When Daniela Villarico and her mother visited a local laundromat, they did more than just their laundry – they spotted an exciting opportunity.
With retirement on the horizon, Daniela’s mother was looking for a business that could generate passive income and provide long-term stability. Neither had owned a business before, so this would be their very first venture. Despite their limited experience in entrepreneurship, they recognised the potential and decided to take the leap.
Today, the idea sparked by keen intuition has turned into reality for these new business owners. The Laundry Corner in Port Kennedy is now open, proudly operating as the first 100% Electrolux Professional laundromat in Western Australia.
Building a business from the ground up
Building a business in a new industry comes with inherent complexity, especially in the early stages.
“Coming across Richard Jay has been a blessing.” – Daniela Villarico, The Laundry Corner
From the earliest stages of the project, Richard Jay worked alongside Daniela and her mother to help turn their idea into a fully functioning, modern laundromat. The support extended well beyond simply supplying equipment. Richard Jay assisted with:
- Location selection
- Store layout planning
- Machine selection
- Installation
- Communication and coordination with the fit-out team.
For first-time operators, Richard Jay’s expertise and guidance made all the difference.
“Listen to their advice – they’re always correct,” Daniela noted. “There are no stupid questions.”
Investing in performance and reliability
A cornerstone of Danielle and her mother’s vision for The Laundry Corner was to create a space that felt modern, efficient and easy to use. The result is Western Australia’s first laundromat fitted exclusively with Electrolux Professional washers and dryers – chosen for their durability, speed and long-term reliability.
The store also features:
- Automatic liquid detergent dosing, creating a hassle-free, mess-free experience with no powder spills.
- A fully cashless Tangerpay kiosk and QR code system, allowing customers to pay via phone or card – eliminating the need to handle coins.
For the new business-owners, the cashless system was a standout feature. Not having to manage cash or coins adds simplicity to daily operations while enhancing security and convenience.
A modern space the community loves
Customers can complete a wash and dry in under an hour — something that’s difficult to achieve with home machines. Beyond speed, the look and feel of the space has made an impression. Locals regularly describe the laundromat as modern and clean, with carefully designed lighting contributing to the premium atmosphere.
For Daniela and her mother, seeing customers respond positively to the space is a proud moment — especially as first-time business owners.
Guidance every step of the way
Launching a laundromat is no small undertaking, but with the right support, it can be a rewarding investment. For Daniela, having a knowledgeable partner made the process both manageable and successful.
The Laundry Corner stands as a testament to what’s possible when vision, determination and experienced guidance come together.
For Richard Jay, it’s another example of helping operators build laundromats designed for performance, longevity and community impact.s
