The Business of Laundry: Models That Work

In today’s laundromat industry, one truth holds across every market, model and mission: success requires more than just machines. Today’s operators must choose business models strategically, execute consistently, and lead with intention. Some lean into simple,...

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...

Metrics That Matter

Profit, Performance, and Planning in Vended Laundry The laundromat business is like most businesses in that you need to do a lot of things right to be successful. But how do you know if it’s working? According to successful owners, you just need to look at the...

Safety First, Last… Always

The Laundromat Owner’s Guide to Preventing Accidents, Protecting Your Business, and Controlling Your Insurance Costs As more and more entrepreneurs are discovering, running a laundromat can be a hugely rewarding business. But it also comes with its own set of risks...

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From Average to Awesome

Jan 29, 2015

Originally posted - May 27, 2014 [This is the first in a two-part series on fine-tuning the wash-dry-fold process.] Back in his 1970s heyday, actor Burt Reynolds once referred to marriage as "the most expensive way for the average man to get his laundry done."...

Marketing a Rural Location

Jan 29, 2015

Originally posted - Sept issue/2012 Written By: Scott and Penny Williams Laundry Owners Share How They've Grown Their Business in a Small, Tourist Community Until recently, there was no laundromat in the town of Alton, N.H. If members of this 5,300-person community...

The Future of Laundry Is Here

Jan 29, 2015

Originally posted - Feb 14, 2014 Written By: Cathy Johnson The multi-family laundry room may not be the first place you think of as being "high-tech." However, new technology applications are transforming the laundry room experience for both residents and property...

Headlines

Excellence in Laundry: The Speakers Speak Out

In advance of this year's Excellence in Laundry Conference, PlanetLaundry has interviewed all three of the event's business presenters. Here are a few excerpts from those past interviews, as well as perhaps a look at what the future may hold for today's self-service...

Unlocking Doors of Opportunity

CLA Hosts Third Excellence in Laundry Conference in Southern California In 2012, the Coin Laundry Association hosted the first-ever Excellence in Laundry Conference. It was a unique event that brought some of the self-service laundry industry's most successful...

Excellence: At a Glance

Here's a look at the complete Excellence in Laundry Conference schedule, including times and locations: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Welcome Cocktail Reception (Casa Elar, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa) Wednesday, May 18, 2016 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.:...

Excellence in Laundry: Silent Auction

The 2016 Excellence in Laundry Conference, to be held at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in southern California, will feature a silent auction from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on May 18. This auction will serve to benefit the Coin Laundry Association's LaundryCares...

KeeWes Named Speed Queen Distributor of the Year

Speed Queen recently named KeeWes Equipment Co., Inc. its 2015 Distributor of the Year. "KeeWes' impressive sales performance and customer service have earned them the title of 2015 Distributor of the Year," said Jim Rosenthal, Speed Queen's North American sales...

Whirlpool Bolsters Commercial Laundry Division

Whirlpool's Commercial Laundry Division recently added three new team members - Trey Northrup, general manager; Chad Lange, director of sales, service and parts; and Matthew Conn, senior manager of product development and marketing. "Trey, Chad and Matt bring not only...

‘Wow!’ Your Customers

16 Ways to Improve Your Laundry Business – And, More Importantly, Your Customers' Perceptions of It When was the last time a customer actually blurted out "Wow!" when he or she walked into your laundry for the very first time? My guess is that this probably doesn't...

In the Service of Others

As we wind down the selection process for the Coin Laundry Association's 2017 Board of Directors, I'm reminded of the many directors who have donated their time and talents to this organization over the years. Our Board does so much more than just oversee the...

Wash with Wally: Removing Food Oil Stains, Dealing with Smoke Odors and More…

I have a great drop-off laundry business. Up until recently, I had no problems with stain removal. However, last month, I picked up a restaurant account and now wash a great deal of their linen. My problem is that I can't seem to remove the food oil stains from the...

How’s Business?

Owners Discuss the Current State of Their Laundry Operations, While Sharing the Specific Indicators They Use to Gauge Success The small-business half of the economy seems to have clawed its way back to a somewhat normal level of economic activity. According to the...

You Become Part of the Fabric of the Community

Philadelphia Laundry Owners Are Changing Lives in the Neighborhoods They Serve The Laundry Café is the creative vision of owners Brian Holland and Tyrone Akins – two former Big Pharma executives who grew up in the inner city and share a commitment of providing an...

Get the Conversation Started

3 Customer-Engagement Tips Designed to Boost Your Store's Digital Marketing Success Economies rise and fall – and, thus, businesses have to weather the good and the bad. At this point, the most recent economic downturn is a few years behind us, but that period brought...

Scaling Wash & Fold Operations

Learn how to grow your wash & fold from an offering into a money-making operation.

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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

Speed Queen Expands Territory for Yankee Equipment into Pennsylvania

Speed Queen recently expanded the sales territory for Yankee Equipment Systems, Inc. The distributor, headquartered in Barrington, N.H., now represents Speed Queen vended laundry equipment in various counties of Pennsylvania, as well as Speed Queen on-premises laundry...

Huebsch Honors Store Owners of the Quarter

Huebsch recently named John and Ceara Templin as its Store Owners of the Quarter. A year ago, the Templins opened Laundry Lounge in Winslow, Maine. And, since then, the store has become a destination for many customers – some who travel more than an hour to use the...

GAO Study: Switching to $1 Coin Not Cost-Effective

A recent study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that replacing the $1 note with a $1 coin would likely result in a net loss to the government over 30 years. The GAO discovered that the government would incur a loss of about $611 million if notes were...

Sales Tax Threat Heats Up in Connecticut

A tax threat for vended laundries has been heating up in Connecticut in recent months. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has unveiled his state budget plan, which includes an expansion of the sales tax base to include new services – including laundry services. As of...

Statewide Laundry Equipment Hosts Investment Seminars

Statewide Laundry Equipment recently wrapped up two successful investment seminars in the Atlanta area. These educational sessions featured more than 30 attendees and were held in order to present some key insights for those considering investing in and looking to...