RIPON, Wis. — Commercial laundry equipment brand Speed Queen has named Emmanuel and Tyesha Offiong, owners of A&Q Laundry Room in South River, N.J., the winners of its 2nd annual “My Success Story” essay contest and a $100,000 grand prize.
“Tyesha Offiong, wife and mother of two, and her husband Emmanuel have remained committed to the needs of their community, and recognized the benefit of investing in their Laundromat, and therefore their business has thrived,” says Jeff Harvey, brand manager, Speed Queen Financial Services (SQFS). “We are honored to join them on their journey, and we are pleased to recognize their accomplishments.”
Joining Harvey to surprise the family with the news were Dick Luca, regional vice president at distributor Super Laundry; Andrea Mueller, Speed Queen Commercial brand manager; and John Smith, Speed Queen Commercial regional sales manager.
Speed Queen says it chose the Offiongs’ entry because of their Laundromat’s creative promotions and workshops, use of advanced technologies in managing their business, and dedication to the betterment of their community.
The $100,000 prize will be applied toward the Offiongs’ recent loan for new equipment through SQFS.
“We could not believe that we had been selected as the winners of the Speed Queen essay contest,” says Emmanuel Offiong. “We have been so fortunate to own a Laundromat in a great community and to have formed such a strong relationship with our manufacturer and distributor.”
“At A&Q Laundry Room, we strive to be a neighborhood laundry room rather than a commercial Laundromat,” adds Tyesha.
She left her corporate job behind to spend more time with family, deciding that she and Emmanuel would invest in the laundry industry. They soon owned a rundown, unattended Laundromat and pursued their vision of renovating the store and equipping it with new Speed Queen machines.
Dan Bowe, North American sales manager, Speed Queen Commercial, says, “Stories like the Offiongs give testament to the return on investment and increased profitability laundry owners can achieve when they renovate their stores with new state-of-the-art equipment. We are proud to be a part of the Offiongs’ success.”
Speed Queen received more than 60 essays describing unique and creative methods of retaining and attracting new customers, judging them based on the most compelling story relative to theme, creativity and clarity of expression. All eligible entrants received a $100 gift card redeemable at an authorized Speed Queen distributor.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].