Ironing out the kinks

In May, anticipating increased demand from the Euro Cup, and more established clientele, we ordered another industrial iron for Bubbles. The contract stated that we'd have the iron in three weeks ... by June 18th at the latest. That date, as well as many others since then came and went with no iron to show. The additional 1,000 sq/ft of space we leased sat wanting an iron for months. Finally, today September 10, for the first time, we saw the iron safely to it's new home.

 

 If we could count the hours and relay the conversations we've had with the local rep as well as the manufacturing company about our order status with this iron we'd all undoubtedly feel like we've been banging our heads against a brick wall... which is exactly what we had to break through to get this massive 1.5 ton iron into the building.

This iron (left, Iron1) has been running at full capacity - with stretches of work where it did not turn off, or rest for 15 solid days (around the clock, 24/7). Of course, every machine has a breaking point (which is part of the reason why we wanted and ordered another iron) and this iron is no exception. A part broke (graphite ring) mid-summer and left Bubbles with tons (literally) of ironing to do by hand until the needed part was DHL'ed from France (of course the Ukrainian distributor doesn't have spare parts on hand). The part actually had to be shipped twice because the first time it was installed a careless hand broke it a second time resulting in an emergency flight to Kiev to meet the part (again) at the airport and hand deliver the graphite ring. Frustrating.   

During this time all hands were on deck ironing, some work was contracted out ... and though challenging, it was a great way for our little business to grow together as a team. We became a company of solutions. Some of our employees volunteered to work the extra needed hours, would put in a 12 hours shift, break just to sleep and eat, and comeback to keep ironing by hand for 12 more hours. At one point we had 15 workers all ironing sheets by hand in Bubbles. And, yes, when necessary, we even brought the work home. 

Here's to Iron2 and a hassle free installment (fingers crossed) tomorrow. 

Great Employees

We have great employees at Bubbles - here's a photo of most of our 20 full-time workers. 

Ukrainian businesses are not known for "employee training's" or "boss involvement" ...

So having weekly training meetings, and an owner who's a part of every step of the process from getting clients, to folding and delivering the finished product, is new.

Last week we had everyone write down one employee who each person felt had worked hard, and gone above and beyond ... the results were overwhelmingly one lady. 

We acknowledged this woman for her great efforts at the weekly training meeting, and gave her an additional day's wages as a "than you."

Everyone was in shock - no one here has ever heard of such a thing.

And since then we've been asked multiple times if that is going to happen every week ... to which the answer is no - but at random times we'll do it again.

We mentioned this to a local friend who when he heard we gave the woman who worked the hardest an additional day's wages then said, "You took back the bonus after you gave it to her, right?"

"Uh, NO. That would defeat the purpose," we explained.

 To which he scoffed.

I guess that's just one example of the type of Ukrainian business owner's mentality that we're learning to work with and trying to overcome. 

Just Wash It!

This is my "do not wash" diaper bag - being washed after almost two years of daily use, and only an occasional wipe-down.

 There was a time when we would dry-clean our "dry-clean only" clothes too ... but since entering the World of Wash, we no longer dry-clean either. 

We wash it - and you can too. 

Gentle cycle, then line dry: dress shirts, wool pants, linen, etc. we wash it all ... and it all turn out great - in some cases better than great. 

So don't waste money at the dry-cleaners ... Just wash it!

What's New

Here's the Reader's Digest version of what's been happening at Bubbles over the last couple of months:
~ We've expanded by about 1,000 sq/ft and anxiously await the arrival of our new industrial iron (they said it will be here Thursday ... just no one knows which Thursday, a common problem in a 'developing' nation).
~ Delivery van and driver - both harder to find than anticipated. Translation = we spent many date nights dropping off towels and linens to hotels we contract with, and have a thorough knowledge of Lviv's alley streets.
~ 19 current full-time employees - Seven months ago we had one employee, so we've grown, and felt growing pains (at times acutely), as we've interviewed, hired, trained, and let go of a few.
~ Increased our contract work requiring 24/7 machine operating. This is a good thing, since the more wash-cycles the better for business. But it's also a challenge particularly as we coordinate everything from the lengthy specialized paperwork each client requires, to the employees' schedules, pick-up, drop-off and delivery routes as well as particulars of how to fold specifics sheets and towel. And yes, we lived to tell about the embarrassment and hassle of mixed up orders. Geesh!
~ Bush thief drama - more of a saga, actually. A middle-aged woman was coming around 4 am several mornings a week dressed as a street sweeper and stole our bushes. After several unsuccessful attempts of trying to catch her (and watching the security videos the morning after), we finally got her. What we learned was that trying to work with the police is more of a hassle than actually dealing with the Bush Lady. Long story short, recently the police asked us what her punishment should be - we said 100 hours of community service. The police were floored - no one has ever suggested such a punishment to benefit the community.

