Tipping Point

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Company. Laundry Plus Industry. Commercial laundry Key. Firm anticipates at least 25% annual sales growth in bigger, new facility.

Disney World executives delivered a so-called positive rejection to Rick Rone in 2010, when the commercial laundry entrepreneur first targeted the entertainment giant for business.

Rone's company, Manatee County-based Laundry Plus, ran a solid, clean operation, Disney honchos told Rone. Disney liked the firm's customer service and its high-end industrial linen cleaning operation. Referrals from other clients glowed. The yeah, but: The 108 miles from Laundry Plus to Disney's hotels and resorts in Orlando was too far for the company's comfort zone, especially given potential traffic tie-ups on Interstate 4.