Everyone Has Dirty Laundry

By Michelle Meagher May 17, 2007 Issue

Some might say they had it all.Steven Harley, a former credit analyst recalls a time when health insurance and paid vacations were a given. His wife Elizabeth, a former commercial lending assistant remembers a time when her workday ended promptly at 4:30 p.m. and she could “hit the gym” for a few hours. How different life is now for these two as owners and operators of Destin's Total Laundry Services in Destin.

What could have prompted this couple to leave their favorable positions in banking to explore the world of coin-operated laundry? “A number of reasons brought us to Northwest Florida,” explains Elizabeth. “It all happened so quickly, but the business was surely the deciding factor. We were actually visiting this part of the state to do some casual property research. Little did we know we’d leave with the decision to purchase an investment home in Panama City Beach, along with a seven-day-a-week business.”

As a finance major in college, Steve developed an eye for opportunity. Florida and its promising real estate market intrigued him and in 2004, the Collegeville, Pa. native left his hometown with great expectations and a job offer from a bank.
Within 18 months Steve had bought and sold several plots of land in Northeast Florida. During that time a fellow bank employee caught his eye and captured his heart. Steve proposed to Elizabeth in the fall of 2005 and together they set their sights on land for sale in Northwest Florida. What followed was an exploratory trip up the peninsula and across the Panhandle.

“Looking back it was a fateful venture,” says Steve. “We stumbled upon the business and it instantly changed the course of our lives.”

April 2006 marked the beginning of business ownership for Steve and Elizabeth. “Those first few weeks were rough,” Elizabeth recalls. “Not only were we working 12-hour days, but we were learning the ropes and working through the kinks.” Steve adds, “My legs were exhausted from standing all day. I certainly missed my old office where I could prop my feet up on my desk.” The husband and wife team have since settled into a routine and are much more comfortable now as their one-year anniversary has passed. “The first six months was definitely an eye-opening experience,” says Steve. “Truthfully, I’m glad 2006 is behind us.”

In a year already jam-packed with life-altering events the duo was also planning their wedding.This entrepreneurial couple thanked their guests for attending their special celebration with small detergent boxes and a message stating, “We finally ‘Tide’ the knot.” Steve smiles and says, “We thought that guests would get a kick out of our wedding favors, given our somewhat new and unusual lifestyle.”

This style of life is one that requires continual hard work and dedication. Take one step through the door of Destin’s Total Laundry Services and you’ll immediately realize it’s unlike your typical laundromat. Steve and Elizabeth greet their customers, many of them by name, with a warm and friendly welcome. They are eager to help and eager to get to know new customers.

“There’s a good chance that if they are local and they’re impressed by our service, they’ll be back,” says Steve. “That’s what we strive for here — good word-of-mouth and repeat business.”

“The ‘mat,” as the owners refer to it, offers coin-operated washing machines and dryers, as well as a wash-dry-fold service. There are large capacity machines that can accommodate anything from fluffy comforters to bulky rugs. The laundromat also serves as a dry cleaning storefront, with next-day service guaranteed.

The owners emphasize the goal is to be a “one-stop shop” for laundry and dry cleaning needs. “Where else can you drop off dry cleaning items and pick up clean, folded laundry on a Sunday afternoon?” boasts Steve. The business, located behind Wal-Mart in the Henderson Beach Business Park is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and it is the only coin-operated laundry in Destin.

“Everyone has dirty laundry is a clever and catchy phrase the owners coined when designing their signature T-shirts. In addition to being a business slogan, it’s also a light-hearted reminder that customers need not be intimidated by an overwhelming heap of soiled clothes. “We’re used to it. We can handle it,” says Elizabeth. So the next time you find yourself frazzled by an oversized comforter, an overflowing laundry basket, or a suit that requires cleaning prior to tomorrow’s business trip, visit Destin’s Total Laundry Services. They’ll gladly help you tackle it all.

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