For many college students, laundry day is avoided until the last minute. Between lugging heavy bags of clothes down dorm hallways and competing for machine space in crowded laundry rooms, the task can feel overwhelming for most.
Two Howard students, Aaron Harrison and Justin Gilmore, say they know that feeling all too well and decided to do something about it. Their solution: LoadOff Laundry, a business built by students, for students, to make campus life a little easier.
Founded July 25, LoadOff Laundry is the university’s first student-led door to dorm laundry service.
The service offers pick up, delivery, wash, fold and dry cleaning services for students who reside in Howard University campus housing. Their prices currently range from $15 to $130 depending on the service.
LoadOff is in partnership with professionals at a laundromat in Maryland who perform the tasks. All students have to do is place an order through the LoadOff Laundry website and their clothes will be picked up the next day with drop off the following day.
Co-founder Harrison, a sophomore finance major from Englewood, New Jersey remembers the struggles he had last school year.
Due to broken appliances in George W. Cook Hall, he often lugged laundry bags to Charles R. Drew Hall. He said it took him over three hours to get his clothes clean some days.
This sparked an idea.
“I was thinking about how I can take my current situation at home that’s reminding me of my really poor situation at school and make the community at Howard University better with this entrepreneurial idea,” Harrison said.
He shared the idea with Gilmore, one of his best friends and co-founder, a sophomore marketing major from the Bronx, New York, who helped him haul laundry into Drew Hall the previous year. Gilmore said he immediately saw the potential.
“Let’s provide a service where we can make money on our side and make students happy on theirs. Providing a service the school is missing,” Gilmore said.
Thus far, the Bison community is responding very well according to the business. The launch of LoadOff Laundry on the first day of class received a lot of positive engagement on social media.
Still, the founders say they understand that reposts and likes don’t exactly translate into business.
“Engagement and support is not the same as having clients,” Harrison said.
With this in mind, Harrison and Gilmore have aimed to build relationships with their customers, resulting in strong customer retention.
Jacob Ricks, a freshman biology major, chemistry and business administration double minor from Atlanta said LoadOff Laundry is worth the investment.
With his packed schedule and long class days, Ricks says LoadOff Laundry has helped him relax.
“I had a full day yesterday, but my day would’ve been even fuller if I had to wash my own laundry,” he said.
Beyond convenience, Ricks added how comfortable he feels with the service.
“I’m never worried about my clothes being damaged or misplaced when I place an order,” he said.
Harrison and Gilmore said they see LoadOff Laundry as more than a business but also as a way to inspire.
“I think we can encourage people to do what we’re doing, just in different ways,” Gilmore said. “Take what Howard can’t provide and bring it to students.”
Copy edited by Damenica Ellis
