From 1 store to 86, Nini Tan of DobiQueen shares how she turned a family business pivot into a multimillion-ringgit laundry chain.

We dive into DobiQueen’s mission to redefine convenience, empowering busy professionals and families to “buy back time.” Co-Founder and Executive Director Nini Tan reflects on navigating an asset-heavy business model, the lessons learned scaling from 1 to nearly 90 outlets, and her ambitious plans for regional expansion and future growth.

Here are some key highlights from the conversation:

- Founding Story: Pivoting from the family photography business Foto-ZZoom to self-service laundromats, addressing the needs of time-strapped families and busy professionals.

- Business Model: Operating an asset-heavy business with a premium mass-market positioning. Providing added-value services such as crease-free drying, folding, and pickup delivery.

- Scaling Journey: Expanding from a single outlet in 2015 to nearly 90 outlets today. Overcoming challenges tied to scaling a capital-intensive business while driving operational innovation.

- Customer Focus: Educating customers on the benefits of outsourcing laundry. Leveraging strategies to encourage first-time trials and foster long-term brand loyalty.

- Future Ambitions: Exploring equity fundraising and IPO options to fuel regional growth. Innovating with digital-first solutions like pickup services and targeting markets beyond Klang Valley and Malaysia.