Our CEO and Founder, Susan Toft, was recently featured on the popular “Better Business, Better Life” podcast, hosted by Debra Taylor from Business Action NZ, in which she talks to her guests about a happy life in business, better profit, managing the people issues, reducing stress, creating freedom, and building a great business with work-life balance.
It was a fantastic opportunity for Susan to go through the story behind The Laundry Lady – a journey that started from a simple idea whilst juggling life as a new mum and has grown into a multi-million dollar company who has hundreds of Laundry Ladies and Lads across Australia and here in New Zealand.
As a successful women-owned business, The Laundry Lady’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and staying true to core values – something Susan discussed in depth with Debra.
From humble beginnings to a $9 million business
In the first part of the podcast, Debra and Susan talk about how the business started. Susan, needing flexibility after having her first child, saw a gap in the market (and a pile of her own laundry!) and decided to fill it. She started as the original Laundry Lady back in 2012, on the Gold Coast, in Australia, learning the ropes firsthand.
In the podcast, Susan shares insights into how she bootstrapped the business, navigating challenges from funding hurdles to embracing technology – even using an off-the-shelf system to scale significantly before developing our platform, TimeBoss.
The power of flexibility and values
A key theme Susan touched upon was the importance of the contractor model and how it aligns with our core mission. It wasn’t just about getting laundry done; it was about creating opportunities.
Susan explained:
“…the flexibility that the contractor model could provide was really aligned with what our values were. And our values have been very strong right from the beginning because it was always about creating flexibility, both for our contractors who are joining us, but also for our customers who we’re helping get their laundry done.”
She further highlighted why people choose to become Laundry Ladies and Lads:
“Our contractors are not joining us because they love doing laundry. They’re joining us because they want that flexibility. They want to be able to work from home…”
Building a strong brand, and facing the Sharks!
Susan also discussed the crucial role of branding and marketing, especially in differentiating The Laundry Lady service.
“…investing in that and investing in a really solid brand that encompasses your values, and making sure that’s in everything that you do, I think is what’s really helped us to get to where we are.”
Last year, the company was announced as winner of the Smart50 Awards (Marketing Award and People Power Award categories), which says a lot about our consistent pink branding and the strong community that we’ve been developing along the way.
The Laundry Lady’s CEO was also asked about her incredible experience on Shark Tank Australia, where she secured a record-breaking $1 million offer! She shared some behind-the-scenes details and the massive impact the exposure had on the business.
Persistence is key
Throughout the conversation, Susan Toft emphasised the grit required in entrepreneurship. Her advice is relevant to anyone facing challenges, whether in business or life:
“I don’t think there’s really any secret to success, just keep going. And it’s that persistence. Find another way. If you are stuck in something, find a different way. Just keep banging on doors until you find the right solution around that.”
Serving Kiwis across NZ
We’re thrilled to be operating here in New Zealand, offering our convenient, next-day laundry service to busy households and businesses. Whether you’re looking for laundry service Auckland, laundry Hamilton, or in many other locations across the country, our dedicated team is ready to help you reclaim your time.
Ready to hear more about Susan’s incredible journey, the challenges of scaling, the Shark Tank story, and her tips for success?
Listen to the EPISODE HERE.
It’s an inspiring listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, busy parents, and anyone interested in the story behind a thriving, values-driven business taking the chore out of laundry day!
