Unlike the workers who traded in slacks for sweatpants during the pandemic, Carl J. Sahady’s COVID-19 wardrobe never changed. His neatly pressed shirt and tie is not only a personal statement, but a reflection of his business.
Helping others look their best, from work to weddings, is the mission behind Diamond Cleaners Inc., which marked its 28th anniversary in September.
While the company has changed with the times, pride in appearance, both for himself and his customers, remains a core focus for Sahady. In fact, the Pawtucket business recently began offering free dry cleaning for people going to job interviews, though so far, few have taken advantage of the service, Sahady said.
Business dwindled during the pandemic, with many of the corporate clients and individual customers no longer needing their dress shirts and party dresses. But Sahady found ways to keep the business alive, adding wash-dry-fold laundry service for busy parents and encouraging customers to maintain a “Zoom-ready” appearance, at least from the waist up.
Indeed, nary a dress pant or skirt could be seen among the racks of hanging collared shirts waiting for their turns amid the steamy, dry-cleaning space.
The process weaves together machinery and human touch in an assembly-line-style production. Items are labeled with individual tickets, and pockets checked for left-behind items: wallets, jewelry, even lingerie.
“We don’t call the customer for that, we just dispose of it,” Sahady joked of the latter.
A 65-pound, industrial-grade washer makes quick work of the initial cleaning, leaving the clothing damp and ready for pressing. A worker hangs each shirt on a mannequin before inserting it into the sleever, which presses the sleeves and collar, before transferring to hangers, where someone checks for missing buttons and adds a collar support.
An industrial dry-cleaning machine that starches and deodorizes the clothing caps off the process, which takes a little over an hour, Sahady said.
His expertise in dry cleaning is self-taught. The Fall River native bought the business after it was seized by the IRS. He had previously worked in management for a supermarket distribution company but grew tired of the 62-mile commute from Fall River to the company’s headquarters in Auburn, Mass.
“I thought, if I can do this for someone else, I can do it for myself,” Sahady said.
His instinct proved correct. Before the pandemic, the company had grown and thrived despite a shifting industry that forced many competitors to throw in the towel.
When he realized that counter-front service was growing dry, Sahady added free pickup and delivery services, which now comprise the bulk of the business. Two other locations, in Johnston and Providence, shuttered amid declining need for physical storefronts, while alterations and tailoring were also brought on.
This entrepreneurial spirit combined with a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program allowed Sahady to keep his workers, at least those who wanted to be, on the payroll. And customers who no longer needed their special attire or office wear dry cleaned stayed loyal, bringing at least a few items to help out the longtime local business.
Sahady was hopeful demand would resume in earnest once workers returned to offices en masse.
OWNER: Carl J. Sahady
LOCATION: 683 Beverage Hill Ave., Pawtucket
EMPLOYEES: 12
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Dry cleaner
YEAR FOUNDED: 1993
ANNUAL SALES: WND
Nancy Lavin is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Lavin@PBN.com.
