Huebsch
has named Teddy Galloway the latest recipient of its Store Owner of the Quarter Award. Since buying his first store in 2002, Galloway has not slowed down in building a stable of 10 locations in south West Virginia and east Tennessee.
“Teddy is a prime example of what success in the laundry business looks like,” said Kathryn Rowen, North American sales manager for Huebsch. “He has selected the right locations, worked extremely hard and kept the focus always on providing an excellent customer experience. The kind of owner we are proud to work with.”
Galloway is a strong believer in everything happening for a reason, including the serendipitous meeting with his laundry equipment distributor, Stan Bradley at Laundry Systems of the Carolinas. He was visiting a sandwich shop over his lunch, when a friend hollered and waved him over to introduce him to Bradley, who was discussing a laundromat retool with the friend. A week later, Galloway became interested in buying that laundromat, and Bradley was his first call.
Since that first meeting, Bradley has become far more than a distributor supplying equipment to Galloway as he grows his portfolio of stores; he has become a trusted friend.
“It’s more like an unwritten partnership,” Galloway said of the relationship with Bradley and Laundry Systems of the Carolinas. “Whenever I have needed something, they have gone out of their way to help. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Laundry Systems.”
Previously, Galloway worked in the engineering department of a coal company, but when his business grew to four locations, he decided to leave his job and focus on the business full-time.
Half of the stores are in rural locations and are open 24 hours, while the city-based businesses are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. However, all of the laundries are customer-focused, as Galloway’s goal is to create a family-friendly atmosphere, where his customers get the “biggest bang for their buck.” That includes an emphasis on big machines – more than half of the washers in his stores are large, multi-load units, because “that’s what customers want and look for,” he explained.
Although Galloway is quick to point out that there are no guarantees in this business, the support of his family – wife, Amy, and sons, Ethan and Thomas – along with the partnership of Bradley and Laundry Systems of the Carolinas, have contributed greatly to his success.
The Store Owner of the Quarter Award recognizes Huebsch laundry operators who have excelled in entrepreneurism, technology adoption, innovation, and superior customer and community service.
