Ask 84-year-old Bobby Beam, the semiretired owner of Staunton Steam Laundry in Staunton, (pronounced Stanton) VA, about the secret of success of this third-generation family business, and he answers simply: “The customer comes first,” and “Get good help.” 
 
Like any business, managing one that’s celebrating its 95th anniversary hinges to a large extent on staffing. “I think a lot of the time our biggest problem was finding good employees,” Beam says of the ongoing quest for reliable staff.
 
Keys to success 
 
Even with top-flight employees, winning in today’s textile service business ...