As previously announced, we will be transferring our Fulwood Road laundry operation to our larger branch at Ecclesall Road, and closing the Fulwood Road shop by the end of 2008.

Our Meadowhead branch will be put up for sale as a going concern, alongside our Sharrow branch which was put on the market earlier in the year.

Our long term aim is to secure the futures of all our 53 colleagues at Goodman Sparks. Our Fulwood staff will all be offered roles at our other branches, and our Meadowhead and Sharrow staff will transfer to new owners when sold.

Over the last few years, the launderette business has been in decline, particularly on self service. Competition from supermarkets has intensified, and their convenience and prices are hard to compete with. Tightening regulations on dry cleaning solvent emissions forced us to consolidate our dry cleaning at one location where we invested over £50,000 in new machinery.

The core of Goodman Sparks’s business is now our commercial laundry equipment sales, service and rentals where we have long established relationships with many nursing homes, care homes, universities, and other service industries. Our business plan going forward is to build on the excellent service reputation we have built up in this market.

Along side this part of the business will be our Ecclesall Road branch, where we will continue to invest in our equipment and our people to further enhance our proud reputation as being the best laundry and dry cleaning operation in Sheffield.

Mastercare (Sheffield), a division of Goodman Sparks, will continue to complement our laundry equipment services, offering flooring, curtains and blinds.

Although our Meadowhead and Sharrow branches do not form part of our longer term plans, until a buyer is found we will continue to support and take pride in our staff at these branches, and the service they provide.

Jonathan Sparks
Managing Director