There's more of course ... lots lots more ... so stay tuned to our laundry list of stories and drama of Ukraine's first laundromat.  

One Language

A wise taxi driver in Lagos Nigeria once told our family why he thought America was so great.

He posed his wisdom as a question, of course, as the wise often do ... giving the learner pause to reflect.

"Do you know what makes your country so great?" he asked.  In comparison to Nigeria and the corruption and turmoil he was familiar with there were many things that crossed our minds as possible answers. 


"You have ONE language, and ONE currency" was the sage reply.  Decades have passed since that conversation, but his wisdom has persisted as a guiding light for our support of a strong single national language and currency ... not because we don't see the value in learning other languages, but because in countries with no central (or multiple national) languages fractionalization and isolation occur ... weakening the overall unity and stability of the government. After all, that was Lenin (and his successors) big push - one language for all of Mother-Russia.


And so the debate continues ... is Ukrainian the national language, or does Russian have as much a claim on the governed?

Out here in the west, a sign shows which way the people support - "One Ukraine, One Language."  This banner hangs outside the main government building in Lviv, the capital of Western Ukraine, and is a constant reminder of the deep running Ukrainian pride and nationalism felt in the west.

Euro 2012

The Euro Cup (biggest soccer tournament of the year, besides the World Cup) comes to Ukraine in about a month.

 To say everyone is excited it an understatement ... hotels are rapidly renovating to higher European standards, old mashruka vans have been replaced with new sleek buses, and Lviv's infrastructural has had a face-lift. Here are some practical benefits from Lviv being one of the three host cities.

1. Lviv hosts the game between the German and Dutch national soccer teams. A couple of days ago Bubbles received a phone call from a gentleman with a very thick Australian accent. Turns out he washed his clothes with us while in Lviv scouting out accommodations and such for both the German and Dutch teams. He said he's washed his clothes all over the world and he has never had them come out as clean and fresh as they did when he washed at Bubbles! So, he sent us the contract to do all the wash for both the German and Dutch teams (150 person entourage per team) while they are in Lviv for the tournament. Pretty cool. So now we're excited about the Euro Cup too. In fact, we looked into tickets, but at 5,000 EUROS a pop, I think we'll just enjoy the games from a distance while washing uniforms.


2. A new airport. Thought the president came and officially opened the new airport ... it's actually not yet in service. BUT many new flights have opened up making travel to and from Lviv much more accessible. Previously if you wanted to get to Lviv by plane you had three options - Kyiv, Munich, and Vienna. Now Ryan Air flies several times a week to Germany and Venice, and our next trip is to Istanbul direct to Lviv on Turkish Air. We think it will be great both for people to visit Lviv and learn more about this fascinating place, as well as for locals to be able to see more of the world beyond Ukraine.

Labyrinth (4 of 4)

Here's the fourth showing of Bubbles on the western Ukraine hit show "Labyrinth."
Check it out and see for yourself how easy it is to use a coin operated Dexter machine.

Labyrinth (3 of 4)

Check out Bubbles third appearance on the show "Labyrinth."

The host gives a rousing endorsement of how warm and soft towels coming out of a Bubbles dryer feel - we agree.

Labyrinth (2 of 4)

My favorite part of this "Labyrinth" episode is when the camera is in the washing machine. From a production aspect, I think it's an inventive angle and a new view of Bubbles - from inside the dryers.

Labyrinth (1 of 4)

"Labyrinth," a popular Ukrainian TV show, similar to "Amazing Race" in the US, used Bubbles as a destination!
For the next four weeks (four episodes) of "Labyrinth," local Ukrainians on the show come to Bubbles, complete a task, and then receive a gift (free wash card) before obtaining their next clue as to where to go. Even if you don't speak Ukrainian, it's fun to watch, and we're told the host is the Ukrainian Ryan Seacrest equivalent.

Radio

EuroSport 'the' fitness center in town, now has this banner hanging inside:

Basically, the banner says something to the effect of 'spend more time doing what you want' (exercising, since it's in a fitness club) 'and let us clean your clothes.'

