RIPON, Wis. — Commercial laundry equipment manufacturer Huebsch has named Joseph Koyithara, owner of the Houston (Texas) West Airport Washateria, as its first Store Owner of the Quarter, the company reports.
Huebsch will recognize four owners from across the country that excel in areas such as entrepreneurism, technology adoption, innovation, and customer and community service, the company says.
Although his store is relatively new, Koyithara has had experience in the laundry industry, when he and his partners purchased an existing chain of Houston-area Laundromats, according to Huebsch.
“After [Koyithara] faced challenges while working with his then distributor to remodel two of his stores, he turned to Huebsch and Houston-based distributor Gulf States Laundry Machinery for a fresh start.”
The company highlighted Koyithara’s determination to succeed in the laundry industry as the reason he was chosen for the award.
“Joseph’s ability to see the value of the laundry business, even after a few bumps in the road, is a true testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and drive to succeed as an owner,” says Kathryn Q. Rowen, Huebsch North American sales manager. “We are proud to recognize Joseph with our inaugural Store Owner of the Quarter award.”
Houston West Airport Washateria (7997 W. Airport Blvd.) is located in a roughly 12,000-square-foot strip mall, featuring a convenience store, gas station and liquor store, all of which Koyithara and his partners own, according to Huebsch.
Regarding the store’s building process, Koyithara says his new relationship with Gulf States Laundry Machinery had become “more of a partnership.”
“I ran the equipment mix plans past them before construction started and they checked in during the build-out; it was so much easier and more efficient than my previous experiences,” he says.
The 4,000-square-foot Laundromat has 32 Huebsch washer-extractors, ranging in capacity from 20 to 80 pounds and featuring the company’s Galaxy and eBoost technology, Huebsch says.
“Given the setbacks I experienced with my first stores, I’m ready to use the Galaxy features to the fullest to run as efficiently as possible while boosting my revenue,” saya Koyithara.
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