In the run-up to its 60th anniversary, the Coin Laundry Association‘s offices were flooded with accolades from around the industry – some thanking the CLA for its long-standing efforts on behalf of laundromat owners, some offering advice for the organization’s next 60 years, and some just taking a trip down memory lane.
To provide a little perspective on where the laundromat industry has been and where it may be headed, we thought we’d share a few of these notes with you:
Ted Ristaino
Yankee Equipment Systems
Barrington, N.H.
2022 CLA Chairman
The Coin Laundry Association has provided great value to me and my business over the years. The CLA has always had strong educational mission. It has kept us current with industry trends and informed us of best practices among its members. Advising members how to face new competition, deal with increasing utility costs and negotiate leases are just a few of the CLA’s many educational efforts through the years.
In addition, the CLA has been a strong advocate for both members and non-members – monitoring and preventing owners from having to pay state sales tax, assuring that self-service laundries were designated “essential” businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and protecting the current metal composition of quarters.
As an equipment distributor, we rely on educated consumers who understand the industry or who are intellectually curious investors seeking to enter the business. Over the years, we’ve found the CLA has boosted the knowledge and performance of owners and investors.
Initially, the CLA provided education for owners, along with networking for owners, distributors and manufacturers. Prior to the internet and social media, these two functions relied mainly on printed material and face-to-face contact. The CLA provided those platforms by publishing its monthly magazine and other educational materials – along with the creation of its local affiliate program and sponsorship of the industry’s biennial Clean Show, both of which enhanced the ability of laundromat owners to network with each other.
Today, the CLA continues to offer industry-leading educational and networking opportunities, while also providing business solutions and government policy monitoring and industry advocacy. Property/casualty insurance, health insurance, digital marketing, payroll services and energy consulting are areas of expertise now available through relationships the CLA has established in recent years.
Clearly, the industry will determine what role the CLA will play in the coming years. Our industry is a three-legged stool consisting of store owners, distributors and manufacturers. Each component must be profitable and successful. To the extent that the industry requires a strong voice in government affairs, a trusted source of information and education, and a hub of business solutions the CLA will be the facilitator for these activities.
As with any business model, the CLA must meet the needs of its customers – its members. The challenge is to determine what its customers want and need. With the combination of laundromat owners, distributors and manufacturers, the associations’ customer base is broad and diverse and the needs of each group are unique.
For example, while business solutions may be of value to a store owner, it could be of little value to a manufacturer. Governmental mandates on washer and dryer efficiency are critical to manufacturers, but less so to distributors. So, finding a common denominator will require strong communication with each constituency. Whatever develops in the future, the CLA must remain the acknowledged leading source of unbiased, truthful information to help its members run profitable operations.
Although the self-service laundry has been a relatively stable industry for the last 60 years, it has never been a stagnant one. The industry should continue to grow and prosper because of risk-taking store owners, savvy distributors and innovative manufacturers. And CLA will be at the center of this tremendous community – informing and educating all of us.
Dennis Diaz
Spynr
New York City
The knowledge we’ve gained from the Coin Laundry Association has been invaluable and is a resource that can be trusted to provide accurate information about industry trends. Knowledge of this kind helps us grow in ways specific for laundry owners’ needs – it’s refreshing knowing there are resources out there like theirs.
The CLA is a not-for-profit organization that supports laundromat owners. It allows them to come together with other experienced professionals and get the resources they need for success in this competitive industry. The CLA will always be there to educate members about important trends, support their goodwill and provide crisis prevention services, such as lobbying against laws that prevent laundromats from being successful.
The CLA is a powerhouse of the laundry industry, and I want to see it blossom even more so, by drawing attention from potential investors as well as fueling excitement among current owners. With that said, the CLA’s LaundryCares Foundation provides an amazing vehicle for this growth by shining a positive light on laundromats, while supporting childhood literacy and attaching itself to worthwhile causes that would be good fits for anyone investing in this space.
