Businesses that take care of the environment are almost always bound to be successful. OXXO is an environmentally-responsible dry cleaning franchise in the United States with fifty stores throughout the U.S. It's consistently ranked among top U.S. franchises in Entrepreneur Magazine! At OXXO®, customers experience the ultimate in garment care with the use of environmentally safe GreenEarth solvents (no use of Perc (Perclorethelyne) chemicals common at other dry cleaners) and now TOP Terra for regular laundry, the latest 24/7 ATM-style pick up service, the most technologically advanced European manufactured garment care equipment and the traditional method of hand-ironing. All garments are cleaned right the first time and personally inspected by OXXO® garment care specialists to ensure superior handling and meticulous attention to detail.
We had a chance to interview Mishaan and asked about his story, how he started his business and the future of OXXO.
Tell us your story. Why did you start your business?
I saw that dry cleaning lacked innovation. I wanted to make people’s lives easier and improve living standards via convenience, quality and nontoxic environmental safety. With my years of experience from the textile and plastics industry in Venezuela and Colombia; I knew that my team and I were resourceful and could to transform the traditional dry-cleaning system and generate a distinctive and better offering. I surrounded myself with experienced professionals in the service industry, and incorporated a team of technicians with industrial experience. This team and I have dedicated our entire lives to generating efficiency and convenience in other industries. This formula is what has tilted the balance in our favor.
How did you come up with your business name?
OXXO was originally a European cleaning franchise which I liked the name for is metaphoric, hugs and kisses and its colors blue and yellow. Since we enhanced the product, adding 24/7 Service, automation, and Green Earth and a “we care” factor, we added Care Cleaners and the name is OXXO Care Cleaners.
Tell us about your products and services. How do you help clients?
The first OXXO Care Cleaners opened in 2001, and there are now more than 50 locations worldwide. About 35 are plant stores, which offer on-site cleaning and a 24-hour pickup system, and about 15 are drop stores. We do things completely different from traditional cleaners, we care and are committed to giving quality, this is why we hand iron all the garments and blow dry the laundered shirt. We are environmentally committed so we use nonhazardous chemicals and we don’t work with petroleum-powered industrial boilers, not only do we protect the environment but allows our workers to have an airconditioned atmosphere and not a sweatshop as traditional stores. Caring for our customers time, we have an automated 24 hr. ATM style door so they can pick up their clothes anytime day or night. In 2018, OXXO Care Cleaners will open its first fully automated unmanned unit where customers can drop off and pick up cleaning and laundry by themselves 24/7.
In May, the company launched a mobile app that allows customers to track the status of their orders and receive coupons, among other functions. The app is being rolled out store by store and is currently being used by 10 South Florida stores. In June, OXXO announced its partnership with Dersa, a leader in Colombia’s laundry space and producer of Top Terra ecological laundry detergent produced from Palm Oil Bio-diesel— marking the detergent’s introduction to the U.S. market, which adds to our commitment to protect the environment. OXXO also actively uses Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms to promote its services.
What makes you unique? What is your unique selling proposition (USP)?
We are unique because of our revolutionary concept as I mentioned before it was developed to care for what we do. We care for our customer; health and of their families, our communities, our workers the environment. Our store and all that comes out shows the caring. Once people see why we do things and the results they become loyal customers and part of our family.
From a functional perspective, each store can clean up to 700 garments in twelve hours with just seven employees, including the manager on duty. The shop’s internal system is computerized and automated. This combination of planning and technology leads to savings in space, time and money and drastically reduces the possibility for human error and of course costs.
Where do you see your business in the next 3-5 years?
We are growing internationally and consolidating the US market. We are growing in Florida, Texas and the North East and we are also working with multiunit franchisees to expand the OXXO name though out.
Any advice you would give to entrepreneurs and business owners?
I will probably sound repetitive but be passionate about you do and stick to your ideals. We started years before being green was so in vogue, but we did it because our ideals were to care for the environment, even though it was more expensive today we see the fruits because we are the real green cleaning system and our customers and communities know it.
What is your favorite business quote and why?
I don’t know if it’s a business quote, but it works for a better life;
“The decisions you make dictate your life. To thine own self-be true.”
Anything else additional you want to tell our readers?
If it wasn’t for my team I wouldn’t have been able to do all I’ve done, and this proves that a business’ most important assets are it people.