Oak Hill Dry Cleaner: Greener, Still OwnerOperated, and Always Focused on Customers
The Weimaraner, Annie, bops into the lobby of Oak Hill Dry Cleaners and happily heads straight to Travis Bartlett, the owner of one of Scarborough’s long-time businesses. Her human family follows her in, and everyone exchanges a bit of chit-chat before getting down to business. As the conversation flows, other clients pop in and out. There are questions about grandchildren visiting, a recipe shared, and a quick question about getting rid of some “slime” a child made as a project and quickly got all over a bedspread.
Clearly, this doesn’t feel like a business-only space. And that is precisely the goal that Travis set for his shop as the world changed suddenly in 2020.
That year is unlikely to be forgotten. It forced seismic shifts in the ways of the world, including business of almost any variety. Dry cleaning didn’t emerge unscathed, and the best in the industry rapidly evolved to accommodate their clients’ changing needs. After all, 2020 saw the shift to work-from-home, saw travel come to a halt, and witnessed a sudden stop to formal events and gatherings. In other words, people stopped using the garments that typically demand a dry cleaner’s expertise.
Travis saw the writing on the wall right away. Even as Governor Mills was announcing shutdown orders, he was speaking to his industry’s advocates at the Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute, learning about his next best steps.
Over the next months, he was able to make dramatic changes to his business. He launched free delivery services, which have exploded from two to over 200 stops. He acquired equipment that enabled him to work with a skeleton crew, since help was unavailable.
He began to consider supply chains and the materials used; all with the intention of greening up his operations. His shop uses the only USDA approved eco-friendly dry-cleaning solution, and he is a member of the Green Business Bureau, too. Oak Hill Dry Cleaners recycles hangers, poly bags, safety pins, and all paper packaging, as well.
Additionally, he reached out to a non-prof-
it that works throughout the state of Maine and was able to clean hundreds of winter coats and blankets for free (a program that is slated to continue in 2021).
Today, Oak Hill Dry Cleaners is a radically different business than it was in previous years. There are the obvious changes, such as shorter hours, neon signs, an overnight drop box (coming soon), and the new counters.
The changes you cannot see, you instantly feel.
“If I learned anything new about my business in 2020,” Travis says, “It is that communication and connection are as important as the quality of my work.”
Going on, he explains that “being owner-operated, physically handling everything that leaves the shop, going greener… these don’t mean much if I don’t personally know my customers and offer them a great experience.”
“It really is like starting over,” he continued, “Now, I am out from behind the counter, do deliveries, talk to everyone. It has benefited both sides. I know what people need from me, more than ever, and it gives me a lot of happiness and new energy in my work.”
Experience the difference of an owner-operated, greener, and people-focused dry cleaner for yourself by getting in touch with Oak Hill Dry Cleaners today. Open from 8-1 Mon – Fri and 9-12 Sat, it can be reached at 207-883-9188 or by visiting www.oakhilldrycleaners.com.