Dry Cleaning/Laundry Manager

Also known as:

Laundry Manager

Introduction

Dry cleaning/laundry managers supervise assistants who carry out the cleaning operations. They carry out management duties within a dry cleaning shop or laundry.

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Work Activities

Dry cleaning/laundry managers work in dry-cleaning shops and industrial laundries. They supervise the work of dry-cleaning and laundry assistants and make sure that the business runs efficiently and profitably.

A manager's day-to-day work will be different depending on whether they work in a dry cleaning shop or an industrial laundry. In a shop there will be fewer staff to supervise and frequent direct contact with customers. Also the manager may have a more hands-on role, doing the same things as the other staff.

In an industrial laundry the manager will have a lot more staff to supervise and organise into shift systems. Most of their contact with customers and suppliers may be by phone. In large laundries managers might specialise in areas such as production, transport, work scheduling, training or general management.

However, managers in both types of workplace will have the following elements in common:
• administration
• accounts
• customer care
• staff recruitment and selection
• training
• work scheduling
• transport
• complaints handling.

If the manager works for a large company or part of a national group, there might be the chance to move into other management fields. A few examples are: research and development; customer services; human resource management; and sales and marketing.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

To be an effective manager you'll need to show leadership potential. This means you should be a good communicator, well-organised, able to make decisions, and able to plan things and carry them through.

You'll also need a full understanding of cleaning and laundering processes, the correct use of cleaning chemicals and solvents, and how to handle different types of textiles and fabrics.

You should have good numeracy skills to do accounts, book-keeping and budgeting.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for dry cleaning/laundry managers vary depending on the type of operation and the level of responsibility.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Dry cleaning/laundry managers earn in the range of £250 - £360 a week, rising to around £400 a week.

Dry cleaning/laundry managers work a basic 39-hour week. In dry cleaning shops, they normally work Saturdays with a day off during the week in lieu. In laundries, they normally work Monday to Friday, though some work shifts.

There are dry cleaning shops in most towns throughout the country. Industrial laundries tend to be in the larger towns. Job vacancies are advertised in the local press and in Jobcentre Plus.

Self-employment, usually via a franchise, may be an option for some although this normally involves investing a large sum of money.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some applicants have gained relevant supervisory skills or have a background as a dry cleaning assistant.

• 29% of people in occupations such as dry cleaning/laundry management are self-employed.
• 11% work part-time.
• 10% have flexible hours.

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