How I Built This with Guy Raz The Laundress: Lindsey Boyd
Jul 27, 2020
Lindsey Boyd, Co-founder of The Laundress, shares her journey from high-end fashion to eco-friendly laundry. Frustrated by expensive dry-cleaning, she teamed up with a friend to create gentle detergents for delicate fabrics. Lindsey reveals the hurdles they faced, including investor skepticism and counterfeiters, before selling to Unilever for $100 million. She highlights the importance of strong foundations in entrepreneurship and recounts their innovative approach to fabric care, emphasizing sustainability throughout their growth.
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Side Hustles
- Lindsay Boyd had side hustles like a hatbox business and a tie-dye T-shirt brand called Jessica Lindsay.
- The T-shirts, embellished with studs and rhinestones, were sold at Saks Fifth Avenue and Henry Bendel.
Jessica Lindsay's Rise and Fall
- Jessica Lindsay T-shirts gained traction through an article in Time Out Magazine and by capitalizing on the trend of expensive T-shirts.
- Despite early success, the brand fizzled out due to a lack of financing and infrastructure.
Early Business Ideas
- Lindsay and Gwen explored various business ideas, including a fashion brand and cosmetics, before settling on The Laundress.
- They even squatted together, watching Seinfeld reruns while brainstorming.