Implementing dry cleaning advertising strategies to attract new customers and keep them around is vital. In an industry where convenience often replaces face-to-face service, staying connected to your customer base can be a challenge. Advertising can help!

But with so many options and limited time, figuring out what actually works can be overwhelming. To help, we’ve narrowed it down to the top proven dry cleaning advertising strategies that will not only boost your visibility but also keep your best customers coming back.

1. Attract Attention with Strategic Promotions

A well-timed promotion can do more than fill your schedule—it can build habits. People love deals, and in dry cleaning, even small discounts can motivate someone to try your services for the first time or return more often.

Here are a few ideas to get started:

  • Same-day or express service upgrades
  • Weekly specials aligned with holidays or seasons
  • Discounts for students, seniors, or local employees
  • Flat-rate pricing for popular garment types

Take inspiration from Dublin Cleaners, who runs a “dry cleaning happy hour” campaign of “Buy 3 Get 1 Free”. This helps drive steady foot traffic and convert first-time customers into loyal ones.

Promotions are great—but they work best when consistent and clearly communicated.

2. Trigger-Based Marketing 

Trigger-based marketing is a strategy where marketing messages or actions are automatically initiated in response to specific events or behaviors—called triggers—exhibited by a customer or prospect.

Common triggers include:

  • User behavior: visiting a product page, abandoning a cart, opening an email, etc.
  • Customer lifecycle: signing up, hitting a milestone, or being inactive for a period.
  • Time-based events: birthdays, anniversaries, subscription renewals, etc.
  • Transactional actions: completing a purchase, downloading a resource, etc.

Notifications are fundamental in operating a dry cdleaning business. Trigger-based marketing allows you to send texts and emails automatically, giving you more time to run your plant. On The Spot Marketing (a tool powered by Xplor Spot and BeCreative360), allows you to send daily, weekly or monthly marketing campaigns without the hassle. On The Spot is the ultimate marketing tool with options to run emails, letter printing, mailing, postcard printing and SMS marketing. 

Trigger-based marketing lets you reconnect with lost customers with service offerings or upcoming promotions. They can also generate more revenue from current customers by providing new service offerings and upselling.

3. Combine Local & Digital Advertising for Maximum Reach

Being the go-to dry cleaner in your community means showing up where your audience spends time—both offline and online.

Locally, consider these dry cleaning advertising strategies:

  • Ads in neighborhood newspapers or school newsletters
  • Flyers in apartment buildings or office break rooms
  • Sponsorships for community events or sports teams

For online dry cleaning advertising strategies, focus on:

  • Setting up or optimizing your Google Business Profile
  • Encouraging happy customers to leave Google or Yelp reviews (or have ReviewMyDryCleaner do it for you!)
  • Running simple social ads targeting a local radius
  • Posting before-and-after garment transformations on Instagram

Many small businesses have increased web traffic just by claiming and updating their Google Business Profile and responding to reviews weekly. It’s low effort, high return.

Fun Fact: Patio cushion cleaning has become a big money maker for dry cleaners, particularly at the end of season.

4. Upsell and Cross-Sell to Boost Each Visit

Don’t just clean clothes—solve more problems for your customers. Many people don’t realize you offer alterations, repairs, or specialty item care unless you tell them.

Here’s how to make upselling natural in your dry cleaning advertising:

  • Offer a quick garment inspection and suggest repairs at drop-off
  • Train staff to mention related services (e.g., “We can press that jacket too!”)
  • Bundle services with small discounts (“Dry clean & tailor pants – save 10%”)

Bonus Tip: Use signage, bag stuffers, or text reminders to suggest add-ons. The more helpful your service feels, the more customers will spend—and return.

5. Partner with Other Local Businesses

One of the smartest ways to advertise is to tap into someone else’s audience. Team up with nearby businesses for cross-promotions that benefit both of you.

Some creative ideas:

  • Leave flyers at gyms, coffee shops, or tailor shops
  • Offer bundled discounts (e.g., “Free coffee with every $25 spent at [Your Business]”)
  • Run Instagram giveaways together to share followers and foot traffic

6. Reward Loyalty and Stay Top-of-Mind

Getting someone in the door is one thing—keeping them is another. A simple loyalty program can dramatically increase repeat visits.

Consider:

  • Punch cards (“10 visits = 1 free garment”)
  • Point systems through your POS software
  • Exclusive discounts or early access to promotions for email subscribers

Use your CRM tools to send targeted email or SMS campaigns with helpful reminders (“Time to refresh your winter coats?”), special birthday discounts, or VIP perks. It’s these small touches that build long-term loyalty.

Want Help Putting It All Together?

The right marketing strategy starts with the right tools. Xplor Spot’s POS software helps you track customer behavior, send targeted offers, and streamline your operations—all from one platform.

Ready to grow your dry cleaning business with smarter marketing? The team at Xplor Spot Dry Cleaning Software is here to help! Book your FREE personalized demo today!

Dry Cleaning Advertising: Consistency Creates Results

No matter which strategies you choose, the key is staying consistent. A one-time promo or a few scattered posts won’t cut it. Set a plan, track results, and keep testing what resonates.

Dry cleaning advertising doesn’t need to be complicated—but it does need to be intentional.

Plus, amplify your marketing efforts and unlock your full potential with the best dry cleaning software in the industry! Book a demo to see for yourself.

Related:

Dry Cleaning Upsells

Xplor Spot Features

  • First published: June 26 2025

    Written by: Tom Talbot