CHICAGO — Starchup and Laundry Locker Inc., doing business as Drop Locker, have entered into an agreement to merge their companies into a new entity, SUD Systems. The two announced the development in a joint press release.
Effective immediately, the two will begin to operate as a unified team with an eye toward taking the best from both companies’ offerings and technology platforms to create “the premier POS, delivery, and operations platform for the laundry and drycleaning industry,” they say.
The joint entity will also be looking at future strategic acquisitions and partnerships that continue to enhance the operator and customer experience.
Earlier this year, Drop Locker and Starchup announced a licensing partnership for Starchup to utilize the Drop Locker intellectual property for locker pickup and delivery.
“The strategic value of bringing the two companies together as one became evident as discussions around this agreement progressed and we began working closer together,” says W. Tad Jenkins, CEO of Drop Locker. “The shared vision and passion of delivering technology-rich tools and solutions to help the everyday operator grow and expand their business while making it easy for customers to transact with them was evident from our first conversations.”
The collective team of founders, small-business owners and former laundry and drycleaning operators empathize with the challenges that today’s operators face, he adds.
“At Starchup, our primary goal is providing the best possible service to our clients to help them grow efficiently,” says Nick Chapleau, CEO of Starchup. “The Drop Locker team has operational experience, including over 10 years growing laundromats and dry cleaners, patented locker technology and expertise behind it, and an eagerness to invest in product innovation, making Drop Locker a perfect partner to what Starchup already offers.”
For clients of both, this means better software and a team of experienced professionals to support, implement and consult, he adds.
Customer software and support will remain the same. Employees from both teams will be joining the new entity. Over the next 6-12 months, the organization will focus on streamlining operations and merging platforms, with the goal of delivering to Starchup and Drop Locker customers an enhanced experience with the best features from both.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].