Guyanese cleaning up with Florida laundry
Stabroek News
April 9, 2004
By focusing on his customers' needs, Guyanese Amin Baksh has built a loyal following over the 20 years he has owned Punta Gorda Laundry & LP Gas on East Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda, South Florida.
"It is really nice and clean in here," said winter resident Kathy Reeves while doing her laundry Tuesday. "And he's always friendly, always helps me out."
According to an article in the Miami Herald, Reeves may have up summed up the secrets of Baksh's success: An engaging personality, a dedication to customer service and an expert knowledge of his business. That's why people from all over Charlotte, west Arcadia, north Fort Myers and even farther away bring their laundry baskets and empty propane tanks to Punta Gorda Laundry & LP Gas.
Outside, the unassuming little building is easy to miss when driving down the street. Inside, however, the operation is modern, clean and impressive.
The capacity of Baksh's washing machines range from 15 to 50 pounds. He has two of the 50-pounders, two 35-pounders, and 20 20-pounders, all "commercial front-loaders." The biggest machines are used to wash comforters, sleeping bags, boat/car covers and other large items, Baksh said.
"These machines have a presoak, which gives you a better wash," he said. "It dumps all the sand out. It's better to use a front-loading commercial machine for sandy material."
The machines are coin-operated: $5 for the 50-pounders, $3.75 for the 35 pounders, $2 for the 20-pounders and $1.75 for the half-dozen or so top-loaders Baksh has on hand. The dryers - powered by propane - cost 25 cents for 10 minutes.
A native of Guyana, Baksh spent 13 years in Canada, where he attended college and worked as a service technician in the glass industry. He moved to Charlotte County in August of 1984, having purchased the Punta Gorda business in April of that year.
Baksh expanded the laundry facilities after he bought the place in 1984, tearing out a wall to add more machines and converting a storage area into a large, comfortable "folding room." Here there are wide tables for folding clothes and what Baksh called a "comfort zone," a carpeted sitting area with a TV at one end. Baksh takes time to demonstrate the proper use of the washing machines.
"Most people are used to top loaders," he said, "but front loaders are more economical, because they use less water and require less soap. Also, their action is better, they are more gentle on clothes.
"A top loaders' agitation rubs clothes together and puts more wear and tear on clothes."
Baksh has two full-time attendants. He offers drop-off laundry service and dry-cleaning and has pricing specials and discounts in both the laundry and propane divisions of the business.
When Baksh first bought the store, many of his propane and laundry clients came from a huge mobile home park across the street, where the Charlotte County Justice Center now stands.
"It stretched from (U.S.) 41 to Martin Luther King, all by the water," Baksh recalled. "But the city thought it was worth more, so they took it."
Baksh had to expand his clientele after the mobile home park was closed, so he began to focus on getting more summer residents to his business. It worked so well that when natural gas came to the county two years ago, Baksh's propane business was relatively unaffected.
"I'm the largest supplier of propane in the area," Baksh said.
One reason is Baksh's technical expertise working the complicated safety valves now required on propane tanks. RV owners come to Baksh, some from many miles, because they can't get their tanks filled anywhere else.
Baksh, 49, lives in Deep Creek with his wife, Bebi, who works for Bank of America. They have two sons, college student Aktar and high school student Alshaun.
"The businesses compliment each other," said Baksh of Punta Gorda Laundry & LP Gas, "but it's not as simple as it may look."