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: 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...
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?...
The Business Mind
Feeling Emotional (Part 2)
How to Use Emotional Intelligence to Better Manage Yourself and Your Laundry Business [This is the second of a two-part column. Part One can be read here.] While emotional skills may come more naturally to some due to their background and upbringing, there are ways...
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...
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 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...
Leverage Marketing’s Universal Strategies
Three Promotional Tactics That Work Anywhere… For Any Business International companies have a lot to teach us about marketing. They’ve mastered the art of grabbing an audience’s attention and selling a product or service – which is at the core of all marketing...