Innovation Meets Tradition: Presto Drycleaners’ Journey to Scale

Sometimes, the most extraordinary startups emerge not from sleek offices or venture capital pitches, but from the courage to transform a family legacy. Presto Drycleaners is one such example—a story of innovation, resilience, and scaling a traditional business into a modern, tech-enabled enterprise.

From Manual Processes to Scalable Operations

Presto Drycleaners began in 1992 as a traditional family-run shop. In those early days, almost every process—order taking, tracking, cleaning, and delivery—was manual. While this approach worked in a smaller, slower era, it quickly became a bottleneck as volume and complexity grew.

The current owner, Chan Weitian, recognized that without change, the business could never scale sustainably. The challenge was not only to digitize operations but to do so without losing the personal touch that customers valued.

Technology That Supports, Not Replaces

At the heart of Presto’s transformation is a strong belief in the power of human relationships.

“Convincing them that automation and systems were here to support, not replace, them was the real work.”

— Chan Weitian, 2nd generation owner of Presto Drycleaners

This means that technology was introduced to empower staff, not take their jobs. The goal was to help employees focus on delivering a personal, high-quality service to customers rather than getting bogged down in manual processes. Every staff member is encouraged to connect with customers personally—drivers, counter staff, and production teams all play a role in delivering service that feels personal.

“Your personal laundryman isn’t a slogan; it’s a commitment to treating every garment like it belongs to someone we know personally.”

This captures Presto’s philosophy: technology manages operational complexity, while staff maintain meaningful, human relationships with customers.

The Owner’s Role and Software Engineering Expertise

Weitian’s background in software engineering played a pivotal role in the successful transformation.

“I wanted to build a business that could outlast my parents and me, one that ran on systems, not exhaustion.”

With technical knowledge and hands-on involvement, he designed systems that made operations efficient without losing the human touch. His active role ensured that technology complemented people rather than replacing them, creating a scalable yet personalized service model.

Turning Challenges into Growth

Transforming a family business wasn’t simple. Many senior staff had been with the company for decades, and change initially felt threatening. Patience, transparency, and communication were key to getting everyone on board.

A defining moment came during COVID-19, when operational downtime allowed Presto to rebuild processes, implement digital tools, and rethink organizational structures.

“That period of crisis became the foundation for our current growth.”

This highlights how the company turned challenges into opportunities for modernization and scaling.

Building a Sustainable, Customer-Centric Future

Today, Presto is a tech-enabled, customer-focused drycleaner.

“Extending the life of what people already own is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce waste.”

Sustainability is built into operations, from energy-efficient equipment to practices that extend the life of garments. With a focus on relationships, every staff member is empowered to serve customers personally while systems handle the complexity behind the scenes.

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Presto aims to become the most technologically advanced drycleaner in the world.

“The goal is to elevate the entire industry, proving that even a traditional trade like drycleaning can evolve, scale, and stay relevant in the modern economy.”

Their ambition goes further: to develop systems and frameworks that other drycleaners can adopt, modernizing the entire industry.

Advice for Fellow Founders

For those looking to modernize a family business, Weitian’s advice is clear: start with mindsets, not systems.

“Legacy businesses aren’t broken, they just need translation into today’s language. Honor the old values, but rebuild the frameworks. The goal isn’t to erase the past, but to make it scalable for the future.”

This emphasizes that transformation starts with people and culture, not just technology.

Presto Drycleaners’ story is a powerful reminder: innovation isn’t just about new products—it’s about reimagining tradition, embracing technology, and putting people at the center of growth.