CEO Insights Magazine

Paying a company for laundry may sound like a disadvantage but in the long run, this downside can be heavily outweighed by the level of convenience guaranteed when someone else takes care of all your laundry. People usually do not tend to differentiate between different genres of clothing and usually take up common & harsh cleaning methods that eventually result in ruining the clothes to a point of no return. Led by the fourthgen entrepreneur and goal oriented gogetter Dinesh, UClean takes its customer's wardrobe collection very seriously and handles it with love. Unlike other brands in the segment, the goal of UClean is different. The Co-founder & Chief Project Officer, Dinesh Kumar is bringing a different perspective to the business by working with other entrepreneurs and investors and co-building through the franchise model.

Inthis process of assisting the consumers, organizing the sector, and making it more growth-oriented, he and his team train and equip equally passionate entrepreneurs as franchises of UClean. With some of the most credible partners on board for a venture of this nature, UClean is striving to not just be a brand but an overall segment creator. Today, in this scattered cleaning & laundry segment, the company is recognized as India's first organized chain of laundry and home cleaning stores, focused on fostering the DIY (Do It Your self) culture.

Dinesh brings great experience in the laundry business space since childhood. His expertise lies in business develop ment, operations, startup and scaleup. Appreciating his leadership and unique initiatives at UClean, CEO Insights engages in an exclusive conversation with him.

Read the following excerpts to deduce more about his journey.

What inspired you to start your profes sional journey in the consumer services industry and what drives you today as an Industry Leader?
The laundry business is not new to me. I have grown up watching my parents and close relatives rise and shine in the business. But over the years, I began to realize that the people in the industry work hard enough but can't make much profit due to limited access to professional know how, system, and processes. There is no strong and credible channel to handhold them in their journey of starting up and eventually delivering value. While I was doing my research, I noticed the dire need for regularizing and organizing the sector. With that in mind, I along with my co-founders started UClean with a couple of neighbourhoods in Delhi and Gurugram.

How would you define UClean as an organization and its position in the market?
Incepted in the year 2016, UClean's chain of laund romats(laundry stores) offers end-to-end laundry and related cleaning services. Since its inception, we have been on top ofthe game for revolutionizing the cleaning industry of India. We are the only brand in India that can truly claim to be a one-stop-solution for all cleaning requirements of any family or household.

In the last five years, we have been instrumental in launching 300+ centers through the franchising route. As a tech driven organization, we swiftly upgrade processes and continue to thrive by relying on highly customer oriented services as one would have varying laundry requirements ranging from daily wear, weekly wear/weekend wear,

formal wear, casual wear and occasional wear to shoes.

As a leader, how are you leveraging the benefits of technology at the company?
Technology is at the core of our operations, and we simplify cumbersome chores for the clients by picking up laundry from the client's doorstep at their convenience, washing with expert care, and delivering it ironed and packed, absolutely fresh. Every garment is treated differently using Alliance Laundry Systems for their SoftWash Xtreme care dry wet cleaning technology that lends longevity to the fabric while ensuring better, more powerful cleaning.

Highlight the USP of UClean. What differentiates you in the market?
While we provide premium dry cleaning services in more than 70 cities of India, we have now introduced UClean Select, which is a state-of-the-art live dry cleaning lounge. It is a first of its kind service offering dedicated and customized dry cleaning and fabric care services where the customer can relax in a lounge-like environment while seeing his clothes getting drycleaned in front of his eyes. Something that was absolutely unheard of in the Indian laundry and dry cleaning industry till now.

Dinesh Kumar, Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, UClean
Dinesh handholds the partners right from the beginning to set up the store and supports them even with strong relation ship management practices. He understands that each franchise is different and its customers are varied as well, therefore his strategies are tailored accordingly.

Success Mantra
If you believe in the product, put in 100 percent effort and success will be evident in the journey. Have patience,the timeline to witness success might differ but never stop giving the full energy.