Pressbox and Tide Cleaners
Pressbox, now Tide Cleaners, is an on-demand dry cleaning and laundry service founded in 2013 and acquired by Procter & Gamble in 2018. The company operates a network of brick-and-mortar stores and drop-off lockers, using eco-friendly cleaning processes.
The Story
Pressbox was an innovative on-demand dry cleaning and laundry service company founded in Chicago in 2013 by Vijen Patel and Drew McKenna. The company placed 24/7 drop-boxes inside apartment buildings, offices, and storefronts, letting customers drop off clothes whenever it suited their schedule. A mobile app managed requests, tracking, and notifications, making dry cleaning as convenient as food delivery.
Under Patel and McKenna, Pressbox rapidly scaled to approximately 1,000 locations across the United States, becoming one of the fastest-growing on-demand laundry services in the country. In July 2018, Procter & Gamble acquired Pressbox for an undisclosed sum, combining Tide's laundry expertise with Pressbox's technology-driven service model.
Following the acquisition, Pressbox was rebranded as Tide Cleaners, integrating the on-demand service directly into the Tide brand. Today, Tide Cleaners continues to operate in major markets, offering dry cleaning, laundry, and specialty services while maintaining the convenience-first approach that made Pressbox successful. The story exemplifies how seemingly unglamorous industries can be transformed through technology and exceptional execution.
Key Facts & Metrics
Company Timeline
2013 — Pressbox Founded
Vijen Patel and Drew McKenna founded Pressbox in Chicago, launching an on-demand dry cleaning and laundry service with 24/7 drop-boxes and a mobile app.
2016 — Scaled to 1,000 Locations
Pressbox rapidly expanded its drop-box network to approximately 1,000 locations across the United States, becoming one of the fastest-growing on-demand laundry services in the country.
2018 — Acquired by Procter & Gamble
In July 2018, Procter & Gamble acquired Pressbox for an undisclosed sum, recognizing the strategic value of combining Tide's laundry expertise with Pressbox's technology-driven service model.
2019 — Rebranded as Tide Cleaners
Following the P&G acquisition, Pressbox was officially rebranded as Tide Cleaners, integrating the on-demand service model directly into the Tide brand portfolio.
