Senior management and international business student Benjamin Stuckert is taking on the challenge of starting his own laundry business, Lion Laundry, to ease the stress of State College students. Stuckert, a transfer student from Penn State Harrisburg, pioneered the business idea last spring as a way to apply his degree and provide quality service to the area.

Owning a small business in college is no small feat, but it’s the fun times and lessons learned along the way that make this valuable for entrepreneurs like Stuckert.

After transferring, Stuckert needed a way to keep himself busy and realized there was a need for a laundry service on campus. Many students in apartments don’t have the luxury of in-unit or building laundry, and many freshmen are hesitant to conquer their dorm’s laundry rooms on their own.

“I hope this can improve some of the lives of students here at Penn State, give them more time, and less to worry about. We have so much to do all the time, so this will give them more free time to go to the bars, see friends, and do whatever they need,” Stuckert said.

As with many internships and entrepreneurial quests, Stuckert is getting the opportunity to capitalize on soft skills that are difficult to learn in the classroom. While his ongoing Smeal degree has been a huge asset to the development of the business, he is excited to take what he learns from his business and apply it back to his classes.

Figuring out all the ins and outs of a small business from setting a quality standard to the correct wording, advertising mediums, and potential hirings are all part of the process for Stuckert.

“This is a practical application that is testing my knowledge and teaching me a lot of things. In a sense, I’m making it up as I go,” Stuckert said.

Currently, Stuckert serves as the only employee of Lion Laundry. From a cost perspective, this allows him to keep prices down and ensure the quality of service is as desired for a new business. This also means that he serves as the sole washer, dryer, folder, marketeer, finance coordinator, and CEO of the company.

“I’m wearing all of the hats at the moment. I have to be creative in a marketing aspect, but I also have to be careful from a financial aspect, because I don’t want to spend too much money upfront and then not have any left to continue with services,” he said.

As for the services themselves, Lion Laundry offers a $10 wash and dry option, and a $15 wash, dry, and fold option. Students who purchase the subscription service will get a laundry bag containing a plastic identification card and be instructed to fill it out and put their dirty clothes in the 10-pound bag.

Stuckert himself picks the bag up the next day and transports the laundry to an off-campus laundromat to get to work. With skin-safe detergent and even a small mesh bag available for privacy, Stuckert leaves no customer wary about handing over their laundry to a stranger. He then returns the clean laundry to the customer within 24 hours.

Available subscription plans are one-time, monthly, or semesterly. Students and families can choose the option that best works for their lifestyle. There is also a gift card selection for those who are looking for the perfect present to try out different options or make a college student’s life a little easier.

With no paying customers yet, Stuckert is doing everything he can to continue to advertise by word-of-mouth and with new students. For a limited time, Lion Laundry is even doing a promotion to give new subscribers $5 off their first wash.

For Stuckert, one of the coolest things has been the opportunity to talk with people about his business. While passing out promotional materials like business cards and pamphlets on the street, he gets the chance to share his passion for entrepreneurship.

“As I talk to them, I get a moment of personal connection. Especially as a student, I can relate to them and in these small interactions learn more about my business. Based on their facial expressions and nonverbal cues I can see whether they are interested, or even think it’s too expensive,” Stuckert said.

Designing a small business has been a transformative experience for Stuckert, and he is excited about the opportunity of incoming orders and getting the ball rolling this semester.

“At the end of the day, I’m trying my best. Students are trying their best. It’s just fun to realize that at the end of the day, we’re all Penn State students, and I’m just trying to make everyone’s life a little better,” Stuckert said.