Expanding a laundry operation to serve a new sector requires an across-the-board review of your operations—from wash chemistry to equipment, inventory management/tracking, and more—to maximize the quality, efficiency, and throughput needed to satisfy a new base of customers.

That was our key takeaway following recent interviews with operators and consultants. At times, the transition to a new sector can pose challenges, says Andrew Thornbury, president of Miller’s Textile Services, Wapakoneta, OH. “However,” he adds, “Fortune often favors the bold, and current growth opportunities in certain market sectors are significant.”

That’s why it’s worth the effort to diversify into new sectors ...