Southern Indiana Business September-October 2020 | Page 36

FAMILY OWNED
Adaptability
to market changes
has served Nu-Yale
Cleaners well
By Aprile Rickert
When Wilbur Horlander started Nu-Yale
cleaners in 1956 on Walnut Street in
Jeffersonville, it was a two-man operation
that mainly provided coin-laundry
service to families.
In those early days before urban sprawl and the home
washing machines that came with it, Nu-Yale was so oriented
to personal laundry that they had a sock-pressing
machine in the shop.
But economic and technological changes demanded a
change in business model, and today, the family owned
company stands as a regional industry leader in cleaning
and restoration services, to which they credit a history of
good service and willingness to adapt.
“It’s a relationship business when it comes down to
it,” co-owner Brandon Maloney said.
This is evident in the way the family business takes
pride in serving the community where they live — supporting
local schools through sponsorships and aiding
with things like cleaning the home team’s uniforms.
“You also have an attachment to your employees,” coowner
Bill Maloney, Brandon’s uncle, said. “You want
to make sure they continue working.”
As their operations expanded, Nu-Yale began handling
linen rentals and soon after, got into denim — pre-washing
blue jeans before they were sold in stores. But with
the North American Free Trade Act of the mid-1990s,
about 70% of their business was moved out of the country,
Brandon said. They basically had to start over.
36 September / October 2020
Gary Maloney, co-owner at Nu-Yale Cleaners, in front of a 900-pound dryer
at the company’s main facility at River Ridge in Jeffersonville.