flow of orders.
Dry cleaners are listed on the site for free.
Nuwordu said he has worked in the dry cleaning business for about five years. He said he formerly owned a laundromat in Northside that has since closed but he declined to name the company.
He had the idea for DryPass around 2016, but felt like the technology wasn’t quite there yet at the time. DryPass’s online system is integrated with those of delivery companies like DoorDash and Uber, so while customers coordinate their orders through DryPass, it’s actually contracted drivers logged onto those other platforms that handle the pick up and delivery of clothing. Nuwordu said that in more recent years those companies have improved their integration capabilities with other platforms.
Another reason he revisited the idea is that he noticed that some dry cleaners axed their in-house delivery service as a cost-cutting measure during the pandemic, so he’s betting there’s a better opening for the concept now.
“A lot of the cleaners that had delivery before COVID had to shutter it because they couldn’t afford the van and gas prices, they couldn’t afford to have a driver,” he said. “(DryPass) allows the dry cleaners to have that pickup and delivery offering without those additional expenses.”
Nuwordu said he also works in accounting and has a background in IT, the latter of which came in handy for his new venture. He developed the DryPass website himself, but declined to comment on the investment made to launch the startup.
“A lot of it was sweat equity,” he said.
Looking forward, Nuwordu said he would be open to expanding the number of dry cleaners listed on the site beyond his goal of five businesses if there was interest from other companies.
“We would see if that works for our other partners, see if it’s feasible and go from there,” he said.
DryPass is a web-based app that allows users to arrange for the pickup and delivery of dry cleaning. Users pay a membership to access the service. (Courtesy DryPass)
The time has come for a local entrepreneur to unfold a concept he’s been thinking about since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reggie Nuwordu recently launched DryPass, a startup that offers dry cleaning pickup and delivery.
Via the company’s website, customers can select a local dry cleaner and coordinate the drop-off and return of their clothing. DryPass makes its money through a $5 monthly subscription fee. The contracted drivers get paid through variable delivery fees.
Nuwordu, who has a background in the dry-cleaning industry, said the startup aims to simplify and speed up the process of getting clothes dry cleaned. While some dry cleaners already offer their own in-house delivery services, Nuwordu said he was inspired to build a service based on more uniform pricing models between in-store and delivery and less rigid delivery schedules.
“(Dry cleaners) would upcharge on whatever the price was at the cleaners,” Nuwordu said. “You’d typically get your clothes on a certain day. (With DryPass) you can get it picked up whatever day and get it back whatever day you want.”
Nuwordu said the dry cleaning industry suffered when office workers switched to remote work, and accordingly took a more relaxed approach to what they would wear, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the movement toward hybrid schedules and more time back in offices gives DryPass an opportunity to pick up some work.
Reggie Nuwordu. (Courtesy Ryan Nicole Visuals/DryPass)
“I suspect there will be an uptick in dry cleaning orders because of that,” he said.
DryPass launched publicly in late December after about a year of testing out deliveries. The platform currently has two dry cleaners on its website, one in Midlothian and the other in the East End of Richmond.
Nuwordu said DryPass has paying subscribers to its service but declined to share how many were currently enrolled.
Nuwordu expects to onboard two more dry cleaners before the end of January, with one being in Chesterfield and the other in Powhatan. The ultimate goal is to have at least five businesses on the website.
He said one challenge he encountered in onboarding businesses was that dry cleaners feared they lacked the staff to handle the new orders that would come through DryPass. To get around that concern, Nuwordu said the platform has an order cap feature to help manage the flow of orders.
Dry cleaners are listed on the site for free.
Nuwordu said he has worked in the dry cleaning business for about five years. He said he formerly owned a laundromat in Northside that has since closed but he declined to name the company.
He had the idea for DryPass around 2016, but felt like the technology wasn’t quite there yet at the time. DryPass’s online system is integrated with those of delivery companies like DoorDash and Uber, so while customers coordinate their orders through DryPass, it’s actually contracted drivers logged onto those other platforms that handle the pick up and delivery of clothing. Nuwordu said that in more recent years those companies have improved their integration capabilities with other platforms.
Another reason he revisited the idea is that he noticed that some dry cleaners axed their in-house delivery service as a cost-cutting measure during the pandemic, so he’s betting there’s a better opening for the concept now.
“A lot of the cleaners that had delivery before COVID had to shutter it because they couldn’t afford the van and gas prices, they couldn’t afford to have a driver,” he said. “(DryPass) allows the dry cleaners to have that pickup and delivery offering without those additional expenses.”
Nuwordu said he also works in accounting and has a background in IT, the latter of which came in handy for his new venture. He developed the DryPass website himself, but declined to comment on the investment made to launch the startup.
“A lot of it was sweat equity,” he said.
Looking forward, Nuwordu said he would be open to expanding the number of dry cleaners listed on the site beyond his goal of five businesses if there was interest from other companies.
“We would see if that works for our other partners, see if it’s feasible and go from there,” he said.
Puritan is the largest cleaners in Richmond and still offers free pickup and delivery (plus their cool bags) with services being the same prices as dropping it off at the store. Plus given the huge drop off in dry cleaning usage (used to go weekly but with telework maybe 2x a year) why would anyone pay $60 a year for the service I might use 2-3 times a year? Also not sure I am too keen on my dry cleaning being in an Uber car for a number of hours. I have had plastic food bags smell of cigarettes, I… Read more »
Agreed. Puritan is a fantastic corporate citizen, as well.
Thanks for the comment, Michael. This service exists because there is no such thing as free pickup and delivery. There is a reason why Puritan has some of the highest prices per garment. With each garment, you are overpaying for pick-up and delivery. We separate this cost and partner with cleaners with an affordable price and great quality, such that the more garments you have, the more you save. Some of our cleaners offer discounts on the platform further reducing the pick-up and delivery costs. In a lot of cases, we are cheaper than Puritan and on top of that,… Read more »
Wishing you all the best for great success!
Thanks, Peter!
Well best of luck and sorry but I have been in many an area (and nationwide) rideshare vehicles that reek of cigarettes (and usually air freshener too).
I could not agree more. Thought of all that but you beat me to it for posting. Also a Puritan customer. That being said I do hope the business is a success.
Thanks, David!
Would be wonderful if he could add pickup/drop off shoe repair. Win/win for a business that would work with him.
Noted, Thanks Betsy!