Thankfully for most of us, gone are the days of washboards and mangles, blue bags and dolly tubs but even with our modern labour saving devices, efficient detergents and easy care fabrics, laundry is not high on anyone’s list of fun! Imagine doing not only what is in your own washing basket but in hundreds of others, too?

That is what faces Julie Bennett and her hardworking team every week at local laundry specialists, Three Sheets to the Wind, but they clearly excel at what they do as they are the launderers of choice for many holiday homes and letting agencies beside the numerous individual clients who rely upon their services.

What started as an embryonic business in Julie’s garage at home in 2008 outgrew that space by the end of the first year when Three Sheets to the Wind moved to Duncombe Street. Two years later, even those premises were too small to cope alone and a second unit was added at Orchard Industrial Estate.

Now the opportunity has arisen for all aspects of the business – laundry and linen hire – to be brought together under one roof as the business moves to Units 4 & 5 Old Station Yard. “Not only is it an improvement for us, having everything in one place, but the larger space accommodates what we do now and will also allow for expansion. The new location is conveniently situated on the edge of town for our customers and offers easy parking so it should be better for them too”, explained Julie.

Three Sheets to the Wind is typical of many thriving local businesses within the area – independent, reliable, offering second-to-none customer service, and a family concern. “My right hand person is sister, Lisa Wootton; my nephew Daniel Stone divides his time between bookkeeping and a hands-on role in the laundry; my other sister, Sara Stone, looks after the payroll and brother in law, Michael Wotton, has undertaken much of the building works required at the new premises – what could be better?”

Julie added, “I am extremely fortunate to have such a great team around me, family or not, as they have all contributed to the continuing success of Three Sheets to the Wind. We work hard, we have to, but we have fun together, too.”

As much of their work is for holiday homes, whether directly or through letting agencies, it is unsurprising that many visitors to the area will have enjoyed the results of the team’s hard work on their beds and in their bathrooms but they can also provide a range of nursery/children’s equipment for hire – cots, high chairs, stairs gates, etc. Well worth remembering as those are items which can make all the difference between an enjoyable family holiday or a stressful time for all; also worth noting when grandchildren come to stay, too!

“We all enjoy having family come to stay but it isn’t always easy to make the environment safe or have everything they need for their comfort or convenience – that’s where we come in. Just call us or pop in to our new premises and we will be delighted to advise you on how we can help make the visit as enjoyable as possible for everyone, without it costing a fortune buying items you may only use a few times before they are outgrown.”

That understanding of what people need underpins all they do at Three Sheets to the Wind as Julie explained. “We are very proud of the long standing relationships we have developed with so many of our customers over the years and meeting their needs is what we strive to do, on time, and to the best standard we can.“

“We are looking forward to settling in to our new ‘home’ but I would like to thank all my neighbours, old and new, residents and other local businesses, for their patience and understanding and apologise for any inconvenience which may have been caused by our relocation.”