Rules of the Road

Rights of Way: Luxury cars over clunkers, newer cars over older cars, faster cars over slower cars.
 
Parking: Anywhere other cars are parked (streets, sidewalks) and you are clear of the tram-by.

    

Linguistic proof parking is a foreign concept - you say it like this "Parking" in your best Ukrainian/ Russian accent.

Seat-belts: It offend the drive if you buckle-up ... and no one seems to mind that the seat-belt reminder dings incessantly.

We'd recommend an SUV rather than a sedan, due to the extensive amount of cobblestone ... it can get pretty bumpy.

Blue and Gold

Creating a logo for Bubbles was no easy task. We started with this - we really liked the circular nature and bubbles (like you are looking into the washers/dryers, which is how Dexter's machines are), and the blue clean color. Plus, it was similar to the Coin Laundry Association's logo. But, we felt like it lacked color (thank you Amy).

So, we came up with a great idea to incorporate the Ukrainian flag colors to the logo design. We patted ourselves on the back a good many times for this "creative" idea - after all, Ukraine's first self-serve, full-service laundromat chain should be 'Ukrainian.' We sent the logo to our marketing team (the same people who thought we were opening a nudist laundromat) and they said, "Bad idea."

Turns out, all too often foreign companies try to utilize the blue and gold Ukrainian flag colors in the their companies marketing. Examples are a plenty - foreign banks, retail stores, and of course, Coke!

 "Do all the companies in America use red, white, and blue?" the marketing team asked us when we persisted that the blue and gold was a stroke of brilliance. And, once we started looking around, we noticed they were right, foreigners do try to be "more Ukrainian" and over-use the blue and gold.

At the end of the day, we went with the local marketing firms suggestion to not use blue and gold - and created a clean, blue and green logo and image for our store.

Clean Clothes - Clean Life!

Bush Thief

 A 6 by 60 foot planter box graces the outside of Bubbles. We "designed" a bush garden to bring a little life to the area - bought shrubbery and hired a local to plant and tend. On the first night after the foliage was in place, someone stole one of the bushes! (I told you we keep a watchful eye over inventory). Over the next two nights, two more bushes were stolen ... in various locations so as to not draw attention to any one area. Who steals plants? From a garden? So, until the video cameras and security system are running (they're installed), we've hired a night guard. For $10 a night, our bushes (and building) are safe.

Only the Best

Dexter Washers

Shortly after we had this great idea to open a laundromat in Lviv, Ukraine (four years ago), we decided to join the Coin Laundry Association. Shortly after joining the Coin Laundry Association, we learned that Dexter equipment is the very best. So, of course, for our store (and laundromat chain) we needed Dexter washers and dryers.
In addition to figuring out how to purchase, transport, and get these babies from Iowa, over the ocean across many borders, and through customs ... the Ukrainian government had to certify them before they could be used. After all, these machines are the first of this kind to enter the country. Makes sense really, I mean if we were bringing in large industrial equipment from Ukraine to the States, I'm sure a myriad of government agencies would want to plug in the thing, run it, test it, whatever, before they gave the okay for commercial use.
Well, I am here to let you know, Dexter passed with flying colors. In fact, the Ukrainian government agency said our dryers were tested "beyond a level of precision than the government testing and certifying machines were able to handle." Woo hoo! We knew they were good. And - as if that isn't enough - the government official who tested them wanted to know where he could buy, and or use, one of these machines ... he was that impressed. He's on our contact list for when we franchise into Kyiv. Only the very best for Bubbles!

What is Taking So Long?

There was a time (April) we thought it feasible to open Bubbles in June. Then, in June, we thought we'd realistically open August 5th. As is usually the case with construction, it takes longer and cost more than expected.  Our's is no exception.
A big hold-up - the floor.
  
Previously a furniture show room, the location we've leased had a platform that needed to be removed, and then resurfaced. The landlord ask that we maintain the artistic nature of the rest of the flooring. Okay - good tenants that we are - we scrape the glazed cement floor industrial look we planned on.
Well, the floor is indeed a work of art - and ended up taking weeks to complete.
 
The weather was not cooperating and heavy rains made it hard for each stage to dry before the next step in floor-art could begin. The rest of construction was on hold a bit, as little could be completed while the floor was thus occupied.

Needless to say, the floor is complete, the cement bases for the Dexter washers are made, drywall is up, and construction (though delayed) is well under way.

Workman's Comp

Standard U.S. construction attire (hardhat, steel-toe shoes, etc) are not commonly used here in Ukraine. In fact, most of our construction workers show up in flip-flops. So, the other day when an employee accidentally drove a nail through his foot - though horrified - no one was too shocked. What happened? Well, he was rushed to the ER, later went to the HR director, filed a complaint, is on short term disability, and workman's comp.

No, no. This is Ukraine! The guy pulled the nail out of his foot himself, and apologized for the construction hold-up. He was grateful that we went to the nearest pharmacy and bought an armful of disinfectants and supplies (the pharmacist knew exactly what was needed, seems this sort of thing is a regular occurrence) for the grand sum of about ONE dollar, and the day continued as usual.

How Was Your Day?

In our former desk-job life, dinner conversation was pretty standard - the biggest variant being the name of a client under discussion. No more.

Today we moved a one-and-a-half ton industrial iron into Bubbles. Unfortunately, the employee who's job was to coordinate this project didn't have a thought out plan how to get the machine in the building - so, four hours, and 14 workers later ... mission accomplished. I'm just glad the windows didn't crumble under the pressure.