I began my engagement with the CLA when I was 21 years old. It all began by picking up the CLA’s The Journal magazine, now known as PlanetLaundry, and absorbing a massive amount of new information that would later lead to attending events, where I met some amazing owners and visiting their laundromats to learn more about the typical day-to-day operations.
I remember being so excited about these connections. It’s what has kept me so passionate about this industry and the people in it. Cheers to 60 years of helping people grow passionate about our industry!
Steve Marcionetti
Card Concepts Inc.
Addison, Ill.
For me, the Coin Laundry Association has been about connections. On a national scale, the CLA is the only organization that has consistently and professionally connected the entire laundromat industry. Through these connections, I’ve been able to introduce myself and my products to people who may not have found us otherwise. For this, I’m grateful for the organization.
Although the CLA has a tremendous amount of resources for both new and existing operators, for me as a manufacturer the CLA is a communication vehicle – a way to reach people interested in this industry. Although the industry is undergoing many changes, I believe there will always be a need for a common community, and the CLA is in an excellent position to cultivate that community.
The CLA has always been synonymous with the Clean Show, which is arguably the largest example of the CLA bringing people together. And, for me, some of my fondest memories during my career have been captured at the Clean Show.
For instance, at my very first Clean Show, my wife (who has always participated at the show) was pregnant with our son, Max. For his entire life, he has watched his mother and I leave for the show every two years and then listened to the stories when we returned home. In fact, he had been asking to attend the show since he was 10. Fast forward to 2019, Max attended his first Clean Show, working our booth and finally getting to experience what he had been asking for most of his life – but, more importantly, he was able to make connections at that show that ultimately resulted in a summer internship after his first year of college.
To me, this is just one of the wonderful examples of how the CLA has been able to help people connect. In my opinion, this facilitation of communication and connection will be the CLA’s greatest value to this industry in the years to come.
Robert Maes
Express Laundry Centers
Houston
The Coin Laundry Association has been around for 60 years, and I suspect it will be around for another 60 years, because it’s a great resource for anyone in the industry.
Sometimes that resource is evident with what it offers members on a daily basis, and other times it has proven invaluable when least expected. For instance, the CLA’s ability to help its members during the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic last year perhaps best illustrated this value, as the association proved instrumental in assuring laundromats were deemed essential businesses.
I think of my CLA membership as an inexpensive insurance policy, with plenty of fringe benefits. Like most resources, it simply depends on how you use it.
Going forward, I suspect the CLA will become even more valuable to its members. Our industry needs a strong, united voice to deal with oncoming challenges, as it becomes increasingly difficult for small businesses to deal with the numerous political, legislative and environmental issues. What’s more, I expect personal laundry care to grow as more people realize there are time-saving alternatives to washing their clothes at home. With this growth will come additional challenges to standardize personal laundry service levels, for which the CLA can become instrumental, with regard to providing training and certification.
In addition, the organization most likely will ramp up its philanthropic efforts through the LaundryCares Foundation, as more within our industry realize the benefit of giving back to the communities they serve.
For the past four years, I’ve served on the CLA Board of Directors as a personal choice to help give back to an organization that has given so much to me – not only professionally but personally through the sense of community it creates. That personal connection with other members of this industry has allowed me to help others in need, especially when natural disasters strike.
Ken Barrett
Washin Laundries
Anniston/Oxford Alabama
I’m not sure of the exact date I first found out about the Coin Laundry Association, but I’m sure it was through an online search more than 10 years ago. I was interested in opening a laundromat and was in a position to research it full time.
I joined the association shortly thereafter and began digging through the information and visiting the online forum. When PlanetLaundry arrived, I’d read it cover to cover, and I still do. Seeing and reading about other stores and the customer amenities that were being added helped me plan my first store. At that time, offering free Wi-Fi access was rare. Through the years, it’s been fun watching other operators who started at the same time I did grow their businesses.
As with any industry, having a collective voice when it’s needed provides benefits that many don’t realize – from providing support to prevent sales tax implementation in your state to recently having self-service laundries added to the “essential services” list.
