Better Know A Startup: Lavalocker

No one likes cleaning their clothes. Let’s face it, it’s not fun, it’s not sexy and there always seems to be something better to do (i.e. not cleaning your clothes). There comes a point when you open your wardrobe to find that all of your suits are stained and mangled, your shirts don’t have that crisp look and feel anymore and it suddenly hits you; it’s crunch time. Things might be a little easier in the land of Valleys and Silicon, however no one likes going to the dry cleaners in Spain as firstly you can never find one and more importantly when you do come across one hidden under the rubble, they are invariably, never open. Far from mild frustration (more like on the verge of madness), you end up attending your uber-important meeting in your gym clothes.

Edward Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Lavalocker couldn’t take another soul destroying dry cleaning experience anymore and came up with the idea to modernize and revolutionize the sector. “We want to bring dry-cleaning and laundry services into today’s world where convenience counts. Washing has to be done, but if doesn’t have to be a chore, we want to make simple and painless”, he says.

As Edward explains, Lavacloker is designed to in a good ol’ “Painkiller” way to remove the discomfort, inconvenience and hassle of dry cleaning. The startup, which opened to the public only a few months ago, has been expanding aggressively throughout Barcelona with their modern take on the sector. The technology allows you to drop off your clothes in physical lockers in numerous locations around the city (apartments, shops, Lavalockers own locker centers), which are accessible 24 hours of the day. Without any fuss, you safely leave you items in one of the lockers, (accessible by a private code which is previously sent to your mobile) and within 48 hours the next day your clothes will be returned to the same spot, smelling and looking like new. If you aren’t lucky enough to be close to any of the lockers, Lavalocker will pick up your clothes from your home and deliver them to you when ready.

Pickups and drop-offs can be arranged on the mobile and the software allows you to further interact with the status of your cleaning (I cant imagine you would have ever thought you would be interacting with your cleaning over your mobile). Through your account you can see photos of the items you have just delivered, add any comments/preferences for certain items, see the progress of the wash cycle and even pay online.

The pricing is extremely competitive, offering some of the best prices you will find on the market. Considering the services offered and the fact that it will cost you less than going to the dry cleaners on your own, the value proposition is huge.

The team of six is putting a strong focus on customer service and after having used it I can say it’s pretty spectacular. They have also just started to work with tourist apartments thus offering a very convenient laundry solution for the apartment owners.

We really like their take on modernizing the dry cleaning sector and expect to be seeing their lockers in more locations around the city. Finally you will have clean clothes again!