Interview with Ganesh Yadav – Founder & CEO, BrightNok Laundry Services
When you think of laundry, innovation isn’t usually the first word that comes to mind. But for Ganesh Yadav, founder and CEO of BrightNok Laundry Services, laundry was never just a chore; it was an opportunity to solve a real problem. Since 2017, BrightNok has quietly changed how thousands of students, professionals, and families handle laundry across India. From doorstep pickups to eco-friendly detergents and even shoe-cleaning services, the brand has redefined what convenience means in everyday life. When I first sat down with Ganesh, I wanted to know what sparked this journey. Laundry isn’t an industry people usually dream about, yet here he was, building something meaningful out of it. I asked him what led him to start BrightNok and what those early days were like. In this honest conversation with me, Ganesh opens up about his journey, what drives him, and how BrightNok plans to bring structure, trust, and sustainability to an often-ignored industry. Q: What inspired you to start BrightNok back in 2017? A: The idea came from something most of us can relate to. No one really likes doing laundry. Back in 2017, I noticed there wasn’t a reliable, tech-driven laundry service that made the process simple and consistent. People could order food or book a cab in minutes, but they still had to deal with piles of clothes every week. I wanted to change that. BrightNok started as a way to save people time while giving them quality they could count on. Q: What was the biggest challenge when you were starting out? A: Earning trust. Laundry is personal, you’re handing someone your clothes, sometimes expensive or sentimental ones. In the beginning, people were skeptical. We had to prove ourselves through every pickup and delivery. It took months of consistency and care to make people see we were serious about quality. Q: What gap did you see in the market that made you believe in this idea? A: I saw a huge gap between what customers expected and what they were getting. Most laundry services were unorganized, with no fixed prices or quality checks. People wanted reliability and convenience but didn’t have options. That’s where BrightNok came in, to bring structure, trust, and comfort into something as ordinary as laundry. As we spoke more, it became clear that BrightNok’s success wasn’t just about clean clothes. It was about understanding people. I wanted to know how Ganesh built a service that feels personal in an industry that’s usually transactional. These were his answers to my queries. Q: BrightNok’s tagline says, “We process laundry as per our customer specifications.” How did that come about? A: It came straight from customer feedback. Everyone has their own laundry preferences. Some like a certain fragrance, others want no starch at all. We realized the best way to stand out was to let people decide how their clothes are cleaned. Once we gave customers that control, everything changed. It made them feel valued, and they started trusting us more. Q: You serve students, families, and working professionals, all with very different needs. How do you manage that? A: By being flexible. Students need affordable and fast service. Professionals care about premium care for office wear. Families want reliability for larger loads. So, we built options for all, express services, subscription plans, and even premium dry-cleaning. Our app makes it easy to schedule and customize, so no one has to compromise. Q: Was there a moment that made you realize BrightNok was truly making a difference? A: Yes. A working mom once told me that BrightNok gave her Sundays back. She used to spend the whole weekend doing laundry, but now she spends that time with her kids. That message meant a lot. It reminded me that we weren’t just washing clothes, we were giving people their time back. The next thing that caught my attention was their shoe-cleaning service. It’s not something you hear about often in India. I was curious about what pushed him to explore this niche and how customers reacted to it. Q: Shoe laundry is an interesting addition. What made you branch into it? A: Customers asked for it. Many told us they didn’t know how to clean their sneakers or formal shoes properly. Good shoes are expensive, and most people end up neglecting them. That’s when we decided to start a dedicated shoe-cleaning service with eco-friendly products and machines designed just for footwear. It’s been a hit ever since. Q: People are usually hesitant to hand over their shoes. How do you build that trust? A: By being transparent. We show customers how we clean, from inspection to finishing. We even share before-and-after pictures. Every pair is handled carefully by trained staff. Once people see the difference, they keep coming back. Q: How does shoe cleaning fit into your main laundry and dry-cleaning services? A: It completes the circle. Clothes, shoes, bags, they’re all part of a person’s presentation. Offering all three under one brand makes life easier for customers. They don’t have to go to different places for different things. It’s simple and saves time. No modern business survives without technology, and BrightNok is no exception. But what impressed me was how Ganesh spoke about sustainability — not as a buzzword, but as a responsibility. I asked him how both these elements shaped the company’s growth. Q: How important is technology for BrightNok? A: It’s the backbone of our business. From the customer app to delivery tracking to internal quality checks, everything runs on technology. It keeps us consistent and transparent. My goal has always been to make doing laundry as easy as ordering food online, and we’re pretty close to that now. Q: You also focus a lot on eco-friendly practices. Was that always part of your plan? A: Always. From day one, I wanted BrightNok to be a brand that’s good for both people and the planet. We use biodegradable detergents, water-efficient machines, and sustainable packaging. For us, it’s not just about