Latest news with #Cami
7NEWS
a day ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Best EOFY fashion sales 2025 to shop in Australia according to Best Picks
Let me let you in on a little secret: end-of-financial year is the best time to create a new wardrobe or upgrade your current one. The reason? You can purchase designer clothes for a fraction of their usual cost. And this year is no exception, 2025's EOFY fashion sales are some of the best I have come across in a long time. Retailers such as Camilla and Marc, Faithfull The Brand, Sir The Label, Viktoria & Woods and more are offering huge savings across a range of stunning items. The sales include everything from winter jackets to Euro summer dresses, designer boots and stylish clutches. As someone who loves fashion, I have included a few of my favourite sale picks below as well as a list of all the best fashion sales available. You'll want to be quick because most EOFY sales end June 30. 1. Cami Stitch Detail Felled Coat, was $229.99, now $179.95, Forever New This gorgeous camel-coloured coat is a must-have for the winter season. It's super versatile and is perfect for both the office and social occasions. Pair it with your favourite black pants or a dress and heels. Crafted from a mix of 52 per cent wool and 48 per cent polyester, it's as stylish as it is warm. 2. Compact Wool Knit Dress, was $249 now $149 Country Road This will be your new winter going-out dress, made from 92 per cent wool, it's warm, comfortable and classy. Featuring a slim fit, mock neckline and invisible zip, shoppers on Country Road's website have given the dress a 4.2-star rating. 'Love this dress, received so many compliments wearing it, ' one impressed shopper wrote. 'Such a great dress for winter,' another shopper commented. 3. Lioness Stars Align Mini Dress, was $79, now $55.30, The ICONIC If you're off to Euro summer, then you need this stunning mini dress from Lioness. I have seen it all over my social media, and literally everyone looks good in it. Plus, it's polka-dot season, and I am not mad about it. What better way to embrace polka-dots than this super cute dress? 4. Basque Wool Blend Crew Neck Sleeveless Knit was $119.95, now $69, Myer Minimal effort, maximum impact, this Sleeveless Knit is the ideal everyday winter top. Crafted from a soft wool blend with a smooth, lightweight feel. Warm enough to wear solo and perfect for layering, this knit keeps it modern and easy to style. Best EOFY fashion sales to shop Forever New — Take a further 30 per cent off selected sale items. Country Road — Take a further 30 per cent off selected sale items. Camilla and Marc – Up to 40 per cent off selected styles. The ICONIC — Up to 60 per cent off selected styles. Myer — Up to 50 per cent off selected styles. UNIQLO – Up to 30 per cent off selected styles. Gorman — Up to 50 per cent off storewide. Tony Bianco — Take a further 20 per cent off selected sale shoes. Tommy Hilfiger — Take a further 30 per cent off sale items. Calvin Klein — Take a further 30 per cent off selected sale items. Glassons — Up to 50 per cent off selected styles. Sussan — Take 30 per cent off knitwear. Veronika Maine — Take a further 20 per cent off sale items. Betts Shoes — 30-70 per cent off everything. Meshki — Take an extra 20 per cent off sale items. Faithfull The Brand — Up to 80 per cent off selected styles. David Lawrence — Take a further 30 per cent off sale items. Sir The Label — Take a further 30 per cent off selected sale items. Viktoria & Woods — Up to 50 per cent off selected styles.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- General
- The Advertiser
How inheriting a dog named Jeffrey changed a young woman's life
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76.