As the association’s LaundryCares Foundation has grown, it has placed laundromats in the national media spotlight and provided exposure to many who previously would never have considered using our services. We are no longer the dingy stores they remember from college, but instead a growing and vital part of their local communities.
As our industry continues to evolve, we will face challenges that will impact some or all of us – and having the collective voice of the CLA will provide benefits we cannot even realize until that time. In the meantime, the CLA no doubt will continue to champion knowledge, best practices and the advancement of the industry.
As Helen Keller once noted, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
Brian Grell
Eastern Funding
New York City
We’ve been active members of the Coin Laundry Association since our founding in 1997. The resources available to learn and grow, along with the variety of networking opportunities, have proven to be priceless over the years. I can’t fathom why anyone would enter this industry without taking advantage of the extensive information and contacts available from the CLA, especially given the incredibly affordable membership cost.
Like all industries, the laundromat industry is constantly evolving – and the CLA is leading the way as the best source of information, which is tried and tested by its members.
In addition, the emergence and growth of the LaundryCares Foundation further demonstrates that the CLA is best positioned to change and enhance the imagine of the laundromat business. The advent of free laundry days and the addition of Family Read, Play & Learn Centers into laundromats across the country has created an exciting buzz within (and outside of) our industry, especially from childhood literacy experts who have taken notice that laundromats are ideal spaces for children to learn within a “captive environment” for an hour or two each week.
This concept has inspired a strong partnership between the CLA and early childhood learning initiative Too Small to Fail, which has garnered national attention, especially from non-profit organizations immersed in literacy issues.
How does this impact the laundry owner? Quite simply, laundromats are making a difference within the communities they serve not merely by providing the basic need of clean clothes, but also something more valuable – childhood education in communities that desperately need it.
The LaundryCares initiative is the most transformative change to the industry I’ve experienced in my 34 years in the business. And the result is heightened interest from outsiders, especially new investors looking to invest not only in a viable and profitable industry, but also one that has a social impact component, which future generations will demand.
Of course, there have been several business hurdles in recent years and months. The pandemic has taught today’s operators they need to be better – and even cleaner – than before. But, despite the COVID-19 crisis and the current dilemma of labor shortages and supply chain interruptions, our industry is on solid ground, and the demand for quality laundromats has never been stronger.
Education and networking will always be the driving forces of successful associations. Continuing to draw from the great leaders and winners within this industry, tapping into their knowledge and experience, and making it available to all is what will enable the CLA to continue as the preeminent source for profitable laundromat operations.
Dan Marrazzo
Laundry Depot of Newtown
Newtown, Pa.
I joined the Coin Laundry Association in 1989 at the recommendation of my distributor, Dick Adams of AC Power. At the time, I had no idea as to the operation of the laundry business, coming from the construction industry.
The CLA’s magazine was helpful as a monthly reference, but the correspondence with the office staff was a bit more personal. Back then, I had more questions than answers, and CLA’s membership director at the time, Sue Lally, was my go-to person for those answers.
As a newly minted store owner, the CLA was the only place to go for unbiased information. As I found my footing, I joined the CLA’s local chapter in the Philadelphia area and attended its meetings. The most valuable part of those gatherings was networking with fellow members and suppliers. I gained a much greater perspective on the business by meeting and talking with industry veterans.
For example, I thought my 30-washer store was standard, only to discover that the Philadelphia laundromats were much larger, with much larger machine capacities.
I eventually served as president of that local affiliate group and also regularly attended several Clean Shows. Through the CLA, I gained an even larger understanding of the industry from a national and international lens.
Six stores later, I’ve been well-served by all of those experiences. In the last decade, I’ve made an attempt to help new store owners avoid the many mistakes I had made. I’m hopeful that mentoring several new entrants to this industry has made their journeys a bit easier.
Continuing this CLA ride has found me currently sitting on the organization’s Board of Directors, with yet a much broader view of the industry. Providing a voice for all laundromat owners is a great privilege and responsibility.
