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.
Still Serving
Former Marine Operates Laundromat/Fitness Center in Upstate New York Bryan Donegan’s first child was born while he was serving in Afghanistan as an intelligence specialist for the U.S. Marine Corps’ 1st Battalion, 9th Marines unit. However, once Donegan returned home...
Beyond the Surface
Unveiling the Key Factors Industry Professionals Look for When Buying an Existing Laundromat When considering the purchase of an existing laundromat, there’s a multitude of factors to examine beyond just the surface level. In the words of experienced laundromat buyers...
Renovate, Renew, Reimagine
Best Practices for Transforming Existing Laundromats for Greater Profit Breathing new life into that old laundromat you just bought may present as many challenges as opportunities – at least in the beginning. Navigating the journey of laundromat renovation requires a...
Headlines
Alliance Distribution Acquires Statewide Machinery
Alliance Laundry Systems has acquired the distribution assets of Statewide Machinery Inc., based in Batavia, N.Y. “As a family-owned company, Statewide Machinery has built a reputation for providing customers with value that extends well beyond the premier equipment...
LaundryCares Teams with Supermatt for Free Laundry and Literacy Day in Florida
The LaundryCares Foundation has announced a collaborative initiative with the Supermatt Laundry location in Kissimmee, Fla., to bring free laundry services to the neighborhood, as well as to help bridge the literacy gap within the community. On November 8, Supermatt...
Rising from the Wreckage
Florida Couple Builds Thriving Laundry Business in the Aftermath of Hurricane Michael In October 2018, Hurricane Michael unleashed its wrath upon Panama City, Fla. – making landfall near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base. The Category 5 storm produced...
Providing Value, Creating Loyalty… Building Business
Laundromat Owners Discuss the Art of Crafting Creative Customer Promotions Customer promotions can play a crucial role in running a successful laundry business. Done correctly, they not only attract new customers, but also help to retain existing ones. In this...
CLA, Industry Leaders to Meet with California Lawmaker on Microfiber Issue
Coin Laundry Association President and CEO Brian Wallace, CLA Board Chair Brian Holland, and a group of influential Southern California laundromat owners are scheduled to meet with California State Assemblymember Tina McKinnor on November 7 at Coast Laundry in...
Star Distributing Celebrates 65 Years of Industry Service
Established in 1958 by Durwood R. Davis Jr., Star Distributing – headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. – this year celebrates 65 years of serving the laundry industry. A long-time full-service distributor, Star has provided laundromat owners in the Southeast with sales,...
EVI Reports Record Growth
EVI Industries Inc. recently reported record results in key financial metrics for the fourth fiscal quarter and the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. The company also announced that its board of directors has declared a special cash dividend on the company’s common...
Tide Opens Third Chicago Laundromat Location
Tide Laundromat has announced the opening of its third Chicago location in the city’s North Riverside neighborhood. To celebrate the grand opening, the community was invited for a Free Wash Weekend on October 14-15. “We are thrilled to open our third location in the...
Unfolding Opportunities for Laundromat Investment
Advice for Today’s New and Prospective Store Owners Throughout my career, I’ve been privileged to assist a wide spectrum of laundry investors – from those acquiring their very first laundromats to seasoned stakeholders managing portfolios of more than a hundred...
‘It’s a Challenge Within Our Society’
An Interview with Dexter Laundry President Amanda Konczal Amanda Konczal serves as president of Dexter Laundry, headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa. Ms. Konczal has been an employee owner at Dexter since 2015, where she has been responsible for the company’s marketing,...
Laundrylux Distribution to Host Educational Events
Laundrylux Distribution will host The Laundry Experts Forum, a series of free educational and networking events focused on laundromat owners and potential investors in the vended laundry industry. These events will take place at four separate locations and will...
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage to Exceed $15 Per Hour
New Jersey’s statewide minimum wage will increase by $1 to $15.13 per hour for most employees on January 1, 2024. This surpasses the goal set by legislation signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in February 2019 to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 per hour by 2024. “When I...
SPONSORED CONTENT
This Month's Issue
- Fast Forward: Industry Insiders Review the Past Year – And Unveil the Key Factors That Likely Will Shape the Laundromat Business in 2025
- Business Profile: The Community-Driven Mission Behind Wash Bar Laundromats
- Company Close-Up: Southeastern Laundry Equipment Sales Sets the Standard for Industry Excellence and Innovation
- Women in Vended Laundry: An Interview with Samantha Peters of Advanced Laundry Systems
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
Curbside Laundries Launches Text Message Marketing Module
Laundromat management software provider Curbside Laundries has introduced its new text message marketing module, which is now available to all of the company’s clients using its wash-and-fold POS and pickup-and-delivery software. According to the company, the...
CleanCloud Reaches Business Milestones
Entering its 10th year in business, laundry industry software provider CleanCloud recently announced it has hit a couple of major milestones signaling the company’s continued growth. The software provider has topped 10 million customers worldwide who have benefitted...
Laundroworks, Cents Join Forces
Business management platform Cents and loyalty card payment system provider Laundroworks have joined forces. The companies have teamed up by pairing Laundroworks’ on-machine payment system with Cents’ full-service laundry point-of-sale and business management system....
PayRange Sues CSC ServiceWorks for Patent Infringement
Payment solutions provider PayRange Inc. has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against CSC ServiceWorks, the largest U.S. operator of laundry machines in multi-family housing and college dorms. PayRange is seeking damages estimated to be in excess of $108 million...
Laundry Industry Mourns Jerry Schantz
Set-O-Matic founder Jerry Schantz recently passed away at the age of 90. Mr. Schantz had been involved in the commercial laundry business since his teen years, serving the industry in several facets – from the distribution of washers and dryers to the manufacturing of...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Serving in Uncertain Times
The Laundry Doctor Shares His Plan of Attack During the COVID-19 Outbreak What we’re all going through right now with the COVID-19 pandemic is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s a test of who we are as people – and what we are as a civilization. As laundry owners,...
The Business Mind
Inflection Points: Preventive Maintenance for Your Laundromat
Quiet Reflection on the Future Path of Your Business May Be the Most Important Time You Spend All Week “Inflections points” are those moments in your life where events and decisions conspire to take you in a different direction, thus altering the course of at least...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Safe Bleaching, Cleaning Lint Screens, More…
I offer a wash-dry-fold service at my laundromat, and I was wondering if there is any product we could use in place of chlorine bleach. The problem we occasionally run into is that my attendants will mistakenly use the chlorine bleach on colored garments, which will...
Viewpoint
Enthusiasm for Our ‘Essential’ Industry
The laundromat business has proven itself to be recession-resistant, pandemic-resistant – and, yes, “essential.” As a result, the industry is growing at a rate at which I’ve never seen before. People are fleeing corporate America to build or buy laundromats. Current...
Digital Marketing
Tips for Social Media Success
When it comes to social media marketing, businesses often face a difficult decision: what type of content should they post – be it on Facebook, Instagram or somewhere else? The answer isn’t always clear-cut, as different platforms have different audiences 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.