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Eat well, sing loud: this is a night at Yatai Yatoi
Friday night — a day to eat well and catch up with friends. The plan? Check out the new Yatai Yatoi spot in Palermo and feel like we're on a little trip. And why not, dare to sing some great hits in the cozy karaoke room. Here's how it went. Drinks at Yatai Yatoi: The Bar as a Starting Point We met at 8 p.m. and settled at the bar, ordering some drinks to set the mood: the week's over, time to relax. We asked the bartender for recommendations and ended up with two off-menu cocktails. For me, a Penicillin — made with whiskey, ginger (caramelized live with a kitchen torch in a fiery, aromatic show), honey syrup, and lemon juice. For my friend Meli, a classic Negroni. And Cami, who was driving, ordered a mocktail that the three of us loved: the Better Tha Melona, with green tea syrup, melon juice, and activated chia. Here are more can't-miss mocktails in Buenos Aires. Drink in hand, we took on the challenge: try to win a plush toy from the claw machine. We played twice but no luck. Heads up: at one point we almost grabbed a very cute pink bear, but it slipped out of the claws before reaching the prize chute. Luckily, our appetizers arrived at the table, so there was no time to get sad. What's on the Yatai Yatoi Menu? We settled into our table, which looked like a set from a Korean movie. The whole Yatai Yatoi décor is spectacular: very kitsch, very cool. Tables with iridescent pandas that reminded me of the changing-image erasers I used to have in my pencil case (panda, dolphin, panda, dolphin). Posters of Mao, fans, paper lamps — every corner a different world, every table a party. We started with a complimentary otoshi: trout for Meli and me, and cucumber for Cami, who is vegan. For starters, we ordered just one tempting dish: veggie baos with classic bao buns, oyster mushrooms, aioli, sriracha (yes, it's for the brave), and cilantro. They come two per order. For mains, we didn't hold back. We shared Yatai Yatoi's take on a 'panchito': the Pancho teri, with bao bun, teriyaki sauce, Viennese sausage, cucumber pickles, kimchi, and aioli, served with memorable smoked paprika fries. We also ordered the Pad Thai with shrimp, squid, and veggies... A squeeze of lime and pure enjoyment. For Cami, they made a veggie version with oyster mushrooms, just as delicious as the original. And if that wasn't enough, we also tried the Ramen — chicken broth, noodles, naruto (fish cake), nori seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms. Amazing. And then came dessert. Because we know life calls for appreciating the sweet stuff, we ordered a Taiyaki, which is a fish-shaped waffle filled with banana ice cream (the gourmet version of what you'd get at any Chinatown stall), and a Kuro roll: dulce de leche mousse, a sushi-shaped delight. In Britney Mode: This Is Yatai Yatoi's Karaoke Here's a key fact: the food is delicious, the décor transports you through time and space, but honestly, the real highlight of Yatai Yatoi is the karaoke. After eating, or whenever you want, you go into a little Korean-style room and sing your heart out. Singing lets it all go. It's therapy, it's an exorcism. It's pretending to be Britney Spears and doing the same choreographies you did at 16 in your living room. You probably know how private karaoke rooms work because you've seen it in the movies. You order drinks (or you can even eat there!), get comfortable on the couches, and play concert with your friends. You sing solo or together, each with a mic, reading the lyrics on the screen. So we left with full bellies, slightly hoarse throats — but happy — and joyful hearts. Would we go back? Absolutely. But next time, we're going to win that plush toy. Feeling tempted? Yatai Yatoi is open every day from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Book, eat well, and sing your heart out.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Two Dallas Students Triumph With National Merit Scholarship
Two Dallas ISD students have beaten the odds, earning prestigious National Merit Scholarships from a pool of 1.3 million applicants nationwide. Samuel H. and Cami S., graduates of the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, secured spots among just 2,900 winners this year. The achievement places these students in rarefied company — fewer than one percent of high school seniors receive this honor. The awards, ranging from $500 to $2,000 annually, can be renewed for up to four years of undergraduate study. Samuel, who attended the School of Science and Engineering, plans to study physics at the University of Texas at Dallas. Cami, a graduate of the School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG), will pursue biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University. Arnold Zuñiga, principal of Townview TAG, praised Cami's accomplishment as evidence of exceptional character. 'This recognition tells me that Cami demonstrated remarkable discipline and focus — qualities that go beyond intelligence alone,' Zuñiga said. 'It shows that she met challenges head-on, often balancing academics with extracurricular and community involvement, all while maintaining a high level of performance.' The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will announce additional recipients in July. For now, these two Dallas students stand as examples of academic excellence in a highly competitive field.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After 10 Years as a Nurse, She Left for an Unexpected New Job. Now She Makes 3 Times as Much as She Used to (Exclusive)
Cami, who goes by @laundromatgirl on TikTok, left nursing after 10 years to run a laundromat She's found that she makes three times as much as she did when she was a nurse and has been sharing how financially lucrative it's been for her on TikTok With more than 400,000 followers on TikTok alone, she's also making significant money from her social media and from selling coursesOne woman found trading in her scrubs for dryer sheets to be much more financially lucrative. Cami, who runs the TikTok account @laundromatgirl, left her career as a nurse to run a laundromat — and as a result, she tells PEOPLE she's making three times more money a year. 'It's not that I hate nursing or anything like that. I think I was just ready for a new track, like that was it. I just was looking for something different that I could do,' Cami, 37, explains. Before purchasing the laundromat she runs, she was an RN in the oncology wing of her hospital, working specifically on bone marrow transplants. 'I had this really good friend and she was going into nursing, and so I thought, okay, I'll do it with you — like, there was no passion behind it,' Cami admits, noting she started completing her nursing pre-requisites in high school. 