Value Drycleaners of America, which operates and franchises the ZIPS Cleaners brand of garment-care centers, recently announced that it has become the exclusive developer of Mulberrys Garment Care franchise locations throughout the United States.
Mulberrys – known for its boutique-style interiors, high-touch service, attention to detail, and free delivery – currently operates 13 locations in San Francisco and Minneapolis, and this agreement will expand the brand into new markets, initially in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. region.
VDA has established a new entity – Gemini Cleaners LLC – to serve as master franchisor of Mulberrys locations nationwide. In addition, the company announced it will explore opening and operating Mulberrys locations itself under separate business entities. This agreement reflects the 
organization’s commitment to growing its investment into the $10 billion garment-care market by offering distinct brands that meet the needs and preferences of specific consumer segments.
Members of the ZIPS corporate team will support existing ZIPS and Mulberrys franchisees in opening and operating new locations, while seeking additional investors to join the ZIPS/Mulberrys family. Mulberrys’ founder Dan Miller will continue as an advisor to VDA and operator of existing Mulberrys locations in San Francisco.
“I am delighted to have found a good home for Mulberrys in ZIPS and its parent, VDA,” Miller said. “Both of these brands meet a need in the market and, combined, provide excellent options for both consumers and franchisees. ZIPS was founded by a group of ambitious entrepreneurs who, like me, saw an opportunity to capture a specific consumer segment and create value for those customers. I am confident that, under the curation of ZIPS and with the support of VDA, Mulberrys will flourish and bring its reimagined garment-care offering to many more discerning customers.”
“The garment-care industry is growing and changing as consumer preferences, demographics, and lifestyles are shifting,” explained Bob Barry, president and CEO of VDA, Gemini Brands, and ZIPS. “This partnership allows us to offer franchise opportunities that can be customized for each geographic area to meet the needs and preferences of consumers in these regions. In doing so, we can provide the greatest opportunity for investors to maximize their market share.”
The first Mulberrys store to launch under the Gemini umbrella debuted late last year in the Friendship Heights section of Washington, D.C.
