Your dry cleaning business could be sitting on a goldmine. Here’s how to unlock it.
You know your business inside and out. You’ve built trust in your community. Your customers rely on you to keep their clothes looking great. But what if we told you there’s a whole new way to make money that fits perfectly with what you already do?
The online shopping world has a big problem. And it’s creating a huge chance for dry cleaners like you.
The Big Problem with Online Shopping
Here’s something that might surprise you: the average return rate for online transactions is 15.2%, three times higher than the 5% return rate for in-store purchases. Think about that for a second. If someone orders three dresses online, they’re much more likely to return them than if they bought them in a store.
Fun Fact: 92% of consumers surveyed said that they would buy again if the product return process were easy!
The numbers are eye-opening:
- Retailers estimate that 16.9% of their annual sales in 2024 will be returned
- The clothing and apparel category leads with the highest return rate at 24.4%
- The cost of ecommerce returns is estimated to be $400 billion annually in the United States
Why This Matters for Your Dry Cleaning Business
Your dry cleaning business is perfect for handling returns. You already have:
- A trusted spot in your community
- Experience handling clothes with care
- Systems for tracking items
- Happy customers who visit regularly
The Big Partnership That Changes Everything
Xplor Spot just teamed up with The Return to help dry cleaners like you tap into this huge market. This partnership lets you earn money by handling online returns—without changing your main business.
What This Partnership Offers
| Benefit | What It Means for You |
| New Income Stream | Earn money for each return you handle |
| Easy Technology | Everything works with your current Spot software |
| No Disruption | Keep doing what you do best while adding this service |
| Customer Loyalty | Give customers more reasons to visit your shop and gain new foot traffic |
| Data Insights | Learn what people are buying and returning |
Fun Fact: Over 450 locations are already using this service to let customers return items they bought online! Dry cleaners interested in joining the network can learn more at Xplor Spot.
How It Works (It’s Simple!)
- Online shoppers need to return something they bought
- They bring it to your shop instead of mailing it back
- You scan it using your existing Spot system
- The Return handles all the logistics
- You get paid for providing this service
The best part? You’re solving a real problem for both shoppers and online stores.
Why Online Stores Love This
Online stores are desperate for better ways to handle returns. Here’s why they’ll pay you to help:
- It’s cheaper than handling returns themselves
- It’s faster than mail-in returns
- It’s greener—less shipping back and forth
- Customers like it better—they can talk to a real person
What This Means for Your Customers
Your regular customers will love this new service because:
- They can return online purchases while dropping off their dry cleaning
- No need to print labels or wait for pickup
- They get to support a local business they trust
- They’re making one trip instead of two
Plus, people (who aren’t your customers yet) will discover your shop when they need to return something. Some of them might become regular customers!
Fun Fact: There are 25,775 businesses in the dry cleaning industry in the United States—and you could be one of the smart ones adding this new service!
Getting Started Is Easy
Ready to add this new income stream? Here’s what you need to know:
- You’re already qualified if you use Spot software
- The technology integration is seamless—it works with what you have
- Training and support are included
- You can start small and grow the service over time
Nicole Kirby, General Manager from Xplor Spot says: “Dry cleaners are trusted, local businesses with physical infrastructure and customer relationships—making them ideal partners for facilitating e-commerce returns.”
The Bottom Line
The online shopping world isn’t going away. In fact, it’s getting bigger every day. The return problem is getting bigger too. But for dry cleaners, this isn’t a problem—it’s a chance.
You already have everything you need:
- A trusted business
- Great customer service
- The right location
- Experience handling clothes carefully
Now, you can use all of that to tap into a market worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Interested in software built to streamline operations, reduce waste, and open new income streams? Book your FREE personalized demo today!
What’s Next?
This new rollout is happening right now across select locations.
If you want to learn more about joining this network and adding a new income stream to your business, you can get more information through your Xplor Spot account.
The future of dry cleaning isn’t just about cleaning clothes anymore. It’s about being a complete service hub for your community. And that future is available to you right now.
Fun Fact: Brian Adams, Co-Founder of The Return says this partnership shows their “commitment to providing innovative solutions that not only improve operational efficiencies but also promote sustainability in the retail industry.”
Your dry cleaning business has served your community for years. Now it’s time to serve it in a whole new way— while making more money doing it.
Ready to learn more about adding returns processing to your dry cleaning business? Contact your Xplor Spot representative to see if you qualify for this new revenue opportunity.
by Tom Talbot Content Marketing Specialist II
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First published: August 21 2025
Written by: Tom Talbot