Columns
The Laundry Doctor
On Camera
Surveillance Technology Continues to Improve – And It Provides Laundry Owners With More Benefits Than You May Think A recent PlanetLaundry cover story discussed the ins and outs of laundromat security, with a good portion of that article highlighting the importance of...
W-D-F 2.0
What Does the Future Hold for the Wash-Dry-Fold Business? As I’ve been saying in this column for several years, the wash-dry-fold business continues to grow, morph and evolve into something new seemingly each time we look in a different direction. The future of...
Getting Into Your ‘Comforter’ Zone
Build Your Business by Becoming the Comforter-Cleaning Specialist in Your Marketplace In today’s world of drycleaners and commercial laundries all trying to carve out their own special niche by adding extra services, such as residential wash-dry-fold laundry and...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Leasing vs. Owning
I’m in the market to buy an existing laundromat. I’ve looked at quite a few laundries – some were rentals and some came with the property. Am I better off buying a laundromat with the property or leasing a storefront? Unless you come across a rental opportunity with a...
Wash with Wally: Sign of the Times
My business partner and I are building a 4,500-square-foot laundromat in Arizona. We are just about finished, and one of the last tasks we’re left with is deciding what to do about the outdoor sign on the corner of the lot. We are considering a standard, double-faced...
Wash with Wally: The Basics of Building a Full-Service Laundry Arsenal
What types of cleaning products and other items are required for my laundromat to have what would be considered a fully stocked wash-dry-fold arsenal for my attendants? Essentially, to start a wash-dry-fold service, you need bagging supplies – plastic bags and cloth...
The Business Mind
Inflection Points: Preventive Maintenance for Your Laundromat
Quiet Reflection on the Future Path of Your Business May Be the Most Important Time You Spend All Week “Inflections points” are those moments in your life where events and decisions conspire to take you in a different direction, thus altering the course of at least...
Are You a Quitter?
The Key to Success is Knowing When to Quit – And When to Hang On “Never, never, never give up.” – U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, on October 29, 1941, as World War II raged through Europe Winston Churchill was a strong believer that persistence is everything...
The Discomfort of Uncertainty
For Entrepreneurs, Uncertainty is a Part of Daily Life – Accepting the Inevitable Anxiety of This ‘High Stakes Waiting’ Game is Half the Battle Believe it or not, there is a science of uncertainty. Some psychologists actually study and conduct research in this field....
Viewpoint
Silver Linings
Typically, December is a time to pause, look back and take stock of your life and your business. It’s normally the perfect opportunity to reminisce about the 365 days gone by (366, in this case) – and to try to predict what the next 365 have in store. Not this year!...
Giving Thanks for 2020
“…enjoy every sandwich.” – Warren Zevon, songwriter/musician When Zevon uttered these quirky words of gratitude, it wasn’t in a clever lyric from one of his dozens of great songs. Rather, it came in response to a question posed by his friend David Letterman during...
Tempus Fugit!
Time certainly does fly. It’s hard to believe that the Coin Laundry Association first launched its monthly magazine 30 years ago! At the time, I had the privilege of being the CLA’s Chairman of the Board. And, as I recall, it was a much different environment in those...
Digital Marketing
Localize Your Message
Five Local Marketing Tactics That Can Grow Your Laundry Business Marketing can be a tricky subject to approach. On one hand, you want to attract new customers and gain business. On the other hand, you have a lot of options, information, competing ideas, and most...
Tips for Social Media Success
When it comes to social media marketing, businesses often face a difficult decision: what type of content should they post – be it on Facebook, Instagram or somewhere else? The answer isn’t always clear-cut, as different platforms have different audiences and...
Online ‘Stain Removal’
How to Effectively Manage Your Business’ Digital Reputation When you Google your business, what do you see? I’d hope that you’d be viewing your brand at the top of the heap – complete with pages full of five-star reviews, links to helpful content and a sterling online...