Here's the current radio add:

The goal: have a "Bubbles" jingle stuck in everyone's head by March. 

Staying Warm

To keep out the chill of the winter weather many a man and woman wear fur ... not the currently vogue faux fur you'll see at Nieman Marcus this season ... but the real deal, complete with head, ears, eyes, and tail ... like this woman.

And in case you are not fortunate enough to live in a climate where it snows sideways, here's a clip of what it looks like outside of Bubbles today. Let's hope, come spring, those bushes survive!

Say What!?

A local magazine recently released their list of the top 50 business people in Lviv.

Of the 50, guess how many were women?
UNO!
Just one!
Is this a joke? Granted we are foreigners, and not exactly plugged into the 'whose who' culture, but we have a pretty good pulse on the market, and we know many competent, talented, well-educated business women in Lviv who have resumes far superior than many of the men listed in this magazine.
So we asked a trusted (male) friend if this publication seemed odd - just one woman was highlighted.
He scoffed, and said he was surprised there was even ONE on the list.
Clearly a male-dominated former Soviet Culture.
So, we asked the editor (woman) of another magazine, Lviv Today, who she thought the 10 most influential business people are in town. She rattled off ten names, and guess what FOUR of them were women.Thank you very much.
As luck, fate, and destiny would have it, we were recently contacted by this magazine regarding advertising - we expressed our shock that their former cover article which listed only ONE woman in a group of 49 men, and then said that type of magazine/ journalism was not who we want to do business with.
They apologized profusely.

You'll never guess what next months cover story is ...
Lviv's 20 top WOMEN.
I guess we can advertise with them after all.
True story.

Good Time to Watch TV

You know it's cold when the high for the day is in the negatives. 

In fact, it's so cold that the government has issued a 'stay at home warning' and many people have died this year due to the cold. 

Here's linguistic proof it's winter - the word for February (lutiy) literally means, as an adjective, 'savage' 'ferocious' 'severe' or 'wicked' ... which may suggest February isn't supposed to be much warmer than the last few weeks.

So, while all the locals are at home watching tv for the next week or so, they will most probably see our first paid commercial:

Bombarding the airways with reasons to wash at Bubbles ... that's the plan for the month of 'severe, ferocious, wicked' winter.

Bubbles and PRO

Remember how Bubbles and Lviv Radio teamed up to raise money for Project Reach Out to make Christmas better for a local orphanage ...

Well, here is a news report on the success of the philanthropic venture:  

The older woman is the orphanage director, and the blond girl is a Bubble's employee, the guy you may be familiar with, and the red-haired lady is from Lviv Radio.

Basically they are saying how important it is to give back to the community, and how great it is that Bubbles was able to provide a Christmas celebration for the children.

A Model Laundromat

 When we tell people in the U.S. we're opening laundromats in Ukraine, I think the visual image most American's have is of a utilitarian rundown dive of a place with poor lighting and only a handful of working machines.




What we've created in Lviv is a bit more sleek: A place where customers relax, sip complimentary fruit tea, and leave more confident with cleaner clothes.

Bubbles is a place where families have access to a cleaner life,

and business can carry on as usual.

Lady Gaga and The Chandelier

Dishes and Designs blog just posted about the Bubbles Chandelier here and the inspiration and creation behind the floating masterpiece here.

And while I'm linking to other sites - the buzz in the laundry industry is:
Lady Gaga recently took over a NY Second Avenue laundromat for a Vanity Fair photo shoot.

Of course said laundromat only boasts Dexter machines (who knew Lady Gaga and I had similar taste?) ...
and since the Vanity Fair shoot, we too have had lots of visitors come in and take copy-cat pictures by our machines.


Kind of cool, I guess.
Though, I should mention, as I was looking up images of Lady Gaga from the Annie Leibovitz shoot, my computer filter function blocked me from accessing most of the sites.

A final point:
Don't you think Bubbles looks way more glamorous than this upscale NY joint?

Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated January 7th.
Here is the radio-ad that Lviv Radio aired 35 times over the last few days - letting people know ALL proceeds from Bubble's (January 4 and 5) go to a local orphanage we've worked with extensively through Project Reach Out.

Like the Iowa caucus, the final numbers are still out on just how busy we were - but suffice it to say, we were busy!
Tomorrow (January 6 - Christmas Eve) our employees go shopping to buy new beds, blankets, pillows, food (fruit!), medicine, and toys for the orphanage to be delivered on Christmas Day (January 7).