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.
The Many Faces of Modern Laundromats
Today’s Technology is Paving the Way for a Variety of Laundry Business Models In an industry as established as ours, it’s tempting to think there’s a sole blueprint for success. Yet, as we delve deeper, we discover a vibrant patchwork of innovation and individuality....
‘The Taj Mahal of Laundromats’
Venerable Drycleaning Business Evolves with the Launch of Modern, State-of-the-Art Laundromats Jeff Engle likes to use analogies. And the general manager for Sheldon Cleaners in Grand Rapids, Mich., has a great one for the two vended laundry operations his company...
Going Full Tilt
Tips for Maxing Out Full-Service Laundry Work and Boosting Revenue If your laundromat does a good job of processing drop-off laundry, perhaps it’s time to expand your reach and go after anything full-service. By this, I mean pursuing both area residents and commercial...
Headlines
PayRange, KioSoft Settle Patent Dispute
Payment providers PayRange Inc. and KioSoft Technologies have settled a four-year patent dispute over mobile payment technology used to enable consumers to pay self-service retail machines, including laundry and vending machines. PayRange had alleged that KioSoft and...
Know Your Customers
Here’s How to Keep Your Laundry Business Growing Steadily by Systematically Tracking Your Client Metrics “Revolve your world around your customers, and more customers will revolve around you.” – Anonymous It’s widely accepted that today’s consumers are inundated with...
Protecting Your Investment
How to Strategically Approach Your Laundromat’s Business Insurance Let’s face it, insurance renewals are not circled on our calendars, and it’s certainly not something we look forward to. In fact, if you’re purchasing a business, it’s probably the last hurdle to...
The Road Less Traveled
Don’t Overlook Some of the Tried-and-True Methods for Promoting Your Laundry Services It’s been said that, to be truly noticed, you have to go where everyone else isn’t. I once met the governor of New Jersey and got her autograph at a campaign stop at a local...
Alliance in Negotiations to Acquire REM
Alliance Laundry Systems and REM Company Inc. have entered into an exclusive agreement, subject to due diligence, to acquire the distribution assets of REM, with a target closing of early February. “From the very beginnings of the company, the Moore family made...
The Laundry Boss Appoints New Chief Product Officer
The Laundry Boss, a provider of technology solutions for the laundry industry, has named Adam Dill its new chief product officer. Before joining The Laundry Boss, Dill most recently served as director of information technology for Alliance Laundry Systems. During his...
HappyNest Expands Service in New York
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability to Queens Village, N.Y., through the company’s new partner, So Fresh So Clean Laundromat. The store is now providing HappyNest PUD laundry services to residents and businesses in the cities of...
Whirlpool Named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index
Whirlpool Corp. recently was named to the 2023 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, in recognition of the company’s dedication to responsible and ethical business practices. This marks the second consecutive year the manufacturer has been named to the World Index....
Setting the Standard
Laundromat Owner’s Journey of Innovation, Excellence and Growth Art Jaeger’s plan for his Simi Valley Laundry Center has always been crystal clear. “Our philosophy is that we want to be the biggest and the best in whatever community we serve,” explained Jaeger, of the...
Creating a Culture of Learning and Development
A Four-Step Approach to Training and Building a Committed Laundromat Staff Stacy showed up to the laundromat excited for her first day on the job as an attendant. The half-asleep manager at the counter led Stacy to a back room and handed her a pen and stack of...
NJDOL Encourages Laundry Owners to Comply with State Labor Laws
To kick off 2024, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is sending the state’s laundromat owners a package of materials to help ensure they begin the new year in compliance with the state’s labor laws. The January mailing is part of an ongoing...
Spinning Success
Four Marketing Strategies to Implement in 2024 Toward the end of last summer, helping my nephews gear up for the coming school year taught me something interesting about making smart choices. In years past, we typically grabbed the flashiest, most popular items – you...
SPONSORED CONTENT
This Month's Issue
- Green is Good Business: Green Operations Increasingly Important to Feed Consumer Demand
- Women In Laundry: Lee Ann Geurts Loves a Challenge
- Store Profile: Kings Laundry Kicking it in Los Angeles
- Untapped Growth Opportunities
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
Alliance Acquires Star Distributing
Alliance Laundry Systems recently acquired the distribution assets of Star Distributing, as well as its Parts King business. Star, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., is a leading distributor of Speed Queen vended, multi-housing, and on-premises laundry equipment....
Laundry CEO Forum Set for Inaugural Run
The inaugural Laundry CEO Forum – organized by laundry owners and operators Waleed Cope and Jessica Johnson-Cope – will be held August 7-9, 2024, at the Omni Frisco Star in Frisco, Texas. The event is designed to promote growth, innovation, and leadership in the...
Coin Laundry Association Embraces Industry Changes with New Name and Branding
The largest trade organization dedicated to the vended laundry industry has announced an update to its branding, including its name. The Coin Laundry Association will now be known as simply “CLA,” with each of the three letters signifying an action that the...
Girbau Names New President
Commercial laundry equipment manufacturer Girbau – headquartered in Vic, Spain – has appointed Diego Hervás as its new president. “Girbau is an extraordinary project and a company whose values I share,” Hervás said. “I see great potential for contributing to growth...
Standard Change-Makers Appoints New Sales Team Members
Standard Change-Makers recently announced new additions to the company’s sales team. Robert Lessard has been named the company’s new sales representative for Canada. He takes over for Paul Thompson, who retired after 28 years with Standard. Lessard brings extensive...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
The Perfect Complement?
Here’s How Linen Rental Can Be a Profitable Addition to Your Full-Service Laundry Business One of the easier and more profitable opportunities for vended laundry owners who service commercial accounts – which a number of operators, including myself, have ventured into...
The Business Mind
The Discomfort of Uncertainty
For Entrepreneurs, Uncertainty is a Part of Daily Life – Accepting the Inevitable Anxiety of This ‘High Stakes Waiting’ Game is Half the Battle Believe it or not, there is a science of uncertainty. Some psychologists actually study and conduct research in this field....
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Removing Wine Stains, Washing Silk Shirts, More…
My wash-dry-fold service recently has received a number of garments with wine stains. We’ve done a decent job of getting out most of the stains, but not all of them. Do you have any suggestions to help us tackle any wine stains we may encounter in the future? Wine is...
Viewpoint
Let’s Go! Let’s Grow!
As PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman asked (and answered) in this column last month, “Has 2020 sucked? Yes, without a doubt.” I think we can all echo that sentiment. However, the stage is set to put 2020 behind us! As your CLA Chairman for 2020, I stated last March that...
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.
