Technology focussed dry cleaners overcome disability and become eco-warriors

Technology focussed dry cleaners overcome disability and become eco-warriors

A husband and wife business team has overcome a battle with cancer to emerge as eco-warriors in their industry.

Jennie and Phil Lyons have turned a Hunter dry cleaning business into a best practice firm using technology and a can do, nurturing spirit.

The Newcastle couple took over Pride Dry Cleaning and Laundry in 2010. In 2012 Phil was diagnosed with an aggressive sarcoma (cancer). His treatment culminated in 2014 with Phil undergoing a full hind quarter amputation which left him in a wheelchair.

To enable Phil to keep working in the business they had two specially designed, German-built, wheelchair friendly machines installed; the only two of their kind in the world.

Phil said he wants his experience to be an inspiration to other people.

“You can adapt your business to accommodate people with disability and you can successfully own and run a business if you have a disability,” Phil said.

“Cancer is just a word, not an end.”

The couple has not stopped there in introducing beneficial new technology. Pride’s Islington store has this month installed the region’s first dry cleaning ATM to enable 24/7 self-service drop off and collection of dry cleaning.

Jennie is also a Director of Hunter Business Chamber. She said technology and systems are helping Pride to be an eco-warrior.

The business was part of the Office of Environment and Heritage’s Energy Hunter Program. It not only recycles its water and plastics, it reuses the heat from its dryers. The new machinery and practices combined with new staff procedures mean staff have virtually no contact with dry cleaning chemicals.

“We are aiming to have minimal impact on the environment and make our workplace as safe as possible for staff,” Jennie said.

“It is rewarding to us and our customers to know our plastics are creating benches for local schools and we are doing their dry cleaning while treading much more lightly on the planet,” she said.

The couple said the half million dollar investment is paying dividends on so many levels. Their chemical costs have been cut by 70% and energy costs by 20%.

“We aim to be a new breed of dry cleaners,” they said.

Pride is the only privately owned local dry cleaner registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The business’ support for a number of local organisations as well as its support for people on return to work programs saw it win the 2015 Drycleaning Institute of Australia’s Outstanding Community Service Award.

IMAGE | Phil and Jennie Lyons have turned a Hunter dry cleaning business into a best practice firm.

Pride Dry Cleaning and Laundry

After discovering a need for a dry cleaner that offers more than simple washing services, Pride Dry Cleaning was established by Phil and Jennie Lyons in 2010. Since then Pride has grown into a proud Hunter business, providing dry cleaning services that go above and beyond for the community.

At Pride Dry Cleaning they offer a FREE pick-up delivery service throughout the Hunter and are the only NDIS registered dry cleaner in the region. With their contactless pick-up/drop off red box system, they are able to provide business 24/7 for their customers around the clock.

Pride Dry Cleaning provide a range of garment cleaning services on items such as – shoes, wedding dresses, everyday attire and anything in between! They even offer alterations and garment mending, for those well-loved clothes.

The business’ support for local organisations and for people on return to work programs saw it win the 2015 Drycleaning Institute of Australia’s Outstanding Community Service Award.

Locally owned and operated out of Islington, Pride Dry Cleaning make every effort to stand out from crowd. So instead of airing out your dirty laundry, why not let the Hunter’s favourite dry cleaners do it for you?

 

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