USA
Advantage Equipment Inc. (Advantage), in Akron, Ohio, will commemorate its 20th anniversary this autumn with a series of laundry equipment discounts through to the end of 2016. The full-service laundry equipment provider, established by president Scott Vlahos in September of 1996, caters to on-premise, vended and industrial laundry customers throughout West Virginia and large portions of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Advantage opened for business in 1996 with its flagship Continental Girbau line. “Continental became our first secured line of equipment and has spurred strong and even growth in both the vended and on-premise laundry segments,” said Vlahos. “We started off in a small warehouse in Kent, Ohio, with one employee,” said Vlahos. “Today we operate out of a large facility in Akron with four factory-trained technicians and four office personnel.”
Advantage now offers multiple equipment lines, including Continental Girbau, Hamilton, ADC, Ram Air, LG and Sports Laundry Systems. Additionally, the company supplies chemical products and ancillary laundry items.
During the past 20 years, Advantage has helped develop numerous successful vended laundries, according to Vlahos. “We partner with investors and help them with site selection, lease negotiation, equipment mix, installation, operator and employee training, store marketing, and technical service after the sale,” he said.
On-premise laundry analysis and development is another of Advantage Equipment’s strengths. The company caters to veterinary facilities, hotels, nursing homes, salons and spas, large corporations, major universities, and major league baseball stadiums, among others.
ANNIVERSARY: Advantage Equipment celebrates 20 years. Pictured (from left) are Greg Vlahos, Nick Vlahos, Debi Wickiser and Scott Vlahos
