Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Here’s to Your Health
Tips and Tactics to Help Keep Your Wash-Dry-Fold Employees Fit, Pain-Free and ProductiveYour employees are the lifeblood of your wash-dry-fold service. And, as that operation grows, you'll likely be thinking more and more about where to find the next great laundry...
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...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Increasing Drying Capacity
My laundromat currently has 40 30-pound stack dryers. However, they’re 18 years old, and I’m starting to have some mechanical issues with them – so I think it may be time to replace them. Lately, I’ve been considering possibly purchasing 50-pound stack dryers to...
Wash with Wally: Equipping a Uniform Rental Service
I’m researching getting into the uniform business. What types of finishing machines would you recommend? Clearly, the exact type of equipment you’ll require will depend on the kinds of uniforms you plan to work with. Most likely, you need a hot head press, a legger...
Wash with Wally: Sports Bars and Laundromats Typically Don’t Mix
The storefront right next to my laundromat recently became available. I was thinking of leasing this extra space and putting in a small sports bar. I could remove a portion of the wall separating the two units and create a passageway between the laundromat and the...
The Business Mind
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...
The Randomness of Business Life
The Statistical Concept of ‘Regression to the Mean’ – and How It Impacts Your Laundry Operation I’m presently working toward a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. And, as part of the program, I’ve been required to take a number of courses in advanced statistics....
The Skills to Pay the Bills
Master These Six Essential Skills to Take Your Laundry Business to the Next Level I’ve always been a collector of the best words and most valid phrases to describe or define a successful small-business owner – and, more specifically, a highly successful laundromat...
Viewpoint
Stomping on the Front Lines
Many of us got into the laundromat business due to its simple nature and consistent characteristics. For most people, doing their laundry is a weekly demand. For all, it’s a basic necessity – not a luxury. And, for store owners, this provides a smooth and reliable...
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...
Digital Marketing
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...
Marketing Lessons from an Up-and-Down Year (Part 1)
Connecting with Customers During a Time When Connection Has Never Been More Challenging What a year! 2021 has been one for the record books, and it feels as though it flew by. Just like any other year, we’ve learned a lot about how audiences are responding to...
‘Web’ Site Selection
Developing a Strong Online Community for Your Laundry Business We all know that finding just the right site for your laundromat can make all the difference in whether or not your new business is a success. And the same goes for your “digital site” – that is, your...