'There was no dream story. It was just like, 'Oh, a nursing job is a good job for a girl.'" While working as a nurse, Cami says she was making $41.50 an hour, typically keeping a schedule where she only worked three days a week. Though the money was good and she found the work fulfilling, she notes that it was the COVID-19 pandemic in particular that wore on her and sent her looking for a change of pace. 'I think I just got burnt out. 2020 was hard on nurses,' she says. Feeling 'bugged by healthcare,' she began looking for something new. Cami says she was determined not to go back to school and says she knew the 'only route out of healthcare was to own my own business.' But instead of building one from the ground up — a route she knew would come with a plethora of risks — she opted to purchase one that was already established. 'I just wanted a very simple business that I felt like I could run,' she says, admitting she'd never owned a business before but was researching the best options for her skill set. 'Originally I was looking at mobile home parks a lot... I was even under escrow at one point for a mobile home park. Luckily it didn't work out.' Cami also considered storage units as a possible option, but when she noticed a laundromat for sale, she decided to tour it. 'I had never even walked into a laundromat at that point,' she admits. 'I just went and looked at it that night, and I just remember walking into the laundromat that first time and just going, 'I can do this.' It just felt good to me walking in. Probably within two days after that, I put in an offer.' 30 days later the laundromat was hers. The business cost $300,000, she says, and she was able to pay two-thirds of that upfront by selling her house. Through seller financing, the final $100,000 was a loan from the original owner, which Cami paid off over the course of two years. Though few experts would recommend selling your home to purchase a business, it's more than paid off for Cami, who notes that with her current income, she was able to upgrade to a more spacious home after renting for a couple of years while she built her business. 'When I first bought it, I was just like a deer in headlights. I had no experience,' Cami admits. 'I also didn't know anyone personally that owned a laundromat. So I was by myself the entire time, just really kind of winging it — and I definitely made some mistakes in the beginning.' About six months into her venture as a laundromat owner, Cami began offering a wash-and-dry pickup and delivery service, which she says required hours of work to establish. As she fell into the groove at the laundromat, she also maintained her nursing job, not quite ready to put all her eggs in this new basket. 'I would say probably one full year after starting my pickup and delivery, I was at the laundromat probably four to five times a week,' Cami explains. 'I would come in after working a shift at the hospital to help fold laundry to process orders.' Now, though, she says she only spends between 10 and 15 hours a week working at her laundromat. She has anywhere from three to seven employees putting in full-time hours at the business, depending on the seasonal demands, which makes running it that much smoother. It's not just the laundromat that has netted Cami the extra cash — her social media following plays an important role. She notes that it's important to her she doesn't include the name or even the state her laundromat is located in for privacy reasons. While most business owners see social media as a way to promote their specific business, Cami uses it as a way to promote her journey, inspired by another laundromat owner who shared his lucrative social media earnings with her at a conference. 'He said that he was making more money from his social media page than he was from his laundromat,' she shares. 'But I'm like, okay, if I'm gonna do this, I don't want weirdos coming into my laundromat and robbing us. Like, I also have a team of women too that I have to protect. I don't want to put them in danger.' Even with the anonymity of her page, going online only by the name 'the laundromat girl,' Cami says that she brings in anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 a month in income from her views — and then she also gets the occasional brand deal on top of that. 'My biggest reason for doing it was just to get paid by TikTok,' she admits while noting that her specific niche (laundromat owners) is one that doesn't have a lot of competition online. 'I saw my TikTok videos as a journal of my business, and I kind of liked that idea that I could look back on these videos and see how I progress as a business owner,' she says. Cami now maintains more than 400,000 followers on her TikTok page alone — and her transparency as to her journey to earn the money she flashes in her videos has inspired a lot of feedback from her followers, many asking how they can also get started. This, Cami says, was just another business opportunity for her to pursue. She now has links on her page to courses detailing how to own and run a laundromat, with a second tailored to a wash-and-dry pickup service. In February alone, she says these courses alone brought in $26,000. 'I think my followers just see me as like, oh, [if] she can do it. I can do it. Which is great — that's what I want people to feel is that trust [in] me,' Cami says. 'I'm no one special. The only difference between me and them is that I did it.' This laundry empire she's built was done entirely on her own; Cami is currently single — she doesn't have a partner carrying the load with her, and she also notes that she does not have any children to take care of either. The journey to get to where she is has been a long one, and she says that while purchasing the laundromat was ultimately meant as her way to leave nursing behind, it wasn't a career move she made lightly. 'I had so many great experiences as a nurse, especially being in oncology. A little oncology unit is such a special place in the hospital that I never took for granted,' she says. 'I feel like I learned so many life lessons being there, and I'm so grateful for the time that I was a nurse.' The change also didn't happen overnight. Cami took three years to fully transition into a full-time laundromat owner, 'titrating' her shifts down to part-time, then once every other week. She didn't say goodbye to her job as a nurse until 2023. 'I really eased into the idea because ... when I quit, it was really scary. I cried on my drive home from the hospital. It was so sad,' Cami says, tearing up as she recounts this. 'I didn't take quitting my job as a nurse lightly. It was a very big deal for me.' Though the transition was tough emotionally, taking the leap opened so many doors for Cami — and she can reflect on it all by looking through her TikTok posts. 'I feel like my journey, [as] cheesy as that sounds… I started with one idea and it's completely evolved to something different.' Read the original article on People
