PlanetLaundry Podcast
America’s #1 Resource for Vended Laundry News & Info
PlanetLaundry is the official publication of CLA and is trusted by thousands of laundry professionals to deliver the latest news and industry-specific topics.
Doing Double Duty
How to Maximize Revenue with Full-Service, After-Hours Work Savvy laundry owners often glean revenue from multiple services, even when it means processing full-service work after hours. Although growing the full-service side of your laundry business will take time, if...
A Lease You Can Live With
Industry Professionals Share Tips and Strategies for Successful Lease Negotiation Securing an optimal lease is crucial for laundromat owners, impacting both financial stability and operational success. In the competitive landscape of commercial real estate, especially...
Through Your Customers’ Eyes
Taking the Mystery Out of Customer Service In a former life, I used to sell mystery shopping services. And most of the mom-and-pop entrepreneurs I approached typically had trouble understanding why they needed it. However, they heartily agreed that “large” companies...
Headlines
Library of Congress Honors LaundryCares with 2024 Literacy Award
The LaundryCares Foundation recently announced that it has been awarded the David M. Rubenstein Prize as part of the 2024 Library of Congress Literacy Awards. This prestigious award honors the Foundation’s innovative efforts in promoting literacy by transforming...
Alliance Laundry Systems Acquires Utah Distributor
Alliance Laundry Systems recently expanded its direct distribution in the western portion of the United States with the acquisition of Alliance Laundry Equipment, headquartered in Salt Lake City. “Alliance Laundry Equipment has done an excellent job of representing...
Get Ahead of the Game
Start Your Holiday Marketing Campaigns Early I remember the feeling vividly: the first day of school after a long summer break. The excitement of new school supplies, seeing friends again, and the anticipation of a fresh start. But there was always that moment when I...
Curbside.2024 Conference a Success
More than 180 attendees packed the Curbside.2024 Conference in Long Beach, Calif. This inaugural event was open to all who are interested in starting or growing a wash-dry-fold and laundry pickup-and-delivery business. The conference featured several speakers who are...
CleanCloud Now Partners with Businesses in More Than 100 Countries
Laundromat software provider CleanCloud recently announced that it now partners with businesses in more than 100 countries worldwide. The milestone “solidifies CleanCloud’s position as the largest operator in terms of absolute customers and global reach within the...
CLA’s Advocacy on Microfiber Filter Mandates Accelerates with Significant Manufacturer Support
Despite the calendar turning to a lighter legislative schedule and the majority of the focus shifting toward the November elections, CLA continues its strategic planning to battle ongoing threats from microfiber filtration requirements on commercial washers. In 2023...
CLA’s Thomas Helps Mentor the Next Generation
CLA Director of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales Nika Thomas recently became a mentor for The Annabelle Project, which is a program where seasoned event industry professionals mentor college-age applicants of color for one year. The aim of the project is to give the...
Through Your Customers’ Eyes
Taking the Mystery Out of Customer Service In a former life, I used to sell mystery shopping services. And most of the mom-and-pop entrepreneurs I approached typically had trouble understanding why they needed it. However, they heartily agreed that “large” companies...
Continental Girbau West to Host Vended Laundry Profit Symposiums
Continental Girbau West has announced two upcoming Vended Laundry Profit Symposiums – one on September 25 in Tempe, Ariz., and the other on September 28 in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. These free events – both of which will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – are open to...
Mountain Electronics Acquires Assets of Metro Laundry Tech Corp.
Mountain Electronics, headquartered in Burnsville, N.C., has acquired the assets of Metro Laundry Tech Corp., a remanufacturer of commercial laundry equipment based in New York City. All of Metro Laundry Tech’s repair services will be relocated to Mountain’s facility...
Cents Raises $40 Million Series B Funding to Support Garment-Care Industry
Laundry business management platform Cents has announced the close of a $40 million Series B funding round. The round was led by strategic venture capital firm Camber Creek, with participation from previous investors Bessemer Venture Partners and Tiger Global....
