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.
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...
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...
Headlines
Redefining an Everyday Chore
An Interview with Ariana Roviello of Laundré in San Francisco Ariana Roviello is the passionate owner behind Laundré, a unique laundry experience that has set out to redefine the way we approach this everyday chore. Driven by a genuine desire to improve the laundry...
Making a Great First Impression
The Keys to Creating an Inviting Laundromat Storefront The success of any laundromat extends well beyond the performance and efficiency of its equipment – and it begins even before that first customer tosses that first load of clothes into one of your washers. In...
Speed Queen Laundry Opens in Louisiana
Speed Queen has continued the expansion of its laundromat franchise with the opening of a new location in Baton Rouge, La. The new 3,829-square-foot Speed Queen Laundry held its grand opening event on December 13, with the store’s first 100 customers receiving free...
Setomatic Names New President
Setomatic Systems Inc.-SpyderWash has promoted Gregg Schantz to president. Gregg, who is the third generation to enter the family business, has been with the company for more than a decade. During his tenure, he has worked in all aspects of the business and was vital...
ACI Unveils Spanish Language Version of ‘Packets Up!’ Website
The American Cleaning Institute has launched a Spanish version of its Packets Up! webpage. The Packets Up! initiative was developed to help reduce the number of unintended exposures to liquid laundry packets among children. The new webpage features a whiteboard video,...
Laundromax Opens First Texas Location
Laundry Capital – a Rego Park, N.Y., company consisting of the Laundromax and Clean Rite laundromat brands – has announced the grand opening of its first Laundromax location in Texas. With more than 80 laundromats in the United States, the newest Laundromax, located...
Newsweek Names Whirlpool One of America’s Most Responsible Companies
Whirlpool Corp. has announced that it has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2024. The annual recognition, acknowledging the most responsible companies in the United States across 14 industries, is presented by Newsweek and...
Vive La Différence
How to Use Diversity Marketing to Boost Sales and Grow Your Laundry Business For a long time, marketing efforts for companies big and small had one major common denominator. Essentially, they all targeted an older, white audience. Years ago, this strategy may have...
An Active ‘Retirement’
Michigan Store Owner Thrives During ‘Second Act’ Laundromat Career Jim Legato has never been one to let grass grow under his feet. Following a 30-year career with the Michigan Bell telephone company, Legato’s initial entrance into the laundromat industry might appear...
Laundromats 2024: Opportunities, Challenges… and Industry Evolution
Business Leaders Take a Close Look at Key Factors Shaping the Vended Laundry Market in the Coming Year The laundromat industry is currently navigating a complex landscape shaped by economic challenges, technological advancements, and shifting consumer preferences....
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...
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
Setomatic-SpyderWash Names Regional Sales Manager
Setomatic Systems-SpyderWash has appointed Sam Husain its new regional sales manager for the Southeast and Midwest markets. Husain, who is based in Dallas, entered the commercial laundry industry in 2018 as a sales representative for Commercial Equipment Company. From...
EVI Industries to Acquire Laundry Pro of Florida
EVI Industries Inc. recently announced that it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire Laundry Pro of Florida Inc., a laundry distributorship headquartered in Lakeland, Fla. The addition of Laundry Pro increases EVI’s market share in the state of Florida and...
Alliance Celebrates Manufacturing Milestone in Thailand
Alliance Laundry Systems recently celebrated a significant milestone, marking the five-year anniversary of its manufacturing plant in Thailand. The event featured the company’s top executives – including CEO Michael Schoeb, COO International Jan Vleugels, and Managing...
EVI Industries Acquires Ed Brown Distributors
EVI Industries, Inc. recently completed the acquisition of Ed Brown Distributors, headquartered in Dallas. “With the acquisition of Ed Brown, we add a team of experienced sales and service personnel and new product representations that combined are important to...
Industry Mourns Avner Wolanow
Industry pioneer and visionary Avner Wolanow – the founder of Dallas-based Atlas International Laundry – has passed away. A trailblazer in the laundry industry, Mr. Wolanow was renowned for his extensive knowledge and infectious personality. His journey began when he...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
The Business Mind
Entrepreneurship is Risky Business
Here’s a Look at What Makes Certain People Willing to Take the Plunge into a Life of Business Ownership Starting or buying a company is not for the faint of heart. The statistics tell us that roughly one-third of all small businesses fail within the first two years....
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Leasing vs. Owning
I’m in the market to buy an existing laundromat. I’ve looked at quite a few laundries – some were rentals and some came with the property. Am I better off buying a laundromat with the property or leasing a storefront? Unless you come across a rental opportunity with a...
Viewpoint
Silver Linings
Typically, December is a time to pause, look back and take stock of your life and your business. It’s normally the perfect opportunity to reminisce about the 365 days gone by (366, in this case) – and to try to predict what the next 365 have in store. Not this year!...
Digital Marketing
Online ‘Stain Removal’
How to Effectively Manage Your Business’ Digital Reputation When you Google your business, what do you see? I’d hope that you’d be viewing your brand at the top of the heap – complete with pages full of five-star reviews, links to helpful content and a sterling online...
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.
