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.
How Well Do You Know Your Business?
The Keys to Making Smart, Data-Driven Decisions for Your Laundromat The laundromat business is simple, right? You find a location with excellent traffic flow, super visibility, stellar demographics – and Voila! Decades of profits and business success are yours. Well,...
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...
Headlines
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,...
Safeguarding the Sales Tax Exemption for Self-Service Laundry in Nebraska
Earlier this year, various legislators introduced no fewer than eight bills that sought to expand the sales tax base in the state of Nebraska. If any of those bills were to pass and include self-service laundry as part of their tax expansion plans, laundromat owners...
Alliance’s ProCapture Video Wins Four Awards at Industry Event
Alliance Laundry Systems’ launch video for the company’s new lint capture system, ProCapture, recently was recognized by the video industry. The video picked up four awards at the Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television across all screens....
From Demographics to Dollars
Industry Experts Decode the Art and Science of Finding the Ideal Laundromat Location “Location, location, location.” You’ve heard it hundreds of times. It’s the key to retail success. It’s your magic wand to laundromat riches. Just find that ideal location. But what...
Born of Necessity and Innovation
Local Entrepreneurs Build Sustainable Alaskan Laundromat, Addressing Arctic Challenges and Community Needs In the heart of Fairbanks, Alaska, which is well known for evening skies painted brilliant hues by the Northern Lights and lit brightly by the midnight sun, a...
Breaking Barriers
Laundromat Owner KaTesha Sagers Anderson Helps Pave the Way for the Future of Women in Business KaTesha Sagers Anderson is a business founder, keynote speaker, and advocate for women’s empowerment and small-business growth. As the owner of Cozy Clean Laundry – a...
SPONSORED CONTENT
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
Publication Recognizes Eastern Funding’s Karen Tennant
Karen Tennant, vice president of risk management for Eastern Funding, has been named to Monitor’s list of Top Women in Equipment Finance for 2024. The recognition highlights Tennant’s contributions and leadership within the industry, showcasing her dedication and hard...
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...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Who’s Servicing Your Wash-Dry-Fold Customers?
A Look at the Pros and Cons of Utilizing Independent Contractors vs. Laundromat Employees With the outbreak of COVID-19, I’ve recently received quite a few questions from laundry owners about wash-dry-fold services. The wash-dry-fold business has not fallen off during...
The Business Mind
Above the Crowd
Thoughts, Tips and Strategies to Help Differentiate Your Laundry Business from the Competition So… you’ve established the “Next Big Thing” in laundromats. You‘re ready to take on all comers and make your millions. You’re amped up. You’re psyched. You’re stoked. You’re...
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
Don’t Stop Now!
Congratulations! Your laundromat survived 2020 and the first half of 2021 – a time during which an incredible number of brick-and-mortar retail businesses in the U.S. failed and simply disappeared. For all owners, the past year and a half has been historically...
Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing’s Role in Your Laundromat’s Makeover
Merging Physical and Digital Transformations with Your Store Renovation One morning, I walked into this quaint neighborhood coffee shop that I frequent occasionally, and something just felt off. The rustic tables had been replaced with sleek, minimalist designs. There...
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.