In my 32 years of association with the CLA, I truly have benefited beyond my expectations. The friends I’ve made and the people who have helped me along in my career have been priceless. As we now evolve with the LaundryCares Foundation and other neighborhood support programs, the future looks bright for the CLA and all of its members. I’m thankful I joined quite a while ago and look forward to being a member for many years to come.
Alex Harris
Professional Laundry System
Deer Park, N.Y.
Congratulations to the Coin Laundry Association and the outstanding leaders, both current and past, who have been the driving force behind this association’s success for the past 60 years. I’m truly proud to be a Board member and look forward to continued success.
Personally, we started our distributorship in 1980 and became a CLA member the following year. The first Clean Show we attended was Clean ’83 – and I remember being so impressed with how friendly and helpful the entire organization was to store owners, new investors and distributors. The seminars were outstanding. Everyone was sharing ideas and business strategies well into the evening. Each and every member made you feel like family. It was truly an experience I will never forget.
Along the way, the association also provided many benefits to its members – including business insurance, grouping members together for health benefits, and an array of general business opportunities that normally would only be available to larger companies.
Also, when state and local legislative issues threatened our industry – such as states attempting to collect sales tax on self-service laundry – the CLA has been there to defend laundromat owners with active lobbying and educational efforts. The CLA is the backbone of this industry and has always taken legislative threats to store owners’ livelihoods very seriously.
Over the last year and half, the CLA has quickly adapted to the new normal of the pandemic, with a host of virtual meetings and educational webinars. These meetings ranged from discussing safety issues during the COVID outbreak to providing moral support. Of course, the association also was instrumental in having laundromats deemed “essential” businesses during this critical time, thus assuring owners could keep their doors open.
The CLA continues to find new, invigorating ideas to prompt the growth and success of the laundromat business today and into the future. And I’d like to personally recognize and thank CLA President and CEO Brian Wallace for his countless hours and dedication to our industry. Brian, a job well done!
Yvette Morton Williams
Wash & Spin Coin Laundry
Conyers, Ga.
I joined the Coin Laundry Association as soon as we purchased our first laundromat. My only regret is that I didn’t join sooner. I have appreciated the knowledge gained from so many via the online interactions, PlanetLaundry and the live events.
Going forward, I’d like to see the CLA continue to bring valuable content to the industry, to lead in informing and guiding regulations that may impact owners, and to use its influence to provide important services at a discount. I’d love to see the association provide fun, helpful and creative networking opportunities, both in-person and online – as well as to make space for members to express their views and to actively seek input from the increasingly diverse group of laundromat owners, with the realization that differing viewpoints provide the greatest strategic advantages. I look for growth and collaboration, as we all seek to navigate these rapidly changing times.
The CLA has grown and evolved for six decades. This is an amazing accomplishment. It will be incredible to see how the organization continues to lead the industry at a time when the landscape is changing faster than ever before. Thank you to the entire CLA team for its hard work. You are appreciated.
Paul Hansen
Su Nueva Lavanderia
Chicago
Although I was aware of the Coin Laundry Association for many years, I was never that involved with the organization until I was asked to join the Board of Directors for my local CLA affiliate, of which I eventually became the president.
There were some major issues in my area, regarding the taxing of services and a massive 30 percent tax on water and sewer rates. At that point, I realized the importance of having an organization to help put together a response to these threats.
The laundromat industry has changed quite a bit over the years, and CLA has and continues to change with it.
The association has been and remains are the preeminent place to find expertise on all aspects of our industry. There is so much we can all learn from each other, from new investors to long-time industry veterans.
Larry Adamski
Muskegon Laundromat
Muskegon, Mich.
I recall my dad taking me to one of the earliest Coin Laundry Association conventions in 1964. Back then, the convention was held at Chicago’s huge McCormick Place Convention Center. I saw all the newest coin-operated washers and dryers, as well as impressive bill changers and mechanical soap venders. We even took the bus tour of several modern Chicago area laundromats, which featured shiny ceramic tile flooring and the then-popular yellow/orange/gold/green color schemes.
