Longtime Laundromat Owner on 23 Years of Service, Challenges, Community Impact

For more than two decades, Lee Ann Geurts has been a steady force in her Brooklyn Park community in Minnesota, running three laundromats that have become known not just for clean clothes, but for connection, comfort, and care. What began as a business venture for her...

Green is Good Business

Green Operations Increasingly Important to Feed Consumer Demand When Green Laundry Lounge co-owners Pulin and Krishna Dasai got into the vended laundry industry, they wanted to change a narrative: laundromats are water and energy-intensive businesses. “The...

Leveling the Playing Field

John Um wanted to make sure small business owners could get fair pricing and access to reliable suppliers without needing to have significant buying power. As a leader whose career spanned several major retail and e-commerce companies, he had seen firsthand how hard...

Staying Fierce: Haley Gould Finds Perfect Fit in Vended Laundry

Haley Gould is the Director of Partner Success for HappyNest. She manages an internal team while leading more than 100 partners across the United States building a successful pickup and delivery operation in addition to running their laundromat business. A consummate...

PlanetLaundry Podcast

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Shattering the Myths

May 4, 2015

Veteran Laundry Operators Dispel Some Popular Industry Misconceptions – And Share Their Own Personal Business Surprises The good news is that today there in more information available to new laundry owners and prospective investors than ever before. The bad news is...

Running ‘In the Margin

Apr 29, 2015

Here's How to Control Costs and Prioritize Your Self-Service Customers, While Building a Strong Wash-Dry-Fold Business Perhaps you returned from the recent Clean Show in Atlanta with a renewed interest in getting into the wash-dry-fold business, or maybe now you're...

Choosing a Lender?

Mar 27, 2015

Three Key Factors to Consider When Seeking Acquisition and Equity Financing Whether you're a new investor in the self-service laundry industry or a seasoned multi-store owner, there will come a time when you will need to invest – or reinvest – in your business....

Headlines

Wash with Wally: The Keys to Cleaning White Items

At my laundry, we do a lot of commercial and residential drop-off laundry. Unfortunately, I have a tough time getting white socks to look really white. Any suggestions? Also, we wash white towels for a local physical therapist. We routinely receive towels with makeup...

New Year’s Resolutions

Laundry Owners Reveal Their Top Business Goals for 2017 Each January, many of us make a list of resolutions to help us live better lives throughout the year. Whether those resolutions are to eat healthier, work out more often, get out of debt or just be nicer to...

Business Bio: Marysville Laundry Station

Craig Wells Marysville Laundry Station Marysville, Wash.Before Getting into the Laundry Business…Craig used to work in a grocery store.Store OpeningJanuary 1, 2004Business Hours6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, with the last wash beginning at 9:00 p.m.StaffThree...

A Tale of Two Stores

The Midweek Laundromat Doldrums Drove Owner John MacKrell to Seek Out Additional Business, Leading to the Creation of SpringboardIt was another quiet Tuesday. And, if John MacKrell were in the business of selling dryer lint, he would have told you – after a busy...

Do What You Like Best – And Never Give Up

An Interview with Chicago Laundry Business Veteran John VassiliadesJohn Vassiliades, president and CEO of J. Vassiliades & Co., began his career in the self-service laundry and drycleaning business more than 40 years ago. During that time, he has owned multiple...

Growing Your Business by Serving Your Community

Seniors and Other Niche Market Segments May Be Perfect Opportunities to Build Your Wash-Dry-Fold Clientele In many ways, doing wash-dry-fold laundry for seniors in your community can almost be considered a public service commitment. At my store, I have about half a...

‘Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty’

And Five Other Useful Observations on Life and the Laundry Business As I have mentioned before, I am continually intrigued by what thoughtful, introspective and accomplished individuals from all avenues of life have to say. As a result, I continue to collect their...

Minimum Wage to Increase in 19 States on New Year’s Day

Nineteen states, including New York and California, will ring in 2017 with an increase in the minimum wage – with Massachusetts and the state of Washington implementing the highest new minimum wages in the country at $11 per hour. California will raise its wage...

Elite Business Investments Unveils Expansion, Rebranding

Elite Business Investments, headquartered in Valley Village, Calif., recently announced its expansion and rebranding. The company has introduced Elite Laundry Systems, a new sub-division of the business that’s focused specifically on serving the multi-family and...

Multi-Laundry Operator Named Huebsch Store Owner of the Quarter

Huebsch has named Mark Hickey the latest recipient of its Store Owner of the Quarter Award. Hickey owns and operates two successful Spin City laundromats, located in Millington, Tenn., and Horn Lake, Miss. “Mark Hickey is an accomplished laundromat owner and is...

Laundry Owners Warehouse Salutes ‘Golden Washboard’ Winners

Laundry Owners Warehouse, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., named the winners of its 3rd annual Golden Washboard Awards at the company’s recent open house event. These awards were created to recognize the achievements of self-service laundry operators for their...

WashClub Announces International Expansion

On-demand laundry and drycleaning service WashClub, based in Brooklyn, has announced that the company will be expanding internationally in 2017. “2016 has been an extraordinary year for WashClub, and we are looking forward to continuing our market expansion in...

This Month's Issue

The Business of Laundry: Models That Work
PlanetLaundry Podcast: AI as a Business Partner – Changing the Game for Laundromat Owners
Member Spotlight: Redefining Utility Access for the Modern Laundromat
CLEAN SHOW 2025: Schedule of CLA Events
And More…

THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS

Industry News

Wash-Dry-Fold POS Promotes Gollahon to Equity Partner

Wash-Dry-Fold POS has named Sales and Marketing Director Ian Gollahon an equity partner in the company. Gollahon started with Wash-Dry-Fold POS in 2016, shortly after the company was established. “I was focused on fulfilling incoming orders, and I needed somebody to...

RICHCLEAN Names New President

The Board of Directors of RICHCLEAN recently announced the promotion of Matthew Gilman to president of the company. Matthew succeeds his father, Barry Gilman, in this position. Barry held the leadership spot at the company since its inception in 1975. “Barry decided...

Chicago Suburb Honors Veteran Laundry Owner

The Chicago suburb of Berwyn recently recognized laundry owner Tom Benson and his family with their very own street. The former Highland Avenue, which runs alongside the west end of Benson’s World’s Largest Laundromat, henceforth will be known as Benson Drive. On...

Huebsch Honors Top Distributors

Huebsch recognized six of its distributors for excellence at the 2019 Clean Show in New Orleans. Those recipients are: Universal Laundry Machinery, Westland, Mich. ¬– Innovation and Investment Partner Award National Laundry Equipment, Nashville, Tenn. – Emerging Star...

Laundry Literacy Coalition Unveils Read, Play & Learn Kits

The Laundry Literacy Coalition – comprised of the LaundryCares Foundation and Too Small to Fail – has partnered with Lakeshore Learning and Scholastic to offer new Family Read, Play & Learn kits, developed specifically for vended laundries. The kits are uniquely...