South Florida-based dry cleaning firm OXXO Care Cleaners is expanding its presence in Central Florida with a new Winter Park location and plans to add at least two more locations in the next couple years, according to Orlando co-franchisee Consuelo Regueiro.
What sets OXXO apart from other dry cleaners in the area is their locations use Green Earth cleaning products. These products are gentler on clothes and safer for the user, according to the company.
While using green products, OXXO strives to be technologically savvy. The company uses ATM-style pick up and drop off machines. These devices make it possible for customers to pick up and drop off clothing after store hours.
Along with the machines, OXXO is one of the only dry cleaners with its own application in the App Store. The app, OXXO Care Cleaners, allows customers to request a pick-up time, drop off items and check which items they currently have at the cleaners, among other things.
OXXO has been in the Central Florida area for three years now, opening its first area location in 2015. The company’s other three Central Florida stores are in Lake Nona, Clermont and Orlando on Orange Blossom Trail.
Regueiro believes expanding to Winter Park is perfect for this business because the area is predominantly wealthy.
“People truly like the OXXO luxury dry cleaning experience, and we’re very excited about the opening of OXXO’s fourth Orlando store,” Orlando co-franchisee Reny Balsa said in a prepared statement.
The new 900-square-foot Winter Park location is at 190 Aloma Ave. The company has signed a 10-year lease and expects to open for business there Aug. 30.The new Winter Park location cost $250,000 to open and is expected to generate approximately $100,000 in sales its first year. Between all four Central Florida locations the company will exceed $600,000 in sales, said Regueiro.
The price for a dress shirt to be cleaned at OXXO is slightly higher than other cleaners in the area, ringing up at $2.95. Regueiro told the Orlando Business Journal while it may cost more, it’s well worth it because of the convenience and technological component. “People think all cleaners are the same, but they aren’t.”
Before opening a chain of dry cleaners, Regueiro operated a cookie factory in Venezuela. Regueiro chose to leave her old job after her friends told her about their new business, OXXO. Regueiro was fascinated by the technology behind the company and how the business used green products.
Going forward, Regueiro told the Orlando Business Journal she hopes to continue to grow her business and open two more locations. Currently she is looking at downtown Orlando and the Dr. Philips area as possible future locations for OXXO.