Columns
The Laundry Doctor
WDF 101: Back to Basics
Here's What to Consider Before Launching Your Wash-Dry-Fold Service[This is the first in a series of columns on running a successful wash-dry-fold business.]I've been receiving a lot of phone calls lately from new laundry operators just getting into the industry –...
Kaizen: Get Better at Getting Better
Improve Productivity by Embracing This Japanese PhilosophyYears ago, my good friend and fellow store owner Paul Pettefer and I began work on an employee manual. We wanted to create the best possible set of processes and procedures for our businesses and staff...
Pound Foolish
Here Are a Couple of Unique Pricing Models to Consider That May Help You Present and Market Your Wash-Dry-Fold Business I'm always looking for different ways to market and develop a wash-dry-fold service. So, this month, I'd like to discuss a couple of ideas that are...
Wash With Wally
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...
Wash with Wally: Dealing with a Dryer Fire
I recently had a dryer fire at my laundromat. A customer had placed a mix of synthetic, nylon and cotton garments into one of my dryers at the “hot” setting for more than 45 minutes. There was no type of electrical issue with the dryer. In fact, the dryer worked...
What Laundry Customers Want: Six Keys To Building Your Business
There are six main elements that a new laundromat business should possess to attract and retain customers. They are: 1. Parking. Parking is critically important to the success of a self-service laundry. If your parking lot is too small with respect to the size of your...
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
![[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...
Working Together for a Stronger Industry
As my chairmanship on the Coin Laundry Association Board of Directors comes to a close, I want to reflect on both my personal growth and evolution… as well as that of the CLA. The CLA, which works to grow and better the vended laundry industry, is ever-changing to...
A New Laundromat in the Neighborhood?
Not that long ago, I had a competitor build a store right across the street from me. Literally, I could stand at the front door of my laundromat and throw a rock through his window. (Just for the record, I didn’t.) Fortunately, it takes a while to build a store from...
Digital Marketing
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...
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....