Today we’d like to introduce you to John Simerson.
Hi John, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I didn’t start with a business plan or investors — I started with a vision and the relentless belief that something ordinary could be done extraordinarily well. DropMint was born out of a simple observation: people are busy, laundry never stops, and nobody was doing it better. And in a world where everything is on your phone — food, rides, groceries — laundry should be no different. So I decided to change that.
I built it from the ground up in San Diego, one customer at a time. I wore every hat, made plenty of mistakes, and learned something new every single day. But I stayed consistent, kept the quality high, and never stopped obsessing over the customer experience. Over time, that compounded into something real — 700 five-star reviews and four consecutive years as the Best Mobile Laundry in San Diego.
Today, we serve over 20,000 customers and are expanding into Orange County with a strong team and the systems to back it up. What started as an idea has become a business I’m genuinely proud of.
But what drives me most isn’t the growth — it’s what the growth represents. Proof that you can build something meaningful in an industry most people overlook, if you show up, solve a real problem, and treat people right. I’m a father first, and everything I build is with my sons in mind — showing them what’s possible when you have the courage to start.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not many moment of smooth. And I think anyone who tells you their road was smooth is leaving something out.
The early days were a constant process of figuring things out with no roadmap — operations, logistics, hiring, customer issues, all at once. Scaling brought its own challenges. Building a reliable team in California is complex, maintaining quality across thousands of orders is hard, and the financial pressures along the way were very real.
But every obstacle taught me something. The hard times are the exact reason the business is what it is today — they forced me to build smarter, lead better, and think longer term. I wouldn’t change any of it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
DropMint is a pickup and delivery laundry service built for people who value their time. You schedule a pickup, we collect your laundry, wash and fold it with care, and deliver it back to your door. It’s that simple — and that’s exactly the point.
We specialize in making laundry completely disappear from your life. Not just once, but on a recurring basis. Our customers don’t think about laundry anymore — it’s handled. That recurring relationship is something we take seriously, which is why the experience has to be consistent, reliable, and high quality every single time.
What sets us apart is the combination of convenience and trust. Anyone can offer pickup and delivery. What’s harder to build is the reputation that keeps 20,000 customers coming back. Four consecutive years as the Best Mobile Laundry in San Diego and 700 five-star reviews aren’t things you manufacture — they’re earned through showing up, over and over again.
We’ve also made it as easy as possible to get started. Customers can book through our app, send us a text, reach out on Instagram or social media, call us directly, or book online — whatever is most convenient for them. We meet people where they are.
We’re also expanding into Orange County, bringing the same standard of service that built our name in San Diego to a whole new market.
At the end of the day, DropMint exists to give you your time back. Time with your family, time for your work, time for whatever matters most to you. That’s the service — but it’s also the mission.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
A few that have genuinely shaped how I think and operate:
Books — Zero to One by Peter Thiel shifted something in how I approach leadership and life. The Stoics — Marcus Aurelius, Seneca — I come back to those regularly. There’s a clarity in that philosophy that cuts through the noise of running a business and being a father at the same time.
Podcasts — I gravitate toward content around entrepreneurship, mindset, and building real businesses. Less theory, more execution.
Apps — On the business side, tools like Slack, Monday.com, and Notion keep my team organized and the operation running without everything running through me. Systems are what give you your time back.
In general — I believe what you feed your mind every day shows up in your decisions. I’m intentional about that. Less scrolling, more reading. Less noise, more signal.
Pricing:
- Wash N Fold 2.25/lb
- Wash NO Fold 1.75/lb
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ilovedropmint.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilovedropmint/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilovedropmint/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dropmint-san-diego-16?osq=Laundry+Services&override_cta=Get+pricing+%26+availability
