A Lafayette-based entrepreneur and mother of two has found a
way to spin laundry into gold with her new app hampr, which has begun expanding
into New Orleans. The app allows you to pay a "washr" to pick up your laundry,
wash it, fold it, and drop it off right back at your doorstep.
If that
sounds like a dream (and yes, we know it does), you're likely wondering how to
get started. After downloading the app and creating a membership for $39, you'll
have four hampers ("hamprs") delivered to your door. Then, you can start using
the service (and your laundry is even done according to your preferences). For
$10 to $15 per hampr and a $2.99 service fee, if you're using fewer than all
four hamprs, a washr will launder your clothes and drop them off, clean and
folded, the following day.
Founder
and CEO Laurel Hess said in an interview with Developing Lafayette that the
idea came to her after a stressful weekend juggling birthday parties, t-ball,
and a business trip: "'I didn't know how I was going to get it all done,' said
Hess. 'If we can get our groceries and food from our favorite restaurants
delivered—why can't we get laundry done with the click of a button?'"
It's
true that Hess's company is following in the tradition of Instacart and Uber
Eats, offering a service sure to be used by stressed-out parents and tired
college students and those in between. Of course, they'll also be looking for
washrs, so if you're looking for a way to make some money in the gig economy,
this could be the job for you. We're excited to see how hampr affects NOLA, and
what entrepreneur Laurel Hess does next.
