In advance of this year’s Excellence in Laundry Conference, PlanetLaundry has interviewed all three of the event’s business presenters. Here are a few excerpts from those past interviews, as well as perhaps a look at what the future may hold for today’s self-service laundry owners:
Dr. Alan Beaulieu, president of ITR Economics, will be presenting “Good Days Ahead,” from 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on May 18 in the Anacapa Ballroom.
Here’s what he told PlanetLaundry:
“The United States has become a stronger, more attractive nation since 2012. A major driver to that increased competitive position is our oil and gas industry. A stable, low-cost energy platform is attracting firms from around the world. American consumers also are in a stronger, healthier position than they were in 2012.
“Gross domestic product is rising at record high levels, employment is at record high levels and consumer spending also is at a record high level. We have our weaknesses and soft spots, but overall we are in a good position for long-term growth. It’s just that most people don’t recognize that and are concentrating on the dangers, not the opportunities.”
Tim Greiner, co-founder and managing director of Pure Strategies, Inc., will be presenting “Laundry with Purpose: Our Sustainable Future,” from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on May 18 in the Anacapa Ballroom.
Here’s what he told PlanetLaundry:
“Sustainability in a laundromat setting would cover three main areas: efficient equipment, responsible operations and customer communication. Let’s pull these apart. Water and energy-efficient washers and dryers have a big role to play here. They can reduce the owner’s costs and reduce the time the customer spends in the laundromat. LED lighting is another cost-effective technology that can make the laundry experience better. The light quality is much better than florescent bulbs. Responsible operations includes offering recycling and giving customers choices on eco-friendly detergents. Lastly, communicating with customers the actions you are taking helps them understand how they can make a contribution to sustainability while doing their laundry at your store. There are additional opportunities beyond the ones I’ve described here – like engaging in social programs in the community, such as the Lions Club, fundraisers and so on, or the use of renewable energy like solar hot water and photovoltaic panels.”
Paul Taylor, the author of The Next America, will be presenting “The Next America: How New Demographics Will Change Your Business,” from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on May 19 in the Anacapa Ballroom.
Here’s what he told PlanetLaundry:
“Overall household size has continued to get smaller, although it hasn’t declined that much in the last few decades. Of course, if you go back 50 years or more and think of the traditional family household – the “Ozzie and Harriet household,” with Mom, Dad and the kids – that is no longer the typical family household. In fact, there is no typical family household. Fewer than half of American children live under the same roof as both of their biological parents.
“We have an enormous diversity of households – whether it’s female-headed households, households where the parents are cohabitating but not married, extended family households, multi-generational households, blended families and all of the above. There is no longer any such thing as a typical family household.”
