John Nichols
Vice President, Jay Nichols
Richmond, VA 23226
Phone (804) 543-7657
Bio
Jay Nichols is vice president of HandCraft Services, sharing leadership and
ownership decisions with his brothers Keith and Jeff. Jay now oversees
HandCraft’s dry cleaning and retail laundry division including four stores,
seven wholesalers, and three home routes. He is also responsible for
negotiations with financial institutions and leasing arrangements.
Jay enjoys helping HandCraft exceed industry standards for cleanliness
and efficiency.
Like his four other siblings, from a very early age, Jay spent his summers and
weekends working alongside their father, who founded HandCraft in 1956.
Born on the day the company was founded, Jay started his professional
career with HandCraft in 1978.
Jay has served on the board of trustees of Benedictine College Preparatory,
the board of directors of Divers and Associates, and the board of directors
of Richmond Area Fabri-care Association (RAFA). He has served as president
of the Richmond Shirt Company. Jay is now a member of the Great Lakes
Management Bureau and serves on the Foundation Board of Bon Secours.
Following the family tradition, Jay graduated from Benedictine College
Preparatory in 1974. He then graduated from Virginia Military Institute in
1978 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Since then, he has attended
numerous industry courses with the International Fabric-Care Institute (IFI).
A resident of Goochland County, Jay is married to Cary C. Edel Nichols, and
they have three children: Curtis, Cameron, and Anne Stewart.
