In 1929 Gordon Schwan borrowed $600 from his mother at 6 percent interest so he could open a dry cleaning business in Mansfield, Ohio. Not long after opening the business grew and added laundry, linen and fur services to meet the demands of their customers. Eighty-four years later his grandson, Jeff Kent carries on the family business, albeit modernized in ways Schwan never could have dreamed in 1929.
Nationally, dry cleaning businesses are suffering; the industry has been slowly declining since the 1970s. Swan Cleaners, is a notable exception. With four satellite drop off/pick up locations, free delivery provided via three full time delivery trucks, and state of the art eco-friendly equipment, Swan Cleaners business is booming.
Successful businesses respond to changing market demands in order to remain competitive, and Kent is not afraid to adapt with the times. A string of expansive rooms once filled with furs now house computerized embroidery equipment for Swan’s offshoot business. Embroider Your Own is run by Kent’s wife Stephanie. As you walk up the stairs to the main production floor you pass a handwritten sign that says, “Please don’t go up the steps empty handed,” signed Mrs. Swan. The message aptly foreshadows the activity you encounter.
Every single employee was hard at work, and not in that frantic superficial way workers feign when the boss walks by; these people were working with purpose. As Kent explained the equipment and processes employees happily stepped in to assist as need, but also kept plugging away at their work, usually with a smile. And it’s easy to see why things are different here; Kent introduced each employee with a cheerful anecdote and a positive aside about their work with the company.
When he talks about his team he sounds more like a proud father than a typical boss. Make no mistake, Kent is in charge, and he’s more than once had to dish out some tough love, but the key word there is love. More than once he has taken a chance on an employee others would overlook and he is happy to embrace those who’ve chosen to turn a corner in their lives. “Your employees are your biggest asset,” said Kent.
Kent received his first paycheck in 1969 when he was just four years old and he still has that and other memorabilia including the hand-written loan agreement between his great-grandmother and his grandfather. Despite the dry cleaning fluid in his veins, he didn’t always intend to take over the family business. He studied computer science at Bowling Green State University. One summer he came home to help his father through a management transition and he never left.
In the intervening years Kent’s influence has extended beyond the doors of a family dry cleaning business. He is passionate about many causes and deeply rooted in his community. Engaged in philanthropy both big and small, you’d be hard pressed to attend a charity fundraiser of any kind in Richland County that hasn’t received some sort of donation from Swan Cleaners.
He is quick to promote fundraisers and events by encouraging others to take part, but he’s also willing to roll his sleeves up and get involved too. He gives time, energy and love to those struggling with addiction, often serving directly as a mentor and friend. His most recent notable act of charity has garnered significant attention. Over 2000 pairs of shoes abandoned after the recent Tough Mudder event were cleaned at Swan and donated to local charity, the New Store, which provides quality clothing and shoes to families in need. An estimated 250 employee hours went in to the complex cleaning process. This may seem grand, but those who know Kent aren’t surprised.
Kent’s passion for the community led him to found “Be Focal Buy Local,” a sector group of the Richland County Development Group. The mission of the group is to promote local business and Kent’s involvement is characterized not by his promotion of Swan cleaners, but his support, encouragement and backing of other local businesses. It seems he has taken Mrs. Swan’s direction to heart; he simply doesn’t step up empty handed.
