Timeline

Meeting Elzie Higginbottom

As a community social impact investor, I got the chance to meet Elize Higginbottom, an incredible housing developer in Chicago. Iron sharpens iron, and he would make a great mentor for me, in my opinion. It’s rare to encounter a successful businessman who has prepared the route for future generations and who has also made an effort to meet with him. I’m really appreciative and modest. Every professional requires a mentor.


Kurt Cargle meets Elzie Higginbottom
Kurt Cargle (L) and Elzie Higginbottom (R)

An effective mentor may assist with goal-setting, accountability, encouragement, making connections, being ready to listen, being a trusted ally, giving constructive criticism, providing guidelines, having relevant expertise, and being a free resource.

Read Mr. Higginbottom’s biography to learn more about his remarkable achievements and current career.

https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/elzie-higginbottom-1

Learning to Manage Owning a Laundry Center

While many entrepreneurs find that running a few self-service laundromats is more than enough to keep them busy, others want to remain busy in other ways, too, whether it’s by starting a side hustle, helping out in the community, or mentoring younger entrepreneurs.

For whatever reason, some people are capable and motivated to pursue alternative goals. The laundromat business may have been the initial vocation for some. Some people see it as little more than a passing interest.

Of course, any business owner worth their salt understands that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for success.

Three self-service laundromat business owners were interviewed by American Coin-Op to share their experiences and insights on running a laundry business while also pursuing other interests. Steve Dietzen from Wisconsin and Kurt Cargle from Illinois were introduced in the first installment. Today, I’d want to wrap up our introduction to Jared Johnson of Louisiana.

Your Business Coach and Strategic Partner

Entrepreneurial Partner: Kurt Cargle

For more than 50 years, Kurt Cargle and his family have had a successful business operating coin laundromats. Kurt has chosen to move his job in the next logical direction by starting a full-line distribution firm to help others who are interested in opening a coin or card-powered laundromat. 

Kurt is enthusiastic about youth education, and he has a strong commitment to sharing his knowledge of washing machine repair and maintenance with the next generation.

Kurt also started the African American Laundry Association in the Chicago area, where he serves as president. Both business and electromechanical technology are represented in his resume.

Kurt hopes to foster growth for Laundromat business owners and investors. To help proprietors stay clear of the trouble that may otherwise arise if they didn’t have someone around to point out potential problems. 

Kurt Cargle is changing the face of the Illinois laundry industry by forging new paths in customer service, advertising, and the revitalization of Chicago’s slums.

Black Owned Laundromat Urges Blacks to Enter Lucrative Industry

This week’s episode of Black Business Matters features an interview with Abdul Akbar Muhammad (Kurt Cargle), an entrepreneur based in Chicago who once operated eight laundromats in the greater Chicago region.

The proprietor of Your Neighborhood Laundromats shares insightful advice and valuable life lessons that he used to develop a successful company for himself.

In addition, he discusses in some detail a proposal to organize a group of black business owners as a think tank that would focus on rebuilding initiatives and work together on these initiatives.

Spotless Solutions Dry Cleaners

Welcome to Spotless Solutions Dry Cleaners. We have 100% eco-friendly products, as well as free laundry bags for our new customers.

We are open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and closed on Sundays.

We provide a 20% discount on all dry cleaning prepaid orders with a minimum of five items and up to a 25% discount.

Seniors’ discount on dry cleaning prepaid only as well as a 99-cent plain laundry shirt before 9 a.m.

Did we mention that we have a free same-day service that is ready by 9 a.m. and delivered by 5 p.m.?

Don’t forget our free jeans special. Bring in four pairs of jeans and get the fourth one for free.

Thank you for choosing Spotless Solutions, dry cleaners, and we appreciate your business.

Kurt Cargle operator of Spotless Solutions Dry Cleaners