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: 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...
Wash with Wally: Parking is Paramount
I own a 4,000-square-foot laundromat that does a good business. However, I’ve noticed that on Saturdays and Sundays we often turn business away because we simply don’t have enough parking availability on those busy weekends. The building next to us is for sale. Do you...
The Business Mind
Entrepreneurship is Risky Business
Here’s a Look at What Makes Certain People Willing to Take the Plunge into a Life of Business Ownership Starting or buying a company is not for the faint of heart. The statistics tell us that roughly one-third of all small businesses fail within the first two years....
Are Your Attendants Happy?
Developing a Positive Employee Culture is One of the Most Important Ways to Strengthen Your Laundry Business A large and growing body of research devoted to positive organizational psychology has demonstrated that not only is a “cut-throat” business environment...
It’s No Big Thing
Strengthening Your Innovative Mindset “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh “Synergism” is one of my favorite words. Actually, it’s likely my favorite. And I use it often. Its technical definition is “the interaction...
Viewpoint
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...
You’ve Never Been More Essential
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” – Frederick Douglass You’ve likely had a few pressing issues on your mind these last several months. Namely, the health and well-being of your family, employees and customers – not to mention, quite possibly, that of...
Digital Marketing
Safety First
Four Basic Tips to Help Keep Your Digital Presence Secure When it comes to marketing, most people typically think of digital strategies such as social media and email campaigns. However, it’s just as important to have a security plan in place for your laundry business...
Marketing by the Numbers
Four Key Performance Indicators All Laundry Owners Need to Track I’m going to make you do some math in this article. But I promise it’s the good kind of math – the kind that lets you know if your marketing plan is actually doing some good for your laundromat business....
Marketing Lessons from an Up-and-Down Year (Part 2)
The Era of Marketing-From-Anywhere [The is the second of a two-part column. Part One can be read here.] The final takeaway from 2021 is less about statistics and trends, and more about the world we find ourselves in. We still find ourselves in a tumultuous time – with...