New Jersey Couple Receives $100,000 Grand Prize
Speed Queen has named Emmanuel and Tyesha Offiong – who own A&Q Laundry Room in South River, N.J. – the winners of the company’s 2nd annual “My Success Story”Essay Contest. Representatives from the commercial laundry manufacturer recently presented the Offiongs with the $100,000 grand prize.
“Tyesha Offiong, a wife and mother of two, and her husband Emmanuel have remained committed to the needs of their community, and recognized the benefit of investing in their laundromat – and, therefore, their business has thrived,” said Jeff Harvey, brand manager for Speed Queen Financial Services. “We are honored to join them on their journey, and we’re pleased to recognize their accomplishments.”
Harvey was joined by Dick Luca, regional vice president at Super Laundry, which is the Offiongs’ equipment distributor; Andrea Mueller, Speed Queen Commercial brand manager; and John Smith, Speed Queen Commercial regional sales manager, who all gathered at A&Q Laundry Room to surprise the family with the prize.
The Offiongs were named the winners of the contest due to their store’s creative promotions and workshops, use of advanced technologies in managing their business, and dedication to the betterment of their community. For their winning essay, Speed Queen has contributed $100,000 to apply toward the couple’s recent loan for new equipment provided through SQFS.
“We could not believe that we had been selected as the winners of the Speed Queen essay contest,” Emmanuel said. “We have been so fortunate to own a laundromat in a great community and to have formed such a strong relationship with our manufacturer and distributor.”
“At A&Q Laundry Room, we strive to be a neighborhood laundry room rather than a commercial laundromat,” Tyesha added.
Leaving behind her corporate job to spend more time with family, Tyesha decided she and her husband would invest in the laundry industry. The Offiongs soon became the owners of a run-down, unattended laundromat with great potential. Their vision came to life after renovating the store and equipping it with brand new machines. The Offiongs chose to invest in a self-service laundry because of the flexibility it affords them – and they’ve experienced great success since opening their doors.
“Stories like the Offiongs’ give testament to the return on investment and increased profitability laundry owners can achieve when they renovate their stores with new, state-of-the-art equipment,” explained Dan Bowe, North American sales manager for Speed Queen Commercial. “We are proud to be a part of the Offiongs success.”
This is the second year Speed Queen has held its “My Success Story”contest. Between March 1 and June 15, 2015, Speed Queen laundry owners submitted essays of 500 words or less describing their unique and creative methods of retaining and attracting new customers. Eligible entrants were required to have financed at least $2,500 in new Speed Queen laundry equipment through SQFS during this time.
More than 60 essays were submitted from across the U.S. and judged based on the most compelling story relative to theme, creativity and clarity of expression. All eligible entrants will receive a $100 gift card to be redeemed at an authorized Speed Queen distributor.
