Laundrepreneurship
Written by Sam Evans, Summer Intern, Class of 2019
My name is Sam Evans and I am interning this summer as an Operations Management Intern in Atlanta for 2ULaundry, a consumer service entrepreneurial venture specializing in laundry and dry-cleaning delivery. 2ULaundry’s concept is simple. Customers create an account on the company’s website and schedule a pick up either online or via text. Then, within 24 hours, customers’ clothes are cleaned, folded and delivered back to their door steps; saving them time by removing the mundane task of laundry from their lives.
My responsibilities include learning the logistics network of 2ULaundry and then utilizing that knowledge to optimize delivery methods. During my first week, I spent time familiarizing myself with the daily operations of the business. This included sorting, washing, folding, and delivering clothes to have a greater understanding of the company’s infrastructure. Currently, I am applying this knowledge by working on a project to determine whether a centralized check in location for laundry and dry cleaning to be processed, before moving to a cleaning facility, is cost efficient. In addition, I am analyzing data to see if vertically integrating laundry within this location is profitable for the company.
The opportunity to work on these types of projects and have a tangible impact on the success of a company is why I chose to pursue an entrepreneurship internship. Being able to witness the causal effects of my work on the growth of business is a unique occurrence specific to an entrepreneurial venture. Likewise, within this internship, I have been exposed to the inner workings of a growing business and the ability to work closely with departments that may not associate directly in a larger firm. This experience has allowed me to take on multiple “hats” when working on projects and gain knowledge of differing sectors.
The ability to apply analytical and communication skills acquired in a classroom setting to the real world, thus gaining practical knowledge of an industry, which I previously had little exposure, is invaluable as well. In addition to strengthening skills developed at Wake Forest University and through courses provided by the Center for Entrepreneurship, I bring with me skills from past experiences that I seek to refine. From my previous internships in sales and marketing, I have attained attributes such as consumer awareness and design thinking that I can hone in on to enhance my contribution within collaborative settings. By having these abilities, I will be able to provide unique perspectives on issues that are atypical of an operations management employee; thus, allowing for more informed, holistic decisions to be made within operations meetings.
In the weeks to come I am interested in learning more about logistics and routing as it pertains to my project and delivery services as a whole. I am intrigued by the level of complexity of 2ULaundry’s infrastructure and seek to explore it further. Data analysis will be a large portion of my work moving forward and I am excited to be exposed to new methods for optimizing efficiency. Through research and experimentation, I will be able to help enhance the operations of 2ULaundry and grow as a design thinker.
Overall, I am excited for this opportunity and the impact it will have on me moving forward within my entrepreneurial endeavors. I am interested in starting my own business and this internship will give me first-hand exposure to a successful startup. Therefore, I will learn how to start and scale a business while gaining knowledge of difficulties that may arise. By acquiring this information, I can make a more informed decision on whether I want to start my own business and pursue a career within entrepreneurship.