One Cleaner launches to connect Korean-American laundry businesses

East Orion Co. said on the 18th that One Cleaner Inc., an on-demand mobile laundry service for more than 10,000 Korean American laundry businesses, was established on September 21.

One Cleaner Inc. was launched through a partnership between East Orion Co. and the Korean American Cleaners Association, with participation from Korean American cleaners and coin laundry operators.

One Cleaner, a business uniting Korean American laundry businesses, aims to digitize and revitalize the struggling sector, increase sales and strengthen its competitiveness. Its mission is to advance Korean American laundry businesses, preserve their market position in the U.S. laundry industry, and grow into a global laundry service company operated by Korean Americans.

Lee Dong-il, president of the Korean American Cleaners Association, said, "The laundry industry of the past 50 years and the next 50 years will inevitably be different. We are at a critical moment when we must determine the future of Korean American cleaners." He added, "Jewish and Chinese operators who ran individual businesses had already exited the industry 50 years ago, while Italian operators who built the commercial laundry business into an industry are now thriving even more. Therefore, if laundry is to remain a profession run by Korean Americans, we have no choice but to move forward as a community."

Lee also said, "I congratulate One Cleaner, the mobile laundry service company bringing Korean American cleaners together, and wish it success. I sincerely hope this business marks the start of a new 50-year leap forward for Korean American cleaners."

Photo: Lee Dong-il, president of the Korean American Cleaners Association

Thomas Park, vice president of One Cleaner, said, "Unlike existing on-demand laundry services that operate their own laundry plants, One Cleaner connects customers with established Korean American cleaners run by experienced local professionals. It is the first ‘buy local’ on-demand laundry service in the U.S. and worldwide to support local businesses and merchants." He added, "Customers can use the app to find cleaners near their homes that offer delivery, then place an order by selecting a service and an available delivery time. The Korean American cleaner will pick up and deliver the laundry as scheduled."

Americans across the country will be able to access premium laundry services from Korean American cleaners run by skilled professionals. Customers will also support small local businesses, helping their communities’ commercial districts thrive and grow.

The laundry service app, an on-demand mobile platform intended to unite all 10,000 Korean American laundry businesses, is now 70% complete, with an official launch planned for early 2023.

One Cleaner Inc. also plans to offer Korean American cleaners five services: △ next-generation Google Business Profile setup and optimization, enabling customers to arrange pickup, delivery and orders directly from Google Search; △ development and rental of pickup and delivery apps dedicated to individual cleaners; △ promotional business videos for laundry businesses; △ launch of YouTube and TikTok channels dedicated to Korean American cleaners; and △ an online directory of Korean American laundry businesses featuring marketing tools and detailed business profiles.