Columns
The Laundry Doctor
What’s Your Number?
[Knowing How Much Finished Laundry Your Staff Can Produce is Vital to the Health of Your Wash-Dry-Fold BusinessSeveral months ago in this column, I discussed the Japanese principle of Kaizen, which is a philosophy that embraces constant and continual improvement in...
WDF 101: Back to Basics, Part 3
Here's Why Choosing Your Detergent and Landing a Few Commercial Accounts Are Critical Factors for Your New Wash-Dry-Fold Business[This is the third and final installment in a series on running a successful wash-dry-fold service.]Thus far in this series on offering a...
WDF 101: Back to Basics, Part 2
Consistently Folding and Professionally Packaging Your Customers' Garments Are Keys to a Successful Wash-Dry-Fold Business[This is the second in a series on running a successful wash-dry-fold service. Part One appeared in the April issue.]Last time, I discussed how to...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Removing Gum, Diagnosing Rust Stains, And More…
I recently processed a wash-dry-fold load, and unfortunately I didn’t check the pockets like I normally do. As luck would have it, there was gum in one of the pockets, and it got all over a pair of dark blue pants. I tried rewashing the pants, but the gum won’t come...
Wash with Wally: Restaurant Laundry, Store Windows, Bedbugs and More…
I have been asked to wash towels, dishcloths and oven mitts for a local café. These items have gray stains from the restaurant's aluminum baking pans. They soak the towels, but the cloths and mitts are badly stained. What can I use to get this laundry white again?...
Wash with Wally: Laundry Detergent, Drainage Systems and More…
I own a successful laundromat in a small Midwestern town. One of my promotions is giving my customers free detergent – all they need Monday through Friday. The problem I have is that some of the customers use too much of the detergent and over-suds the washers. I was...
The Business Mind
Feeling Emotional (Part 1)
How to Use Emotional Intelligence to Better Manage Yourself and Your Laundry Business “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion.” – Dale Carnegie Until recently, psychologists defined a person’s...
Signs, Signs… Everywhere a Sign
How to Make Signage an Essential Ingredient of Your Laundromat’s Marketing Strategy Have you ever thought about how many signs you see in a given day? Likely, it numbers in the hundreds if you consider the signage on the internet, on buildings, on billboards, and in...
‘Making a Bouquet’
Promoting Your Laundromat in Today’s Culturally and Generationally Diverse Marketplace During the last 20 years, the changes that have occurred – from both technological and cultural/social standpoints – have been profound. And these changes have had a major impact on...
Viewpoint
United We Stand
We are all in uncharted territory these days. No doubt, the news regarding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) changes by the day, the hour… and sometimes the minute. As unsettling as this situation may sometimes seem, be assured that the Coin Laundry Association is...
A Decade of Transformation
“Call me crazy, but I like to see other people happy and succeeding. Life is a journey, not a competition.” I read that quote years ago on a billboard somewhere, and it just resonated with me. So, when I became a CLA Board member, I knew my purpose was to help others...
![[Video] The New CLA](https://planetlaundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/New-CLA-510x382.jpg)
[Video] The New CLA
“Change is inevitable; growth is optional.” – John C. Maxwell Happy New Year! As we enter a new year and a new decade, the Coin Laundry Association is looking forward to celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2020. Video Of course, we’re understandably proud of this long...
Digital Marketing
Create Enthusiasm for Your Wash-Dry-Fold Business
Four Basic Steps to Marketing Your Full-Service Offerings Wash-dry-fold services can be an incredible boon to your customers. You’re offering them a time-saving, hassle-free way to get their laundry done. You’re helping today’s customers stay on top of their busy...
Investing in Online Real Estate
A Look at Some Digital Marketing Options to Help You Build Your Laundromat Business As someone who is in the vended laundry business (or is considering investing in a laundromat), you’re also somewhat – by default – in the commercial real estate business as well....
Reaching Out to Today’s ‘Omni-Shopper’
How to Unify Your Business’ Online and Offline Experiences We’ve been living in an “omni-channel world” for a while now. What does that mean? It means your customers aren’t just looking you up online or finding your ad and making a decision. They’re looking everywhere...