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
Star Distributing Celebrates 65 Years of Industry Service
Established in 1958 by Durwood R. Davis Jr., Star Distributing – headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. – this year celebrates 65 years of serving the laundry industry. A long-time full-service distributor, Star has provided laundromat owners in the Southeast with sales,...
EVI Reports Record Growth
EVI Industries Inc. recently reported record results in key financial metrics for the fourth fiscal quarter and the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. The company also announced that its board of directors has declared a special cash dividend on the company’s common...
Tide Opens Third Chicago Laundromat Location
Tide Laundromat has announced the opening of its third Chicago location in the city’s North Riverside neighborhood. To celebrate the grand opening, the community was invited for a Free Wash Weekend on October 14-15. “We are thrilled to open our third location in the...
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...
‘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...
SPONSORED CONTENT
SPONSORED CONTENT
Scaling Wash & Fold Operations
Learn how to grow your wash & fold from an offering into a money-making operation.
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
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...
B&C Technologies Honors Top Distributors
B&C Technologies recently recognized the achievements of its top distributors during the company’s annual distributor meeting, held at B&C’s headquarters in Panama City Beach, Fla. The top honor went to Laundry Systems of the Carolinas, Spartanburg, S.C.;...
ZIPS Teams Up with Mulberrys
Value Drycleaners of America, which operates and franchises the ZIPS Cleaners brand of garment-care centers, recently announced that it has become the exclusive developer of Mulberrys Garment Care franchise locations throughout the United States. Mulberrys – known for...
Curbside Laundries, The Laundry Boss Announce Strategic Partnership
Point-of-sale and wash-dry-fold pickup-and-delivery solutions provider Curbside Laundries and The Laundry Boss – a pioneer in payment systems, data intelligence, and laundromat management – recently entered into a strategic partnership. The collaboration will combine...
Pellerin Milnor Salutes Top Dealers of 2023
Pellerin Milnor Corp., headquartered in Kenner, La., recently recognized Pellerin Laundry Machinery as the top performer in Milnor machinery sales for 2023. “We applaud Pellerin Laundry Machinery for their exceptional performance and dedication to delivering...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Know Your Place in the Internet Space
Don’t Overlook Online Marketing When Promoting Your Wash-Dry-Fold Business As someone who studied marketing in college and who has always assumed a solid grasp on the art and science of the topic, I now feel myself moving further and further away from truly...
The Business Mind
Are Your Attendants Happy?
Developing a Positive Employee Culture is One of the Most Important Ways to Strengthen Your Laundry Business A large and growing body of research devoted to positive organizational psychology has demonstrated that not only is a “cut-throat” business environment...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Parking is Paramount
I own a 4,000-square-foot laundromat that does a good business. However, I’ve noticed that on Saturdays and Sundays we often turn business away because we simply don’t have enough parking availability on those busy weekends. The building next to us is for sale. Do you...
Viewpoint
Make 2020 Count
“The more people, the more dirty clothes.” – Ancient laundromat wisdom Time flies, as do the decades. Despite the ongoing pandemic and economic concerns, there’s a headcount to be made in 2020. The original constitutional edict from the framers comes to life in the...
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.
