Chris Shrader: 145% Growth Through Fire, Cancer and COVID

<p>This week on Cleaner Conversations, we sit down with Chris Shrader of Best &amp; New Brand Cleaners in Middle Tennessee.</p><p></p><p>Chris shares how a part-time job became a nearly 30-year career building six locations, five pickup and delivery routes, and a family business positioned for its next generation.</p><p></p><p>We talk about closing underperforming locations, building a leadership team, expanding into affluent neighborhoods, creating a specialty wedding gown division, and learning to step back as an owner.</p><p></p><p>Chris also shares the powerful story of losing his entire plant in a fire and being diagnosed with cancer just weeks later. He explains how those experiences changed his outlook on leadership, stress, family, faith, and what truly matters.</p><p></p><p>Since putting the right leadership team in place, Best &amp; New Brand Cleaners has grown sales by 145% in four years. Chris breaks down why owners must stop trying to handle everything themselves and start building systems and people that allow the business to grow beyond them.</p><p></p><p>This is a conversation about resilience, leadership, family business, customer service, and continuing to show up when everything feels like it is falling apart.</p><p></p><p>Topics Covered:</p><p></p><p>• How Chris entered the dry cleaning industry</p><p>• Knowing when to close an underperforming location</p><p>• Building six locations and five delivery routes</p><p>• How customer expectations have changed</p><p>• Using technology to create more personal service</p><p>• Building a specialty wedding gown division</p><p>• Growing sales by 145% in four years</p><p>• Hiring leaders and stepping back as an owner</p><p>• Rebuilding after losing the plant in a fire</p><p>• Being diagnosed with cancer weeks after the fire</p><p>• Targeting affluent neighborhoods using customer data</p><p>• Building adoption inside specific neighborhoods</p><p>• The good and bad of operating a family business</p><p>• Preparing the next generation for ownership</p><p>• Why struggling owners must continue to show up</p><p></p><p>Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, and leaders across the garment care industry.</p><p></p><p>Cleaner Conversations is built to highlight the people, stories, and ideas moving the garment care industry forward.</p><p></p><p>Cleaner Marketing is a full-service agency with more than 40 employees built specifically to serve the garment care industry. We help cleaners grow