HappyNest Expands Service in Florida
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability within the Orlando, Fla., market through its new partner, Lake Eustis Laundry Inc. The facility now provides PUD laundry services to residents and businesses in Yalaha, Kissimmee, Sorrento,...
SPONSORED CONTENT
SPONSORED CONTENT
Scaling Wash & Fold Operations
Learn how to grow your wash & fold from an offering into a money-making operation.
This Month's Issue
- Tech on the Rise: How Operators Are Using Innovation to Run Smarter, Faster Laundromats: From AI phone systems to real-time data tracking, operators and suppliers share how technology is reshaping the modern laundry business and what’s coming next.
- Business Profile: Delivering a Superior
Laundry Experience - Member Spotlight: Rick Rome –
Innovating Laundry, One Customer at a Time - Guest Column: How AI Changed Google Reviews (What Laundromat Owners Need to Know)
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
CCI, PayRange Settle Patent Allegations
PayRange, a developer of mobile payment solutions for unattended retail, and laundry payment technology provider Card Concepts Inc. have reached a settlement in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by PayRange against CCI. As part of the mutually agreed-upon...
Milnor Names New Chief Operating Officer
Pellerin Milnor Corp. recently announced the promotion of Rick Kelly to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Kelly began his career with Milnor in 1988 and has served as vice president of sales and marketing since 2002. Throughout his 36 years with...
CLA, Laundromat Industry Defeat Tax Threat in Louisiana
When Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called a special session late this year, it was clear that raising the sales tax rate and expanding the scope of services taxed were squarely in the lawmakers' crosshairs. Although much of the political conversation centered on...
Alliance’s Jeff Bailey Announces His Retirement
Alliance Laundry Systems has announced the retirement of a veteran member of its North America sales team. Senior Regional Sales Manager Jeff Bailey will close out his career after more than two decades with Alliance. His last day will be December 31. Bailey started...
EVI Industries Reports Record First Quarter Results
EVI Industries Inc. has announced its operating results for the first quarter of its fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. First quarter records were achieved in revenue, gross profit, gross margin, operating profit, net income, and adjusted EBITDA. The company also...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Shifting Expectations of ‘Laundry Day’
Drycleaners Raise Awareness of Wash-Dry-Fold Services One of the biggest potential opportunities for store owners offering full-service laundry programs in the current and post-COVID-19 world is – and will be – the heightened awareness of outsourced laundry. Much of...
The Business Mind
Relatively Speaking
How to Navigate the Minefield of Working with Family Members Years ago, after earning my master’s degree in clinical psychology, I went to work in my father’s foundry business as the company’s director of sales. At the time – and as is likely the case today as well –...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: The Advantage of Hot-Water Washing
I’ve received a number of inquiries about the overall ability and effectiveness of laundry detergents to clean clothes in cold water. In other words, is there a substantial advantage to using warm or hot water when washing? There is a definite advantage to using hot...
Viewpoint
Embracing Change
I began my career in the commercial laundry industry in 1980 as a regional sales manager for one of the major equipment manufacturers. Since then, I’ve held various sales and management positions, owned a finance company focused on the laundromat industry, served as a...
Digital Marketing
Cooking Up Success with Your Laundry Promotions
Creating Irresistible Promotional Programs for Your Business I love cooking. But, to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of following recipes to the T. I prefer to keep it simple and to add my own twist with different ingredients – a dash of this, a sprinkle of that… and...
Strategic Corporate Allies Program
Our Strategic Corporate Allies support CLA’s mission through advocacy, education, and innovation to strengthen the industry, advance our members’ businesses, and prepare the next generation of laundry professionals for the future.
Interested in becoming a Strategic Corporate Ally of CLA? Contact President & CEO, Brian Wallace via email at [email protected] or call (630) 491-0499.









