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.
All the Buzz
An Interview with Katy Chen of Laundrybee Katy Chen is the founder and CEO of Laundrybee, a chain of nine, branded laundromats located within the five boroughs of New York City. Ms. Chen has owned and operated numerous laundromats over that last 20 years. And, in...
At Your Service
Planning for Full-Service Offerings at Your Laundromat A growing number of vended laundries are now offering full-service wash-dry-fold and/or residential/commercial laundry services. And for good reason. After all, through this type of diversification of services,...
More Than Just Laundry
Store Owners Share Profitable Business Options and Service Offerings They Run in Tandem with Their Laundromat Operations Successful laundromat entrepreneurs have always focused on two things – customer service and efficiency. In other words, best serving the customer...
Headlines
‘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...
HappyNest Expands Reach within New Jersey
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability into Egg Harbor, N.J., through the company’s new partner, Harbor Island Laundromat. The facility is now providing HappyNest laundry services to residents and businesses in Atlantic City,...
Milnor Salutes Top Distributors
Pellerin Milnor Corp. has recognized the leading distributorships within its dealer network, naming Western State Design – headquartered in Hayward, Calif., and founded in 1974 – as its top distributor of 2022 for machinery sales and service support to Milnor...
Wash with Wally: Removing Tough Smoke Odors
I have a wash-dry-fold customer who is a heavy smoker. In the summer, it seems that the clothes he brings in are at their worst; even the plastic hamper he brings them in reeks of cigarette smoke. I have tried an odor-reducing fabric softener from my laundry supplier,...
Are You Annoying?
Look for Small Annoyances That May Be Bugging Your Customers and Silently Destroying Your Laundromat’s Otherwise Pleasant Atmosphere Believe it or not, you may be inadvertently annoying your laundromat customers without even knowing it. And, honestly, very few of them...
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...
ACI Supports Adding New Laundry Products to EPA Programs
The American Cleaning Institute has recommended new product categories be added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s potential expansion of its Safer Choice and Design for the Environment programs. The Safer Choice and DfE programs allow companies to receive an...
ByNext Acquires Laundry Angels
ByNext, a tech-enabled clothing and premise care company, has acquired Laundry Angels, a tech-enabled laundry and drycleaning pickup-and-delivery services company based in New Jersey. The move is part of the ByNext strategy to expand its omni-services and omni-channel...
Wash with Wally: How to Safely Clean Bar Towels
We have accounts with several large restaurants to wash their bar mops, towels, and rags. I’ve heard of rags and towels – even clean ones – spontaneously combusting. Is there a specific process to help guard against this, as well as a recommended timeline in which to...
SPONSORED CONTENT
This Month's Issue
- Metrics That Matter: Profit, Performance, and Planning in Vended Laundry
- Women In Laundry: Haley Gould Finds Perfect Fit
- Company Close-Up: Company Founded to Help Small Businesses Shines
- New Member Spotlight: How Robotics Could Change Laundromat Industry
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
WASH Licenses PayRange Mobile Payment Technology
Mobile payment provider PayRange has entered into a non-exclusive licensing arrangement with WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems, one of the largest providers of laundry facilities management services in the United States. The agreement licenses PayRange’s patents for...
Laundrylux Distribution Opens New Office and Fulfillment Center in California
Laundrylux Distribution has announced the opening of its new distribution center in Commerce, Calif. The facility will enable the company to enhance its operations, product offerings, and overall customer experience for laundromat owners and commercial laundry...
CLA to Survey Laundry Owners
Each year, CLA and its flagship magazine, PlanetLaundry, publish an industry survey of laundromat owners nationwide. The purpose of the survey is to compose a profile of today’s laundromats in the United States – including key data on net profits, employee salaries,...
CleanCloud Unveils New Website Builder
Laundry and garment-care software provider CleanCloud has launched a new website builder designed exclusively for CleanCloud customers. This tool empowers laundromat and drycleaning operators to easily create and enhance their online presence. The website builder,...
Tide, Walmart Team Up to Promote Cold-Water Washing
Tide and Walmart have announced a joint effort to steer Americans toward a more sustainable, eco-friendly choice when doing their laundry – washing in cold water. The multi-month campaign, which launched in conjunction with Earth Day on April 22, will include in-store...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Getting Into Your ‘Comforter’ Zone
Build Your Business by Becoming the Comforter-Cleaning Specialist in Your Marketplace In today’s world of drycleaners and commercial laundries all trying to carve out their own special niche by adding extra services, such as residential wash-dry-fold laundry and...
The Business Mind
It’s No Big Thing
Strengthening Your Innovative Mindset “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh “Synergism” is one of my favorite words. Actually, it’s likely my favorite. And I use it often. Its technical definition is “the interaction...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: The Basics of Building a Full-Service Laundry Arsenal
What types of cleaning products and other items are required for my laundromat to have what would be considered a fully stocked wash-dry-fold arsenal for my attendants? Essentially, to start a wash-dry-fold service, you need bagging supplies – plastic bags and cloth...
Viewpoint
Tempus Fugit!
Time certainly does fly. It’s hard to believe that the Coin Laundry Association first launched its monthly magazine 30 years ago! At the time, I had the privilege of being the CLA’s Chairman of the Board. And, as I recall, it was a much different environment in those...
Digital Marketing
Safety First
Four Basic Tips to Help Keep Your Digital Presence Secure When it comes to marketing, most people typically think of digital strategies such as social media and email campaigns. However, it’s just as important to have a security plan in place for your laundry business...
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.
