With only four months of experience in the dry cleaning industry, brothers Hunza Khan and Ammad Khan—young entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s—are relative newcomers running Nami Shirts & Laundry Service in Melville, New York. Despite their short tenure, they are already wetcleaning 100% of their workload using the AquaMax wet cleaning machine.
“Before this, we outsourced all our dry cleaning to a wholesaler. Our shop was too cramped to fit a dry cleaning machine, and we lacked the manpower to handle the process ourselves,” said Hunza Khan.
After attending an AquaMax open house at Kimber Cleaners in New Jersey on November 23, they were so impressed by the cleaning quality that they purchased the unit and had it installed by December 11.
“When I saw the AquaMax in action, the processing speed was more than three times faster than dry cleaning, there was almost no spotting required, and the finishing was incredibly easy. It literally solved all my problems at once; I felt it would be foolish not to buy it.”
Financial incentives also drove the quick decision. Since taking over the business, sales have increased by over 40%, resulting in monthly payments of $8,000 to $10,000 to their dry cleaning wholesaler.
“Installing the AquaMax saves us $10,000 a month immediately. It’s essentially a goose that lays golden eggs.”
As the name suggests, Nami Laundry handles a massive volume of laundry. The “Wash & Fold” service is so popular that the basement often overflows with incoming items. To keep up, the plant operates 24 hours a day across three shifts.
“Since our shop is less than 1,000 square feet, working in three shifts is the only way to process the volume. We used to outsource all dry cleaning because we were simply overwhelmed by the laundry workload.”
Previously, they relied on three sets of household washers and dryers plus a Wascomat washer. Now, a significant portion of that laundry is processed through the AquaMax.
“Customers love it; they tell us their clothes look much cleaner than before. Our shirt customers even ask what changed because the texture of the fabric feels different.”
The most significant quality improvement, however, was seen in the items previously sent to the wholesaler. Dark colors appear deeper and richer, prompting customers to ask what products are being used, while whites and light-colored items possess a dazzling brightness that amazes clients.
“Female customers, in particular, give us a lot of praise. When we take clothes that had become dull from years of solvent cleaning and process them with the AquaMax, they repeatedly thank us, saying the clothes look brand new.”
President Hunza Khan says that with sales continuing to rise, they plan to expand next year. “When the neighboring tenant moves out, we plan to expand the plant and install a second AquaMax unit.”
He concluded, “If beginners like us can achieve professional results just by pressing a button, wouldn’t it be foolish to buy a dry cleaning machine that is three times more expensive?”
For detailed inquiries regarding this article, please call (516) 957-8523.
