ServMart, a Chicago area firm, has developed

ServMart, a Chicago area firm, has developed a retail concept that provides many services — e.g. dry cleaning, mail services, copying/faxing, video rental, photo processing, repairs, tailoring, flowers — in a single small location. The firm makes arrangements with existing local establishments to do the actual work — getting a bulk discount so ServMart customers pay no premium. While ServMart currently has five locations in upscale apartment complexes in the Chicago area, the firm has plans to expand the concept nationwide. One developer, Bruno Bottarelli, has been talking to ServMart about opening a store in a new urbanist neighborhood center in Romeoville, Illinois. Steve Yanklowitz of ServMart says the company usually operates out of a 300 sq. ft. to 600 sq. ft. space. “We really don’t need much more than that. We need space for dry cleaning racks, some counter space, and storage for a few product offerings — like soda, bottled water, milk, and snacks.” ServMart does not pay rent — instead it compensates property owners with a small percentage of sales. The main cost of running the business is labor — and that is minimized by staying open only during limited hours (e.g. weekdays only 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., and longer hours on weekends). The business has been profitable even in apartment complexes with 300 to 600 units, Yanklowitz says. Contact: (847) 797-7171.