Providing a highly specialised service

The Sealclean Laundry in Kent is about to enter a new phase of its development. For over 75 years it has occupied a former coach-house, which, with its clock-tower, is one of the area’s landmarks. But now it plans to move from this historic building to more modern premises.

Sealclean occupies a distinctive niche in the laundry market for it is one of the few to specialise in domestic work, offering a high quality service both to local customers in Kent and beyond into London, Surrey and Sussex.

Peter Johnston, the general manager, says that the company’s customer base is very much at the top end of the market and around 80% is domestic, with the remainder covering hotels, restaurants and private schools.

Its services include fully finished laundering, drycleaning, household furnishings including carpets and rugs, suede and leather, horse blankets, riding outfits and waterproof shooting jackets.

It offers special occasion linen hire, garment repairs and alterations, and also restoration work for insurance companies and private customers.

The laundry has been based in Seal, near Sevenoaks in Kent since 1930, and has been housed in an impressive listed building, which is cited as a fine example of Kent ragstone.

The owners have had planning permission to convert this building for some time, but it is only recently that it has been felt right to move.

Peter Johnston explains that the Seal premises, while beautiful, were not ideal. The business has grown steadily, partly through the growth of the cash-rich, time-poor sector of society and partly by acquisition.

The recent acquisition of the domestic customers of Burwash Laundry had brought an injection of additional work, which has allowed Sealclean to invest in further modernisation and Johnston says the business will develop better in a more modern building.

Sealclean’s current location is difficult to reach by public transport, located in as it is in a private residential estate outside Seal village. Most of the staff live in the Tonbridge area and have to be collected in company vehicles.

The new location, just a few minutes from Tonbridge station, will be easy for them to reach and Johnston said that on the whole the move has been welcomed.

A more accessible location will also make future recruitment easier. The new building is also more practical and in many ways the move, planned for early spring, will improve working conditions. Moving will doubtless bring changes, but the essential nature of Sealclean’s business will not alter.

For this is a highly specialised operation, maintaining standards set right from the start.

In 1933, the magazine Town and Country wrote: “Sealclean Laundry provides the highest obtainable standard of laundry, comparable with the best blancheries of France.”

Attention to detail is important, automation is not greatly in evidence, and quality rules over quantity.

Most of the finishing is done by hand, and the equipment includes some unusual items, such as the shaped metal formers used to finish the frills on pillow cases. Peter Johnston remarks that few laundries will go to such trouble.

No item is too small to handle. The wealthy clientele sends items such as teacloths and even dishcloths for professional care, as well as the more usual items such as bedlinen, table linen and garments.

Though the move will mean equipment will be upgraded, it may well be necessary to go to the quality rebuilt market in some cases – such as the Spencer washers.

The business has many distinctive touches, including the vintage van logo, and the wicker hampers into which the clothes and linen are packed for delivery.

Most of its domestic customers rely on the personal collection and delivery service. The company has a fleet of eight vans that call weekly on private customers, as well as visiting contract customers two or three times a week, or more often if needed.

Sealclean has always been forward thinking and ready to modernise.

The move will bring changes but Sealclean’s traditional high standards will always remain.