The whole experience left a big impression on this then-14-year-old kid. I have no doubt it primed me for my eventual entry into this industry about five years later.
Today, the laundromat industry faces new challenges, from rising water rates to the never-ending threat of proposed sales tax on self-service laundry, and a host of others. It seems the CLA won’t have to look hard to find the next issue facing store owners.
Congratulations on 60 years of successfully connecting manufacturers, distributors and laundromat owners together for the mutual benefit of all.
Bob Eisenberg
BFE Consulting Group
Blue Bell, Pa.
My Coin Laundry Association involvement over the last 40 years has been instrumental in my education of the industry from the grass roots. Although I joined the industry as a manufacturer’s representative, I learned the business by travelling around the country visiting laundromats. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’ve met many amazing store owners, truly dedicated to the betterment of our industry.
The success of the CLA is that it is truly non-partisan. At its core, it exists solely for the education and success of laundromat owners.
I also was fortunate to have participated in the creation of the LaundryCares Foundation and humble to have served as its founding chairman. I give a great deal of credit and thanks to all those who worked on this charitable group’s eventual and continuing success.
Since 1987, I’ve been privileged to travel the country with CLA staff members and participate as a speaker at several Clean Shows and other CLA events on a wide variety of industry topics. This also enhanced my interaction with many great store owners, and I’m grateful for that opportunity.
These experiences have been invaluable to me – not only to be able to give back to the industry, but also to enhance my education of our business.
Dean Akers
Adjunct CEO
Tampa, Fla.
I joined the Coin Laundry Association 18 months ago, and I can say that the value to me has been awesome. I would also say it’s one of the best values for any laundry business owner. My brother-in-law owns three locations, and my wife is very involved in helping his operations. Joining the association has allowed me the education and support to help them and to understand the business levers for a highly successful laundry business.
The members of the CLA Board and staff have gone to great effort to reach out and provide any advice and ideas I could’ve possibly dreamed of. What a great value I’ve received from my membership investment.
As a side note, I’ve owned many businesses in my 45 years in the business world, including a statewide tire service company, a national medical company and a large civil construction company. In all of these, I’ve joined the respective trade associations. And the CLA has exceeded the delivery of help to me at a greater rate than any of the support in the other industries. For that I say, “Thanks CLA!”
John Vassiliades
J. Vassiliades & Co.
River Forest, Ill.
I’ve been involved in the laundromat industry for more than 45 years. All during that time, I’ve been involved in one way or another with the Coin Laundry Association. Even prior to that, I was attending CLA trade shows before they were called “Clean,” as a sales representative for a manufacturer of drycleaning equipment.
In 1973, I became involved with coin laundries, selling washers and dryers and building laundromats. Immediately, I understood the need for a national organization to help laundry owners. I joined the CLA and, after a short time, was nominated to its Board of Directors. At that time, there were many issues our industry faces, which required the help of a strong national organization.
One issue was the fact that many owners were having a difficult time finding and keeping business insurance, with nearly all the major carriers red-lining laundromats. However, the CLA grabbed the bull by the horns and began its own offshore insurance program for laundromat owners. The CLA Insurance program was instrumental in providing needed coverage at a critical time in our industry.
I could go on and on listing the association’s many achievements – such as helping to fight unfair sales tax, battling sewer tax and water restrictions, and the creation of the LaundryCares Foundation – but I can sum it all up by saying I’ve been proud to be a member of the CLA for more than 45 years and to have helped contribute in some way to the many achievements provided by the CLA.
In one way or another, these achievements and services provided by the CLA not only helped individual owners, but also helped elevate the industry’s reputation. I know it’s helped me in many ways, as an owner of laundromats, as a builder of laundries and as a laundromat broker.
On this 60th anniversary, I salute the dedicated staff of the CLA and its leadership throughout the years, as well as the many members who have given freely of their time and talents serving on the CLA Board. However, the highest accolades need to go to the CLA members whose support over the last 60 years has made it all possible. I wish the CLA all the best for the next 60 years!
