An Interview with Ariana Roviello of Laundré in San Francisco
Ariana Roviello is the passionate owner behind Laundré, a unique laundry experience that has set out to redefine the way we approach this everyday chore. Driven by a genuine desire to improve the laundry industry, Ariana has embarked on a mission to create spaces that prioritize comfort, provide exceptional service, and embrace sustainability.
Laundré first opened its doors in 2017 in San Francisco, and today Ariana’s dedication has resulted in the successful expansion of the business, with two thriving locations. Her commitment to delivering an elevated laundry experience has made Laundré a go-to destination for those seeking convenience, quality, and a touch of innovation.
What sparked your interest in the laundry industry?
During my senior year in college, while studying branding and marketing, I was tasked with creating an updated business plan on an antiquated industry. Since moving to San Francisco for school, I began using laundromats, and the experience was always subpar – so I decided to focus on the laundry industry. I never expected to be as fascinated with laundromats as I became, but here I am 10 years later with two stores.
What do you consider to be the most valuable resources to help learn about the laundry industry?
Talking with other laundromat operators. I find it incredibly valuable to chat with other store owners – it can give you inspiration to try new things or to learn a better process for more efficiency.
What do you enjoy most about working in the laundry industry?
I’m really excited about new equipment and technology within the space. It’s been fun to learn about how the industry is modernizing and how we can grow with it.
I also love interacting with some of our regular customers. There’s no better feeling than seeing people enjoying what you’ve created.
What do you find most challenging about this industry?
Staff management has definitely been a pain point over the years. We’re in a good place right now, but generally if you don’t have a supportive team, everything becomes more challenging.
What advice would you give to other women looking to get into this industry?
I would tell them that this is not a passive industry, so make sure you’re willing and able to put in the hours, especially in the beginning. I’d also suggest they try to connect with other laundromat brands they like to learn as much as they can. Although you’ll never be 100 percent prepared, it never hurts to do as much prep as possible before jumping into owning and running a store.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I’m happy where we are now, and I’m unsure we would have made it here without some of the trial and error I went through. However, I don’t think I’ll ever build a store from scratch again!
What can laundry industry leaders do to encourage more women to enter the industry, especially in more male-dominated roles such as store ownership, engineering, R&D, distributor/manufacturing management, etc.?
I think the biggest barrier to entry is the startup cost associated with opening a laundromat. It would be helpful to have industry leaders talk through what it truly looks like from a financial perspective to get a vended laundry up and running. Additionally, partnering with lenders that can provide capital with a quicker turnaround time and more transparency would be beneficial.
