By Jessica Anstice
Ben Borovic’s laundromat based in the heart of Beaconsfield was amongst many local businesses ravaged by a large fire in June of 2019.
The surviving family business ‘Pink Lady Laundry Services’, now based in Pakenham, was just getting back onto their feet and enjoying an influx of clients when the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Although nearly 10 months later, co-owner Mr Borovic said his company was still trying to recover from the fire before the outbreak.
“The fire in Beaconsfield, we lost half our income overnight, for a two-year-old business that was still growing, it hurt like hell,” he said.
“Being resilient to what happened we kept most of our clients but worked at a loss for the next four months just to keep the business open.
“We kept our staff members on working out of another location, our app and online booking and all our orders when on hold at another cost but our vision outweighed giving up.”
With the business down about 60 percent, Mr Borovic says his vision again outweighs the problem.
Through the coronavirus pandemic, the Pakenham laundromat remains operating – providing home and commercial pickup and delivery services, simple online booking services, as well as dry cleaning, ironing and household laundry services.
Lockers will soon be strategically placed in locations for clients to “drop and go” for their convenience.
Mr Borovic says he is a “believer in staying focussed” and recognises there are community members that need his services as some people tend to struggle with day to day chores.
“This is another hurdle we will jump and I’m sure there will be many more,” he said.
“We’ll keep jumping hurdles but I honestly can say financially, it is very difficult.
“I have never been hurt this hard in my life – first the fire and half the income lost, then starting to find our feet and then covid-19.”
Since the outbreak, two staff members were unfortunately stood down until the business is back on track again.
“It is important that people support local businesses to create a community feel between one another,” he added.
“Being in Pakenham for only a few months, I’m absolute speechless to the friendliness and warmth the nearby businesses gave us.
“They know what we went through and are always happy to have a chat – this is what it’s about, a community not only from people to business but business to business.”
